AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume V, Issue 457, 26 June 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

PLAZA THEATRE “The Plainsma'h” Jimmy Ellison, of "Hopalong Cassidy” fame is, astride a horse again in “The ('Plainsman,” the Cevil B. De Mille epic of empire building which will be shown I t the Plaza on Saturday rnd Monday. Ellison plays the role of “Buffalo Bill” Cody, famous western scout and showman. The elaborate cast is headed by Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur, and includes 2000 Cheyenne Indians and 250 regular army cavalrymen. “Secret Agent”

Director Alfred Hitchcock, the 18-. stone genius who puts realism into every reel, demanded real types in “Secret Agent,” the spy-thriller that features Madeleine Caroll, Peter Lorre, John Gielgud, and Robert Young, screening next week. For one of the most . spectacular scenes Hitchcock had built a giant setting of a frontier railway station, between Greece and Bulgaria, in 1916. Swarms of peasants, soldiers, guards, refugees, and officials were needed to populate the huge station. From Soho, the Continental quarter of London, the types were gathered, and forsaking their usual occupations, they donned ffid uniforms of Greece and Bulgaria, the tatters of Albanian peasants, the equipment of frontier guards and the coloured shawls of the near-East.

Among the great company gathered at Shepherd’s Bush were men and women of Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Palestine and Greece. “Girls’ Dormitory” Although a number of screen personalities still adhere to the custom of having an orchestra on hand when they are performing before the cameras to “create a mood,” it remained for Sim One Simon (pronounced Seemoan See-moan) to introduce an innovation that startled even blase Hollywood. The brilliant star, who is making her debut with Herbert Marshall and Ruth Chatterton in “Girls’ Dormitory,” Twentieth Century-Fox production showing on Thursday and Friday of next week, appeared on the set with a wide variety of rare and exquisite perfumes. "To a sensitive nature perfume can create evary variation of mood,” says Simone. "It can make you feel exotic, sophisticated, gay demure or tragic.” Constance Collier, J. Edward Bromberg, Dixie Dunbar, John Qualen and Shirley Deane are featured in the cast of ’’Girls’ Dormitory?*

KING’S THEATRE "I PROMISE TO PAY” The most ruthless racket ever co»ceived by criminal minds! . . . tha vicious loan shark mobsters! . . whosqueeze millions from the innocent public every year! Exposed to the American people for the first time in Columbia’s fearless “I ’Promise To Pay,” featuring Chester Morris, Helen Mack and Leo Carrillo, shoeing at the King's to-night. A daring, dynamic dfairia unearthing startling secrets that will make the master minds behind this shocking crime syndicate cringe with fear when they learn that their closely guarded scheme of organisation is known . . . and revealed! Exciting entertainment when the young clerk dares to testify against the huge racket .ring at the risk of. his life! In-: eluded in the impressive supporting cast, are Thomas Mitchell, Patsy O’Connor, John Gaullaudet and Thurston Hall.

“Night Waitress”

A British actress from Cape Town by way of London and a minister’s son from lowa are brought together in real life in the teaming of Margot Grahame and Gordon Jones as tha featured players in RKO Radio’s adventure picture, “Night Waitress,” to 'oe screened on Tuesday and Wednesday next.

Miss Grahame, who appeared in some forty British films before making her American screen debut in “The Informer,” was born in Canterbury, but received her education in South Africa, where her father was a theatrical producer. Jones was born in a litle lowa town where his father was a Congregational minister, and was educated in Colorado and California.

The two players, with their widely separated backgrounds, appear together for the first time in “Night Waitress,” a stirring tale of mystery and action on the San Francisco waterfront.