ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19880, 8 May 1936, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES. THEATRE ROYAL. Presenting some of the ■world’s foremost talent in the fields of singing, dancing and vaudeville, “The Big Broadcast of 1936” provides outstanding entertainment. The film hinges about the story of that olever comedian Jack Oakie. He oontrols a male I broadcasting station in New York, I which owes its existence mainly to regular broadcasts made by the owner I himself, under the name of “Lochin- , var, the Great Lover.” Oakie supplies heart-balm to the romantic sections of the youth of America for 100 dollars an hour, the powerful Amalgamated Meats being the company privileged to link its name with that of I the great tugger of heart-strings. To j finance an invention which has come • into his hands the resourceful Lochj invar enlists the aid of a crazy young I woman, ruler of a remote island | kingdom. Apparently overlooking the fact that the young woman is men- | tally deranged, Lochinvar eventually marries her. Introduced as radio acts are turns by such celebrities as Amos land Andy, the negro entertainers, Bill .“Bojangles”) Robinson, world- | famous coloured tap-dancer, Bing i Crosby, the crooner, Charlie Buggies | and Mary Boland, of screen fame, Richard Tauber, German tenor, and the Viennese Boys’ Choir, who visited New Zealand last year. Also seen are those inimitable comedians Burns and Allen. ROXY THEATRE. ‘‘One More Spring” is the story of a young woman (Janet Gaynor) in search of romance—and a job—who, while In a park in the dead of winter, encounters a stranger (Warner Baxter), homeless like herself, but keeping the courage of his dreams. Recruited by a penniless musician and a ruined banker they take up their abode for the winter- in a disused tool house. Until spring comes the couple think they are just pals, but then their platonic love drops like a cloak from them and they become sweethearts. “She Couldn’t Take It" is a romantio comedy of an ex-gangster who inherits the guardianship of a family ol' madcap aristocrats. George Raft is seen as the reformed beer baron, Ricardi, whose major problem is the spitfire daughter, Carol, played by Joan Bennett. TO-MORROW’S ATTRACTIONS. To-morrow Shirley Temple, winsome child star, will return in “Bright Eyes,” and “ The Vagabond Lady,” an outstanding comedy-drama featuring Evelyn Venable and Robert Young, will also be screened. REGENT THEATRE. An old and well-loved story, “Little Lord Fauntleroy," has been Aimed with its original appeal and with modern embellishments. David O. Selznick produced this version, his first effort since he broke away to become an independent producer. The little American boy who goes to England, there to live in a forbidding old castle with his gruff and hard-hearted grandfather, is presented in more modern trappings than in the book, but his part is none the less attractive for that. Freddie Bartholomew lias tho part, and he improves even upon his roles in “Anna Karenina” and “David Copperfleld.” Dolores Del Rio makes a welcome return to the screen as "Dearest,” the lad’s mother, separated from her boy by the resentment of the grandfather. In the course of the story the old man’s heart is softened, and finally the mother joins her loved one to live in the castle, which is her proper home. C. Aubrey Smith, Una O’Connor and Mickey Hooney, another talented juvenile player, head the supporting cast. CIVIC THEATRE. “Follow the Fleet” goes one better than “Top Hat,” and provides magnificent opportunities for comedy and spectacle. In short, it may be said that “Follow the Fleet,” with that splendid combination of stars, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, rises to the top standard in screen musical comedy. The story illustrates the old saying, “The course of true love never runs smooth,” but innumerable complexities arise from the fact that both the men whose love stories are followed (Fred Astaire and Randolph Scott) are sailors. Full opportunity is therefore taken for witty repartee, for which Astaire is famous, and several dances are introduced in appropriate places. The opposite leads are played by Ginger Rogers und Harriett Hilliard as sisters. Particularly witty lyrics are sung by Astaire to music of high standard, the best of which are “We Saw the Sea,” “Let Yourself Go” and ‘ Let’s Face the Music und Dance.”

STATE THEATRE.

“ East of Java,” the film in which Charles Bickford was nearly killed by a ferocious lion and was at death's door for days, heads the new programme. Actual jungle scenes, treachery, romance and real animal fights man against wild beast, are included in the film. Bickford plays Red Bowers, fugitive American gangster, who escapes British East Africa on a wild animal cargo schooner. A typhoon sinks the ship and strands the crew on a desert island. Sally Eilers and James Dunn have a brilliant reunion in “ Don’t Get Personal.” Adventure and misadventure on the high road, thrilling encounters and a mutual hate that turns to love, are the principal ingredients of this Amusing romantic comedy. “ Pinky ” Tomlin, the songster, heads the supporting cast which Includes Spencer Charters, Doris Lloyd, George Cleveland, Lillian Harmer, and Charles Coleman.