ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20274, 17 August 1937, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE. A combination of murder, melodrama, romance and comedy makes “ History is Made at Night ” an outstanding film. It deals with the feelings of the three main characters in many tense situations. There are two men in the triangle this time, and the woman (Jean Arthur) is the wife of one of them, a shipping magnate. She opens the story with a note to tier husband, purporting to explain how’ it is they cannot get along together. But everything that happens through- ! out the picture to her husband (Colin Clive) makes him more determined to bring her back, and the extraordinary note is the starting point, tie determines to prevent her from securing a decree absolute, and takes steps to have his wife caught in compromising circumstances. Charles Boyer, however, is in the next apartment at the time, and he carries off the woman, with exciting results. Leo Carrillo leavens the dramatic note with his Contentntal mannerisms and complete egoism. “Shots” of the wrecking of a liner on an iceberg are sensationally effective. CIVIC THEATRE. Brimming with action and suspense, the new thriller, “China Passage,” is a satisfying film for mystery addicts. A newcomer from Australia, Constance Worth (Jocelyn Howarth, whose romance with George Brent brought her into the limelight (oecently), makes her American debut*as a heroine, and in her role as a feminine agent of the Customs service gives a line performance. Vinton Howarth is co-featured as a soldier of fortune in the employ of a Chinese war lord. The plot concerns the ingenious theft of a priceless diamond in a surprise attack on a Shanghai Jewellery store and the efforts to ’.recover it during a voyage from that city to San Francisco. Miss Worth is on the job in her official capacity of preventing smuggling, while Haworth, who was entrusted with the gem, has Ills orders to recover it or meet an unpleasant fate. The two know the jewel is aboard their steamer, but neither knows which of the many suspects has it. Their search is enlivened by tlie murder of two of their fellow-passengers and by a scries of unexpected occurrences that hold the interest at a high pitch until the surprise climax on the dock at San FmnROXY THEATRE. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are among the most popular teams In films, and in “Swing Time” they have full scope for their gifts as dancers and funmakers. A new’ type of dance, “The Waltz in Swing Time,” and a spectacular production number, “BoJangles of Harlem,” in which Fred Astaire goes blackface for the first time on the screen, are among the outstanding features. The strong supporting class includes such clever people as Victor Moore, Helen Broderick, Eric Blore, Georges Metaxa and Betty Furness. “Jlopalong Cassidy Returns” strikes a new' note in Western pictures, reminiscent of the legend and history of the women who followed the pioneers to the gold camps of the Old West. Evelyn Brent is cast as the proprietress of a gambling hall and saloon in a small Western town, and William Boyd is again Hopalong Cassidy. STATE THEATRE. A mystery thriller that dispenses laughs and suspense In equal measure if offered in “The Great Hotel Murder.” Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglan, that popular team of easygoing buffoons who have appeared jointly ii. eight pictures since they were spot-lighted in “What Price Glory,” are co-featurcd in this comedy drama. Two murders in an ancient and dismal French chateau while a notorious criminal attempts to steal a rare old book worth many thousands of dollars furnish some of the thrills In “Secret of the Chateau.” A dozen persons are suspected, Including Clark Williams, playing one of the heirs; Claire Dodd, a beautiful stealer of books; William Faversham, Jack Laßue. a former Paris apache; Osgood Perkins, the butler; Cecil Elliott, who portrays his wife, the cook; and George E. Stone, in the role of a friend of Williams. “AREN’T WE ALL?” “Aren’t We All?” to be staged at v the Civic Theatre to-morrow night by the Hamilton Playbox, under the direction of Mr A. E. Manning is a brilliant comedy-drama bv Frederick Lonsdale, the author of “The Last of Mrs Cheynev.” Its lines sparkle with wit, its theme is extremely modern and sophisticated, its situations are alternately dramatic and very amusing, there are touches of appealing sentiment and romance. An excellent cast have been chosen, and are sure to give a good account of I themselves in this wilty and romantic story of a marriage that was saved only by the understanding of a mdn of 1 lie world. Seats should be booked at the box plan office.