ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20727, 10 February 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL ! : *• Dorothy Lamour, exotic songstress who scored so sensationally in “The Jungle Princess,” is featured in one of the leading roles in Paramount’s “The Big Broadcast of 1938,” which opens to-night at the Theatre Royal, with W. C. Fields heading the stellar cast. Miss Lamour is cast as part of a romantic triangle which includes Bob Hope, stage and radio star, making his film debut in the picture, and handsome Leif Erikson. Miss Lamour is featured in a duet with Erikson. in the ballad hit from the picture, “The Waltz Lives On,” which has already leaped to the “most-played” ranks in radio and dance popularity. The supporting feature is “Campus Confessions,” described as the maddest, merriest story of college life ever screened. The featured players are Betty Grable and Eleanore Whitney. The usual Royal featurettes will also be screened. REGENT THEATRE “The Awful Truth,” with Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, will be screened finally to-night at the Regent Theatre. Recognised for so long as one of the greatest dramatic actresses of the screen, Miss Dunne has achieved the almost impossible by gaining even greater popularity in roles that are the very antithesis. Cary Grant, dark, is co-starred with Miss Dunne in “The Awful Truth.” The picture is based on the famous American stage play of the same name, and the two romp through a gay and giddy comedy of marital affairs with Asia, that famous canine player world-renowned for his antics in the “Thin Man” series, supplying many of the film’s laughs. Ralph Bellamy, Columbia’s young contract player, heads the brilliant supporting cast, which includes Joyce Compton, Wyn Cahoon, Esther Dale and Alexander D’Arcy. TO-MORROW’S CHANGE “The Crowd Roars,” featuring Robert Taylor and Maureen O’Sullivan, will be presented to-morrow night. ROXY THEATRE “Yellow Jack,” the feature story at the Roxy Theatre, reunites lovely Virginia Bruce with Robert Montgomery, with whom she previously costarred in “The First Hundred Years.” In the new drama, describing the courageous fight of man against yellow fever, Montgomery plays the part of a soldier who offers his life for humanity, while Miss Bruce is seen as the nurse who accompanies the heroic expedition to Cuba. The second feature stars Alice Brady and Guy Kibbee, two of fllmdom’s best-known comedians, who are teamed in “Joy of Living,” R.K.0.Radio’s new musical comedy with Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in the principal roles. TO-MORROW’S CHANGE “Breaking the Ice,” with Bobby Breen, and “Man Proof,” with Myrna Loy, Franchot Tone and Rosalind Russell, will head to-morrow’s screening. STATE THEATRE Brian Donlevy, husky and athletic leading man, and Wally Vernon, comedian, are teamed as “The Camera Daredevils ” in “ Sharpshooters,” first of a new Twentieth Century-Fox action series, now at the State Theatre. Brian is seen as the ace of newsreel photographers, always in the deuce of a jam. Lynn Bari provides the romantic interest as Brian's niftiest assignment; but she has the Indian sign on him. Wally Vernon is Waldo, the movie sound man; but even a loud silence gives him the jitters. Others in the cast are John King, Douglas Dumbrille, C. Henry Gordon and Sidney Blackmer. James Tinling directed, under the supervision of executive producer, Sol M. Wurtzel. Jack Randall, Monogram’s singing Western star, introduces five new songs in his latest picture, “Where the West Begins,” which will also be screened. These five are “Bnrn to the Range,” “Down the Trail of Dreams,” with lyrics by Johnny Lange and music by Fred Stryker; “Sleep, Little Cowboy, Sleep,” “I'm in Prairie Heaven’’ and “That’s My Idea of Fun,” with music and lyrics by Connie Lee. CIVIC THEATRE To-night Warner Bros, present the romantic comedy “Swing Your Lady,” at the Civic Theatre. The story is a vigorous one of a blacksmith belle of the hills (Louise Fazenda) meeting a handsome “rasslin’ rascal” from the city—the action is fast and furious and included in the film is a terrific wrestling bout. The story is located in the mountains and the caste is headed by Humphrey Bogart, with Nat Pendleton, Frank McHugh and Penny Singleton in the supporting roles. The featurettes to be screened are full of interest. “SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS” On Monday next the famous Disney picturisation of these little people will

commence a week’s season with three sessions daily. This story is full of charm and beauty and has a tremendous appeal to all classes. COVENT GARDEN BALLET LARGE DEMAND FOR SEATS A very large number of applications for seats has been received at the box office for the appearance here on Thursday night next of the famous Covent Garden Russian Ballet, some of them coming from over a hundred miles away, and it is more than likely that the whole of the theatre will be booked out at an early date. The 120 members of the company will travel by special trains throughout New Zealand. All the principal dancers w-ill be visiting here for the. first time. The most outstanding in the feminine ranks are Tatiana Riabouchinska and Irina Baron ova, two of the bright and beautiful artists who contributed so much to the establishment of the fame of the Covent Garden Company. From the very first Riabouchinska was hailed as a dancer of remarkable attainments. Baronova is another ballerina who has contributed equally with Riabouchinska. Irina Baronova is dark and exquisitely beautiful. Her technique is absolutely flawless. Tamara Grigorieva, another of the charming principal ballerinas, takes the lion’s share of the character roles. Her dark, exotic beauty makes her ideal in her numerous roles. Until January 1, 1938, the present company had given 1545 performances in 157 cities. It carried with it over 200 tons of scenery. Members of the company have spent three months of their lives on the Atlantic and seven months in trains. In spirit a great ballerina—the great ballerina —watches over the Covent Garden Russian Ballet. It is Anna Pavlova, who is always watching over the destinies of the young dancers, every one of whom, without exception, is filled with an ambition to emulate the greatest dancer that has ever lived. Victor Dandre, the husband of Anna Pavlova, is the chairman of the company and presides over its efficiency with great courtliness, charm and ability. Probably never has so much interest been taken over the advent of a company as in the appearance here of the Covent Garden Russian Bailee