ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20733, 17 February 1939, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL The life of seamen when they are away from the sea forms the comic background for “Give Me a Sailor.” The efforts of two brothers to win the same girl, the transformation of an ugly duckling into a scintillating beauty, and a nation-wide mililondollar legs contest' pace the action of the plot. Heading the cast is the comedy-romance team Martha Raye and Rob Hope, the cut-ups of “College Swing,” who are seen as a Cinderella girl and a love-sick sailor respectively, while Betty Grable has the role of the sweetheart of the United States Fleet. Zane Grey, most popular of Western writers, has fashioned a thrillcrammed story of quick-shooting cattle thieves, masked riders of justice and young lovers of the plains for “The Mysterious Rider.” Douglass Dumbrille, playing a masked horseman who has been exiled from his ranch for a murder he did not commit, heads a strong cast. REGENT THEATRE In “The Crowd Roars” Robert Taylor is seen in a thrilling story of Ihe boxing ring, In which excitement, romance and comedy are blended in very entertaining fashion. Mr Taylor appears as a professional boxer under the control of a . gambler. In liis first fight at Madison Square Gardens, McCoy (Taylor) finds himself opposed by his former instructor, who Is attempting to regain the light-heavy-weight championship of the world. With an unfortunate blow McCoy kills his friend and sports writers at the ringside are led to believe that it w ? as a “lucky” punch. The story is brought to an exciting conclusion with a contest for the world’s championship. A fine supporting cast includes Maureen O’Sullivan, Frank Morgan and Edward Arnold. “BLOCKHEADS”

“’.Blockheads,” in which the popular comedians Laurel and Hardy ended a long partnership, will be screened tomorrow. It is said to be screamingly funny. CIVIC THEATRE Shirley Temple always gives a fine performance, as millions of fans will attest, but in “Little Miss Broadway” she excels herself. She is a Shirley of surprises, surrounded by singing*, dancing, romancing, fun-making show people. The grand group of troupers which aids and abets Shirley is headed by that scintillating stepper, George Murphy, the irrepressible Jimmy Durante, lovely Phyllis Brooks and Edna Mae Oliver, the popular, prim and prudish grande dame of filmdom. To make this the go-happy musical thrill hit of the year six new melodies radiate from the romance, including “Be Optimistic,” “We Should Be Together,” “If All the World Were Paper.” “Swing Me an Old-fashioned Song,” “How Can 1 Thank You” and “Little Miss Broadway,” the title song. STATE THEATRE Stirring episodes surrounding the efforts of a primitive community in the West to free itself from a band of forgers who are seizing ranch property, are presented in “Boss of Lonely Valley.” Buck Jones is the star, -playing the part of Steve Hanson, courageous young rancher who brings a Government investigator to the town of Ardmore and then proceeds to clean up that community. Muriel Evans has the role of Retia Lowrev, who, with her young brother, Sonny/ does much to bring the band of forgers to justice. A throbbing drama of world-famed Ellis Island is “Gateway,” the starring vehicle for Don Ameche and Arleen Whelan. The production is tense with violent emotions and suspense, bright with the lightness of hearts buoyed up with hope, and colourful with its people from all lands. ROXY THEATRE

“Kid Galahad” stands out for Its sound basic story, its glib modern lines, its general production standard, its element of suspense and the splendid performances of people who know how to act. Packed with romance and drama of the type best liked by sophisticated audiences, the picture nevertheless will keep the juveniles wanting more. Joe E. Brown has played almost every kind of character with the exception of a polo player, and nvw he has covered that one in “Polo Joe.” an uproarious comedy. “Polo Joe” follows the unfailing recipe that has always made audiences lauffh, and always will. Caspar Milquetoast is the type of man who hides his inability‘to do the big things by pretending that he is a past master at them. SHIRLEY TEMPLE “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” with Shirley Temple in the title role, and “That Certain Woman,” a strong drama, will be screened to-morrow.