ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20736, 21 February 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

i CURRENT PROGRAMMES j STATE THEATRE j | “Sea Devils’’ is as exciting as its ! title. While evacuating refugees from , a Central American port two coast- ; guardsmen from rival cutters, Chief j Bo’sun's Mate “Medals” Malone Victor MiLaglen and Seaman Mike 1 O’Sliay Preston Foster), have a wild ; battle in a cantina ashore. Soon afteri wards Mike is transferred from his I vessel to New London, Connecticut, : where Medals' cutter, -the Taroe, is ‘ stationed. Reporting at New London 1 for duty, Mike meets Doris Malone 'lda Lupino . Medals’ daughter, who ! works at the city library, and the two i are greatly attracted to each other, ! hut there are many exciting happen- ! ings before love is triumphant. Helen Broderick, in “We’re On the i Jury,” in which she is co-starred with Victor Moore, is seen as a lady of social prominence serving on her ; first jury. As portrayed by the i favourite comedienne, this juror has a : mind of her own, and what she does to normal court proceedings may be very upsetting to the judge and the trial attorneys, but. ably abetted byMr Moore, it makes for hilarious comedy and novel entertainment.

THEATRE ROYAL

Grim mystery among a group of scientists at a university, and the solution of a baffling crime by the tiny clue of a pet dog’s rubber ball, are the exciting elements in “Under Cover of Night.” a detective story in wnich the audience plays detective alongside the detective on the screen. F.dmund Lowe creates the newest detective character of the screen as Christopher Cross. “Mama Steps Out” tells the very amusing story of Len Cuppv, an average American business man, and his wife. Ada, who with their, daughter, Leila, seek a vacation in Europe. The wife determines that culture is what is needed in the Cuppy family, and she sets out t-o acquire it for all of them. Before poor Len knows what it is all about he discovers his home invaded by a group of wouid-be artists. lie gels a little annoyed, and llicre are exciting complications. CIVIC THEATRE Shirley Temple is always good to see and hear, and in “Little Miss Broadway” she is well up to form. Six new melodies are featured, including “Be Optimistic,” “We Should Be Together,” “If All the World Were Paper,” “Swing Me an Old-fashioned Song,” “How Can I Thank Y 7 ou?” and “Little Miss Broadway ” The story is about a little girl uvho lives in a vaudeville hotel with her foster family (Edward LUis and Phyllis Brooks). When Jimmy Durante's jazz hand gets too loud in its rehearsals the wealthy neighbour Edna Mae Oliver) com-

plains and threatens to close the hotel. George Murphy, her nephew, intercedes, and while he wins nothing but enmity from his prim aunt, he wins

the favour of Phyllis. Led by Shirley Temple, everything end? as it should, especially after Shirley convinces an austere judge that lie* should permit the actors to stage their show in the courtroom. George Barbier, Edward Ellis, Jane Darwell, El Brendel. and Claude Gillingwater, sen., have prominent roles, REGENT THEATRE “Blockheads,” in which Laurel and Hardy appeared together for the last lime, has an unusual and amusing opening scene, with Laurel guarding a military post in France and firing on a passing aeroplane. During the Great War Laurel has been told to remain on guard until relieved from duty, but, unknown to Laurel, the war has been over for 20 years. The pilot of the aeroplane demands an explanation, and Laurel suddenly discovers that the Armistice was signed in 1918. Returning home to the United States, he is'hailed as a hero, and his amazing story obtains wide publicity in the newspapers. His former war companion (Hardy) reads the reports, and is led to believe that Laurel’s intelligence has improved considerably since the war. He invites him to his home, but Laurel has a hostile reception from Mrs Hardy, and the pair soon succeed in becoming involved in complicated and amusing situations. ROXY THEATRE Shirley Temple scores one of her greatest successes in x “Rebecca of Surmybrook Farm.” which is i very entertaining production, with stars all around the young favourite —Randolph Scott and Gloria Sluart in a glorious romance: Shirley tapping at tap-speed with tap-king Bill Robinson: Jack Haley and Slim Summerville, Shirley, Jack and Phyllis Brooks singing new rhythm songs. But that is not all'—not only Shirley, not only stars, not only a delightful romance, not only a good story—but six new-rhythm songs by ace song writers. “That Certain Woman,” starring Bette Davis, is a story about the widow of a slain gangster who, despite the scorn of the world and the persecution of enemies, wins her way to business success and to the affections of a worthwhile man “MANNEQUIN” “Mannequin.” featuring Joan Craw- ; ford and Spencer Tracy, and “The Saint, in New Y'ork” will he screened to-morrow.