ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES “TOPPER TAKES A TRIP” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE “Topper Takes a Trip,” is a continuation of the amusing and sensational adventures of the leading figure of “Topper,” which proved very popular when screened in Hamilton some time ago. With Roland Yount? and Constance Bennett still in the leads and with much the same cast —Gary Grant is a notable absentee, Mr Kirby having disappeared during one of his “dematerialisations”—the film deals with the same mad antics that distinguished the last film. These are made possible only by one of the characters having the power of invisibility, but the fact that the audience is in the secret makes this rather eerie power the main source of hilarity. This power is also transferred with weird and amusing result to “Mr Atlas,” the dog belonging to Marion Kirby, i She has still to accomplish the “good deed" which was her aim in the former picture, and with this object in j view she pursues Mrs Topper to ; Europe, dragging the reluctant Air .Topper with her. The resulting complications are very diverting to the I audience “FOUR MEN AND A PRAYER” AT THE ROXY THEATRE Beautiful Loretta Y'oung is the girl whose love for one of the brothers serves as a shining beacon through clouds of intrigue and even distrust of her in “Four Men and a Prayer.” Her romantic interest is for Richard Greene, the new British discovery, who, along with George Sanders, David Niven and William Henry are the four men who forsake everything in their careers to track down the menace which cashiered their beloved father (-C. Aubrey Smith) out of the army in disgrace and then brought death to a great soldier. In a cast of 3000. encompassing the characters of 21 nations, this picture has been assfmbled with all the sweep and grandeur of the hook by David Garth. Other attractions are “Alcatraz Island." a sensational story of the great penal settlement: "The Necking Party.” an amusing comedy featuring the popular ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, his dummy cSrlie McCarthy; and “Postal Union." a sparkling little musical comedy.

“ARIZONA LEGION”

AT THE STATE THEATRE “Arizona Legion” is a colourful story of the West, with the popular athletic star Geonge O’Brien in the lead. It deals with the efforts of the authorities to capture the members of a gang of bandits which has been terrorising the neighbourhood. Although most of the bandits are known, no jury is willing to convict them, and it becomes necessary to catch them in the act. For this purpose the rangers are formed, and these men have to risk their public esteem by fraternising with the criminals and gaining their confidence. How this is done, and how the bandits are eventually led into a trap, provides a thrilling story. “Accidents Will Happen,” featuring Ronald Reagan, Dick Purcell and Gloria Blondell, deals with the efforts made by special investigators to uncover criminal organisations which are known to exist throughout the United States for the sole purpose of defrauding insurance companies. It exposes the methods used by these criminals, the fake accidents which they elaborately stage, the selfintlicted injuries used for making insurance claims, and the pseudophysicians who magnify the injuries.

“BOYS’ TOWN”AT TIIE REGENT THEATRE “Bovs’ Town” is one of the most inspiring and dramatic films ever made. Given the Academy award for his performance in this picture, Spencer Tracy gives a magnificent portrayal of a man alive to-day. Father Flanagan, an idealist who realised his drearn of a home for abandoned boys, regardless of race, colour or creed. Teamed with him is Mickey Rooney, who gives cne of his usual sterling performances. Many of the scenes were actually filmed in Boys' Town, which exists in the State of Nebraska. The story tells of the battle waged by the priest to save boys from a life of crime, and his problem with one boy who thought himself too tough for Boys’ Town. A feature of the picture is the acting of the boys who form the community. One of the most noteworthy of these characterisations is that of Gene Reynolds as a crippled boy who becomes Mayor of Boys’ Town. Pee Wee, a very small boy who is responsible for the regeneration of one of the main characters, is played by Bobs Martin with a rare naturalness.

The supporting programme includes “Tiny Troubles,” an Our Gang comedy; “An Hour for Lunch,” a Robert’ Bench ley Oddity; “Heroes of Leisure." a Pole Smith speciality: the Ginesound Review and the British Air Mail News.