ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20822, 5 June 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE Given the Academy award for his performance in "Boys’ Town,” one of the most appealing films ever made, Spencer Tracy gives a magnificent portrayal of a man alive to-day, rather Flanagan, an idealist who realised his dream 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 Slate 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 BeyMayor 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. THEATRE ROYAL Thrills and excitement are the main points of appeal to "The Lost Jungle,” which stars Clyde Beatty, the world’s greatest animal trainer. Supporting him are Cecilia Parker, Syd Saylor and Wheeler Oakman. The story has Beatty as an animal trainer in a circus, giving his most thrilling act —in which lions, tigers ( panthers and hears are all seen in the one cage, performing at the same time; battling lions and tigers in the jungle and generally providing plenty of tense moments. A storm at sea and the wrecking of a dirigible are further highlights in this enthralling film. "Gang Show" is a refreshing novel production adapted from the Annual Scouts "Gang Show,” starring Ralph Reader and Gina Malo. The leader of a local scout troop tires of his humble clerking job, his ambitions soaring in the direction of the Theatre. Rebuffed by Die usual agents lie decides to utilise his showmanship by putting on a Boy Scout show to secure funds for a clubroom. Thrown cut of the theatre where they are rehearsing the amateur performers find themselves with a show and nowhere to stage it. The story works up to an exciting climax.

STATE THEATRE I "Arizona Legion” is a sensational \ * story of the West, dealing in exciting • fashion with the efforts of the authori- \ ties to capture the members of a gang of bandits which lias 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. j For this purpose the rangers are ; formed, and these men have to risk ! their public esteem by fraternising with the criminals and gaining their J confidence. How this is done, and { how the bandits are eventually led into i a trap, provides a thrilling story. 1 i "Accidents Will Happen” deals with j 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 pseudo- ! , plivsicians who magnify tiie injuries. . ■I ‘ CIVIC THEATRE i "Topper Takes a Trip” continues ' the amusinc story that was started \ j in "Topper.” With Roland Young 1

j and Constance Bennett still in the leads j and with much the same cast —Cary I Grant is a notable absentee, Mr Kirby j having disappeared during one of his ; "dematerialisations" —the film deals j 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. ( She has still to accomplish the "good • deed" which was her aim in the forI mer picture, and with this object in J view she pursues Mrs Topper to Europe, dragging the reluctant Mr Topper with her. ROXY THEATRE "Four Men and a Prayer" tells a romantic story, in which beautiful Loretta Young is the girt whose | Jove for one of the brothers serves as a shining beacon through clouds of intrigue and even distrust. Her romantic interest is for Richard Greene, the new British discovery, who. along with George Sanders. lJavid Niven and William Henry arc the f.«ur mrn who forsake everything in their careers to track down the • menace which cashiered their beloved | father (C. Aubrey smithy out of the

army in disgrace and then brought ! death to a (great soldier. in a cast of ) uuuu, encompassing the characters of , 21 nations, this picture lias been as- . sembled with ail 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," un amusing comedy featuring the popular ventriloquist Edgar Bergen, his dummy Charlie McCarthy; and "Postal Union,” a sparkling little i musical comedy.