ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20906, 11 September 1939, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE ‘‘You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man,” a thrilling and amusing story with a circus background, centres around the financial embarrassment of the proprietor, played by W\ C. Fields, and the feud between the latter and Charlie McCarthy. This serious disagreement leads to some hilarious dialogue, with the puppet generally delivering a shattering insult to round off the argument, while Edgar Bergen reveals his power of dialogue by introducing another dummy, Mortimer, who proves a worthy opponent for Charlie McCarthy. A further complication is added when the proprietor’s daughter falls in love with the ventriloquist of his company. The supporting programme includes ‘“Royal Banners Over Ottawa,” in colour; “Republic of Panama,” in colour; the British Air Mail News and the Cinesound Review. STATS THEATRE Will Ilay, wellknown radio and screen comedian, is the leading player in “Old Bones of the River.” He apepars as Bones’ uncle, who comes out to the West African outpost of civilisation made famous in the novels of Edgar Wallace. In the absence of Commissioner Sanders, he takes over command, and immediately gets into an hilarious tangle of trouble with the natives. Laid against a colourful background of circus life, “Fixer Dugan’ ’depicts a picturesque romance between a lady lion-tamer (Puggy Shannon) and the show’s “fixer” (Lee Tracy). The hardships, disappointments and joys of life under the big tops are also strikingly disclosed. Tracy, in the title role, is a suave, fast-talking showman who acts as buffer between the circus and the outside world and fixes any troubles that arise. THEATRE ROYAL In “I Am the Law” wholesale slayings, widespread racket terror, enslave a huge city until a mild-man-nered college professor loses his temper to mop up the mobs 1 Edward Robinson, as the professor, stages a crusade against organised vice which rocks the city to its foundations. In a thrilling climax, he rounds up the small fry and higher-up ones of the underworld and dramatically proves to them that they cannot get away with murder. “■Start Gheering]’ is a very amusing film, filled with witty dialogue and diverting situations. The cast includes such clever people as Walter Connolly, Joan Perry and Charles Starrett. ROXY THEATRE “Too Hot to Handle” is the story of the birth of an exciting newsreel scene and its progress until it reaches the breathless audience in theatres throughout the world. In creating the drama of the newsreel, the “inside” story begins in faraway China, with Clark Gable, his cameraman and equipment recording stark tragedy that makes world history. It reveals the newsreel as it is sped to the coast and placed aboard a China Clipper, and the exciting happenings which follow. “Housemaster,” the screen version of -lan Hay’s long-running play, is a bright and breezy comedy with a sympathetic and human note underlying its humour, the action of which takes place almost entirely within the walls of a large English public school. CIVIC THEATRE “The Little Princess,” featuring Shirley Temple, is the chronicle of a brave little girl’s devotion to her father. lan Hunter gives a sincere portrayal in the latter part. The picture opens in the stirring days which marked the close of last century, when Britain was at war with the Boers and the streets of London rang with the tramp of marching men. As an officer in the Grenadier C-uards, lan Hunter sails with his regiment to South Africa, a country which seems very far away to his daughter, whom he sends to a boarding school. At this institution, with her winning ways and pretty clothes, Shirley is at once a favourite, causing the children to name her "The Little Princess.” Richard Greene heads the supporting cast.