ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20919, 26 September 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE “Polo Joe” is a very funny and exciting production, with Joe E. Brown playing the role of Joe Bolton, an American youth who, after several years in China, returns home witn a solemn-visaged valet—and an unbounded supply of tall tales. He returns to the arms of his adoring, gushing and rich Aunt Minnie —who is a member of an extremely swa»u<y polo-playing couny. Joe at falls violently in love with prtl 1 > Mary Hilton, a neighbour, who recognises no hero but a polo-playing hero. The story works up to a thrilling climax. An intriguing and romantic adventurous story of an island paradise in the Caribbean Sea, packed with thrills, is “Men In Exile.” It has an excellent cast headed by Dick Purcell, June Travis, Alan Baxter, Margaret Irving, Victor Varconi, Olin Howland and Veda Ann Borg. THEATRE ROYAL A detective who follows Eleanore Whitney, a hungry dancer who steals a doughnut in the department store run by the star-gazing Charlie Ruggles is responsible for the dancer’s latest movie romance with Johnny Downs in “Turn Off the Moon.” The detective’s chase assumes an added responsibility when his bosses’ romance depends on the happy conclusion of the youngsters’ amorous interlude. Ruggles, the police department, the fire department, a store show and side-splitting complications see the road to romance set for speedy travel. A new Philo Vance blood-chilling murder story, “Night of Mystery,” introduces a new Philo Vance and Sergeant Heath in the persons of Grant Richards and Roscoe Karas. Thrown into the midst of a series of murders that threatens to extinguish a whole family forced to live in a mysterious mansion, Vance unearths clue after clue. ROXY THEATRE “Tropic Holiday,” a sparkling production with music, and “Mr Wong, Detective,” a thrilling mystery story, will be screened to-day. An all-star cast headed by Ray Milland, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Bums and Martha Raye, a setting in romantic southern Mexico, six new songs from Mexico’s most popular composer and a gay story about mad Hollywood people are the main attractions of “Tropic Holiday.” In this comedy, a bored screen writer, Milland, runs away to Mexico to forget his work and finds Dorothy Lamour who makes him forget everything. Martha Raye also goes native in her own quaint way until the Oklahoma politician, Bob Bums, to whom she is engaged, rescues her. The most seasoned follower of the adventures of screen sleuths will get a real thrill out of “Mr Wong, Detective,” for not only is it a clever mystery drama, full of action and suspense, but it serves to introduce a new screen detective in the person of that ex-horror man and master of eerie characterisation, Boris Karloff. CIVIC THEATRE The favourite dancing team, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, have fittingly been chosen to play the part of their counterparts of a generation ago in the film, “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.” The setting is during the pre-war and war years, and in parts the atmosphere has much in common with that of to-day. Vernon Castle, played by Fred Astaire, is first seen as a second-rate comedian who does not begin to appreciate his great talent until he meets the beautiful young woman who becomes his wife. Together they set out to make a career for themselves, and they are at the height of their fame when the war bursts. The happy home life which they had planned is gone, and Vernon risks his life daily as a pilot in the R.F.C., while his wife does war work for the Tommies. Infrequent meetings during leave are but bright spots through months of dread, but at last, when happiness is almost within their grasp, comes the greatest tragedy of all. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are seen at their best, not only in the dancing sequences, but in the straight dramatic sequences. Supports include a Walt Disney Silly Symphony, “Donald’s Golf Game.” , REGENT THEATRE In “Calling Dr. Kildare,” Lionel Barrymore gives another impressive instalment of his remarkable characterisation of “Dr. Gillespie,” the irascible medical superintendent of a big hospital in which “young Dr. Kildare” is one of the interne staff. Lew Ayres as Dr. Kildare also proves that he can “do it again.” The principal women characters in the story—a pretty nurse who is secretly employed ay Dr. Gillespie to report on reaction of the young man to work in one of the hospital’s slum area clinics, and a glamorous young creature of the underworld who makes a deep impression on Dr. Kildare—are played by Lana Turner and Laraine Day. The story this time deals with the trouble Dr. Kildare makes for himself when he attends the young victim of an underworld shooting episode and finds himself in the position of an accessory after the fact in a murder case. RED CROSS RECITAL It is gratifying to report that the box plan is filling rapidly for the recital to be held at the Theatre Royal on Thursday night by Tom and Marguerite Harvey, assisted by Cecilia McLaughlan, violinist, and W. M. Whitehead, pianist. No doubt there is a dual reason for the enthusiasm shown, one being the desire of many people to support such a worthy cause and the other being that the artists are of outstanding merit. Mr and Mrs Harvey have been acclaimed by audiences and press. Their fine voices, warm

sympathy and rich quality drew the following comment from the Christchurch Times:—“Mr and Mrs Harvey, with their natural gifts, deep appreciation of musical portrayal and complete technique combined with intelligence and sympathy is a combination all too rare.” The programme drawn up for Thursday’s recital will appeal to all patrons. Seats should be reserved at once.