ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20955, 7 November 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO=NiGHT’S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE Two entertaining films—“ Charlie Chan at the Olympics” and “Once a Doctor”—will be screened to-day. The Charlie Chan pictures, with their entertaining mixture of mystery, thrills, romance and humour, are always popular, and “Charlie Chan at the Olympics” is one of the best of the series. Against a background of the famous grounds is worked out a thrilling story, rising to a very dramatic climax. The tense interest of the audience is held throughout. Warner Oland gives a great performance as the popular Oriental detective, and he has the support of a very strong cast. “Once a Doctor” is totally different in theme but equally enteitaining. It is a romantic drama, and keeps the audience interested. Jean Muir and Donald Woods have the romantic leads, and Gordon Oliver, Joseph King and other clever players are in the cast. ROXY THEATRE “This Man is News” is an exciting newspaper murder mystery with Barry K. Barnes and Valerie Hobson in the principal parts. The story, packed tight with action, thrills and comedy, deals with a reporter who achieves notoriety as the result of a murder story he s\nds sn to his paper before the crime is committed. As may be imagined this produces uncomfortable consequences, but, fortunately, he is able to prove an alibi. The criminals concerned, however, are of opinion that either he must possess amazing foresight or else he knows too much, and they decide he would be better out of the way. Their attentions cause the reporter to become front-page news himself, but in the end with the help of his wife, he is instrumental in bringing the crooks to justice. Barry K. Barnes appears as the reporter and Valerie Hobson has the role of his wife. “Good-bye, Broadway,” the second attraction, is a sparkling romantic comedy. CIVIC THEATRE Charming Ginger Rogers steps out in an unaccustomed role in “Bachelor Mother,” and David Niven also makes a favourable impression. The trouble starts when Ginger Rogers, as Polly Parrish, a temporary hand in Merlin’s department store, finds a foundling on a doorstep, and immediately is accepted as its mother. She fails in her efforts to get rid of it, and Mr Niven, as John Merlin, becoming big-hearted, does the right thing by the girl, and increases her salary so that she can care for the baby, which, instead of being an embarrassment, becomes the pride and joy of its foster-mother. John gradually becomes more interested in the mother than in the baby, and when his father is informed anonymously that the son is the father of the child, the old man takes a hand in things, with very amusing results. The March of Time shows what Britain is doing to meet war conditions, and there is an amusing Donald Duck coloured cartoon. REGENT THEATRE “The Ice Follies of 1939” contains the happy combination of plot, extra-

vaganza, and some of the best tunes to come out of Hollywood this season. It features Joan Crawford in the type of role which sent her to screen fame, and in addition introduces her to audiences as a songster. The story centres about Mary McKay, a singing ice skater who, through a series of strange twists of fate, finds herself on the top rung of the ladder to film fame. Her quick ascent, however, leaves her husband (James Stewart) behind and the manner in which the two are reunited supplies plenty of dramatic action. Some of the skating sequences are very spectacular. Thrilling scenes of the war in Poland are included in the supporting programme.