ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL "Three Married Men,” a merry comedy, and “Swing High, Swing Low,” a sparkling musical comedy, will be screened to-night. Carole Lombard and Fred Mao Murray, the romantic team of "Hands Across the Table” and “A Princess Comes Across,” are together again in “Swing High, Swing Low,” a romance with music. "Swing High, Swing Low” is the story of night club life in Panama and New York. Miss Lombard plays the role of an entertainer in a Panama cabaret who makes a famous musician out of XlacMurray, who has been very much on the loose in the canal port. This role gives Miss Lombard an opportunity to sing and dance, the flrst time she exhibits her talents in these fields, and Mr Mac Murray plays the trumpet, also for the first time in pictures. CIVIC THEATRE “Way Down South," starring Bobby Breen, will be screened today. How an unselfish boy, imbued with the ideals of his dead father, saves a great plantation from ruin and preserves the happiness and contentment of its many slaves is thriliingly recounted in “Way Down South." Dealing with the efforts of a criminal executor who attempts to obtain the vast properties for himself, the story casts young Breen in the role of a plantation owner’s son, who, when his father is killed in an accident, seeks to carry on the latter’s fair and considerate treatment of the estate's coloured slave population. When he realises his father’s former friend is about to sell the slaves the young Southerner takes dramatic action. REGENT THEATRE “The Ice Follies of 1939” contains the happy combination of plot, extravaganza, 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. STATE THEATRE The Charlie Chan pictures, with their entertaining mixture of mystery, thrills, romance and humour, are always popular, and “Charlie Chan at the Olympics" is out ol 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 ol 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 entei tabling. It is a romantic drama, and keeps me audience interested. Jean Muir and Donald Woods have the romantic leads, and Gordon Oliver, Joseph King and other clever players are in the cast. &OXY THEATRE “This Man is News" deals with a reporter who achieves notoriety as the result of a murder story he sends hi to his paper before the crime is committed. As may be imagined this produces uncomfortable consequences, but, fortunately, he is able to prove «n 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 wile, 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. “Royal Banners in Ottawa" is an inspiring film of the Royal visit to Canada.