ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20958, 10 November 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES CIVIC THEATRE Latest of a long line of spectacle films dealing with the forging of Britain’s Empire.is “Four Feathers.” Produced entirely in technicolour, the film is full of broad and colourful scenes of activity and excitement in the Sudan at the time Kitchener’s men were fighting their way towards their decisive victory at the battle of Omdurman. The story deals with the exploits of a young army officer, played by John Clements, who resigns his commision on the eve of the regiment’s departure for Egypt. He is branded as a coward by his friends, who send him white feathers, and his fiancee takes the same attitude. Alone he sets out for Egypt, where, in the disguise of a dumb and branded native, he joins the army of dervishes who are striving to overcome Kitchener and, by heroic and brilliant strategy, succeeds in saving the lives of many of his former comrades. Creditable performances are given by June Duprez and Ralph Richardson. C. Aubrey Smith has a part well to his liking as a retired army officer. THEATRE ROYAL The glamour, the restless surge, the will-to-win of the old v/est, are caught in Zane Grey’s well-wrought story, “Heritage of the Desert.” A tenderfoot turns his back on the soft, sophisticated life for the tough, earnest fight he must wage in order to win back his fortune and selfrespect. His representative out west has been swindling him all these years, and he suddenly decides to investigate why a once profitable land is now considered worthless. On hearing about his proposed trip, the scheming underling arranges to have the easterner killed off. Luckily, the tenderfoot is saved by a rancher who takes hiiji home and back to health. “Undercover Doctor” is based on the experiences of G-Men, as recorded in J. Edgar Hoover’s book, “Persons in Hiding.” The crime film is really based on an actual case. ROXY THEATRE “The Young in Heart,” featuring Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, junr., and “The Racket Busters,” with Gloria Dickson and George Brent, will be screened to-day. Janet Gaynor has a new type of role in “ The Young in Heart ” as the daughter who helps her adventurous family chisel their way from the funloving Riviera to London, and whose loyalty to them almost costs her the love of her highly-principled young millionaire fiancee (Richard Carlson). Her brother (Douglas Fairbanks, jun.) also assists in the game of charming fakery until he meets a beautiful secretary, in the person of Paulette Goddard, and completely forgets his frantic search for an heiress. In “ Racket Busters ” a nation fights back—fights the mobsters who “ muscle in ” on its food supply. REGENT THEATRE “The Ice Follies of 1939,” a very spectacular production, features Joan Crawford in a strong role. 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. “THE FOUR JUST MEN” The legion of Edgar Wallace admirers will be well catered for tomorrow. In the opinion of many of his readers, Wallace created no characters more interesting than his “Four Just Men,” Mid the picture of that name, which will head the programme, depicts the activities of these men in the protection of the British Empire from impending disasters. It is filled with romance and excitement. STATE THEATRE Earl Derr Biggers’ renowned Oriental detective, Charlie Chan, is at the State Theatre in his cleverest case to date, the murder of a glamour girl in “Charlie Chan in Reno.” With Sidney Toler in the role of Chan, the picture features an unusual cast, surrounding the wily sleuth with three of Hollywood’s most beautiful women: Phyllis Brooks, Pauline Moore and Louise Henry. Also in the excellent cast are Ricardo Cortez, Slim Summerville, Kane Richmond, Sen Young, Eddie Collins, Kay Linaker and Robert Lowery. Crime and punishment, innocence and vindication are the themes of “Girls on Probation,” a melodramatically exciting film, with Jane Bryan and Ronald Reagan in the leading roles.