ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20987, 14 December 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL “More Than a Secretary” tells of the exploits of a bespectacled, prim proprietress of a business school, who is forced to take a position as private secretary to the editor of a health magazine, a violent health addict. What happens when the two undergo a mutual humanising treatment provides plenty of amusement. A submarine rammed in a fogridden sea, a desperate “crash dive” for safety and the heroic efforts of navy divers to carry a life-bearing hose to the trapped men serves as the spectacular climax to “Devil’s Playground.” “RIDE, RANGER, RIDE” “Ride, Ranger, Ride,” a thrilling Western drama featuring the populai Gene Autry, will be screened tomorrow. STATE THEATRE

"California Mail” is packed with dramatic thrills, in which Dick Foran sings agreeably and plays the role of a pony express rider who batt>,*s Indians and white highway robbers to deliver the government mail. “Midnight Court” deals with one of those tribunals which many American cities have established to expedite the hearing of petty offenders. Ann Dvorak plays the part of the court stenographer, who, one evening is horrified to see in the line-up the brilliant lawyer who was once her husband—but now a confirmed drunkard.

"FIVE CAME BACK” “Five Came Back” will open tomorrow with a cast which includes Chester Morris, Lucille Ball, Wendy Barrie, C. Aubrey Smith and Patric Knowles. The plot deals with the grim experiences of a group of airplane passengers and pilots, forced down in the Brazilian jungle. REGENT THEATRE “Good Girls Go to Paris,” is one of the gayest comedies seen in Hamilton for a long time, showing what happens when a girl decides on the unconventional methods which will take her to the city of her dreams. The witty dialogue and the amusing situations keep the audience chuckling throughout, while some of the situations in which the girl finds herself are as exciting as they are funny. Of course everything ends as it should, but not before the audience has had a very enjoyable time. “CLOUDS OVER EUROPE” “Clouds Over Europe,” to be screened on Saturday, whilst it deals basically with the burden of Empire, highlights the activities of a humorous Secret Service investigator (Ralph Richardson), who alone in the United Kingdom believes that there is something more than mere coincidence in the disappearance

over a year’s sfrjm of four bombing ’planes on trial flights to test secret War Department apparatus. CIVIC THEATRE “Brother Rat” is a gay comedy of youth. Eddie Albert is cast as a cadet at one of America’s leading military schools, who finds himself in trouble because he has violated a strict rule. The cadets are forbidden to marry until their courses have been completed, but Albert has done so. His efforts to keep the marriage a secret provide a sequence of mirth-provok-ing scenes leading to a thrilling climax. GRACIE FIELDS Another success is scored by the ever-popular Gracie Fields in “Shipyard Sally,” which will be screened tomorrow. A steady stream of humour leavens “Shipyard Sally’s” more serious moments, and Sydney Howard, as Grade’s father, rascally but lovable, is often in the limelight. Among th'. seven songs which Gracie sings, as c|ly she can, is “Wish Me Luck,” so popular now with Tommy Atkins. ROXY THEATRE “The Prince and the Pauper” is Mark Twain’s immortal classic about the heir to the English Throne and the thief’s son who were born at the same moment in the 16th century, and whose lives became entangled because of a close resemblance. The Mauch (Mowk) twins play the boys. Errol Flynn is co-starrea with them, and Claude Rains, Barton Mac Lane, Henry Stephenson, Alan Hale, Phyllis Barry and Helen Valkis are featured in the cast.

Finding unlimited thrills beyond the three-mile limit, “Gambling Ship” is an exciting and romantic drama. The story combines an expose of gambling racketeering with a romance between a girl gamblingship operator and a special investigator assigned to probe the racket. “THE CITADEL” “The Citadel,’ the screen version of the widely-read book, and “The Life of the Party,” a gay musical comedy will be screened tomorrow. “THE MESSIAH” The inspiring melodies of “The Messiah” will be heard in the Baptist Church, Hamilton, tonight, when the Baptist Choir will present Handel’s immortal oratorio, under the baton of Mr George Salthouse and with Mr Ray Wilson at the Everette orgatron. . . The choir has been practising for some time, and a fine performance is assured. The soloists will be:—Soprano, Mrs C. Clinton Williams (Auckland Tabernacle) and Mrs R. G. P. Brownless) contralto, Miss Lorna Clark and Mrs G. Clifford Reay; tenor, Mr Ron Enright; bass, Mr S. Clinton Williams (Auckland Tabernacle).