ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES

“SHIPYARD SALLY” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE England’s clever comedienne Gracie Fields is featured in the musical comedy, “Shipyard Sally,” and proves more entertaining than ever. The setting of the film is the great shipbuilding centre of Clydebank, in Scotland. The film begins with the actual launching of the great Queen Elizabeth by Her Majesty. Gracie is the unexpected proprietor of a small public house near the shipyards, which is much frequented by the workers. Unexpected because until her erratic father (played with gusto by one of England’s most popular stage comedians, Sydney Howard) invested all her savings in the tavern, he and Gracie were touring the isles as a music hall team. She soon becomes the favourite of the shipyard workers and entertains them with singing and dancing. However, for reasons of economy, the Government puts a stop to the work at Clydebank, and distress visits the once-prosperous town. The workers .send Gracie to London to plead their case for them, and this is the start of many hilarious and often farcial adventures.

“Wish Me Luck as you Wave Me Goodbye,” the popular refrain which the soldiers are singing as they leav§ for “Somewhere in France,” “I Got the Jitterbugs,” “Ip Pernambuco,” “Annie Laurie,” “Grandfather’s Bagpipes,” the favourite, “Danny Boy,” and an inspiring rendering of “Land of Hope and Glory,” comprise Gracie’s repertoire of songs in the film. “RIDE, RANGER, RIDE” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL In the thrilling Western drama, “Ride, Ranger, Ride” featuring Gene Autry, some of the ingredients are:— Full-blooded Indians in war paint—hundreds of them; troops of Texas Rangers out to get their quota of redskins; blue-coated cavalrymen “pacifying” savage chiefs and braves with muskets; high-wheeled prairie schooners as far as the eye can see; civilisation at death grips with savagery; the whole softened with sentimental songs and love, romance and humour Assisting Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette and Kay Hughes in the musical division are the Tennessee Ramblers, a group of hill-billy musicmakers. Never before has Gene Autry had a role which so perfectly fits his personality. “Army Girl,” is a delightful adventure romance, filmed against the spectacular fast-moving background of America’s peace-time army. One scene shows an army tank crashing off the side of a cliff bank and smashing sidewise through the air, hurtling to the ground beneath with a thunderous roar. Madge Evans and Preston Foster have the romantic leads. A chapter of the exciting serial, “The Lone Ranger Rides Again,” will be screened tonight at 7.30. “FIVE CAME BACK” AT THE STATE THEATRE The grim experiences of a group of aeroplane passengers and pilots forced down in a Brazilian jungle by a tropical storm is the absorbing plot of “Five Came Back.” Two pilots, a steward and nine passengers leave the United States for Panama, and, as the title indicates, only five of them return to civilisation after a month’s enforced stay in the steaming wilds of the upper Amazon. What happens in the meantime affords the compelling drama of the story. There are 11 oddly-assorted people: Bill, the strong silent pilot; Joe, his co-pilot; Alice Melhome, wealthy heiress, and her rather worthless fiance, Judson Ellis, who are eloping to wed in Panama; Peggy, fleeing to escape trouble; Henry and Martha Spengler, an elderly botanist and his wife, a gangster, Pete, escorting his chief’s 6mall son to a place of safety; and a prisoner, Vasquez, being taken to Central America to be hanged, and the grim detective, Crimp. The story works up to a thrilling climax. The supporting programme includes Walt Disney’s newest Silly Symphony, “The Practical Pig”; “Television,” showing latest developments; an Edgar Kennedy comedy and a musical novelty.

“CLOUDS OVER EUROPE” AT THE REGENT THEATRE The happy air of frivolity which a distinguished cast injects into the frim business of solving a baffling spy mystery makes “Clpuds Over Europe” as entertaining as it is unusual. “Clouds Over Europe” deals with the disappearance of new-type British bombers which fly out to sea on test flights and are never seen again. Ralph Richardson, recently seen as a blind captain in “Four Feathers,” portrays Major Hammond, a secret service operator who is assigned to solve the mystery. He has a wild theory concerning the bombers’ disappearance. However, since no one else takes him seriously, he soon stops taking himself that way. So, although there is excitement in plenty, with enemy agents operating a motor-disabling ray from a disguised freighter, and with Laurence Olivier and a number of captive pilots making a dash for liberty with the help of machine-guns, and with one of His Majesty’s destroyers steaming to the rescue, “Clouds Over Europe” is as much a comedy as a spectacular spy drama. Features of the supporting programme are “King Vulture,” a sports thrill; the British Air Mail News, with the latest war happenings; and the CinesQund Review. “THE CITADEL” AT THE ROXY THEATRE The current programme is headed by the film adaptation of Dr. Cronin’s much-discussed book, “The Citadel,” which caused a sensation when it was published. Here is a moving drama of life in the mines, where a struggling young physician risks his life to save trapped workmen in the pit. He meets a girl and marries her. They move into the

city where he develops a paying practice in the social set, but learns to abandon the high ideals with which he started out. A bad operation restores him to his senses. With the help of his wife and a group of fellow doctors he makes a come-back and we see the drama of victory over big odds—the triumph of love and faith. In “The Citadel” are seen Robert Donat, that sterling English star, and Rosalind Russell, the society girl who went to Hollywood and made good. “The Life of the Party” is a gay musical comedy, featuring Joe Penner. Gene Raymond, Harriet Hilliard, Victor Moore and Parkyakarkus. There will be a news reel session at 7.30 tonight.