ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21176, 27 July 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES “FRENCH WITHOUT TEARS” AT THE REGENT THEATRE | Sophisticated comedy with racj j dialogue and excellent characterisa- | tion is presented in “French Withj out Tears,” an adaptation of the successful London stage play. The set- ) ting is a professors school, where j the English are taught French, and it | houses typical English types. There | are the misogynist diplomat (played by Ray Milland), the naval comj mander (represented by Guy Midj dleton), the shy and lovesick youth i (David Tree), and a flirtatious blonde (Ellen Drew), who invades the school and causes havoc. Technically the best scene in the film is the festival night in a French village—an example of complete unity offi lm and musical accompaniment. Roland Culver, as the British naval commander, come to swot for an interpreter’s examination, only to fall a temporary victim to Diana, is particularly good. Ray Milland gives one of his usual clever performances and Ellen Drew is charming as Diana. The Queen Carnival Coronation ceremony at the Auckland Town Hall

is of special interest to local people

and other features of the supporting , programme are “Bowling Skill,” a 3 Grantland Rice Sportlight; “Not So . Dumb,” a Paramount paragraphic film; the Cinesound Review, which shows the Australian and New Zealand troops in a cricket match in Palestine; and, the British Air Mail News, with the latest war news. “LITTLE OLD NEW YORK” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE i Alice Faye, Fred Mac Murray, Richard Greene and Brenda Joyce t are the stars of “Little Old New ■ York.” A spectacular entertainment ■| of the boisterous days when the ■ ; whole brawling town cheered the ! | barmaid belle of the waterfront in ; i her fight for the love of handsome Robert Fulton, the film also features ; j Andy Devine, Henry Stephenson and ! Fritz Feld. This robust, romantic drama casts Alice Faye in her most colourful role as the fiery belle of the ’ waterfront who fell headlong for ; handsome Robert Fulton—and went after him, while the whole waterfront cheered her on. Fred MacMurray is seen as the burly ship- ! builder engaged to build the Cler- I | mont, after Fulton’s model for the ' first steamboat; Richard Greene api pears as the dashing inventor him- ; self; and blonde Brenda Joyce has j the role of the girl who loved him, ! helped him to attain his dream in j the face of ridicule, and later became his wife.

“FROZEN LIMITS” AT THE STATE THEATRE “Frozen Limits” is one of the most riotous of all crazy comedies, filled with gags and patter featuring the “high-powered irresponsibility” of the Crazy Gang and their exploits in search of a legendary gold cache in Alaska. The clever Crazy Gang, Nervo and Knox, Flanagan and Allen, Naughton and Gold, are supported in their latest jamboree by an impressive cast, which includes Moore Marriott, Bernard Lee, Eric Clavering, Eileen Bell, and Anthony Hulme. As is to be expected of a story dealing with prison life written by Warden Lawes, “You Can’t Get Away With Murder,” has an air of utter authenticity, even though it deals with a situation that most people would deem impossible—the conviction of a man for a murder of which he was entirely guiltless. So entirely possible is it that one does not wonder why Warder Lawes, the author, is a frank and open foe of capital punishment. Its star is Humphrey Bogart, playing a more cruelly villainoas character than any he has ever before portrayed. Young Billy Halop, usually the leader of the “Dead End” kids, is featured with Mr Bogart, and Gale Page, John Litel and others give strong support.

“THUNDER AFLOAT” AT THE ROXY THEATRE Epical story of courage at sea, adding a seldom-told chapter to the history of the United States Naval Reserve, “Thunder Afloat” brings Wallace Beery to the screen amid some of the most thrilling action ever filmed. Teamed with Chester Morris, as his rival throughout the story, and with Virginia Grey, as his daughter, Beery appears as a tugboat captain who joins the navy after a U-boat has sunk his beloved craft. The action-filled sequences in which the principals participate include the raiding and sinking of the tug and its stririr of barges, the torpedoing of a lightship, the disabling of a subchaser after Beery, in command, has attempted to sink the submarine with depth bomb's, the attempted ramming of the U-boat by a Gloucester sciooner which is sunk by gunfire, and the final crippling of the undersea boat. “Two Bright Boys,” featuring Jackie Cooper and Freddie Bartholomew, is a stirring drama of human hearts. Told in the colourful atmosphere of the Texas oil fields, it pictures the swift tragedy which may come when one places confidence in dangerous companions.

“GOLDEN GLOVES” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL “Golden Gloves” tells in exciting fashion how a boxing racket is smashed, J. Carroll Naish appears in the role of a boxing promoter who exploits the talents of young fighters to his own advantage and to the young-

sters’ detriment. An enterprising young newspaper reporter (played by Robert Paige) realises the extent of the harm being done, and awaits an opportunity to expose and smash the racket. His chance comes when a lad is killed in one of Naish’s fights. With the aid of his paper, Paige conducts an amateur contest with Richard Denning, a promising young heavyweight, as the magnet to attract other fighters. Naish’s efforts to smash the crusade and his subsequent downfall provide -lany exciting moments. “Our Neighbours—the Carters” is a poignant, tender and humouors study of small town family lifefl with a cast including Fay Bainter, Frank Craven, Edmund Lowe and Genevieve Tobin. A chapter of the exciting serial, “The Green Hornet,” is also screened. .