ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21177, 29 July 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE The drama in “You Can’t Get Away With Murder” comes when Humphrey Bogart, who is the real murderer, and young Halop, of the “Dead End” kids, who has been his accomplice in a number of robberies, are sentenced to Sing Sing for one of their lesser crimes at the same time that their victim is awaiting execution there for the murder he did not commit. “Frozen Limits” is a very funny comedy. The popular “Crazy Gang,” Flanagan and Allen, Naughton and Gold, Nervo and Knox, set forth in a bus to get to an Alaskan gold rush of which they read in a scrap of paper. When they arrive in the township, behold, it is a ghost town, dead, deserted, for the paper was forty years old—or the gold rush was, and a war it refers to was the Boer War—they’re “two wars too late,” says Flanagan. ROXY THEATRE Adding another prize portrait to his gallery of memorable characterisations, Wallace Beery climbs still another rung as the tugboat captain who joins the Navy and tries to fight the war single-handed in “Thunder Afloat.” Breathtaking as the action thrills of the picture are, Beery still dominates the story, with Chester Morris lending good support as his tugboat rival and Virginia Grey, as Beery’s daughter, holding the romantic interest. Jackie Cooper and Freddie Bartholomew are cast as friendly enemies in their dramatic picture, “Two Bright Boys,” with Alan Dinehart, Dorothy Peterson, Melville Cooper and J. M. Kerrigan. The story is one of very appealing sentiment, and holds the close interest of the audience throughout. CIVIC THEATRE The boisterous town of the good old days, when cows roamed Fifth Avenue and a barmaid could win a man like Robert Fulton, are brought vividly to life on the screen in “Little Old New York.” 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 brawling waterfront cheered her on. Fred Mac Murray is seen as the burly shipbuilder engaged to build the Clermont, after Fulton’s model for the first steamboat; Richard Greene is seen as the dashing inventor himself; and blonde Brenda Joyce has the role of the girl who loved him, helped him to attain his dream in the face of ridicule, and later became his wife. THEATRE ROYAL A fast-moving drama of the boxing ring, entitled “Golden Gloves,” is the main feature of the new programme. J. Carroll Naish has a typical part as an unscrupulous boxing promoter, with Richard Denning as the promising young champion whom he hopes to cheat. William Frawley and Ed Brophy are the comedians and provide comic relief j to the exciting drama. “Our Neighbours—the Carters” is ! a poignant, tender and humorous study of small town family life. REGENT THEATRIC All of the finest elements of English comedy are preserved in the film adaptation of the popular play “French Without Tears.” Terrence Rattigan’s play, from which the film has remarkably few differences, was ; seen by every member of the Royal I Family as well as by everyone who could get into the • London theatre ; during the two years’ run. The film ■ version loses nothing by its trans- ; cription. The French comedian Jim ; Gerald is cast to perfection as the j professor and Ray Milland gives a | fine performance as the rising young | diplomatist and novelist who refuses I to be vamped by the play’s most de- j signing blonde. Ellen Drew is very i attractive in the latter role, and David Tree, Ronald Culver and others give splendid support. The crowning of the Queen of the South at Auckland Town Hall is shown in a very impressive film and another interesting picture shows the Australian and New Zealand forces in Egypt.