ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES ROXY THEATRE “Hitler, Beast of Berlin,” a sensational indictment of Nazism, and “Hawaiian Nights,” a musical romance, will be screened today. “Hitler—Beast of Berlin,” one of the most sensational and widely discussed motion pictures ever produced, has been passed in its entirety for exhibition. Described as a frank, fearless, dramatic expose of the fiendish methods of the brutal Gestapo to enforce Hitlerism upon those who dare to cherish the love of Christianity, peace and goodwill among men, “Hit-ler-Beast of Berlin” created somewhat of a sensation in America, where it was first released. Huge audiences thronged the theatres screening the film and loud hisses and jeers greeted the appearances of Hitler on the screen. And as America is a neutral country it is certain that the picture will make an even greater impression upon New Zealand audiences.

Announced as a glamorous picture of the tropics, with melody, laughter, lomance and native dancers in new swing-hula routines, the musical film, “Hawaiian Nights,” will be screened to-day. Featured in the cast are nimble-footed Johnny Downs, Constance Moore, Mary Carlisle, Eddie Quillan, Samuel S. Hinds, Etienne Girardot and Princess Luana.

THEATRE ROYAL Mystery, drama, and suspense are the ingredients which go to make “13th Man,” starring Weldon Heybum and Inez Courtney, a thrilling mystery crime drama. When Sutherland, ambitious District Attorney, states publicly that he will name the 13th big Racketeer in the near future, having already named 12, he mysteriously dies from a heart attack. Swifty Taylor and Jimmy Moran, radio announcers, believe that he was murdered and when their investigations prove true Jimmy is murdered on his wedding day. Vowing eternal vengeance Swifty sets out to discover the murderer and reaches a solution only after several attempts to murder him have failed. “Romance of the Limberlost” is the story of a girl of the swamps who devoted her life to bringing beauty into the lives of her people, and whose love made a young man strong enough to find himself. Jean Parker and Eric Linden have the leading roles. CIVIC THEATRE “Stanley and Livingstone” will be revived today. A rival newspaper has announced that Livingstone is dead, so, partly to prove them wrong and partly from a genuine belief that Livingstone is alive, Stanley goes about his task. The record of his unforgettable and heroic trek “through darkest Africa” is movingly and convincingly revealed. When Stanley, victorious in spite of fever, battle, and danger, finally finds Livingstone, the restrained acting of Sir Cedric Hardwicke as the missionary and Spencer Hracy as Henry is admirable. Stanley tries to persuade Livingstone to go back to civilisation, but Livingstone refuses, saying that his work is not yet finished. Stanley’s story is not accepted by the Royal Geographical Society. Stanley is about to leave the chamber when news comes that Livingstone’s body has been brought to the coast by some devoted natives, and that among his papers are letters referring to Stanley. The picture ends with Stanley returning to carry on the work of exploring Africa. STATE THEATRE “Gun Law” is as thrilling as its title, being a colourful tale of + he West, with action, and romance, George O’Brien, the popular “twogun” hero, leads in this story of adventure. Cleverly blending drama, romance and comedy against a background of underworld intrigue and police investigation, “Night Spot” has Parkyakarkus, Allan Lane, Gordon Jones and Joan Woodbury, lovely professional dancer, in the cast. Drama as well as many hilarious situations result from the efforts of a law officer to obtain evidence linking a nightclub singer with a gang of jewel criminals, only to fall in love with his intended victim and become her ardent champion. Joan Woodbury is cast as the ambitious singer who accidentally wins a job in an exclusive night-club when she establishes a bona-fide alibi for the owner who is suspected by the police of murdering a rival gangster. REGENT THEATRE Popular Ronald Colman portrays Dick Heldar, reckless soldier-of-fortune, in “The Light That Failed.” Heldar, as readers of the famous Kipling novel may recall, is the young Englishman who, after losing the sweetheart of his childhood, finds himself as a war correspondent on the farflung Empire. It is while he is “covering” the war in the Sudan, the war which was to result in the martyrdom of Gordon and the rise of Kitchener on the British horizon, that Heldar becomes acquainted with the hard-boiled Torpenhow (Walter Huston). Torpenhow takes Heldar back to London and there encourages an artistic talent. This talent develops, and Heldar becomes a sensation in the great metropolis. But his fame is short-lived, a wound received in the seething Sudan takes effect, and his sight begins to fail rapidly. From here “The Light That Failed” progresses to a stirring climax.