ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21211, 6 September 1940, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

r TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES ) CIVIC THEATRE 1 ] c "Irene,” starring Anna Neagle and i Ray Milland is a gay and joyous musi- 1 cal comedy. In a role which places her in true character is glamorous Anna Neagle, who gives a yery charming performance. She plays the role of a model in a fashionable dress salon who is sent to a ball to advertise a creation of her employers and where she is mistaken for a high society figure. She at- 1 tracts the attention of two rich 1 young men (Ray Milland and Alan < Marshal), who immediately start to I woo her. She falls in love with Ray Milland but thinking that he is going to marry someone else she : becomes engaged to Alan Marshal. ' Cupid, however, finds a way. The four tunes that were featured on 1 the stage, "Alice Blue Gown,” “Castle of Dreams,” “Irene,” and “There’s Something in the Air,” are stressed in the picture, and a new number by the same composers, “You’ve Got Me Out on a Limb,” is also woven into the story. REGENT THEATRE One or the outstanding American composers is honoured in “The Great Victor Herbert,” the biographical and musical picture, which is being shown for the first time today. Walter Connolly has been entrusted with the title role and his sincere unembellished portrayal should rank as one of the best characterisations of the year. Mary Martin is an ideal choice as Louise Hall, a favourite actress of Broadway operetta in the early days of this century, interpreting the tunes of Victor Herbert in the light-hearted, romantic spirit in which they were written. Allan Jones, the popular tenor, and Susanna Foster, a talented 14-year-old singer, also appear in important roles. Although Wal- j ter Connolly achieves a noteworthy | success with an inspired portrayal in the title role, the plot is not confined to the life story of the famous composer, but deals rather with the theatre of his time, its players and the changes his music brought about in both. THEATRE ROYAI "Range War,” the best of all the “Hopalong Cassidy” outdoor films, brimming with action, thrills and romance, will be presented to local audiences today. With William Boyd seen again as the hard-riding, straight-shooting “Hopalong,” and Russell Hayden as “Lucky,” his saddle-mate of many a range adventure, the yarn deals with Hopa* long’s efforts to trap a wily, wealthy landowner who is trying to prevent ranchers, from building a railroad spur which would make it unnecessary for them to pay tolls for their cattle to cross his property. A delightfully typical schoolboy with a super-agility for getting into trouble is the central figure of the comedy-drama, “What a Life,” Jackie Cooper is the star, portraying the role of Henry Aldrich. An episode of the “Flash Gordon” serial will also be screened. STATE THEATRE Hard times come a’knocking at the door of America’s first screen ; family, the Joneses. Pa is laid up, they lose their home and all that ’ is left is the family car and the ; trailer. But they haven’t lost their ' sense of humour and their will to

win. The qualities that have endeared them to millions are shown in bold relief in “On Their Own.” Dramatising his personal experiences as a crime reporter for metropolitan newspapers for which he covered police courts, underworld raids, inside stories of gambling.

racketeering and murder. Roy i Chanslor wrote the screenplay for j the mystery film, “One Hour to Live.” The picture features Charles Bick- ! ford as the detective who fights criminals with their own tactics, and Doris Nolan as the Broadway beauty innocently involved in a puzzling murder case. ROXY THEATRE “Good-bye, Mr Chips,” featuring Robert Donat and Greer Garson will be screened today. “Goodbye, Mr Chips” tells the story of a kindly schoolmaster, starting his career in his twenties, becoming a veritable institution in a big English school and shaping the careers of boys destined to become great men. It goes deeply into the heart of education. Robert Donat ■ brings deep understanding to the role, which carries him through foulperiods. His make-up is enhanced by the psychology which makes the character faily live at each stage. Greer Garson is a compellingly skillful actress as well as beautiful. Terry K-ilburn has an interesting role, playing four generations of boys who attend the school, grow up, and send their sons back.