ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21229, 27 September 1940, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES [ CIVIC THEATRE “My Favourite Wife,” reuniting lovely Irene Dunne and ingratiating Cary Grant for the first time since their Academy Award winner. “The Awful Truth,” is a photoplay entertainment which, while vitally differ - , en t in theme, has the same potentiall ties as the former sophisticated sucl cess. It is accorded a treatment of the familiar Enoch Arden plot, equipped with marital mix-ups and, ; plot complications which make it very entertaining. Irene Dunne, . missing for seven years, supposedly drowned in the Pacific, is miraculously and quietly rescued, and returns home on the very day that her hus- . band has had her declared legally , dead and is embarking on his second j honeymoon with Gail Patrick. Miss j Dunne intercepts the newlyweds, , sending home a flabbergasted Cary Grant and his kissless bride. Returning. he learns that his first wife spent those seven years alone with handsome Randolph Scott on a desert islet. STATE THEATRE Picture-goers will doubtless recall the thrills of a picture released several years ago called “Dr.X.” It dealt with the infamous exploits of Dr. Maurice Xavier, who eventually got his deserts in the electric chair. Now, in “The Return of Dr. X.,” Doctor Xavier has been brought back to life—if you can call it living when a person, brought back from the grave, goes around ghoulishly murdering people and draining their 1 bodies of blood in order to maintain the spark of existence in his own being. Picturing the hilarious adventures of a travelling salesman and a runaway heiress in a story which blends music with gay romance, “Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love” is very entertaining. Tom Brown and Peggy Moran carry the love interest in the film, which brings to the screen the song sensation, “Oh Johnny, How You Can Love,” sung by the radio songstress Betty Jane Rhodes. ROXY THEATRE “Rulers of the Sea,” featuring Will Fyffe and Douglas Fairbanks, and “Public Cowboy No. 1,” with Gene Autry and Ann Rutherford, will be screened today, together with the melodious “Blue Danube Waltzes.” “Rulers of the Sea” is a tensely interesting story of the first voyage across the Atlantic of a steam-driven vessel, and the difficulties of an engineer in his struggles to prove that it can be done. Will Fyffe gives a great performance as the engineer, a visionary but a practical man, too. Douglas Fairbanks, as the man who believed in him and loved his daughter, also scores a great success, and the rest of the cast give good.; support. Adventure, thrills, romance 1 and humour are provided in the film. “Public Cowboy No. 1” is a stirring story of the West, with all its life, colour and thrills. Gene Autry fills the title role perfectly, and sings delightfully. Opposite him is charming Ann Rutherford. This tale of the outdoors holds the close interest of the audience throughout. REGENT THEATRE “Road to Singapore” finds Bing Crosby and Bob Hope singing their merry way to the South Seas to get away from the girls. Existence in Kalgoon is idyllic until they run into Dorothy Lamour being abused by her dancing partner (Anthony Quinn). The boys take care of them as far as the house-keeping goes. Although they resent it at first, they decide they like having her around, and both of them fall in love with her. Meanwhile, Pro-

fessor Colonna, a rival of Crosby’s father in the steamship business, has been accosted by the boys in one of their efforts to get money, and the story works up to a satisfying climax. The hit songs woven into the picture include “Too Romantic,” “The Moon and the Willow Tree” and “Kalgoon.” THEATRE ROYAL “Hopalong Cassidy,” adventureloving range hero of the West learns how life is lived in the cattle country five thousand miles South, in romantic Argentine, in his action thril- ! ler, “Law of the Pampas.” This ! picture, which features William ! Boyd as “Hoppy,” is the first of the 1 group to be set far from the home corral. Four songs are introduced—“Habanero,” "Rosita,” “Los Gauchos,” and “La Jornada.” In addition, “Fantasia Argentina,” probably the most popular of all native tangoes, is used in a special dance sequence featuring Steffi Duna, William Boyd’s new leading lady. When a young man’s fancy turns to romance, he has apparently, as ! the old adage suggests, reached the age of seventeen. Such a young man is portrayed by Jackie Cooper in “Seventeen,” Booth Tarkington’s famous classic. “THE HOLY CITY The Hamilton Baptist Chorus 1 Choir will present the melodious cantata, "The Holy City,” tomorrow evening. Among the supporting artists will be Mesdames R. G. P. Brownlee, G. C. Reay, S. C. Williams, Misses H. Rapps and L. Clark; Messrs R. Enright, G. Ayo and S. Clinton Williams (Auckland). Mr Ray Wilson (Auckland) will be organist, and Mrs A. Lonsdale pianist. Mr G. Salthouse is the conductor.