ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21230, 28 September 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES

“ROAD TO SINGAPORE” AT THE REGENT THEATRE “Road to Singapore,” with its humour, romance and melodies, is a very bright and entertaining film. The opening finds Bing Crosby and Bob Hope singing their merry way to the South Seas to get away from the girls. Existence in Kaigoon is idyllic until they run into Dorothy Lamour being abused by her dancing partner (Anthony Quinn). The young men take care of her, and she decides to 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. Then ensue some romantic, exciting and hilarious incidents, leading up to a dramatic climax. The hit songs woven into the picture include “Too Romantic,” “The Moon and the Willow Tree” and “Kaigoon.” The Metropolitan Air Mail News, just rectived by Clipper, has the following interesting items:— Nazi bombers downed in Channel raids, British defy blitzkrieg, Dover repels Nazi air raiders, balloon barrage helps net raiders, Hurricanes to the rescue, British fleet shells Libya, British mass for battle of Africa, and Duke of Windsor sworn in as Governor of Bahamas. There are also “Playmates from the Wild,” a Sportlight; “Onion Pacific,” a Popeye cartoon; and the Cinesound Review. “LAW OF THE PAMPAS” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL “Law of the Pampas,” the exciting range drama, carries Hopalong Cassidy far afield, to romantic, rugged Argentine—where the World’s greatest horsemen are known as “gauchos,” where the plains are even wilder than those in the United States and are called “pampas,” where the “boleadores” —leaden balls attached to braided leather thongs—are a deadly substitute for a lasso, and where the “pompero” is a peppery native dance rhythm. “Hoppy,” in the person of William Boyd, and his best pal “Lucky” (Russell Hayden), have some romantic adventures in this tale of adventure. The diverting story of a young man who suffers all the trials and tribulations of a great love only to find that at seventeen he is not yet a man is told in the screen adaptation of Booth Tarkington’s classic, “Seventeen,” featuring Jackie Cooper. A chapter of the thrilling serial, “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe,” is also screened. “RETURN OF DR. X.” AT THE STATE THEATRE People found murdered under exceptionally terrible circumstanves; a beautiful actress found dead with a knife wound in her chest only to show up on the morrow alive and animated; the discovery of a “synthetic blood” which can bring dead humans back to life; a reincarnated killer who must kill again in order to maintain the spark of life in his own being. Of such elements is “The Return of Doctor X.” The title of the picture is apt, because the writers of the screenplay have brought a first-class evil-doer of an earlier picture back to life—only to do away with him again at the conclusion of the new film. Wayne Morris, Rosemary Lane Humphrey Bogart and John Litel have the leading roles. Music, laughter, and a gay romantic story are the pleasing elements found in “Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love.” The neatly contrived screenplay highlights the song from which the picture derives its title, and features Tom Brown and Peggy Moran. Moving at fast tempo, the story reveals surprising experiences of a travelling salesman and a run-away heiress. The two get mixed up with a band of bank robbers who try to turn an elopement into a kidnapping. “MY FAVOURITE WIFE” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, who made their first co-starring appear-

ance in “The Awful Truth,” merge their talents for the romantic and very funny sophisticated marital comedy “My Favourite Wife.” They are cast as a unique couple—a wife supposedly shipwrecked in a scientific expedition she joined seven years ago, and a husband who capitalises the Enoch Arden precedent and remarries. Surprisingly, Irene is rescued an'd returns unannounced on the same day that Cary and his bride leave on their honeymoon. But Irene, still in love with Cary, launches a campaign of interception which turns the bride into a semimaniac. The uproarious complications mount as Cary learns that Irene was alone on that desert isle with another man—a handsome, two-fist-ed he-man—who wants to marry Irene. Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick help in the funmaking. Interesting news reels, comedies and topical films complete the programme. “RULERS OF THE SEA” AT THE ROXY THEATRE “Rulers of the Sea,” featuring Will Fyffe and Douglas Fairbanks, and “Public Cowboy No. 1,” with Gene Autry, will be screened today. Features of the supporting programme are the melodious “Blue Danube Waltzes,” a Popeye the Sailor cartoon. and news reels. “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 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.