ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21362, 5 March 1941, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

rOMUHT’S PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL A timely, realistic drama that might find its counterpart in the crime investigation liles oi' the United States Treasury Department, is unfolded in “ Society Smugglers,” featuring Irene Hervey and Preston Foster. “ She Married a Cop ” is a merry romantic comedy, in which Phil Regan is seen as a light-hearted policeman, who is unsuspectingly lured into service in an animated cartoon studio as the sound track voice of ” Paddy, the Pig.” When his initial screen effort is unrolled on the screen, at a special preview for his colleagues of the force, he is naturally the victim of some pretty strong ragging, which he receives with ill grace, particularly in view of the fact that he has just married the lovely perpetrator of the deception. Phil returns to the force determined to have nothing more to do with film studios or his wife. But love always finds a way of straightening out such “ difficulties.” ROXY THEATRE For the first time since the advent of talkies a British fiction film has a sequel. The film claiming this honour is ‘ This Man is News,” the story of English newspapei life which xvas so popular. And the sequel to it is “ This Man in Paris.” Barry K. Barnes and Valerie Hobson as “ Mr and Mrs Drake.” the newspaper re-porter-hero and his wile, continue their successful screen partnership, and Alastair Sim is once again the harassed news-editor. “Angels With Dirty Faces” concerns the effect of environment on the lix r es of slum boys. One became a gangster and was idolised by the hoodlums of the younger generation. The other becomes a priest, fighting to make good citizens out of the slum boys. REGENT THEATRE “ Mystery Sea Raider ” shows the story behind commerce raiding on the high seas in wartime, and is a thrilling drama. “ World in Flames ” is a striking indictment of the Nazi system and shows the outstanding events of the past ten years “ PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ” “Pride and Prejudice,” to be screened on Friday, is said to be one of the most entertaining films of the year. In a little English xdllage not far from London is a family consisting of mother (Mary Boland), father (Edmund Gwenn), and five elegible daughters (Greer Garson, Maureen O’Sullivan, Ann Rutherford, Heather Angel and Marsha Hunt). To the village come two immensely wealthy and cultured young men, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy (Bruce Lester and Laurence Olivier respectively). The plot lies in the strenuous efforts of the village mothers to impress the newcomers with the charm of their daughters. CIVIC THEATRE “ Cross-Country Romance,” a romantic comedy featuring Gene Raymond and Wendy Barrie, and “ BillPosters,” a Walt Disney cartoon in technicolour, will be screened today. “ Cross Country Romance ” is as amusing as it is exciting, and keeps the audience in hilarious mood throughout with its intriguing situations and witty dialogue. Interwoven in its comedy are deeper moments of sentiment, and the whole production is sparkling and delightful. Gene Raymond and Wendy Barrie have the romantic leads and fill them well. They are supported by an excellent cast. The Walt Disney cartoons are always a popular feature, and “ Bill Posters ” is one of the best of the series. It continues the amusing ad-x-entures of Donald Duck, who is e\'en funnier than usual. The cartoon is in technicolour, which adds to its attractiveness. STATE THEATRE “ Varsity Shoxv ” is a sparkling musical, comedy, starring Dick Powell. It is the tale of how the undergraduates of a college try to put on a show under the supervision of a dignified and gloomy professor, only to realise that he is ruining it with his highbrow notions. Then they go to the city and find a graduate who by now is a successful Broadway producer (Dick Powell), and induce him to come back to school and supervise a real show. Dick and his partner —none other than Ted Healy—take over the job. Rosemary Lane, lox’ely to look at, is Dick Powell’s romantic feminine interest, while her sister Priscilla is an original and adept dancer. “ Prairie Thunder,” an exciting melodrama of the days when hostile Indians tried to prevent the white man from linking coast and coast with his railroads and telegraph lines, is the second feature, with the handsome, hard-riding Dick Foran as its hero, and lovely Ellen Clancy as the heroine.