ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21364, 7 March 1941, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL Graphic adventures of a white huntress in conflict with jungle beasts and African savages in the shadow of a flaming volcano are presented in the exciting film, “ Zanzibar.” Lola Lane portrays a daring girl explorer. James Craig, handsome screen newcomer, has the role of a danger-seeking young American. Following on the cycle of pictures featuring popular song hits such as “ South of the Border,” “ Rancho Grande,” and many others, Republic offers its own contribution to the motion pictures that have been made about motion pictures in “ Scatterbrain,” starring Judy Canova. Eddie Maclntyre, breezy talent scout and righthand man to J. R. Russell, pro-ducer-director of Perfection Pictures, arranges to “ plant ” his own girl friend in the Ozarks and have her “discovered” as an authentic hillbilly to be starred in Perfection’s new picture, “ Thunder Over the Ozarks,” Through an error little Miss Canova, a real hillbilly, is brought to the film capital instead of the sham hillbilly and her adventures after she arrives are exciting, amusing and romantic. ROXY THEATRE “ Spring Parade,” starring Deanna Durbin, and “ Rootin’, Tootin’ Rhythm,” with Gene Autry, will be screened today. Old Vienna, before “ anschluss ” with Germany, is the locale for Deanna Durbin’s production, “ Spring Parade.” The offering, her first “period” picture, is a tale of the days of the gay 90’s, when Franz Josef was Emperor of the pleasureloving Austrian empire. Deanna is seen as a peasant girl who goes to Vienna, where she works in a bakery, and meets and falls in love with a soldier. In “Rootin’, Tootin’ Rhythm” Gene Autry, the beloved sagebrush troubadour, brings his guitar, his sombrero and his broad, winning grin in another saga of the cow country. REGENT THEATRE To say that no expense or pains have been spared in the production of “Pride and Prejudice” is to stop far short of the literal truth. The greatest care has been taken to portray all the background detail of Jane Austen’s Meryton, and the picture bristles with little touches of local colour so interesting at times as almost to run parallel in interest with the many characters. Laurence Olivier, as Darcy, and Greer Garson, as Elizabeth, carry the main burden of the story with a charm that needs no wordy elaboration, but all of the cast are good. Melville Cooper is Mr Collins come to life. The story is that of the unravelling of the diverting love-plots. The film is chockfui of humour, as might have been expected; and added to that there is many a rapid change of scene to lend pace to the telling. STATE THEATRE “ Charter Pilot ” has Lloyd Nolan as a wise-cracking flying ace and Lynn Bari as his radio-queen girl friend who dramatises his adventures on the air. Sparked with snappy dialogue and crammed with action revolving around the exploits of the daredevil aviator, “ Charter Pilot ” is an entertaining production. Highlighting the film is the spectacular climax set in Honduras. Telling a moving story of a homeless, hungry boy with no money, no past and no job, and a brave, beautiful girl, “ Street of Memories ” has Lynne Roberts, Guy Kibbee and John McGuire heading the fine cast. The picture also features Ed Gargan, Hobart Cavanagh and Jerome Cowan in supporting roles. CIVIC THEATRE Out of the black of night rides a bold masked adventurer, his sword striking terror in every heart—his flashing smile and reckless daring winning the loveliest senorita in all of Old California. It is Tyrone Power in “ The Mark of Zorro.” Linda Darnell and Basil Rathbone are at the head of the featured cast. The story is the famous and exciting tale of the night-riding masked figure who flourished in the most exciting days of Old California, leaving behind the jagged sword mark that struck terror to every heart but one, that of I the beautiful girl who gave him her love. Boasting some of the most * spectacular action and sword play the | screen has seen in many a moon, | Power’s role is crammed with hardriding, furious fighting, ardent ro'mance and climaxed by a realistic 'duel with Basil Rathbone. Rathj bone has a ready-made role as a deep-dyed villain. Gale Sondergaard scores as the vain, flirtatious wife of the wicked alcalde.