CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 8, 10 July 1939, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. British film producers have been I scoring fairly consistently of late, i However, in "This Man is News," which ,is showing, at the Regent Theatre, the British company chooses to take a hitherto purely American field, the newspaper. The result is a highly entertaining and exceptionally fastmoving murder mystery story in which a young newspaper reporter, as well as "scooping" his rivals some halfdozen times, captures a murderous gang of jewel thieves. The leading role of Drake of "The Gazette" is taken by Barry K. Barnes. He is thoroughly at home in the role of a hard-drink-ing, hard-working "star" reporter. He also creates a new record as being the only reporter to remain married all through the picture. The part of the "better half" is well taken by Valeric Hobson, who at times steals the show, and who is likely to go far in films. Alastair Sim gets the best out of the role of an over-excited Scottish chief reporter. The supports'are excellent. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Tlie universal appeal of the music of Johann Strauss would make "The Great Waltz,"-now in its third week at the Majestic Theatre, a success in any community in the world, but when it is presented in a lively story of the gay Vienna of 100 years ago, with a huge cafet and such a singer as Miliza Korjus, the vivacious Estonian, the appeal is irresistible. The struggles of Strauss against musical tradition and poverty, the unexpected help given by the opera star of the day, and the unswerving loyalty of his wife, despite the quite natural attraction of the singer for the composer, make- a story which is a fitting vehicle for number after' number of Strauss's waltzes. Fernand Gravet fills the role of Strauss, while Luise Rainer is the faithful wife. PARAMOUNT THEATKE. A brilliant display of emotional acting, tempered by a delightful vein of humour, is Elisabeth Bergner's latest contribution to film artistry; as a dramatic actress it is doubtful if she has a.peer; a strong statement, but she combines the best features of several stars and adds to them her own unusual and attractive personal touch. In "Stolen Life," which is now at the Paramount Theatre and in its third week in Wellington, there is a strong impression of the Garbo in her acting (possibly aided by her hair and accent), but she has a tantalising roguishness of which Garbo would not be capable. Her accomplishment is the more outstanding because she has a dual role, each character alike in looks but subtly different in personality. Michael Redgrave is the leading man. The supporting programme is exceptional, containing no fewer than eight items. ST. JAMES THEATRE. If Wellington picturegoers recognise a good thing, when "they see it then St. James Theatre should experience a record season for "The Lambeth Walk," which is in. its second week. Nothing more hilariously comic in the greatest sense of the word has ever been offered, tmd Lupino Lane's work as Bill Snibson, the Cockney who dramaticaUy discovers that he is a peer of the realm, entitles him to rank with the great laughter-makers of modern stage history. The part of Bill's -girl, Sally Smith, is admirably played by Sally Grey, ahd Wellingtonians who remember Seymour Hicks's appearance in the flesh on the stage of St. James when it was His Majesty's Theatre, will be interested to see him in the same theatre in this picture as orfe of Bill's new-found noble relations. In fact, he is the one member of the family who does not agree with the rest that Bill's ennoblement must be followed by his separation from Sally. DE LUXE THEATRE. A violent" war between two newspapers, each desperately fighting to increase its circulation at the expense of the other, is the exciting background for "Newsboys' Home," now showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Heading the cast is Jackie Cooper. Entering the home for; newsboys established by the proprietor of the "Globe," one of, the city papers, and becoming the popular leader of the boys, he sees, after the sudden death of the proprietor, the sales dropping day by day. When the "Globe" finally looks like being run off the .street Cooper organises the "Globe" newsboys to come to the rescue. The associate feature, "Vacation from Love," is a merry comedy, and concerns the antics that result when a saxophone player stops a high society wedding from taking place and marries the bride himself. Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, and Reginald Owen are in the cast.,. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. .Boasting an all-star cast headed by Fred • Mac Murray, Ray Milland, and Louise Campbell, Paramount's great Technicolor cavalcade of aviation, 'Men With Wings," is showing- at the New Princess Theatre. "Men With Wings" tells the story of two men and a woman who love each other very much and aviation more. The associate feature is "Silver on the Sage," a thrilling Western drama starring popular William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy. Included in the featurettes is the Popeye cartoon "The Jeep." REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. A romance that blossoms ,in • the shadow of ominous threats of religious uprisings in the land of golden dome temples, threads a danger-filled course through the vivid story of "Gunga Din," picture version of Rudyard Kipling ballad, starring Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., which is showing at the Regal Theatre. A stormy romance between a girl of the underworld and a society man is the basis of "Tarnished Angel," the second feature, with Sally Eilers, Ann MiUer, and Lee Bowman in the top roles. OUR THEATRE. One of the most original story ideas ever conceived for Shirley Temple is "Just Around the Corner," which is showing at Our Theatre. It tells of a happy confusion of a wealthy old banker (Uncle Sam) with the lean and bewhiskered gentleman who is the symbol of America. The second attraction, "Up the Hiver," is a prison comedy with a chain gang who are "in and out" so often that they have swing doors on their cells. Preston Foster, Tony Martin, Slim Summerville, Arthur Treacher, and Jane Darewell are the stars. , KILBIRNIE KINEMA. With the glorious tradition of the Blue Grass country as its background and the famed Kentucky Derby as its spectacular climax, "Kentucky," a Twentieth Century-Fox production which has been photographed in brilliant technicolour, is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. "The Challenge." the associate film, tells the story of the bitter rivalry between Edward-Whym-per, famous English mountaineer, and Jean Antoine Carrel, a notable Italian guide, and reconstructs their gruelling race for the honour of conquering the Matterhorn. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Movie fans have seen Leslie Howard and Bette Davis together in a tragedy ("Of Human Bondage"), a melodrama ("The Petrified Forest"), and now they present themselves in a comedy, "It's Love I'm After," which is showing at the Capitol Theatre. A new terror which has arisen during the past few years to harass business and defy the forces of law and order in the United States forms the background of Paramount's new drama, "Tip-off Girls," the associate film. Lloyd Nolan, Mary Carlisle, and Roscoe Karns head the cast, ,_

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. j In 1848 there was born in a small American town Jesse James, who for about fifteen years was the most notorious outlaw in the United States. His life, from the time his mother Avas murdered by a railroad hireling till, at the age of 34, he was killed by being shot in the back, is brought to thescreen in "Jesse James," now screen-, ing at the King's Theatre. The picture is in technicolour, and as it is primarily an "out-of-doors" film some of the scenes are remarkably fine. There is, in addition, an all-star cast, headed by versatile Tyrone Power, as Jesse James, Henry Fonda, as his almost equally notorious brother, Frank, and Nancy Kelly, who, with the firstnamed, provides a delightful love interest. Randolph Scott, as a sheriff, has an important role, and Brian Donlevy makes a very sinister murderer. STATE THEATRE. A thrilling story of how two young men nearly meet their death in the electric chair because of bad luck and the red tape of the United States' police, is the basis of "Let Us Live," now showing at the State Theatre. Brick Tennant (Henry 'Fonda), a taxidriver, and a friend are arrested on the eve of Tennant's marriage to pretty Mary Roberts. The two men are mistakenly identified by eye-witnesses as robbers and murderers, and on this testimony and amazing circumstantial evidence are convicted and sentenced to die. "North of Shanghai," the second feature, ,is~ a story of war-torn China and the intrigue which goes on behind the lines. It centres around the efforts of a newsreel cameraman (James Craig) and a young woman reporter (Betty Furness) to discover the people behind the plots which send thousands of men to their doom. PLAZA THEATRE. "Stagecoach," Walter Wanger's latest production, is in its second week at the Plaza Theatre. This tale of an odd assortment of people on a stage travelling across Indian-menaced terrain has the same quality of ; almost unendurable excitement : that was in Wanger's much-debated film "Blockade," and is a really firstrate film. In the stage are a sol- '< dier's wife going to rejoin her ; husband, a fugitive outlaw, a' sheriff who has gone after him, a lady without virtue, / a drunken doctor who- has been forced out of town, an absconding banker, a gambler who is travelling on some im- ; pulse of knight-errantry and a whisky salesman. And the way in which their destinies are woven together is cunning and given a stamp of realism. , John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Donald Meek, v George Bancroft, and Andy De- ; vine head the cast. ■ TUDOR THEATRE. j Hailed as one .of the most successful dramatic films of the year, "South Riding," the filmisation of Winifred Holtby's best-selling novel of that title, is showing at the Tudor. Theatre. The . main characters are superably played by a distinguished cast bheaded by four , popular stars, Ralph Richardson, Edna \ Best, Ann Todd, and Edmund Gwerin. Victor Jory and Evelyn Venable have the leading roles in "Streamline Express," a new Action Pictures release, which is the associate film. The film is - a comedy-drama, set on board the ex- : press train of the future,, and the key- '. note of the production is ultra- ' modernity, both in story and set- 1 tings. a ; EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. ; "The Young in Heart" and "Gold ] Diggers in Paris" conclude tonight at j the Empire Theatre. i With the glorious tradition of the , Blue Grass country as its background i and the fanned Kentucky Derby as its - spectacular climax, "Kentucky," photo- : graphed in brilliant Technicolor, opens ; tomorrow, with Loretta Young and i -Richard Greene heading a fine cast. Much of "Kentucky" was filmed on . location in the heart of the Blue Grass ' state, and the picture is a revelation of the luxuriant beauty of this land where thoroughbreds roam the meadows behind white fences. The second feature is "I Am a Criminal," 1 starring John Carroll and Helen Mack, i An outstanding weekend entertain- ] ment is in store for Empire Theatre ] patrons when "Gunga Din" ivill be < shown next Friday and Saturday, with ■ a special "Gunga Din" matinee on < Saturday. < VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. « Two excellent films will be screened ] at the Vogue Theatre tonight. "Let 1 George Do It,", starring , George Wai- ] lace Letty Cray don, Joe Vafli, Alec i Kellaway, and George Lloyd, is the ] main feature. "The Frontiersman," the . second feature, has as stars William ] Boyd, George Hayes, Russell Haydon, ' and bEvelyn Venable. - There will also be £ selected supporting programme. < GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. ] Aimed to surpass all former entries j in the field of blood-chilling shockers, \ .Universal's "Son of Frankenstein" heads the bill at the Grand Theatre. * Vivid, living portrayals that make the \ spine tingle are created out of human ] and inhuman characters by a talented 1 cast headed by Basil Rathbone, Boris \ Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, and < Josephine Hutchinson. 1 STATE THEATRE, PETONE. 1 Entertainment seekers who 'enjoy ] something really thrilling, full of ex- ] citement, and spiced with hilarious ; comedy should make a point of see- ' ing the much-discussed film "The Lady ' Vanishes," which is showing at the J State Theatre. Hailed as the most en- ] joyable picture of 1939, ft brings to the i screen Michael Redgrave, Margaret i Lockwood, Paul Lukas, and Dame May Whitty. J , « PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. 1 Gladys Swarthout and Lloyd Nolan take the leading roles in Paramount's "Ambush," an exciting drama revolving about a sensational bank robbery, which is screening at the Palace Theatre. Gene Autry's latest and whirlwind musical drama of the red-blooded Avest, "In Old Santa Fe," is the second feature. In the cast of popular favourites are Ken Maynard, George "Windy" Hayes, H. B. Warner, and Evalyn Knapp. KING GEORGE THEATRE, j LOWER HUTT. "Pygmalion," the screen version of : Bernard Sha-w's brilliant comedy, is showing at the King George Theatre. Leslie Howard plays the starring role. "Pygmalion" provides something new, fresh, and different in 1 the way of cinematic entertainment. ] It is a real London story with the genuine London backgrounds. The characters in the film are ,the ordinary everyday people of these islands—unrivalled the Avorld over for their quaintly whimsical, broadly humorous, immovable straightforward outlook on life. ' ] DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. ] A summer flirtation at an adult vacation camp, and the hectic romance that ; follows it, form the theme of "Hay- ■ ing Wonderful Time," co-starring Gin- • ger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks, Tun., which is showing at the De . Luxe Theatre. Based on what is said to be the most original story idea ever conceived for a Shirley Temple pic- 1 ture, "Just Around the Corner" is the i second film. i PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. "The Drum," which is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre, covers , every side of Indian Army life. The ' whole effect is heightened by the re- . markable background of Indian mountains which, photographed in techni- b colour, are overwhelming in their < splendour. "Rich Man, Poor Girl," the , second feature, tells the hilarious story , of a millionaire who, in an attempt : to woo his secretary, moves in on her ■ family who regard him with sus- ' picion because of his wealth, „.„ . I 1

TIVOLI THEATRE. An artfully constructed tale which delightfully harmonises superb nonsense, whimsical romance, deft drama, and a leavening of sentimentality, Frank Capra's "You Can't Take It With You" is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. r'You Can't Take It With You" is the heart-warming story of two families whose philosophies of. life are poles apart. One family, presided over by happy-go-lucky Grandpa Vanderhqf, •lives merrily and somewhat madly in a sufficient-unto-the-day atmosphere of untroubled fun. The other family, the, social-conscious, money-grabbing, • powermad Kirbys, are the purest of wealth' worshippers. The two families clash when the Kirby son and ; the Vanderhof grand-daughter fall in love. Jean Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stewart, and Edward Arinold head the cast. Returned to the American screen after film triumphs abroad, Charles Farrell appears in "Flight to Fame," with Jacqueline Wells, which is the second feature. — JRIVOLI THEATRE. Victor McLaglen, whose portrayals of virile, two-fisted roles are widelyknown, gives one of his most power- ■ ful characterisations in R.K.O. Radio's "Gunga Din," in which he is teamed with Cary Grant and Douglas Fairbanks, Jun. In this epic picturisation of the famous Rudyard Kipling ballad, which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre, McLaglen plays a hard-boiled sergeant in the British Army who will fight at the drop of a hat, either for fun or otherwise. Grant and Fairbanks are seen as his two equally devil-may-1 care buddies. The three are co-starred in a cast that boasts Jean Fontaine, Sam Jaffe, Eduardo Ciannelli, Montagu Love, Robert Coote, and Abner Biberman, and others in prominent roles. A dramatic story of Federal operatives who risk their lives as soldiers of peace to eradicate espionage networks, Columbia's "Smashing the Spy Ring" will be the associate feature. Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray. are starred. Other players include Regis Toomey, Warren Hull, Ann Doran, and Lorna Gray. Christy Cabanne directed. ROXY THEATRE. Glamorous Paris during the unforgettable days when powerful Burgundy hammered at the gates of the city and all France breathlessly waited on the commands of a vagabond poet, forms the setting for "If I Were King," Paramount's epic story of the life of Francois Villon, which is showing at the Roxy Theatre. Ronald Colman has the leading role. A thrilling exposure of the fake injury racket is shown in "Accidents Will Happen," the associate feature. REX THEATRE. "Blockade," though it employs the war only as a background and favours neither side in the conflict, furnishes a highly interesting and remarkably accurate picture of Spain's civil strife. Produced on a lavish scale, with an exceptional cast supporting Madeleine Carroll and Henry Fonda, the -film is screening at the Rex Theatre. Horse lovers will find plenty of entertainment value in "Fighting Thoroughbreds," the associate film. TOWN HALL BOXING. The Wellington Boxing Association will provide a double professional bill at the Town HaU on Thursday: C. Marshall, of Gisborne, and K. Fitzwater, of Wellington, wiU meet over eight rounds, and Mark Candy, of Wanganui, will meet Finlay Mclvor, of Wellington, in another eight-round bout. The bouts should provide first-class boxing. On paper the prospects appear ,to be very even, and the main characteristics of both contests will be speed and heavy punching. Mclvor is -well, konwn to Wellingtonians, having held the provincial amateur middleweight title, and he is sure of 'a great reception. His opponent, Candy, although he did not do a great deal of fighting last year, is an experienced, hard-hit-ting campaigner. Fitzwater created a good impression locally when he fought C. Ford last year, and Marshall will provide solid opposition. Marshall last year scored a win over the Australian Cyril Pluto and another competent boxer in Morrighan. There will be excellent amateur preliminaries. Particulars are advertised. "LILIOM" TOMORROW NIGHT. Someone has said that tlie distinction between realism and imagination in the theatre is a false one; that no play is realistic in any sense that will bear investigation. . But what will be said of Franz Molnar's play "Liliom,". which is. to be produced by George Swan for the Wellington Repertory Society for five performances commencing tomorrow night? The London "Times" critic appears to be perplexed, according to the following extract from his notice: "If this were to be plainly considered as a record of Liliom's dream, as a tale told for the tale's sake, it would be enough to say that it was a story slight in substance but delicate in treatment. We might then explain how 'Liliom,' a wild erratic crier to a roundabout.in Budapest, met a young girl, Julia, Joyed her, and married her. How he beat and abused her and repented in his heart. How getting into villainous company he fell foul of the police and stabbed himself to escape from them. How in the next world judgment upon him was suspended so that after sixteen years he might return as a ghost for one day to see his wife and daughter, and how at last he awoke and threw himself in humility at Julie's feet. If this were but a tale, there tlie tale would stand. But 'Liliom' is by no means as simple as that. It is called a legend—a word that cries out: Beware this fellow is up to something that does not lie on the surface of his work." What that something is he leaves to the imagination. With its imaginative daring, its uncanny blending of naturalism and fantasy, humour and pathos, tenderness and. tragedy, "Liliom" should prove one of the most acceptable plays that.this society has ever staged. The box plans are at the D.I.C.