CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1939, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

I STATE THEATRE. " t Believing that film audiences will r welcome a gay respite from the pressure of present-day living, Walter Wanger has produced a diverting story of college love in "Winter Carnival," which heads the new bill at the State Theatre. Starring the vivacious Ann Sheridan with Richard Carlson and featuring a large cast » of Hollywood's outstanding starlets, $ "Winter Carnival" was directed by 5 Charles F. Riesner and is a United i^ Artists release. Winter-time and the outdoors have been, utilised to catch the zestful spirit of the r players as a vehicle for the fast-paced r and tumultuous romance in which ! Miss Sheridan is too attractive and > wealthy to have a private life. Her j i divorce from a titled husband brings ' notoriety from which she flees, and in her attempt to evade reporters she ; runs right into the arms of Professor John Weldon, played by Richard Carl- ' son, whom she jilted during' student days when she was crowned queen of ' the carnival. The associate film is "Hollywood Roundup," starring Buck Jones, Helen Twelvetrees, and Grant Withers. REGENT THEATRE. Co-starred fo* the first time, Errol Flyrin and Bette. Davis are at the Regent Theatre in "The Sisters," adapted from the glorious love story by Myron Brinig. Anita Louise, Jane Bryan, and lan Hunter are also in the cast. The story opens in the early nineteen hundreds on the eve of Roosevelt's election to the Presidency of America. The story is concerned with the fortunes of three beautiful sisters who start their lives in a small Montana mining town, with most of the interest centred on the oldest sister, played by Miss Davis, who marries a wandering, newspaper man (the role taken by Flynn), and goes with him to San Francisco, where her life is a struggle for love and happiness against overwhelming odds. „ MAJESTIC THEATRE. A film of rare significance at a time when warfare on the sea is at us height is being shown at the Majestic Theatre in "Thunder- Afloat." Wallace Beery gives a very fine performance in the leading role as the tugboat captain caiight in the dangers of the last war. It is typical of the character that Beery portrays with his usual sincerity that, when he loses his beloved little ship as the result of submarine action, he should throw himself headlong into the task of taking his own revenge^ Around the adventures of this headstrong old . captain is woven one of the most interesting, pictures of the year. Chester Morns * and Virginia Grey are also starred. " ~" •' s ST. JAMES THEATRE. * James Cagney and Pat O'Brien are < co-starred, and such stars as "Dead j End" kids, Humphrey Bogart, Ann j Sheridan, and George Bancroft are £ the chief supporting players in "Angels With Dirty Faces," showing at the St. James Theatre. In this production, the inimitable Jimmy returns to the type of role which first brought him fame and in which the public has always liked him best. He is again a gang- t ster." The film, however, cannot be c adequately described as simply a t "gangster picture." While it has thrill- c ing scenes of murderous combat be- i tween its central character and his 3 underworld enemies, its interest goes , far beyond such episodes. It is a . biography of the tough youth played 1 by Cagney, carrying him from his boyhpod to the electric chair. At the same time it contrasts his life with that of the character played by Pat O'Brien. J DE LUXE THEATRE. I The first attraction on the pro- £ gramme at the De Luxe ..'Theatre stars a the popular cowboy singer, Gene 1 Autry. "In Old Monterey" is the film, c and it is an entertaining mixture of t hill-billy songs, swing by the "Hoosier c Hotshots," shots of aerial bombing, and : melodrama; The main attraction,. "6000 t Enemies," is a picture which, although comparatively unheralded, is really first rate. The prison scenes in particular must be as good as anyf.lng of that type yet seen on the screen. * The atmosphere is authentic and grip- J ping, and the possibilities of the plot ] the film affords are skilfully ex- « ploited. The stars are Walter Pid- J geon, Rita Johnston, and Nat Pen- » dleton. Supports include latest news- ] reels of the war". 1 PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The common-sense way 01 tackling a social problem, which, if dealt with by "hush-hush" methods, is apt to lead "* to greater tragedy and suffering, is j portrayed in "Damaged Goods," which ( is the main feature at the Paramount •, Theatre. The story of "Damaged ] Goods" is already. well known i through previous presentations un- ; der one form or another, and ( this picturisation of it presents the j problem in a clear, frank, and i common-sense manner. "Damaged Goods" deals with the fight against venereal disease, and it presents to the audience two solutions: one is of the "hush-hush" type, with the inevitable dread consequences that ' follow, and the other is the manner ] of tackling the problem in a proper * manner. "Circus Girl," the supporting t picture, features Robert Livingston, * June Travis, and Donald Cook in an ] exciting personal drama unde*r the > big top. ' ■■, • ■ ] OPERA HOUSE. "South Riding," based on the extremely popular novel of Winifred Holtby and now showing at the Opera House,.has been generally acclaimed to be one of the finest films produced in England, paralleling the * success of the novel itself. The. story 1 is essentially English in construction 1 and flavour, and, centring about the i South Riding County Council in a < Yorkshire valley, analyses shrewdly , and revealingly the lives and motives of the members of the council* motives good and bad which govern mdi- , vidual action and reflect upon the J whole country governed. Edna Best makes a welcome return to the screen as Sarah Burton, the schoolmistress. 3 while Ralph Richardson as Squire \ Came, Edmund Gwenn as Alderman I Huggins, • John Clements as Councillor t Astell, and Milton Rosmer as Alder- t man Snaith give admirable interpreta- < tions. " ■ ' 1 REX THEATRE. "Everything is Thunaer," a thrilling drama of a British officer's escape from a German prison camp, is the main attraction on the concession night pro- ( gramme at the Rex Theatre. Constance ' Bennett and Robert Montgomery are { starred. The associate film is "It Hap- £ pened Out West," starring Paul Kelly • and Judette Allen. 1 1 1 ROXY THEATRE. J With a cast topped by Errol Flyrin, Olivia de Havilland. Rosalind Russell, and Patric Knowles, "Four's a Crowd," Warner Bros.' swiitly-paced comedy 1 romance, is showing at the Roxy \ Theatre. With the inimitable George . Wallace in the starring role, "Gone to \ the Dogs," the associate film, was < twelve weeks in front of the cameras, j and when such record time is spent j in shooting approximately 80 minutes ] of screen entertainment, then some . idea as to the quality may be clearly i evidenced. 1 VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Norma Shearer stars in "Marie - Antoinette," ■ showing at the Vogue i Theatre. Others in the cast include ] Tyrone Power, Robert Morley, John ■ Barrymore. Gladys George, and Joseph i Schildkraut. Four selected supports i .are also showing. ;

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. 1 "The Real Glory," now showing ait - the King's Theatre, is a most inspiring c film of empire-building in the Philipj pines, in which five American army " men and a doctor are left behind t when the army withdraws to train the - Filipinos how to fight against the 1 hordes of bloodthirsty Moros which t infest the jungle. The story moves :, swiftly, and the acting is very well 7 | done. The part of the medico, who i | uses a shrewd knowledge of Filipino i I psychology to fight the natives' iear, is 31 played by Gary Cooper, who carries i the part in his characteristic and thoroughly capable manner. David Niven, ■ who in a short film career has become one of the most popular of actors, takes the.part of a lieutenant who does not take kindly. to orders, and who wants to fight the Moros in their own fashion. PLAZA THEATRE. Presenting a prodigy of the ice rink in diminutive Irene Dare, the new picture at the Plaza Theatre this week, "Everything's On Ice," supplies unexpectedly good entertainment. The little lady herself has remarkable ability and versatility as an ice skater, and also as an actress, and while she makes the film the producers have very astutely seen to it that she does not dominate it. In other words, one does not get too. much of her. She, is the central figure in a story of how an ambitious but chronically lazy uncle capitalises her talent in an effort to get rich quick. The film includes some fine ballet scenes and plenty of good comedy. Topical pictures and another chapter of the life of Walt Disney's "Three Little Pigs" are among the supports. TUDOR THEATRE. The great British shipyards at Clydebank, Scotland, are the setting for Gracie Fields's latest comedy film "Shipyard Sally," which has been transferred to the Tudor Theatre. The story is based on actual_ fact. When depression" came and the yards closed down, throwing many thousands out of work, hardship was acute until : there arose one who journeyed to ■. London and persuaded the Govern- , ment and the directors to resume work. , It was Gracie Fields herself who, fascinated by the episodes, suggested the ; film "Shipyard Sally," which is re- - garded as her best. Cast as private de- } tectives in "The Gorilla," which is the i associate film, the Ritz Brothers are • still the Ritz Brothers. . < REGAL THEATRE, KARORL i Dramatic Ellis Island—last portal of ] freedom —provides the background for 1 an absorbing story for Don Ameche ; and Arleen Whelan in "Gateway," showing at the Regal Theatre. Five new hit tunes are introduced in Jack Benny's new musical riot, Paramount's "Artists and Models," which, with \ Benny, Ida Lupino, Gail Patrick, >■ Richard Arlen, Ben Blue, Judy Can- /• ova, and Andre Kostelanetz and his J orchestra, is the associate film. I KILBIRNIE KINEMA. c Not the story of Lincoln's life, but the story of his heart —his wit, his courage, the two loves he knew —is told in Darryl F. Zanuck's production of "Young Mr. Lincoln," which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema, with £ Henry Fonda in the title role. "Gold j Diggers in Paris," the second feature, j is delightful entertainment. < t EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. ] Mary Maguire and George Sanders ' touch heights of dramatic power rare- 1 ly achieved on the screen in "The Out- 1 sider," at the Empire ' Theatre. Mary . Maguire portrays the crippled daugh- , ter of a Harley Street surgeon, and > Sanders the unorthodox practitioner j who treats her against her fathers ( wishes. One man pitted against three j distinct factions, and his ultimate victory over these forces, form the basis 3 of "Twelve Crowded Hours," Richard } Dixs new starring vehicle, which is ( the associate film. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. 1 Tony Martin and Gloria Stuart are } featured in the cast of 20th CenturyFox's action-packed "Winner Take All, ' which heads the bill at the Grand The- J atre. Henry Armetta, as Papa Gam- J bini of the lovable new screen family, « Slim Summerville and Kane Rich- ( mond are also included in the film. "Crackerjack," featuring Tom Walls, 1 Lilli Palmer, and Noel Madison, isthe ( second feature. 1 ■ ■ : , - ] STATE THEATRE, PETONE. 1 A grimly gripping story of the New < York police and of a father who must put a halt to the criminal activities of his own son, "Sergeant Madden," J which is showing at the State. Theatre, 1 presents Wallace Beery in his most j j masterly characterisation to date. As i; Sergeant Madden, thirty-year veteran ' of the force, soft-hearted, plodding, and i idealistic, Beery epitomises the finest j traits of "New York's Finest." 1 . ' " ] PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. A Scotland Yard sleuth taking a busman's holiday in strife-worn Spain, Don Ameche finds the former land of bullfights and mantillas is still a setting for tempestuous romance when he meets Loretta Youngin "Love Under Fire," at the Palace Theatre. Surging J with all the passions of the seven seas, ■> "Slave Ship," 20th Cehtury-Fox film ] starring Warner Baxter and Wallace 1 Beery, is the associate film. ( . .. —~ 1 PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, ; WOBURN. "Night Must Fall" as the most novel story of its type yet to reach the ' screen, is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. Dame May Wnitty, Rosa- s lind Russell, and Robert Montgomery 1 head a London stage cast. "Homicide ( Bureau," the thrilling Columbia drama featuring Bruce Cabot and Rita Hayworth, is the second feature. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER , HUTT. With Loretta Young and Warner Baxter co-starred again, "Wife, Husband, and Friend," 20th Century-Fox's ■ gay romantic comedy is showing at : the King George Theatre. The film tells in merry terms the sparkling story > of a gay, modern marriage, which was all bliss until the wife decided that she could and should have a singing ; career. ; DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER J HUTT. Victor McLaglen is the star of "Ex- \ Champ," showing at the De Luxe : Theatre. Tom Brown is featured with [ a cast which includes Nan Grey, Gonr ' stance Moore, and Donald Briggs. , "Mystery House," the story of how a wealthy man was slain at his remote hunting lodge, and how clever Detective Lance O Leary found the killer, is the associate film. ASCOT THEATRE. j In the adventures of "Huckleberry ] Finn," screening at the Ascot Theatre. Mark Twain's lovable hero is born ' again in a memorable picturisation, ' with Mickey Rooney as Huck. Walter Connolly also stars in this story of . homely, human people. The second ! feature, "Risky Business." with George ■ Murphy and Dorothea Kent, tells of a radio racket and a thrilling exposure. ' An Our Gang comedy is included in ' the supporting programme. TIMARU CARNIVAL. The beach carnival of the Caroline Bay Association,' held at Timaru in the Christmas and New Year week, has always been a popular event This year there is an added attraction in ( the form of a bathing beauty contest, ' for which post entries will be accepted I ' from visitors. I'