ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES* THEATRE Nelson Eddy is responsible for a brilliant romantic portrayal in "Maytime," the colourful Mctro-Goldwyh-Mayer production which is to commence its second week at St. .Taints' Theatre to'dav. Jeanette Mac Donald also is prominently cast, her singing and that of Nelson Eddy being of a very high standard. The associate programme includes an amusing Pete Smith oddity, "Ski Skill." PLAZA THEATRE "King Solomon's Mines," the film of Rider Haggard's celebrated hook, is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. Paul Robeson, who is well cast and has plenty of opportunity for using his fine singing voice, gives a magnificent performance, as do Roland Young, Cedric Hardwicke, and Anna Lee. The story, in which comedy has a place as well as drama, unfolds itself against an impressive background, a convincing sandstorm being one of the sensations. The exciting incidents in the mines, when the little party of white people narrowly escapes death through a volcanic eruption, are very cleverly contrived. i MAJESTIC THEATRE A two-feature entertainment, comprising "This Way, Please," and "The Man Who Cried Wolf," is being screened to-dav at the Majestic Theatre. "This Way, Please," a film packed with laughter, romance, and melody, contains such popular songs as "VoomVoom," "Delighted to Meet You'," and "Is It Love or Infatuation?" Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and Mary Livingstone have attractive parts. The associate feature, "The Man Who Cried •Wolf," concerns the strange story of a man who had a too-perfect alibi. A famous actor, he commits the "perfect crime," only to find that his own son is charged with the murder and is later convicted. Lewis Stone gives an artistic performance in the part of the actor.

CIVIC THEATRE "Stage Door," a comedy in which Ginger Rogers is at her best, will commence its season at the Civic Theatre to-day. An R.K.O. Radio picture, it tells the story of a young socialite, Terry Randall, whose part is taken by Katharine Hepburn, who defies her wealthy father, and leaves home to take up a stage career. She goes to live at the "Rehearsal Club," which is really a dingy New York boarding-house run by a former actress, and there she finds a dozen or more ambitious girls who are seeking fame on Broadway. From this situation the story develops swiftly, and is at once dramatic and extremely amusing. Ginger Rogers, as one of the stage-struck people in the boardinghouse, gives a, brilliant performance, and has plenty of opportunity of showing off the dancing that has made her world famous. Adolphe Menjou, in the part of Anthony Powell, a philandering prodncer. adds another noteworthy role to his long list of successes. An additional attraction is W alt Disne3 r s "Pluto's Quinpuplets."

EMBASSY THEATRE Now in its third week nt the Embassy Theatre, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer attraction "Night Must I" all," is one of the most popular films of its kind to be screened in Auckland for some months. The film is unusual in story, it being the adventures of a homicidal maniac in search of fresh victims. The photography also is of ft very high order; it being used to emphasise the atmosphere of terror which works up to a thrilling climax. In the role of the murderer, Robert Montgomery gives one of the most convincing portrayals of his screen career. Others Erominent in the cast are Rosalind 'uss>?ll and Dame May Whitty.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Brilliantly produced and acted, "Love 011 the Run.'' which heads the programme to-night at the Prince Edward Theatre, is an unusually, entertaining picture. The leading players are Clark Gable, Joan Crawford and Franc-hot Tone, each' of whom is at the top rank of screen players, and their names provide nn indication of the excellence of the film. The associate feature will be the delightful Irish romantic-comedy "Laughing Irish Eyes."

MAYFAIR THEATRE "Oh. Mr. Porter," in which Will Hay, the well-known English radio and film star, gives one of his funniest, performances, commences its season at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. This picture has not been shown in Auckland before. The ussocislto feature, is an exciting thriller, "Non-stop New York," in which .John Loder and Anna Lee appear. Much of the action of the picture takes place aboard a transatlantic air liner, and the story is full of thrills and adventures.

STRAND THEATRE Samuel Goldwyn's impressive film "The Hurricane is to commence a season at the Strand Theatre to-day. This production is notable for its depicting of a terrific hurricane which sweeps over a little island in the Pacific. In the lending romantic roles Jon Hall and Dorothy Lamour are responsible for very pleasing portrayals. Others in the cast are Raymond Massey, Mary Astor and C. Aubrey Smith. There is an attractive supporting programme.

STAR CINEMA Jean Muir, Beverly Roberts and Warren Hull are the principal players in "Her Husband's Secretary," the Warner Brothers romantic drama to be screened to-day at the Star Cinema. Also on the programme is an intensely dramatic production, "The Black Legion." Lending roles nre handled in capable manner by Humphrey Bognrt and Dick Foran.

STATE THEATRE The noted British screen player Vivien Leigh takes a lending role in "Storm in n Teacup," the entertaining Alexander Kordn production which heads to-night's programme at the State Theatre. Rex Harrison heads the supporting cast. A second attraction in the film "His Lordship," in which George Arliss gives a finished portrayal.

BERKELEY THEATRE Kay Francis and lan Hunter give impressive performances in the dramatic production -"The Whit«> Angel," which is the main attraction to-day nt the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay. The film is based on the life of Florence Nightingale.

LONDON CINEMA Entertainment at- the London Cinema to-day will include the films "Helldorado" and "Jalna," Richard Arlen and Madge Evans nro seen in the former attraction.

TUDOR CINEMA The magnificent technicolour production "God's Country and the Woman" is the principal attraction 011 the programme to be screened to-night at. the I'udor Cinema.

ASTOR THEATRE "Stowaway," in which Shirlev Temple appears, will be screened with "The Devil is Driving" aty the Astcir Theatre to-night.

REGENT THEATRE "The Awful Truth," a film full of gusto and laughter, is beiug screened to-day at the Regent Theatre. Irene Dunne, in the leading role, gives one of her best performances, and Cary Grant, in the leading male role, is also excellent. Admirers of "Asta, the famous terrier of "The Thin Man, who is prominently cast, should i 1 0"' miss this picture. The story of the film, in spite of its brilliance and wit, is a simple one, and concerns a society pair who have nothing to do and much ability to do it gracefully. They determine to get a divorce, but at once discover that they still love each other. From that situation the film develops cleverly.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES "Find the Witness," a Columbia picture, is the chief attraction at the Roxv and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Rita La Roy is excellent in the part of a temperamental opera singer who pursues her deserting husband to California. and Henry Mollison gives a good performance as the husband. Rosalind Keith appears as the singer's secretary, who is afterward suspected of murdering her employer, and Charles Quiglcv gives an attractive portrayal of the young man who tries to clear of suspicion. The associate picture is "Woman in Distress," also a Columbia production. The adventures of two rival newspaper reporters, one of whom is a girl and the other a young man, form the theme of this exciting mystery picture. The young man, who is defeated by his rival on three occasions, is accused by his editor of neglect, and from that situation the film develops along novel and exciting lines.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Robert Montgomery and Marion Davies appear in "Ever Since Eve," which is being screened to-night at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres. The associate feature is "The Last Train From Madrid," in which Dorothy Lamour and Lew Ayres take leading parts. This is a vivid story of the civil war now going on in Spain.

STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNCA "Another Dawn" and "Rustlers' Valley" are the interesting full-length productions which will be presented tonight at the State Theatre, Onehunga.

PRINCESS THEATRE A double-feature programme, comprising "Another Dawn" and "Waikiki Wedding," is the attraction to-night at the Trincpss Theatre, Dominion Road.

VICTORIA THEATRE "The Good Earth" and "Let's Get Married" comprise the double-feature programme to be screened to-night at the Victoria Theatre.

STATE THEATRE. DEVONPORT "Under the Red Robe," the film from the famous story of that name, is being screened to-night at the State Theatre, Devonport. The plot deals with events in France at the time of Cardinal Richelieu. "Reported Miss-' ing" is the associate attraction.

CIVIC THEATRETTE An entertaining programme will be screened to-day at the Civic Theatrette. The main attraction is the exciting drama "Too Tough to Kill." Interesting short features will also be shown.