ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 32, 17 November 1939, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. This week’s dual attraction programme at the St. James Theatre will conclude to-night at 7:45 p.m. “Penitentiary,” with Walter Connolly, John Howard and Jean- Parker, is a thrilling prison story of the calibre of “The Big House,” while; “Mr Doodle Kicks Off,” starring Joe Renner, is a side-splitting comedy. Barbara. Stanwyck and Joel McCrea join with, Cecil B. !De Mille- in bringing to the screen the story of. one of the boldest feats of American history and recreating one- of the most colourful periods of the nation’s past in “Union Pacific,” the grand-scale production which Paramount will present next Saturday at the St. James Theatre. Heading a cast that includes Akim Tamiroff, Lynne Overman, Robert Preston and, Brian Donlevy, Miss Stanwyck and McOrea play the beautiful and fiery daughter of the “U.P.’s” first engineer and a stalwart troubleshooter, respectively. Meeting for the first time at “end of track,” the brawling, gaudy community that moyes ever Westward with the railroad-builders, the two experience' a whirlwind love affair whose pace is in keeping with the times in which it takes place. They, together with the thousands of others whose sweat, vigor and courage made the dream of the railroad a reality, battle financial schemes, the untamed wilderness, frontier gangsters and aroused Indian: nations to join the continent together with iron. Plans are at Moneys and patrons are advised to reserve as soon as possible. SOCIAL AT RAKAIA. A social in aid of the funds of the, Rakaia Ladies’ Hockey Club was most successful, one factor being the large attendance. Music for the dancing was played by Burrell’s Orchestra, and Mr L. Davy was master of ceremonies.