ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 79, 13 January 1940, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. “The Hardys Bide High,” sixth of the famous series dealing with the popular screen family, at the St. James Theatre tin’s afternoon and won immediate plaudits from a capacity audience. It is a treat for the millions who know and love the famous Hardy family. Metro-Goldivyn-Mayer has produced the sixth of this series, called “The Hardys Bide High” and it reaches the tops in entertainment. For the first timt, the Hardys are really rich people. They inherit two million dollars. They flv to Detroit to claim the fortune and take over a mansion which Mickey Rooney says is big enough to sound echoes. Never have you seen this lovable family in a similar predicament. Even Aunt Milly is affected and goes glamorous. Mickey blooms out in evening clothes, top hat .and all—and meets his first chorus girl. There is touching pathos in the scene when Lewis Stone, as Judge Hardy, discovers that he is not actually the legal heir to the fortune, Lewis Stone is at his supreme form in the new role. Mickey Rooney Avas never better —nor more himself. Ann Rutherford remains as Mickey’s Carvel sweetheart to whom he returns after his one experience with beautiful Virginia Gray as the Detroit siren.

Also on the programme is the new “Audioscopiks.” Giving the illusion of third dimension, the amazing covelty carries even further the surprises of the original “Audioscopiks.” "When a man pokes a wriggling crab at the audience everybody will instinctively shrink away. When a elephant charges fjjpm the screen., most people will feel the urge to be elsewhere. It is necessary to watch “Audioscopiks” through cbloured glasses.' These are supplied free by the management. Completing the unit programme are latest musicals, a Robert Benchley comedy and a “Crime Does Not Pay.”