CURRENT FILMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 138, 23 March 1948, Page 5

CURRENT FILMS

ST. JAMES THEATRE

The new M.G.M. comedy, “The Cockeyed Miracle,” which features Frank Morgan, Keenan <Wynri and Audrey Totter, is the current attraction at the St. James Theatre. Based on the provocative theory that, a mail is privileged to settle tile affairs of his family before wending his way heavenward, the story casts Morgan as the late Sam Griggs who had died without being certain’ that his widow will lie properly taken care of. This means that his daughter, Jennifer, won’t bo able to marry her boy friend Howard, and. also that bis son, Jimmy, won’t, be able to pursue bis ambition to become, a shipbuilder. Consequently when Sam’s father, Ben, who lias died some fifty years before. comes to guide Sam* to bis celestial reward, tlie latter refuses to go until he can be certain that the tangled affairs of his family arc straightened out. This requires Some remarkable intervention upon the part of the astral ghosts into the lives of the various, members of Sam’s family and also some ingenious feats upon the part of the experienced Ben, including the creation of a, storm or two, but in the end Sam’s widow is assured of a lifetime income, Jennifer is able to claim her husband, and Jimmy gets bis shipbuilding job. FLESH AND BLOOD SHOW The advent to Ashburton of a flesh and blood show under the banner of George (Chuckles with Jerry) Tpllerton .‘will go a.long way towards reestablishing confidence in visiting fheatrical companies. At the Radiant Hpll next Tuesday and Wednesday an alLsiar cast of players, beaded by Royston, the triple-voiced ventriloquist (who is. no stranger to Ashburton) will present a bill of fare which lias only one objective,—laughs. Mr Tollerton has also specially imported a professional Punch and .Judy, as lie believes that the thousands of children throughout New Zealand who have never seen this time-honoured favourite, will be forever grateful for his introduction of this classic of the art of puppetry. It is the policy of this company fi> bring a first-class llesh and blood show to the provincial towns of New Zealand each year and 1 lien continued support of their offerings will ensure Ashburton, remaining nn the list of towns to be visited. Rooking arrangements are with Dabourns.