AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 204, 29 August 1935, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES , THEATRE. With an all-star cast fairly crammed with big names, one of the most elaborate screen presentations'*of recent years is now showing at the St. Jamee' Theatre. It is "David Copperfield," Charles Dickens' favourite novel, which comes to life with its myriad o£ interesting characters through the medium of the films. Reproduced with fidelity from Dickens' bestbeloved story, filmed both in England and in Hollywood, the picture.has proved one of the most sensational hits of recent years. Sixty-five stars and featured players make up the "key" characters of the cast. W. C Fields creates the immortal Wilkins Micawber, Esq., the improvident but happy wastrel who is "always expecting something to turn up." Frank Lawton plays the adult David Copperfield, and the child role is played by one of the brilliant juvenile discoveries of recent years, a. ten-year-old lad named Freddie Bartholomew. Lionel Barrymore, Madge Kvans, Maureen O'Sullivan, Edna May Oliver, Lewis Stone, Elizabeth Allan, Kola ml Young, Hugh Walpole, Basil Rathbone, Hugh Williams, Violet KembleCooper, Elsa Lanchester and Herbert Mundin are among the distinguished players chosen to create characters that are immortal figures of literature. Hugh Walpole, the Auckland-born British novelist, was hired by Hollywood to adapt the classic story to film needs. "SHE LOVES A UNIFORM." At the Majestic Theatre to-morrow another collection of mad but merry Damon Hunyon characters will come to life ill "She Loves a Uniform," a. hilarious yarn about the character who inhabit the shady side of Broadway and talk a language o£ their own. In dialogue as unique an they are funny, they rush from bad to worse, to the intense edification of audiences who don't seem to be able to get enough of it. "She Loves a Uniform" is the story of four Broadway crooks who suddenly find themselves host to a flighty young heiress. One might suspect that the young lady emerges rather the worse for experience—but the plot .with a typical "Runyonesque" twist, reveals just tho opposite. It is the ruffians who suffer at the girl's hands. In desperation they finally try to get rid of her by marrying her off to a football star—and here the atory becomes more hilarious than ever. It's great fun, the whole picture—because it's brilliantly written, brilliantly directed by Sidney Lanfield and brilliantly acted by a cast which includes Patricia Ellis, Cesar Romero, Larry Crabbe, William Frawley, Andy Devine, George Barbier, Warren Hymer and George E. Stone. An acceptable supporting programme accompanies "She Loves a Uniform," consisting of "Manhattan Rhythm," "Is My Face Black?" neusreele, a Sportlight film and a Betty Boop cartoon. ROXY AND TIVOLI. A titlo like " The Nitwits" can only suggest the screen's nitwittieet stars—Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. For them, " The Nitwite," which k the principal feature on the joint new bill which opened yesterday at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatre*, its an innovation. They have abundant opportunity to exercise their inimitable comic talents while they solve a baffling murder mystery and extortion plot. The locale ifl Tin Pan Alley, Now York's own song-writing " Latin quarter," which gives a reasonable excuse for three melodies — " Music in My Heart," " You Opened My Eyes," and "The Bluck Widow Will Get You If You Don't Watch Out." The murder plot, which could logically stand alone us a separate production, concerns a terrorist campaign by the sinister Black Widow. When Wheeler's fiancee ie accused, the police finding in her possession tho weapon which murdered her boss, the boys take a hand privately in their hilarious manner. The result is a howling success, a credit to any l'liilo Vance, and they certainly make mystery a laughing matter. " The Xitwite " boaste a ca*t which does honour to tho roles. Fred Keating, ae a suave private detective, makes his activities as mysterious as his profession. Betty Grable, full of vivacity and allure, as Wheeler's " girl friend, singe and dunces with the best of them. Evelyn Brent returns to the screen after a long absence. The two theatres are uieo showing, by way of acceptable contrast, the virile drama. " The Awakening oi Jim Burke," starring: .lack Holt with the brunette Australian Moua Bnrrie. CRYSTAL PALACE, MOUNT EDEN. Gene Stratton-Portei's warm romance "Laddie" receives n sympathetic film treatment in the production which is t«. be presented to-night at the Crystal Palace Theatre, Mount Eden. The authoress, who wrote ' , Fieekle.s,"_"A Girl of the Limberlost," and "Keeper of the Bees"—all of which have been filmed within the past twelve months-—has a following totalling millions in every country of the world. The film of "Laddie" features John Beal and Gloria Stuart in the principal roles. John Beal, a recent Hollywood recruit from the Broadway stage, where he established considerable fame, was seen recently in "The Little Minister" and "Break of Hearts." Virginia Weidler, one of the screen's most talented children, has a. splendid role in "Laddie," which is screening in conjunction with the Jimmy Durante picture "Mister Dynamite." RIALTO, NEWMARKET. A thrilling aerial drama, with a firstrate romance thrown in, forms the basis of "Hell In the Heavens," in which Warner Baxter, romantic hero of scores of film successes, will be the principal draw for this evening at the Rialto Theatre, Newmarket. Conchita-Montenegro has the small but interesting feminine lead. The film deals with the adventures of an American ''ace" airman on the Western Front (played by Baxter), and his frantic efforts, to clinch his splendid record of victories in aerial combat by overthrowing the feared "Baron" of the German forces. An associate feature at the Rialto is "Mister Dynamite," in which Jimmy Durante, Edmund Lowe and Jean Dixori have the principal roles. STATE, SYMONOS STREET. Major Francis Yeats-Brown's memorable drama of the North-West Frontier, "Lives of a Bengal Lancer," in the film version which took Hollywood four years to make, with Gary Cooper, Franchqt Tone and Sir Guy Standing featured, will be given its final screening this evening at the State Theatre, Upper Symonds Street. Tomorrow's change of fare will introduce a dual bijl consisting of "Sweet Adeline," in which Irene Dunne is starred in an entertaining musical production, and "Home On the Range." a virile romance of the great outdoors featuring Randolph Scott. STAR CINEMA, NEWTON. The hilarious antics of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy have never been more amusing >than in their comedy "Sons of the Desert," which is to be screened this evening at the Star Cinema, Newton. For good measure, Charley Chase has an excellent comedy part in the production, which is screening together with "Return of the Terror," a thrilling mystery drama featuring Mary Astor and Lyle Talbot. The change of programme to be effected on Saturday will introduce a bill consisting of the two films, "The Count of Monte Cristo" (Robert Donat and Elissa Landi) and "It's a Gift," with W. C. Fields. TUDOR CINEMA, REMUERA. Will James' memorable drama of a horse's life in the Western plains and mountains comes to the screen under its original title of "Smoky." This excellent picture will be presented to-night at the Tudor Cinema, Remuera, in association with "The Mummy," a. thrilling Karloff film dealing with the revivification of an Egyptian mummy in the twentieth century. . . . "JUDY JINX AND DAVID." A performance of interest to children and adults alike will be offered in "Judy Jinx and David," which will be staged at a matinee and evening performance at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next. Upwards of 100 juvenile and adult players are concerned in this production, which will be under the direction of Mrs. Zoe Bartlfy-Baxter. The profits are to be devoted to the Wilson Home for Crippled Children, Takapuna. '

STRAND THEATRE

A revival of the cleverly constructed murder-mystery film, "Star o£ Midnight, in which William Powell repeats his whimsical "Thin Man" performance, will be the principal feature offered Strand Theatre patrons with to-morrow's change of programme. "Ginger" Rogers, as the bright young lady who announces her intention of marrying the elusive sleuth Powell right from the jump, give" a delightful "performance. J. I'arrell McDonald, as the chief of police, adds not a little to the comedy. Current fare is provided at the Strand by "Strangers All, a choice human comedy-drama, starring that magnificent character player, May Robson. The Egyptian telepathic , magicians, Aleko and Panthea, will close their season on the Strand's stage this evening. COMMUNITY SINGING. The Friendly Road organisation and its attendant Order of the Spongy will conduct a community sing in the J. own Hall to-morrow from noon to 1.30 p.m. Aunt Daisy and Uncle Tom will he in attendance as eong leaders.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE.

TOWN HALL — Bohemian Orchestra's Second Concert. PICTURE THEATRES. NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD— Paul nobeson and Leslie Banks in "Sanders of the River." REGENT —Matheson Lang: and Athene Seyler In "Drake or England." majestic—Lionel Barrymore, Bela Lugrosl in "Mark or the Vampire." STRAND—AIeko and Panthea, Mystics, and May Robson in "Strangers All." LONDON —Victor Jory In "Smoky" and Boris KarlolT in "The Mummy." ROXY AND TlVOLl—Wheeler and WooJsny in "The Nit Wtts" and Jack Holt in "The Awakening or Jirn Burke." BT. JAMES'—W. C. Fields, Lionel Barrymore and All-star Cast In "David Copperfleld." PLAZA —Jack Hulber; and Fay Wray In "Bulldog: Jack." CIVIC—Jane Withers and Jackie Seerl in "Ginger." ADELPHI —"Pleasure Cruise." ALEXANDRA —"Roberta." AMBASSADOR —"Lawyer Man." AVONDALE —"Carnival." BRITANNIA —"Sweet Adeline." CAPITOL —"You Can't Buy Everything. ,, CRYSTAL PALACE —"Laddie." DE LUXE —"Are You a Mason?" EMPlßE —"Forsaking All Others." EMPRESS —"Fast Workers." gaiety—"Bitter Tea or General Yen." GREY LYNN ClNEMA —"Strangers In Love." KINGBLAND —"Collego Rhythm." LIBERTY —"Merry Wives of Reno." rwAYFAIR —"Love's Old Sweet Song." PRINCEBB —"Tho Conquerors." RECENT (Epsom) —" The Merry Widow." RIALTO —"HeII in the Heavens." STATE (Devonport) —"Headline Shootors." STATE (Onehunga) —"Devil's In Love." STATE (Symonde Street) —"Lives or a Bengal Lancer." STAR (Newton) —"Sons or the Desert." STRAND (Onehunga) —"The Hell Cat." TUDOR —"Tho Painted Veil." VlCTOßlA —"Desirable." WEST END —"Fast Lire."

NATIONAL AND PRINCE EDWARD. Two thoroughly enjoyable pictures will be released initially in.Auckland to-mor-row, when "The Girl From Tenth Avenue" and "Havana Widows will receive joint presentation at the National and Prince Edward Theatres. Hie former production is a Ray romantic drama in which Alison Skipworth, who gaye a priceless performance in Will Rogers last locally released film, "Doubting Thomas, has another role to suit her brilliant comedy talents. Lan Hunter, late ot a number of English romantic films, including "The Water Gipsies" and Marry Me," makes his Hollywood bow in the juvenile lead. Playing opposite him is the perennial favourite, Bette Davis, as the Tenth Avenue girl who romances with a. Fifth Avenue man. Colin Clive forgets his Frankenstein scientist roles to give a splendid character role. "Havana Widows is a bright and breezy entertainment in which Joan Blondell and Glenda .barren have principal comedy roles. BOHEMIAN ORCHESTRA. Aliss Eva Stern, famous New York pianist, will be the outstanding artist at this evening's recital by the Bohemian Orchestra. Miss Stern will play Isehaikowsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, B flat Minor, with full orchestral accompaniment. Mrs. Harold Owers and Mr. J. McCarthy will be vocal soloists.