FILM PROGRAMMES REVIEWED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 247, 17 October 1936, Page 17

FILM PROGRAMMES REVIEWED.

"SAN FRANCISCO." ST. JAMES'. "Blacky" Norton Clark Gable Mary Blake .... Jeanette MucDunald Father Tim Mullin .... Spencer Tracy Jack Hurley J (lc k Holt Mrs. Burley Jessie Ralph Matt . Ted Healy Trixie Shirley Iloss Sheriff Edgar Kennedy Director: W. S. Van D.vke. M.G.M. "San Francisco" came to Auckland with a great reputation, but the audience at the St. James' Theatre last night, where the film opened its eeiuson, will say with the Queen of Sheba to" Solomon that the half had not been told them. From many points of view' thff picture .is one of the best that has -been seen in the city .for some years. •_ It. is not merely highly dramatic, it is not ■ merely pathetic, it is not only historical; it' combines with all these a judiciously blended religious sentiment and a wholesomenees which is not seen in the average - picture! The crux of the film j, of course, is -the 1906 earthquake in that city, It is safe to say that scenes with such magnificent photography have never before Ibeen seen in this city by theatre audiences. Buildings totter, sway and crash to ruins. Panicstricken people are overwhelmed in the streets. Dynamite is used to stay the progress of the fire which follows the 'quake. These are scenes of sheer realism, which bring out the sheer -helpless terror of an earthquake. Of the cast, four persons must stand out. They are Jeanette Donald, Clark Gable, Jessie Ralph and Spencer Tracy. Jeanette Mac Donald, the sweet, unspoiled girl; -with .the glorious voice, is introduced to "Blackie" Norton (Clark Gable), the unprincipled proprietor of a villainous dance hall on the Barbary Coast. Norton falls in love with Jeanette becausfe'she is a type of woman with whom he is totally unfamiliar. Their acting together is of a high older—Jeanette, the appealing, the -winsome, in love, though afraid -both of. her love and Norton; Gable, the masterful, the unprincipled, the lovable. The story hinges on hk change of heart. Spencer Tracy is perhaps the most amazing. Audiences will remember him as the "hard-boiled" gangster. In this he is a Roman Catholic priest in the worst part of San Francisco —the part where Norton holds sway. He certainly has added the faculty for versatility to his repertoire. Then Jessie Ralph, with a small part, is the leader of society, with a sane perspective and a vitality all out of' place with her years. To speak of a religious aspect seems out of place. Yet there it is, so interwoven with the atmosphere and theme of the story that it is natural. One scene shows Norton on his knees praying to a God in Whom he has not believed. Yet this is part of the atmosphere. Then there is the singing of the Jeanette with the golden voice. The audience will reinemlber the. scene in the opera house, where she takes the part of Marguerita in "Faust," as well as that in the little mission on the Barbary Coast. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest pictures which Auckland has seen for many years. Of the supports, the most entertaining is "Audioscopiks," little instruments supplied to the audience which bring out the third dimensions in screen photography. The effects are most amusing. There are also terribly realistic scenes of the civil war in Spain,

EMBASSY THEATRE. Walter Wanger's romantic comedy set to music, •"'Palm Springs," now showing at the Embassy Theatre, has its locale in the playground of Hollywood's movie stars and West Coast millionaires, with Frances Langford and Smith Ballew in the romantic lead roles. "Palm Springs" presents a vivid picture of .the play life of debutantes and movie queens, of sporting men and wealthy idlers. Sir Guy Standing plays the role .of Miss Landlord's father, a penniless retired British captain. She decides to go fortune-hunting, Ibut nffeets Smith Ballew,. a young crooning, guitar-punching cowboy. They fall in love. Complications occur when she sets her cap for David Niven, a wealthy- playboy, who falle. for a rumour that she is a. :"Lady Dfis£iii" incognito. His aunt, Spring Byington, helps matters along until , someone calls Frances a fraud and the affair is; sent on the rocks, to the delight/of Sir Guy, who knows .she loves the cowboy and aoes not want to sacrifice herself' through filial duty. Songs in the film are "I Don t Want to . Make History., I • Just iirm. 1 -^ a k e Love," "Palm Springs," The Hills of Old Wyoming" "Dreaming Out Loud" and "Will I Ever. Know?" AMALGAMATED THEATRES, Entertainments offering at houses under the aegis of Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., are as follow:—Civic, "Secret Agent"; Ilaza, "Dancing Pirate"; Roxy-Tivoli jointly, "The Devil's Squadron" and; "Murder by an Aristocrat"; Strand "Show Boat"; National, "Mystery Liner" and "Sweetheart of Sigma Chi'; Crystal Palace and Rialto jointly, "Poor Little Rich Girl"; Regent, Epsom, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "Love Before Breakfast"; King's, Northcote, "Ceiling Zero" and "Times Square Playboy"; Alexandra, Green Lane, "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford" and "Love Before Breakfast"; State, Onehunga, "Little Miss Nobody" and "The Country Beyond"; State, Devonport, "Rhodes of Africa" and "I Married a Doctor"; Princess, Dominion Road, "Little Miss Nobody" and "Let's Sing Again"; Empress, Newton, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "The Golden Arrow"; Regal, Ponsonby, "Colleen" and "Champagne Charlie"; Adelphi, "The Last Outlaw" and "Two Against the World"; De Luxe, "Professional Soldier" and "Special Investigator." TUDOR, REMUERA. What may be Eddie Cantor's last film appearance for Samuel Goldwyn is to be screened for to-night's audience at the Tudor Cinema, Remuera. This is "Strike Me Pink," in which the goggle-eyed favourite lias the support of Ethel Merman and the justly-famous Goldwyn Girls. An imposing array of supporting items is announced.

GAIETY, TAKAPUNA. Jack Buchanan romps through "When Knights Were Bold," the big item announced for to-night's bill at the Gaiety Cinema, Takapuna, with his usual laughter-provoking antics and enjoyable singing. Fay Wray late of Hollywood, and innumerable "horror" films, is his lovely leading lady. AVONDALE MUNICIPAL. A welter of "gags" was packed by Harold Lloyd into his most recent comedy, "The Milky Way," which will be screened this evening at the Avondale Municipal Theatre, together with the virile outdoor romantic drama, "Home On the Range," starring Randolph Scott. ASTOR, DOMINION ROAD. Bright musical entertainment as provided by Ted Lewis and Ted Healy, assisted by blonde Virginia Bruce, in "Here Comes the Band," principal support to "Tlie Ghost Goes West," in which the famous French director, Rene Clair, gave Robert Donat one of his finest roles to date. The two films are showing to-night at the Astor Cinema, Dominion Road. STATE, SYMONDS STREET. David Selzniek, who discovered Freddie Bartholomew "when he went to London to find a David Copperfie'd for his Dickens film of a year ago, presents that charming lad in his first production for his new company, Selzniek International Pictures. That production is an excellent talkie version of Frances Hodgson Burnett s classic, "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Dolores Costello Barrymore acts as "Dearest' and C. Aubrey Smith as the gruff old Larl or Dorincourt. The film is showing at t.ie State, Symonds Street. KINGSLAND TALKIES. Darryl F. Zanuck, "dynamite man" of Twentieth Century-Fox, made a thrilling drama out of the story of "A Message Io Garcia," giving the film the same title and a fine cast headed by John Boles and Wallace Beery. The film screens this evening at the Kingsland Talkies, in company with "Music Hall," a bright film of variety turns.

"THE THREE GODFATHERS." MAJESTIC. Bob Sangster Chester Morris "Doc" . . Lewis Stone Cus . Walter Brennan Molly McLane Irene Hervey Professor Snape .. Sidney Toler Sheriff Roger linliof "Blackie" ; Dorothy Tree Director : Richard Boleslawski. Author : Peter B. Kyne. M.G.M. Also: "YOU MAY BE NEXT," radio "thriller," starring Ann Sotliern and Lloyd Nolan. Although Peter B. Kyne is probably best known' by his delightful "Capiiy Kicks," it is his grim, heroic tale of "The Three Godfathers" that will always be the favourite of his more discriminating readers. Filmed many years ago, it is one of the few pictures of the old silent days the memory of which has never faded in the minds of those who saw it. Now screened again as a talkie, which opened at the Majestic Theatre last evening, it has gained much and lost nothing by the modern technique and a new cast. Chester Morris, as Bob, the virile young brute, callous, mercenary and a thorough-going materialist; Lewis Stone, as "Doc," who carries Shakespeare and Schopenhauer in his saddle bags, - and Walter Brennan as Gus, the disreputable and ignorant old outlaw, all handle their roles with real understanding which holds the sympathy of the audience .all the way. , ■; - '• , : . These are three of the four bandits who a few days before Christmas ride into the little township of New Jerusalem, "hold up" the bank and bolt for the desert. The fourth, Pedro, a Mexican, is shot by the pursuing posse, but the other three, their tracks obliterated by a sandstorm, get away,-though "Doc" receives a wound in the arm. Heading across the desert they find the body of a man and, further on, beside a waterliole that has gone dry, a covered wagon wherein are the dead man's wife and baby, of whom the former is on the brink of death. Like - the wagon horses, the outlaws' mounts drink from a poisonous spring and die, leaving the three iaefi on foot with very little water in their canteens and a baby on their hands. Their only hope of life is to head back to New Jerusalem, 40 miles away, taking their risk of being shot on sight. Bob wants to abandon the baby, but the others insist on taking it with them. First "Doc" and then Gus succumbs; the third, the unwilling godfather of the three, staggers on with his burden to save a child's life at the cost of his own. Of a very different type is the second feature on the programme, "You May Be Next," which is the story of a new "racket" —the extortion of money from radio stations under the threat of having their programmes "jammed" by a powerful mobile transmitter. Kidnapped by the gangsters, the engineer of one of the principal stations is forced to work the set and is made the scapegoat, the authorities putting a price on his head. It is a fast-moving story of the battle between the law and the gangsters, with a novel touch in the studio scenes, in which Ann Sothern introduces a couple of new songs. An excellent newsreel, in which an aeroplane race is an exciting feature, with shots of two crashes, is included on the programme. GREY LYNN CINEMA. One of her most impressive acting roles i« afforded Shirley Temple in "The Littlest Rebel," which is featured on tonight's bill at the Grey Lynn Cinema,! where Edward Everett Horton will, in "Her Master's Voice," also contrive to bring smiles to the faces of patrons. LONDON, QUEEN STREET. The hilarious inanities of Ralph Lynn are seen and heard at their best in "Summer Lightning," whirli Will be combined on to-night's programme at the London Cinema, Queen Street, with "No Other Woman," a moving drama starring Irene Dunne and Charlea. Bickford. AMBASSADOR, POINT -CHEVALIER. A thoroughly comedyromance in Greek • islands and Fifth Avenue mansions, is to be offered to to-night'B patrons by the management of the Ambassador Theatre, Point Chevalier, in Joan Crawford's film, "I Live My Life." Ruth Chatterton will be seen in "Lady of Secrets."... .. ; STAR, NEWTON. , Straight from its Queen Street season, "The Last of the Mohicans" has been transferred to the screen of the Star. Cinema, Newton. This thrillifig version of James Fenimore Cooper's classic tale of American colonisation days, -when redskin fought paleface even on the Atlantic coast, features a splendid cast, headed by Randolph Scott, Bruce Cabot, Henry Wil--coxon, Binnie Barnes and Heather Angel. "BtINTY PtJELS THE STRINGS." Graham Moffat's pleasing comedy, "Bunty Pulls the Strings," will be presented by the St. Andrew's Society in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on October 24, 26 and 27. The play has a stronger romantic element than is Usual in comedies. STRAND, SUNDAY. —The comedy-drama "His First Command" •will be screened to-morrow evening at the Strand Theatre. Mr. J. Edwards will also speak. CAPITOL, DOMINION ROAD. A welter of action unfolds in the newspaper drama "Exclusive Story," in which Frarichot Tone, Madge Evans and Stuart Erwin will be seen to-night at the Capitol Theatre, Dominion Road. Jack Hulbert's amusing "Jack of All Trades" is also on the programme.

VICTORIA, DEVONPORT. The lavish Australian-made production "Thoroughbred," starring Hollywood's Helen Twelvetrees, Frank Leighton and Leo Franklyn, will be combined with the Jean Harlow-Spencer Tracy dramatic romance "Riff-Raff" at the Victoria Theatre, Devonport, this evehing. BRITANNIA, PONSONBY. ■ The suave, aomantic William Powell is at his best with lovely Rosalind Russell as leading lady in "Rendezvous," which is showing to-night in company with H. G. Wells' much discussed drama of the future, "Things to Come," at the Britannia Theatre, Ponsonby. STRAND, ONEHUNGA. Musical romance and a dramatic tale of okl California are splendidly combined in "Rose of the Rancho," which is to be screened to-night at the Strand Theatie, Onehunga, together with the modern romantic comedy "The Bride Comes Home," featuring Fred Mac Murray, Claudette Colbert and Robert Young. MADAME SCOTIA. Hebridean songs will be a feature of the recital to be given in the Y.W.C.A. Assembly Hall by Madame Scotia, known as tlie "Bardess of the Gorsedd, this evening. Her principal musical instrument is the Celtic harp. MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM. Rattling mystery melodrama is contained in plenty, mingled with a surprising degree of comedy, in Seven Keys to Baldpate," the second talkie version of which is to be shown to-night at the Mayfair Cinema, Sandringham, with George O'Brien's "Whispering Smith Speaks" as support. NATIONAL, SUNDAY. A drama entitled "Shadows" and featuring Jacqueline Logan and Gordon Harker will provide the chief screen entertainment at the National Theatre tomorrow night, when Mr. J. S. Stewart will also give a short talk. COMMUNITY SINGING. Under the auspices of the Auckland Community Singing Association and in aid of the Mayor r s metropolitan unemployed relief fund, another of the popular winter community sings will be held on Wednesday m the Town Hall. . Mr. •" Sheard (tenor) will sins ■ -Maeushla."

"THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS." REGENT. Princess Olga ...... Carole Lombard King Mantell Fred Mac-Murray Lorel Douglass Dumbrille Lady Gertrude Allwyn . Alison Sklpwortli Darcy Porter Hall Captain Nieliolls .... George Bnrbier Inspector Lumsden Hare Steindorf Siegfried Kmnann Director; Wm, K. Howard. Paramount. Carole Lombard "goes Garbo" in her latest film, "The Princess Comes Across," which opened a first-run season last night at the Regent Theatre. This brilliant young acress, who, after reaching film stardom in the early days of the talkies and being wofully miscast for three years or so, until she was regarded as something of a "back number" by film patrons, suddenly blosomed forth this year in a series of romantic comedies in which she has rocketed to a new high level in screen popularity. Her acting is much improved, and her looks are what they have always been- —among the loveliest and bestphotographed in Hollywood. In "The Princess Comes Across." the plot of which is in similar vein to "Hands Across the Table" and "Love Before Breaktast," Miss Lombard assumes i pose which gives her role of a Swedish princess a remarkable resemblance to the tall Swede who is recognised as Hollywood's No. 1 personality. Carole's dresses are beautiful in the extreme. Hollywood grooms its subjects impeccably before presenting them to a critical world, and this film is no exception. The other half of the romantic team which is featured in "The Princess Comes Across" is that tall, rough-visaged, modern "lie-man" Fred Mac Murray, hero of just ten films made in a hectic year. He is cast n« King Mantell, apparently a famous accordion-playing band leader, who is, like the bogus princess, en route to the United States to fulfil engagements. Her engagements consist of. a hope .that she will sufficiently impress Hollywood with her assumed royalty that she will be pressed to sign a contract. When a murder occurs on board ship, and is swiftly followed by another, with a group of world-famous detectives on the passenger list, and certain clues pointing suspiciously at the "princess," things begin to look really exciting. In the inevitably manner of film heroes, Fred Mac Murray, who outwardly appears to have the minimum of "horse sense," corners the actual murderer, secures a confession at the risk of his life, and clears the lovely "royal" lady. The latter thereupon, -when the ship berths at New York, broadcasts a confession of her imposture. Surprisingly enough, the nation takes her to its remarkable bosom and lauds her as a nineday wonder. Everything in the garden is lovely, and all ends happik', as it should. Hero gets heroine, and that makes it top-notch entertainment.

The appeal of the film, however, refits not in its plot, which is of quite sufficient strength to justify its existence, but in the fine dialogue-writing of the authors and adaptators, its witty passages and well-directed ecenee. It sets a. fust pace and keeps it throughout. The acting is excellent, supporting artists worthy of honourable mention, including Alison Skipworth, Douglas Dumbrille and George Barbier. Supports show the A.J.C.'s recent spring meeting at Ellerslie and other events. A lighter touch is given by "Shorty," a talented chimpanzee, in a sketch entitled "Shorty at the Seashore." CHAMBER MUSIC RECITAL. The Auckland Chamber Music Society's fourth concert of the 1936 season will be presented in the Lewis Eady Hall on Wednesday evening, when assisting artists will include Vincent Aspey, Haydn Murray, Lois Walls, Lalla Hemus and Owen Jensen. PIANOFORTE RECITAL. A recital of pianoforte music will be given by Miss Sunday Mowbray, assisted by Mrs. Harold Owers, vocalist, in the Lewis Eady Hall on Thursday evening. MUNICIPAL BAND. ■ .Tie Auckland Municipal Band, conducted .by Mr.'iT. J. O'Connor, will play to-morrow afternoon in the Dpmain, and in the evening in Albert Park. Included in the evening programme will be one of many request numbers, "The Three Blind Mice." DANCING. Peter, Pan, Lauri Paddi's band and Johnnie Madden, entertainer. # Pirate Shippe, Milford, "Shrine of Terpsichore," "Incomparable Pirate Six." Carlton Cabaret', modern dancing only; Art Larkin's band. Civic Winter Garden, Nicholas Robins on Wurlitzer and Civic Cabaret band. St. Sepulchre's Hall, Ventura Dance Club. Municipal Hall, Newmarket, old-time carnival; Bob Adams' orchestra. Town Hall, October 21, United Front old-time dance;. Zealandia band. Orange Hall, Newton, old-time dancing; Embassy Dance Club; Ted Croad's Chevalier band. Crystal Palace Ballroom, Waitemata Club dance; Epi and Tony Shalfoon's band. Labour Hill. Karangahape Road, oldtime dance; Olemm'B orchestra. Arts Hall, Kitchener Street, old-time dance; Jack Palmer's Astoria band. Zealandia Hall, Balmoral, "ladies' night"; Zealandia band. , " Gaiety Hall, Surrey Crescent, Tui oldtime- dance; "The Tui Serenaders." St. Mary's Hall, Ellerslie, old-time dancing; Connon's orchestra. O'Neill Street Hall, Ponsonby, "Hardup" dance and cards. Oddfellows' Hall, Suburbs Club's dance; Regal band. Purl Hall, Ponsonby, old-time dance and cards. Parnell R.S.A. Hall, modern and oldtime dance; Clough's band. Swanson Hall, popular dance.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. i PICTURE THEATRES. ST. JAMES'—Clark Gable and Jeanette Mac Donald In "San Francisco." LONDON—Irene Dunne In "No Other Woman" and Ralph Lynn In "Summer Lightning:." MAJESTIC —Chester Morris and Lewis Stone In "The Three Godrathers" and Ann Sothern and Lloyd Nolan in "You May Be Next." REGENT—Fred Mac Murray and Carole Lombard in "The I'rlnccss Comes Across." EMBASSY —Francis Lang-ford and Smith Baliew in "Palm Springs." AMBASSADOR —"I Live My Life." ASTOR—"The Ghost Goes West." AVONDALE—"TiIe Milky Way." BIRKENHEAD—"A Night at the Opera." BRlTANNlA—"Rendezvous." CAPITOL- —"Exclusive Story." DELTA—"The Merry Widow." GAIETY—"When Knights Were Bold." GREY LYNN—"The Littlest Rebel." KINGSLAND —"A Message to Garcia." LIBERTY —"WhijJsaw." MAYFAIR—"Seven Keys to Baldpate." PICTUREDROME —"Way Down Eas:t." PRINCE EDWARD —"Anything Goes." 80UTHERN CROSS—"Captain January." STAR (Newton) —Randolph Scott and Binnle Barnes in "The Last of the Mohicans." STATE (Symondß Street) —"Little Lord Fauntleroy." STRAND (Onehunga)—"Rose or the Rancho." TUDOR —"Strike Me Pink " VICTORIA—"Thoroughbred."