AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 291, 8 December 1937, Page 18

AMUSEMENTS.

ROXY AND TIVOLL / "LADY FROM KOWHERE." Polly Mary Astor J-arl ........... Charles Quigley Mr. Barnes Thurston Hall Zeke Victor Killan Oramp Spencer Charters Kd. Lustig ............ Norman Willis Mike Gene Morgan Also ' FREEDOM FOB SALE," drama, featuring! Kosallnd Keith, PauliKelly, Thurston Hall, Gene Morgan and Leona Maricle.

Blending romance, comedy and melodrama in highly successful style, "Lady! From Nowhere," the film at the head of the new double-feature bill at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres, screened for the first time to-day, presents Mary Astor with her first starring role. Miss Astor will be remembered for her outstanding portrayal in a difficult part in "Dodsworth" recently. In the leading male role opposite her is Charles Quigley, Ne,w York stage favourite, for whom a successful career on the screen is forecast in Hollywood. A pleasant personality, he acts well, and has the handsome face and likeable manner essential to screen fame.

Briefly, the story concerns Polly, a beautiful manicurist (Mary Astor) who is witness of a gangland murder and has to flee for her life. Her flight takes her to a small country town, where she meets a young reporter. Earl Daniels (Quigley). Learning that a killer ia on her trail, Polly hides out on a farm, posing as an heiress. This makes matters worse, for the owner of the place, sensing a reward, notifies the father of the real heiress, and gangsters descend on the town. A series of serio-comic situations follow, that rise to an exciting climax. Comedy relief of the small town or "home-spun" variety is provided by Victor Kilian and Spencer I Charters playing the roles of Zeke and I Gramp respectively.

Miss Astor performs admirably, lending to the character of Polly all the subtlety, charm and understanding it requires. Quigley, as the local Galahad, follows close behind her. There is one star, Xor man Willis, appearing as a racketeer, who attracts attention in all his films. He is the epitome of toughness and crookedness.

Screening as associate feature is "Freedom for Sale," a stirring expose of the . evils inherent in a faulty prison parole system. The players all give polished portrayals. Starred are Rosalind Keith and Paul Kelly. The story ia that of the detective who sets himself to break some powerful and unknown personality who, he believes, is behind the wholesale release of murderers and thieves on parole. The unique methods he uses involves him in a romance with a girl reporter and gets him into some odd and exciting situations. Thirrston Hall and Qene Morgan, both of whom are featured in the first film, "Lady From Nowhere," are also cast in "Freedom For Sale." ST. JAMES' THEATRE. With the picturisation of James Hilton's famous best-selling novel, "Lost Horizon," now screening at St. James' Theatre, a dream came true—the dream of Frank Capra, famous Hollywood director. Capra read the book when it was first published, and immediately he was struck with its possibilities as a screen play. The leading part, that of Robert Conway, was entrusted to Ronald Colman, a well-tried and talented player. Opposite him was cast one of the younger stars of Hollywood, .lane Wyatt. An outstanding cast was gathered with Margo, Edward Everett Horton, Thomas Mitchell, John Howard and Isabel Jewell featured. Then the best craftsmen of the screen colony were given the task of depicting on the screen the magnificence and peace of that mythical paradise Shangri-La. The resultant film, which has already captured the 'hearts of many Aucklanders, is a screen epic and a masterpiece of cinema art. Almost two years in time and a fortune in money were expended on its production. EMBASSY THEATRE. The eomed.v talents of Robert - Montgomery and Marion Davies are given full rein in "Ever Since Eve," currently screening at the Embassy Theatre. To be added to this arc the hilarious antics of a quartet of polished comedians— Patsy Kelly, Louise Fazenda, Frank McHugh and Allen Jenkins. The troubles of a beautiful blonde secretary (Marion Davies) form the basis of the plot. She finds herself embarrassed by the attentions of her employers, and is forced to seek new jobs frequently. Finally, disguised in a wig, horn-rimmed spectacles and an atrocious tweed costume, she gets a post as secretary to a rising author (Montgomery). The author is carrying on a love affair with another young woman, and this causes her to leave his employ. Montgomery finds "that he needs her undoubted ability, and when he calls on her he meets her without her disguise. Not realising that the two persons are one, he falls in love with her. Then t!ie complications start, leading up to an amusing climax. The highlight of an outstanding supporting programme ia the coloured cartoon "Pigs Is Pigs." W.E.A. REVUE. "Funnymede and All That," a goodhumoured satire on current historical representations, will be presented for the first time by the W.E.A. in the Old Grammar School. Symonds Street, tomorrow night. It will have a season of nine nights.

AKTTIOnCKT GUIDE.

PICTURE THEATRES. lIOXY—PauI Kelly and Rosalitnd Keith In "Freedom For Sale" and Mary .Vstor and Charles Qwigley In "Lady. From Nowhere." STRAND—Annabella and Conrad Veldt In "Under the Red Robe." MAJESTIC —Margaret Llndesay and Jeffery Dean In "Songr of the City" and Ida Lupino and Ralph Bellamy In "Let's Get Married." ST. JAMEB' —Ronald Colman and Jane \Pyatt In "Lost Horizon." EMBASSY — Robert Montgomery and Marlon Davles in "Ever Since Eve." PLAZA—AIire Faye and Don Ameche in "You Cannot Have Everything'." CIVIC —Don Ameche and Loretta Young In "Love Under Fire." MAYFAIR (laU National) —Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett In "Vogues of 1938." NEQENT —Kenny Baker and Allc« Brady In "Mr. Dodd Takes the Air." LONDON —Hughle Green in "Midshipman Easy" and Edmund Lowe in "Under Pressure." ADELPHI—Guest Night. AMBASSADOR —Guest Night. ALEXANDRA—Guest Night. ASTOR—Guest Nigrlit. AVONDALE —"Rose Marie." BIRKENHEAD—"The Lonely Road." BRITANNIA—"Banjo On My Knee" and "Firty Roads to Town." CAPITOI*—Guest Night. CRYSTAL PALACE—Guest Night. DE LUXE—"The Woman I Love" and Louls-Farr Fight. EMPRESS—Guest Night. GAlETY—"Trouble In Morocco" and "Dishonour Bright." GREY LYNN —Guest Night. KING'S —"Outcasts of Poker Fla/ts." KINGBL4ND—PopuIar Night. MAYFAIR—Guest Night. PICTUREDROME—"Mama Steps Out." PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night. PRINCESS—"Wings or the Morning" and "Behind the Headlines." REGAL—--Guest Night. REGENT—"Swing High. Swing Low" and "Motor Madness." RIALTO—Guest Night.' STAR (Nawton) —"Wire Versus Secretary" and "Guns or the Pecos." STATE CBymonda Straat) —"Ready, Willingl .and Able" and "Pepper." STATE (Devanport)—"A Woman Rebels" and "AN I g tit or Mystery." STATE (Onahunga)—Guest Night. STRAND (Onahunga)—Guest Night. THE REX—"College Holiday." TIVOLI—"Lady From Nowhere" and "Freedom For Sale." TUDOR—"Mind Your Own Business."

MAJESTIC THEATRE. London menaced by American gangsters is the intriguing and exciting theme of "Crime Over London," the film -which heads the new double-feature bill to be screened at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. The film has -a novel plot and a talented cast. It . is said to be a triumph for Joseph Cawthorn, veteran character actor. Margot Grahame has the feminine lead, and listed in the supporting cast are Paul G'avanagh, Rene Ray and Basil Sydney. The story concerns the activities of a powerful group of Chicago gangsters, who find things a little too hot on their native soil and migrate to London. They are all for "knocking off a few jobs," but their leader keeps them in bounds until the right moment for what he considers a worthwhile coup. An audacious plan presents itself when they learn that a former associate bears a remarkable resemblance to the owner of a large departmental store. Scotland Yard operatives are well to the fore in • succeeding developments. "Fury Over Spain," the second attraction, shows the horror and brutality of modern warfare, and traces in authentic fashion the _ progress of the present struggle in Spain. REGENT THEATRE. A fast, clever etory and an outstanding cast are the ingredients of "Sophie Lang Goes Weet," which will open a season in Auckland at the Regent Theatre on Friday. The problems of a successful woman jewel thief who tries to return to a life within -the law form the basis of the plot. This is the third of the Sophie Lang pictures, and it is rated by many critics as the best of them. Again Gertrude Michael appears in the name part. An attractive newcomer is introduced to the theatre public in tJhis film. She is Sandra Storme, beautiful English model. Lee Bowman, one of the screen's newest stars, and' Larry Crabbe handle the main male roles. At the start of the action Miss Lang has been forced to flee New York, and is bound for California by train. An Eastern potentate is also travelling—and with him is "The Star of the World," a large diamond. During the journey the lights go out and the gem disappears. There is a tangle of circumstantial evidence which is finally straightened out to satisfaction in a thrill ng climax. CIVIC THEATRE. The latest manifestation of that particular brand of comedy that is modern, mad and merry is "Breakfast for Two," to be screened for the first time in Auckland at the Civic Theatre on Friday. It is the hodge-podge story of a rich, headstrong girl, the wastrel son of a long line

of steamship owners, and efforts of the girl to save the company and marry him. The name of Barbara Stanwyck, star of "Stella Dallas," heads the cart opposite Herbert Marshall, seemingly aloof actor who seems destined to become more popular than ever by reason of a series of well-iplayed roles recently. Supporting them are Glenda Farrell, front rank comedienne; Eric Blore, whose opening lines in the part of the butler see him greeted as "Butch"; Donald Meek in a role that is small but "meaty," as the justice of the peace; and Etienne Girardot, a reliable character actor, whether it be villainy or comedy. It is now a far cry to the' days when such films were known as "slapstick," but it is only necessary to cite two of this type, "My Man Godfrey" and "It Happened One Xight," to realise their popularity. ■ PLAZA THEATRE. Another Oriental detective makes his bow in "Think Fast, Mr. Moto," to be screened for the firet time at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. Japanese Mr. Moto is portrayed by the German actor Peter Lorre. Lorre is an actor of unusual ability, a fact which he has proved clearly in the few pictures in which he has appeared. Overseas writers go as far as to state tlhat Loire's screen detective almost overshadows the redoubtable Charlie Ohan. Mr. Mote* is a detective of deep and tortuous methods, and with few scruples when he is dealing with the criminal world. The scene of the story changes from San Francisco to Honolulu, and then to Shanghai. It transpires that he is interested in the activities of a band of American smugglers, but it is not until the end that Mr. Moto's activities are revealed in their true light. Adding a touch of romance to the story are Virginia Field and Thomas Beck. Sig Rumann plays another of his villain roles. If all t'hat has been said of this film is true a new and particularly smart recruit is added to Hollywood's corps of super sleuths, with the appearance of Sir. Moto, the bespectacled Japanese. ,