AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

"MELODY OF THE PLAINS." ROXY —TIVOLI. Steve Fred Seott Fuzzy A 1 St. John Molly Louise Small Bill Billy Lenhart Cuss Sliui Whittaker Also: -IT CANT I.AST FOREVER," comedy, featuring Ralph Bellamy, Betty Furuess aud Robert Armstrong. ''The Singing Buckaroo," Fred Scott, ia the new singing Western character to be introduced to Auckland theatre patrons in "Melody of the Plains," which heads the programme presented lor the first time at the Koxy and Tivoli Theaties to-day." He lias a pleasant personality, and his singing leaves little to be desired. Scott is the usual virile Western type, and an addition lit: possesses a charming baritone voice. He has appeared 011 the .New York Metropolitan Opera stage opposite Maria Jeritza, world-famous prima donna. Ihe film has two tuneful song numbers that should become "hits '" before long. I hey are entitled "Happy Valley" and "Albuquerque. ' In the development of the plot, Steve Condon, Fuzzy and Bud are partners. Hustlers prevail on Bud and he joins them, leading them to Condon's camp, in a skirmish Bud is shot by a rustler, but Steve thinks it was lie who was responsible. Discovering Bud's treachery, the pair leave the district, joining up with a party that is having trouble with a rascally land dealer. Steve has a dispute with one of the rustlers over the daughter of the farm where he is living, and the rustler accuses him of the murder of Bud. Action is fast as Steve sets out to prove his innocence, and defeat the ends ot the land dealers. Events lead up to a highly exciting and unusual ending. le .Reading lady of "Melody of the Plains ' is Louise Small, a beautiful young star who was once Miss America, and who has won three beauty contests, including that conducted at the Chicago World's rair. A 1 St. John, famous movie comedian of silent days, makes a successful comeback. But there is one star who almost steals the show—and he is only four years old. Billy Lenhart is his name, and he appears certain to endear himself to every type of audience. He plays the bass viol (or "bull fiddle") with remarkable talent. I his week's Roxy-Tivoli programme cofeatures a highly amusing madcap comedy, It Cant Last Forever," in which Ralph Bellamy is presented with his first comedy role, opposite Betty Fulness. Further hilarity is provided by Raymond Walhurn. and Robert Armstrong plays a prommenT part. I'he plot concerns two vaudeville agents who sign up a "Master Mind," give him a big publicity build-up only to have him get gloriously drunk at a crucial moment. Bellamy has to take his place, and he and Armstrong run into the funniest series of complications seen on the screen for many a day. Miss Fulness gives a fine portrayal as a young newspaper reporter, and Thurston Hall, Wade Boteler and Ld Pawley are also included in the cast. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Sandy Powell, famous comedian of the radio and gramophone, makes his screen debut in "Can You Hear Me, Mother?" which will head the bill of fare at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Powell is an attractive personality over the air, and it should be interesting to see what he is like in person. In the development of the plot, Sandy is whisked from his little native village to London, where he is offered a job by a theatrical agent, but lie finds it is not as easy to become famous as he had imagined. Sandy finds a baby on his way to the big city, wins £50 from a gang of cardsharpers, and does practic ally everything except get his name into lights. Finally, with the help of his 2irl friend (Mary Lawson) he proves that he is a great attraction. ™?. ing wi " be a madcap comedy A Crirl With Ideas/' starring Wendy Barrie, Ivent Paylor and Walter Pidgeon. Action centres around a newspaper office Miss Barrie gets £750.000 in a libel suit against a newspaper, and, not being able to pay, the proprietor turns over the paper to her. Subsequent action is said to provide plenty of fun. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Deanna Durbin, the 14-year-old girl singer who amazed the world with Jier mature and charming voice, has her second major screen role in "100 Men and a rp| l , n i>w; screening at St. James' iheatre. With her are associated Adolphe Menjou, Alice Brady, Misc-ha Auer, Lugene Pallette and Leopold Stokowskv, Tit- f " mou<? conductor of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Menjou gives a delightful performance as Deanna's lather, an impoverished musician who, t friends, is penniless because ot tlie scarcity of musical engagements, xle finds a well-filled purse belonging to a rich society matron, and Deanna returns it to the fluttering, dizzy woman, who is played by Alice Brady. She is persuaded to sponsor an orchestra of 100 players, but she goes away to Europe and forgets all about it. The only solution, according to her husband, is to get Stokowskv to conduct the orchestra. This is done, and thus the story allows for a musical climax, in which Stokowski conducts the orchestra through several offerings of universal appeal. Deanna's singing is all that could be desired. CIVIC THEATRE. ''Ihiii Ice. ' the second film to star Sonja Heme, which is now screening at the Civic Iheatre. is a gay and magnificent musical feature, with its location among glittering alpine slopes, and with the twinkling skates of Miss Henie to enchant the theatre patron. Opposite her appeare J yrone Power in the part of a prince who conies to an alpine resort for the winter, and introduces himself as a newspaper reporter. There is fun in plenty, most of the comedy being provided by Arthur Treacher and Raymond Walburn. Ihree spectacular and colourful skating sequences are included in the action. I ci-haps the best of them is the second, in which Miss Henie dances on skates to the tune of "Tales of the Vienna Woods. The two stars find time to show their ability on skis. Prominent in the supporting cast are Alan Hale. Sig Rumann, George Givot and Joan Davis eccentric comedienne of "Wake Up and Live. The main feature of the supporting programme is a "March of Time," show ? - ing events in China during the past few years and at the present time. EMBASSY THEATRE. . The screen version of Anthony Hope's immortal story of intrigue and romance, ~ 1 risoner of Zenda," screening at the Embassy Theatre, is drawing large audiences at every session. Starred in the film is Ronald Colman, fresh from hie triumphal performance in "Lost Horizon," and in his dual role (Rudolf Rassendvll and King Rudolf .) he is a complete success. 1 here is probably no actor on the screen who could appear more regal than Colman. and the scenes at the court in the kingdom of Zenda are truly magnificent. Madeleine Carroll is outstanding as 1 rincess Havia, and in support is a talented cast, including C. Aubrev Smith. Douglas tairbanks, jun., David -Niven and Mary Astor. Raymond Massev is a villainous character as Black Michael, the Kings brother. Photography in the nlm is all treated in a new sepia which is pleasing to the eye and enhancing to the beauty of the numerous outdoor scenes. "Ihe Prisoner of Zenda" is one ot tlie films of the year. PLAZA THEATRE. Bobby Breen, famous boy singer, plays another singing role in hie latest film Make a Wish. ' which is drawing large audiences to the Theatre at everv session. With him appears Marion Claire, a comparative newcomer to the scieen. who lias a pleasant voice, and Basil Rathbone, who takes the part of the composer who befriends Breen while he is ill a boys' camp. Much of the action takes place in this camp, which is situated near Kathbone's home. When Rathbone retires to this country residence to work. ' lie finds that he has lost touch with his music, and it is Bobby who inspires him to write an operetta. The boy's widowed mother comes to visit him, and Rathbone falls m love with her. He invites her ' to play a part in his operetta, but she goes awsiy. preferring marriage to a rich suitor. Rathbone is heart-broken, and lie goes away also, leaving hi« musical work to be sent to the publisher. It i is lost, but through the efforts of Bobby and mother, who are familiar with the I music, it is finally rewritten and produced.