AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 97, 27 April 1938, Page 18

AMUSEMENTS.

"DOUBLE DANGER." KOXY —TIVOLI. Kob Crane I'reston Foster Carolyn .Morgan Whitney Bourne Gordon Ainsley Donald Meek < 0111111 Samuel S. Hinds Taylor I'aul (iuilt'oyle 1-Ynlriss Cecil Kellaw.iy Also: "DANCING FKIiT," musical romance, with Ilea Lyon, Joan Marsli. All unusual twist is given to the ■•mastermind crook'' story in "Double Danger," first attraction on the new double-feature programme screened for the first time at the Koxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. In the field of crime melodrama this is a novel offering, dealing with crime in a satirical way. At the same time a restraint iu the direction of Lew Landers is evident that prevents the film from becoming an absolute burlesque. The screen play of Arthur T. Honnan and Robert Bren from an original by Horman, contains a fine variety of suspense, comedy, romance and satire. Instead of having only one master mind jewel thief, this film lias two. One of them is a girl, aiul another is Bob Crane, a successful writer of detective novels. These two crooks are unknown to each other, but both are suspected of being " J he Gentleman," a thorn in the side of a police commissioner who is about to retire. The commissioner invites thein both, unknown to each other, to his home in the country, in order to trap the real "gentleman." By arrangement with a jeweller he places duplicates of the stolen jewels in his sale. In the climax live persons claim to be "the gentleman," and excitement is at its lie'ght as the commissioner unravels the mystery and identifies the real thief. An outstanding cast is seen in the film. The two master-mind crooks, who also supply the romantic interest, are played by Preston Foster and Whitney Bourne. Australia's great character actov Cecil Kellaway, is prominent in the list of players, and others there are Donald Meek, Samuel S. Hinds, I'aul 'iuilt'oyle, Arthur Lake, Alec Craig and June Johnson. Associate feature at Ih>Ui theatres is "Dancing Feet." a film which introduces to New Zealand a new dance, the "Riviera." now popular overseas. Joan Marsh, Ben Yyon and Eddie Nugent are in the cast. Miss -Marsh is cast as a spoiled society heiress whose grandfather is determined that the money which he leaves her shall not go to an idle fortune-hunter. Isabell Jewell also has an important part. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Mere mention of the title of the attraction which will be screened for the first time at St. James' Theatre, will set certain tunes and images aflutter 111 the eyes and ears of many theatregoers. For it is the latest "Broadway Melody" film. This year, as always, the sponsors have supplied substantial material through which the film will more than measure up to like productions of re.-ent years. The dancing of Eleanor Powell is again a prime factor, and added interest is given by the presence of Robert Taylor in the principal male role. However, llieie is another powerful presence in Sophie Tucker, the actress whose name has been familiar to two generations of rilm-gocrs. Other important parts were listed m an American publication as follows: —George Murphy, dancing with Miss Powell; Buddy Ebsen, ditto and clowning: Judy Garland, singing in rafter-shaking fashion; Robert Benchley. as a Broadway Press ;ment; Robert Wildhack, the incomparable snorer, sneezing. Others are Raymond Walburn and Billy Gilbert.

PLAZA THEATRE. Dealing in delightful fashion with the efforts of a young French singer to win operatic recognition through an ingenious hoax, petite Lily Pons latest Hollywood musical, "Hitting a New High,' will have its initial Auckland screenings at the i'laza Theatre on Friday. With John Howard opposite Miss Pons, and added hilarity provided by Jack Oakie, Eric Blore and Edward Everett Horton, the film is light-hearted entertainment. Its seven song numbers, ranging 110111 modern tunes to dramatic arias, and its amusing complications are stated to make for a highly entertaining filin- the third in the little French soprano's screen career. Jack Oakie is stated to be at his most boisterous best, in the part of a Press agent, trying to get an audition for the singer in the African jungle, where his employer is having a hunting expedition. Title song of the film is "I Hit a New High," and Miss Pons sings it in fine style. In the cast of the film are Eduardo Cianelli. Luis Alberni, Jack Arnold and Leonard Casey. Good supports will be shown.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Daughter of Shanghai," which will have its initial Auckland screenings at the Majestic Theatre 011 Friday, marks the first appearance 011 the screen here tor some time of the Chinese actress Anna May Wong, who is co-starred with Charles Beckford. In the cast are such well-known players as Philip Aim, Larry Crabbe, Cecil Cunningham, J. Carrol Naish, Evelyn Brent and Anthony Qtiinn. The film deals with the experiences of Miss Wong and an Oriental Government agent when they set out to break up an alien smuggling ring. A Hollywood .critic paid this tribute to "Daughter of Shanghai": "Condense all the excitement of a multi-chapter super thrilling serial into about an hour's running time and you get some idea of the entertainment character of the film."

Completing the double-feature programme is "Cafe Colette," a unique espionage drama. Market! by merry music, gay dancing and catchy tunes, this is an outstanding offering. Stars are Paul Cavanagh, Greta Nissen and Sally Gray.

AMUSEMENT GUIDE. KHYBER PABS —Skating, Skateways Rink. CIVIC BQUARE —Electric Speedway. PICTURE THEATRES. STRAND—Jane Withers In '4ft Fathers" and Arthur Treacher In "Thank You. Jeeves." ROXY —Preston Foster and Whitney Bourke in "Double Danger" and Hen Lyon and Joan Marsh in "Dancing Feet." MAJEBTIC—Cary Grant and Irene Dunne In "The Awful Truth" and Jacqueline Wells and Don Terry In "Paid to Dance." BT. JAMES' —Charles Boyer and Greta Garbo In "Marie Walewska." PLAZA—Jack Buchanan and Maria LoselT In "The Sky's the Limit." EMBASSY—JoeI McCrea and Frances Dee in "Wells Fargo." MAYFAIR —Jack Ilulbert In "Paradise For Two" and Leslie Howard and Joan Blondeli In "Stand-In." REGENT —Deanna Durbin and Herbert Marshall In "Mad About Music." LONDON—Jeanette Mac Donald In "Ro3e Marie." ADELPHI—Guest Night. AMBASSADOR—Guest Night. ALEXANDRA—Guest Night. ABTOR —"His Night Out" and "The Preview Murder Case." AVONDALE —"The Road Back." BERKELEY (Mission Bay)—" Angel's Holiday." BIRKENHEAD —"Nobody's Baby." BRITANNrA — "Champagne Waltz'' and "Trouble in Morocco." CAPITOL —Guest Night. CRYSTAL PALACE—Guest Night. DE LUXE—"Said O'Reilly to McNab" and

"Borneo." EMPREBS —Guest Night. GAIETY—"It's All Yours." GREY LYNN—Guest Night. KING'S —"You Can't Buy Luck." KINGSLAND—PopuIar Night. MAYFAIR Guest Night. PEERLESS —"Last of Mrs. Cheyney." PRINCEB8 —Guest Night. PRINCE EDWARD—"The AwTul Truth" and "Behind the Mike." REGAL—Guest Night. RIALTO—Guest NJglnt. REGENT (Epsom)—Gues't Night. BTAR (Newton) —"Pick a Star" and "Criminal Lawyer." STATE (Symonds Street) —"The Frlsonei of Zenda." STATE (Devonport)—"Breakfast For Two." BTATE (Onehunga)—Gtfest Night. STRAND (Onehunga)—Guest Night. THC REX—"Turn OIT the Moon." TIVOLI—Guest Night. TUDOR—"Love in a Bung-alow." VICTORIA —Guest Night.

REGENT THEATRE. A remarkably (successful season is being experienced l>y the latest Deanna Durbin sinning picture, "Mad About Music," which is the principal attraction at the Kegont Theatre. The little girl singer is ween with an excellent supporting cast, which includes Herbert Marshall, Gait I'atrick and Arthur Treacher. The story deals with the adventures of a girl in a Swiss boarding school. She has no father and her mother, an actress, is separated from her. She invents a father to boast about at school, and when challenged to produce him. she "adopts"' a travelling bachelor (Herbert Marshall). He falls in with this har/nlcss deception, but the little girl complicates matters for him when he goes away by following in the same train. She hopes to see her mother in the big city. Comedy follows as Deanna tries to see her mother, and is blocked by the manager. It' is a story that is all the better for its simplicity. During this action, of course. Deanna.'s glorious singing voice is heard frequently, one of the highlights of the show beinp her rendering, of Gounod's "Ave Maria." accompanied by the Viennese Boys' Choir.