AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 98, 28 April 1938, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The smashing of a billion-dollar alien smuggling racket, said to be responsible for the illegal entry into the United States ot 120,000 aliens each year, provides the background for the plot of "Daughter ot Shanghai," which heads the doublefeature programme to be screened for the first time at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. Making her first appearance on an Auckland screen for sonic considerable time, Anna May Wong takes the leading role, and in the principal male part is virile Charles Bickford. Miss Wong plays the role of a wealthy Chinese girl who undertakes, with the help of an Oriental Government agent, to smash the racket after her father has been killed for refusing to work for it. An outstanding cast has been entrusted with supporting roles. It includes Larry Crabbe, Philip Aim, Cecil Cunningham. Evelyn Brent and Guy Bates Post. Associate feature at the Majestic will be "Cafe Colette," a musical film with a background of melodrama. Stars are Paul Cavanagh and Greta Xissen. Others prominent are Sally Grey and Bruce Scton. EMBASSY THEATRE. Many films of recent months have drawn on the rich reservoir of classical opera for their material, and the latest him of-this type is "I'll Take Romance," which opened an Auckland season at the Embassy Theatre to-day, at the head of an excellent programme. Grace Moore, an opera star of considerable fame, Has the riiain role. Her memorable first appearance in "One Night of Love" will be recalled by everyone, and in her latest, Miss Moore dominates the cast again, in spite of good supporting performances by Melvyn Douglas, Stuart -Erwin, Helen Westley, Margaret Hamilton and Walter Kingston!. The plot is simple, being there only as a background for the musical side of the production. It deals with a bored opera star, tired of the domination of her aunt. She willingly succunrbs to a rich admirer, who, however, is playing on her affections only to trick her into going to South America to sing, instead of Paris. The trick succeeds, and the trickster exposed, but true love is victorious in an amusing climax. On the supporting programme is a Charlie Chase comedy, a sports feature and a fine coloured film. PLAZA THEATRE. Gay romance, cleverly interwoven with comedy and music, marks the production "Hitting a New High," which is to be screened for the first time at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. Dealing in joyous fashion with the efforts of a young French singer to win operatic distinction through an ingenious hoax, the film is stated overseas to be a triumph for the petite Lily Pons and her co-starring partner Jack Oakie. With John Howard in the romantic lead, and Eric Blore and Edward Everett Horton in added comedy support to Oakie. the film is a delightful offering. Its seven song numbers, which range from modem tunes to classic arias and its many hilarious complications make for complete entertainment. This is the third film of the little French soprano's career. Jack Oakie is seen as a breezy Press agent, who works out a hoax whereby the little singer will have an audition in the African jungle, where a prominent, opera company executive is having a holiday. The film was produced by the veteran film magnate. Jesse L. Lnsky. and directed with polish by Raoul Walsh. It is great entertainment. AMUSEMENT GUIDE. PICTURE THEATRES. ROXY —Preston Foster and Whitney Bourke in "Double Danger" and Ben I.yon and Joan Marsh in "Dancing Feet." MAJESTIC —Cary r.rant and Irene Dunne in "The Awful Truth" ami Jacqueline Wells and Don Terry in "Paid to Dance." ST. JAMES' —Charles Boyer and Greta Garbo in "Marie Walewska." PLAZA —Jack Buchanan and Maria I.osefT in "The Sky's the Limit." EMBASSY —r.race Moore and Melvyn Douglas In "I'll Take Romance." MAYFAIR —Jack Hulhert In "Paradise For Two" and Leslie Howard and Joan Blondeli in "Stand-In." REGENT —Deanna Durbin and Herbert Marshall In "Mad About Music." STRAND— Jane Withers in '45 Fathers" and Arthur Treacher in "Thank You. Jeeves." LONDON —Jeanette Mac Donald In "Rose Marie." ADELPHI —"BIonde Trouble" and "Renegades or the West." AMBABSADOR —Ouest :*lght. ALEXANDRA — OReillv to McNab" and "King or fi am biers." ASTOR —"Knight Without Armour" and "Dagerous Number." AVONDALE —"The Boad Back." BERKELEY (Mission Bay) —No Pictures To-night. BRITANNrA — "Champagne Waltz" and "Trouble in Morocco." CAPITOL —"Biding On Air" ami "Born Beckless." CRYSTAL PALACE —"Victoria the Great." DE LUXE —"WiId and Woolly" and "Easy Living." EMPREBS —Guest Night. GAIETY —"It's All Yours." GREY LYNN— "Give t'S This INight." KINGSLAND —"Exclusive" and "They Gave Him a Gun." PEERLESB —"Last or Mrs. Cheyney." PRINCESS —Guest Night. PRINCE EDWARD— "The Awrul Truth" and "Bshind the Mike." REGAL —Guest Night.

REGENT (Epsom) —" Alter tne Thin Man." RIALTO —"Victoria the Great." STAR (Newton) —"Pick a Star" and

"Criminal Lawyer." STATE (Symonds Street) —"The Prisoner

or Zenda." ' STATE (Devonport) —"Breakfast For Two." STATE (Onehunga)—Guest Night. STRAND (Onehunga) —Guest Mg-ht. TIVOLI —"Double Danger - ' and "Dancing Feet." TUDOR —"Love In a Bungalow." * VICTORIA —Guest Night.

MAYFAIR THEATRE.

With the delightful Irish film "Father O Flynn," heading the programme and the official Catholic Centenary film "Credo" as an additional attraction, the Mayfair Theatre should draw capacity houses when this programme is shown for the first time to-morrow. "Father O'Flynn," which is based on the famous song number, stars the famous tenor Tom Burke and Jean Adriennc is in an important part. The atmosphere of "Ould Oireland" is captured to perfection and this is heightened by the many tuneful numbers rendered. In the cast are Henry Oscar. Kohert Chisholin and Ralph Truman! "Credo" is the film many Ancklanders have been eagerly awaiting. All the main events of the recent celebrations are presented pietorially. STRAND THEATRE. The hilarious Jane Withers comedy "4.") Fathers" will lx> shown for the last time at the Strand Theatre to-day. In her latest film Jane is seen as an orphan who is adopted by a member of an exclusive Fifth Avenue Club. His efforts to make a lady of the torn boyish Jane are laughable. The accent is on the comedy side and there are laughs in plenty. Also screening is "Thank You, Jeeves," screen version of tVue Wodehouse novel, with Arthur Treacher as the poker-faced butler.