AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 219, 16 September 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT. With tiro highly-popular stars in Errol Flrnn and Joan Blondell leading an exceptionally strong cast, and the story written by the author of "It Happened Oce Xight," "The Perfect Specimen." now in ite second week at the Regent Theatre, certainly appears at a glance to have all the ingredients of a comedy of unusual merit; and closer inspection reveals that that impression is a correct one. As Gerald Beiesford Wicks, heir to about 20.000,000 dollars, brought tip in cloisterlike seclusion by a tyrannical grandmother, who aims to make him superior, to each and every one of his 10,000 fufui s employees in everything from boxing la horticulture. Flynn gives one of the best performances of his career. Joan Blondell. who is definitely on the upgrade as an actress. i« in a typically vivacious role ae the blonde who so piques the curiosity of the noble Wicks that he follows her, after a meeting in his grounds, out into the cold hard world —with devastating results. May Robson. as grandmother Wick*, is outstanding in the supporting cast, but Edward Everett Ho: ton, as her Ion?suffering secretin-. .Hugh Herbert. Dick Foran and Beverly Roberts are almost as good. ST. JAMES , . Containing a skihul blending of both classical and popular "swing ' uiu»k, •"Everybody Sing, ' at the St. Janiu=' Theatie is a musical that should appeal to all ciasses of theatregoers. .Leading rok-» are taken by Allan Jones, who will be remembered for his performances :u "Fiiefly"" and "Showbi-at.' , and Judy Gjiland, :he little girl \»kh the big voice, whose rendering of "swing"' music is making her almost as popular as Deaana Duibiu. Fanny Bike seen in "The Great Ziegfeld."" has a feature pan. and rende;-s one number, "Quainty, Daintv Me" wi> h typical vigour. Fluttery Biliie Burke is ideally cast ae Mrs. Bellaire, stage-struck mother of Judy (Judy Garland), -while Reginald Owens is equally as good as hc-r husband. Included in the strong suppoiting cast are Lynne Carver. Reginald Gardiner. Henry Armetta and Elise Cavonnu llie story telk of the effort* of Judy Bellaire. with the aid of the household che'f and the maid (Allan Jones and Fanny Biice respectively) to put on a musical show to raise funds and sav e her parents irom poverty, when her father's plav tuins out to be a flop. MAYFAIR. Two of the most popular of the younger Anieucan stare in Ginger Rogers aiij lanky James Stewart are brought together hi "\ ivacioue Lady. - ' now showiuz dl he Mayfarr Theatre. Although "Mi -s Rogers is without her usual boyfriend r red Astaire, she is still given opportunities to .lance in her role ae Fraucev, a night-club entertainer. James Stewart, whose prestige ae a versatile actor k rising rapidly, adds further to his reputation with an excellent performance as Peter -Morgan, a studious young botany professor from a small-town college, who falls head over hels in love with and then marries the beauteous Frantey when he goes to town to bring home a playboy cou«iu on the rampage. The part of this cousin is played by James Ellison, who for once deserts his "hard-ridin' gun-totin' " roles to make a highly auspicious debut as a light comedian. Charles Cobum ae Peters austere, puritanical father, whose sternness causes Peter to keep his manage secret, thereby precipitating manv complications, and Beulah Bondi. as the rat.ier more human Mr*. Morgan, are both - good, while others prominent in the supporting cast who are responsible for da«s performances are Frances Mercer, Phyllis Kennedy and Franklin Pangborn.

MAJESTIC. One of the outstanding features of \aisity Show," which opens at the Majestic Theatre this evening is the music of Fred Waring and his Pennsv]vaniane, one of the most popular band combinations on American radio and wellknown even in this part of the world per medium of the gramophone record. Thk band has never before been on the screen, ?"* Judpng by its immediate success in the him it is likely that it .will be before the movie cameras more often in the future. Soft-voiced Dick Powell ha* the leading male part at the head of a cast which includes such well-known plavers as Ted Heal, Prisc.Ha and Rosemary" Lane, a » i a u, e "' Johnn >* Davis and Buck and Bubbles. The plot is rather immaterial, concerning the efforts of a co!When all their efforts fail they call in the assistance of "Chuck" Daly (Dick Powell., 1 Z el '- kn ,° ,(ri » Broadway producer, wbo is a graduate of the college. He accedes to their request—with positively amazing results "MidnLAt Menace," the attraction on the programme, co-stars Charlee Farrell and Margaret Vyner, with t r ln tne main supporting ROXY-TIVOLI. "Danger on the Air," main feature on the pro>rranime at the Rosy and lneatrc*. is a murder mysterv that is eerie enough to send shivere up* the spine ol tlie most hardened theatregoer. With the plot ];>id in the unusual surroundinss <.t the headquarter*, of a great national broadcasting service, and built up round the apparently inexplicable murder of an unpopular radio advertising magnate, the-film rises above the usual class of murder mysteries through expert handling of the storv bv director and actors alike. The screenplav u S uTTi hy th «" Crime nnb novel Death Catches Up With Mr. Klnck." by Xantippp. Popular etarlet Grev sliares the top of the bill with a risinz young actor. Donald Woods, who has been seen previously in minor parts in ( harlie Chan on Broadway" and "BiTown Girl." Others prominent in th* cast are William L,undigan. Frank Milan and Skeets Gallagher. Scott Colton and -V ar >:, Kussell are co-etarred in "Extortion, a second feature on the programme, a murder mystery *et against the background of a large United States oeUftge. STRAND. Action-loving fane will find much to euthuse over in 'Tour Men and a Praver " now showing at the Strand Theatre Ricbard Greene, David Xiven, Georgi banders and William Henry, «e Geoffrey Chns, Wyatt and Rodney rcepectirelv' the sons of Colonel Leigh (C. Aubrey fcnnth), who was dismissed in disgrace alter a distinguished army career, and ater murdered, pursue their father's killer through many lands, through a veritable welter of adventures. Although the him is a little far-fetched in parts, attention is retained throughout by excellent direction and fine acting by all concerned Romantic interest ie provided by Loretta >oung, who, as Lynn, a somewhat reckless young lady in love with Geoffrey Leigh, accompanies the brothers on their quest Ihe tension ie relieved at times by David Niven, who provokes laughter without being too eilly. After a long chaee the brothers finally discover that Lynn's lather is president of a munitions company which incited an Indian revolt fallaciously implicating Colonel Leigh. He is persuaded to disconnect himself with the concern, and his general manager k forced to confess responsibility for the incident which caused the colonel's dismissal tnereby clearing the name of the latter.