AMUSEMENTS.'

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 229, 28 September 1938, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS.'

"PRAIRIE THUNDER." KOXY-TIVOLI. Rod Farrell Dick Koran Joan Temple Ellen Clancy Wichita Frank Orth Nate Temple Wilfred Lucas Lynch Albert J. Smith High Wolf Yakima Canutt Director: B. Keeves Easton. Warner Bros. Also: "PRISON NURSE,' with Marion Marsh and Herbert Wilcoxon. The wild and lawless prairies of America in the 1860's form the background of the action in "Prairie Thunder," now showing at' the Koxy and Tivoli Theatres. Dick Foran, the brawny red-heaii who haf •starred in a dozen Westerns already, despite his comparatively short carecr 011 the films, has the leading role, and he is ably by Kllen Clancy, a young starlet who is making her debut in the films. Frank Orth. Wilfred Lucas, Albert J. Smith and Yakima Canutt are prominent in the supporting cast and all give uniformly fine performances.

Dick Foran plays the pait of Rod Farrell, a member of the United States cavalry, who is assigned to duty along the prairie telegraph lines. He and his pal Wi'-hita (Frank Orth) go out to find a break in the lines, and discover that unfriendly Indians are responsible for the deed. The friends follow hoofprints to the Indian camp, where they discover a white man. Lynch (Albert J. Smith) has been inciting the Indians to revolt and so prevent the coming of the railroad, which he knows will ruin his freight transport business.

After capturing Lynch Farrell takes him to the gaol of a nearby town. He is seen by Lynch's right-hand man Matson Kieorge Chesebro). who gallo)>s off to get aid from the Indians, who return to rescue Lynch and burn the town. They also capture Farrell and his gill (Kllen Clancy) and Lynch prepares to revenge himself on Farrell by killing him afte.' preliminary torture.

Wichita sneaks into Lynch's camp and releases Rod. and botli ride off to rescue Joan. Events move fast after this and t)ie story proceeds to a thrilling' climax in an exciting tempo. Ma lion Marsh and Herbert Wilcoxon are co-starred in the associate feature, "Prison Xurse," in which Ray Mayer, John Arledge and Addisson Richards have prominent supporting roles. Wilcoxon is cast as a well-known surgeon imprisoned for a mercy killing. Marion Marsh, as a nurse, is sent to prison to check an outbreak of typhoid, and, recognising him. appeals to him for help. He agrees anri later is about to be released on parole when he i« forced at the point of a : nn to aid some desperate convicts in an attempted break for freedom. He flees with them and eventually finds himself in a highly dangerous position from which he is saved at the last minute by the action of Miss Marsh. RECENT. Judging by the receptions given the film "The Rage of Paris," which begins its second week at the Regent Theatre on Friday, local patrons have taken to their hearts Danielle Darrieux, the lovely French actress who has captivated audiences in every land in which she or her films have appeared. Mips Darrieux is not only beautiful in a way that few actresses are, but she is also talented to a high degree, and has that extra something that raises the favoured few who possess it above the common herd. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in the leading role, gives a performance that may be considered his best to date, with the possible exception of his exhibition in "The Prisoner of Zenda." Others in the cast who are uniformly high class are Louis Havward. Mischa Auer, Helen Broderick and Charles Coleman. The complications that follow a masquerade by Miss Darrieux. a penniless young artist's model, as a wealthy socialite in order to catch a rich husband, form the theme of the plot, and allow for several hilarious situations. CIVIC. One of the timeliest and most impressive films with war as a background seen here for a long time, '"Blockade,"' enters its second week at the Civic Theatre on r liday. Most of the action is set in strifetorn Spain, and the whole production is a bitter indictment of the horror and iutilitj of war. Although the production preserves ostensibly strict neutrality throughout, neither side being favoured, there is, nevertheless, an underlying impression that it is a condemnation also of the fascist war machine, with munitions manufacturers wielding a sinister influence behind the scenes. Henry Fonda gives a most effective performance as Marco, a j oung land-loving Spanish farmer who is caught up in the maelstrom of the civil war and forced to become a soldier. -Madeleine Can-oil maintains her reputation as a high-class versatile actress as Norma, who visits her father in Spain just prior to the outbreak of hostilities, to find tnat, as a munitions manufacturer, he been fomenting unrest in the land. Chief supporting player iB Leo Carrillo. while John Halliday, Reginald Denny and Vladimir Sokoloff are also prominently cast. The adventnres of Norma and Marco, who fall in love, form the theme of the plot, with the sufferings of the innocentpeasants always in the background.

EMBASSY. .There can be no doubt now that Merrily, We Live," which begins its seventh week in Auckland at the Embassy lheatre to-morrow, its easily one of the most popular films of its, or any, type to have come to Auckland. "Topper." Roach s only previous large-scale comedy, was a great success, but it can scarcely be compared with the current attraction. Billie Burke scores a real triumph in this him, and her performance must be considered the highlight of the picture. Constance Bennett, Tom Brown and Bonita Granville, as her scatterbrained children, are uniformly good, a i •» e ' loUß ehold servants, plaved bv Alan Mowbray and Patsy Kelly, are both excellent. Brian Aherne, as a novelist enjoying a holiday by throwing off most of the fetters of civilisation, who is mistaken for a tramp by Billie Burke and aided accordingly, shows himself to be a comedian of real talent, and more should be seen of him in similar parts in the future. MAYFAIR. Much of the action of the film "Sky Giant,"' which comee to the Mavfair Theatre on Friday, is laid in the colourful setting of an up-to-date aviation school, ant j deals with the life and loves of modern airmen in the course of their daily routine. Richard Dix has the leading role, with Chester Morris and Joan r ontaine also in the featured cast. Dix ' la s a typically powerful part as a happy-go-lucky pilot, who, against his will, 'is grounded and compelled to aid Harry Carey, a retired army officer, operate a big flying school. Carey's son, played by Chester Morris, secretly enrols at the school and at once comes in conflict with the oder man's stern discipline. Further trouble is caused bv the arrival of Joan t ontaine, with whom both fall in love. J-he plot traces the adventures of the men when they are both in a large 'plane that 'o rce d down in a deserted spot in Ala«ka, and the climax forms a fitting nnale to a thrilling film. Derrick de -Marney and Joan Fontaine are co-starred in the associate feature. "Blonde Cheat," in which Cecil Kellawav, the well-known Australian comedian, has a prominent part. It is an amusing romantic comedy with a London loan office as its background.

MAJESTIC. America s most famous night club comes to the screen in "Coconut Grove," opening at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Popular Fred Mac Murray, himself a band leader before he went on to the films, plays the part of Johnny Prentice, maestro of a band of musicmakcrs who eventually land an audition at the Coconut (>rove night club. Leading feminine role is taken by Harriet Milliard, who sings several attractive numbers, while the \acht Cbib Boys also present some tunes in their own inimitable manner. Included in the song hits that are introin the film are two, "Dreamy Hawaiian Moon" and "Coconut Grove," by Harry Owens, who was responsible for "Sweet Leilani." Outstanding in the aupporting cast are such favourites as

Ben Blue and Rufe Davis, an d a m : to the»ranks of juvenile actors Lee. The story tells of the r Prentice's band after they are di»ri»-- i * from their usual job in Chicago and.2 out in an old car for Hollvwood to Jul in the Coconut Grove. The boxing 52" ' forms the background of the secondjTtfc? B tion, 'Some Blondes are Dangeroni" with Noah Beery, jun., William Cariai, Nan Grey and Dorothea Kent. ST. JAMES'. .Toan Crawford has one of her best role, for some time in " Mannequin," wj,:*? begins a season at the St. James' Theatr# on Finlay. She acts with conviction and demands attention from the audieni* throughout the film. Academv award wfo! ner in 1937, Spencer Tracy gives another tjpically fine performance in an extretnek difficult part, and his many admirers will find much to enthuse over 'in his portrayal of a self-made man risen from the alami to be the owner of a shippiiyt line. Al.„ Curtis is little, if at all, inferior and m.ta most effective third corner to the romantic ti iaiyile. Others prominent in the cart are Mary Phillip*. Oscar O'Shea and Elizabcth Kisd-on. The film will have especial appeal to women, as Miss Crawford wears no less than 2S gowns by the famon* designer Adrian, each being a style innovation. The dramatic story centres round a factory girl (Joan Crawford) who, dissatisfied with the s-qual«.r of her surroundings, persuades her sweetheart (Alan Curtis I. a fight promoter, to marry her. Soon after her marriage she meets a wealtbv shipowner (Spencer Tracy 1 who falls in love with her and whom she marries, (or convenience, after divorcing her first'h*band. The later part of the film deals with the attempts of Curtis to blackmail her.