AMUSEMENTS.
"SMASHING THE RACKETS." ROXY-TIV OLI. Jim Conway Chester Morris Susan Lane Frances Mercer Letty Lane Rita Johnson Steve Lawrence Bruce Cabot Whlte.v Ben Weldon Chin Martin Edward Pawley Director Lew Anders (RKO-Kadio). Also "LOVE IS OX THE AIR," with Ronald Reagan and June Travis. A vivid and revealing story of underworld intrigue, and of the efforts of a courageous special prosecutor to stamp out the racketeers in a big city, was unfolded on the screen at the Rosy and Tivoli Iheatres to-day, when "Smashing the Rackets' had its first Auckland showing. Moving at a fast clip throughout, the theme is intelligently presented by the players, and while not new, is a subject of perennial interest when, as in this production. it is told concisely and logically. A. pleasant romance which has been interwoven into the main story, and is an integral part of the production, alleviates any tendency towards a dry exposure* of racketeering. Chester Morris heads the cast, and gives a tj picallv powerful and convincing portrayal of former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent, appointed special prosecutor to halt the spread of gangster activities in his town. This square-jawed young actor has been well to the fore in Hollywood lately, and seems destined to get more big parts such as those in this nlm, and his recent triumphs, "Sky Giant, and "Princess O'Hara." Frances Mercer makes a charming leading iady, while Bruce Cabot maintains his high reputation as villain of the piece. Rita Johnson, Ed Pawley and Ben Weldon are a ?. ou l- ln ,m P° rtan t supporting roles. After his appointment as special prosecutor, Jim Conway (Morris) has himself appointed to investigate the rackets. He loses his first case due to perjury bv the witnesses. In the meantime he meets euean Lane (Miss Mercer), a-society girl, whose sister Letty (Miss Johnson) becomes involved with the master mind behind the rackets, Steve Lawrence (Cabot). Lawrence's position as a lawyer gives him powerful influence with the city heads. < Th® Picture then proceeds to deal in thrilling fashion with the adventures of Conway before he finally has Lawrence convicted, through the assistance of Letty Lane, and the gang is stamped out for good. Ronald Reagan and June Travis are the, principals of "Love is On the Air," showthe same programme. The story of the film is of a young radio announcer (I\eagan), demoted from an important post on the news events programme, to the children s hour, owing to complaints from his sponsor concerning his criticism of prominent public men. He rehabilitates himself, however, by aiding the police in tracking down and capturing a gang of racketeers, and by broadcasting the news of the final show-down, a gunbattle between the gangßters and the police officials, from the scene of the action When back at his old job he persuades a co-worker, Mies Travis, to marry him. Robert Barrat, Eddie Acuff and Raymond Hatton are also in the cast. MAYFAIR. Acclaimed by screen previewers to be all that s good in thrilling and romantic entertainment, "Speed to Burn" has its first Auckland showing at the Mayfair Theatre on Friday next. An honest human story of one of the world's most exciting sports, the film is rich with all the romance and colour of the race track. It introduces a new screen family, the Gambinis, likely to find immediate favour with all filmgoers. Michael Whalen and Lynn Bari head the featured cast in a story built round the fall from grace, and eventual comeback, of a racehorse named War Paint. Woven into this is a love story of a police sergeant for a girl who deserts a gang of horse racketeers tc help redeem the thoroughbred's reputation. Henry Armetta, an old favourite with Auckland audiences, is the head ol the Gain bin i family, and is as amusing at ever. Marvin Stephens, Chick Chandlei and Sydney Blackmer are also in the cast. Another screen family, the well known "Joneses," head the cast of the second attraction, "Safety in Numbers." This is the tenth of the popular series, and according to advance reports it k the best yet. The family is almost mined in this nlm, but. thanks to the mother, the members stick together and pull through. MAJESTIC. John Litel and Ann Sheridan are the principals of "Alcatraz Island," main attraction on the programme opening at the Majestic Theatre on Friday next. There have been several prison films of this type shown here recently, but exceptionally fine handling by all concerned lifts this to a higher level than most. Litel is cast as a racketeer who, although in the business for some time, had never stooped to murder. The story traces in powerful style a series of unfortunate incidents that befall the racketeer after he is forced to take his daughter (Mary Maguire) away from a fashionable boarding school. He is sent to prison in Leavenworth, and then to Alcatraz Island, where he is wrongly convicted of murdering a fellow convict. However, he i* finally freed owing to the efforts of his sweetheart (Miss Sheridan) and a young district attorney in love with his daughter (Gordon Oliver). The popular wide-mouthed comedian, Joe "E. Brown, is the star of the associate feature, "The Gladiator." In this film he is a college boy who, after being knocked about in a football game, obtains some serum that makes him as strong as a young elephant. His later adventures on the football field and then in the wrestling ring, make an hilarious story. June Travis is his leading lady. EMBASSY. The type? of domestic comedy which hit its stride in_ "The Thin Man" series and has become increasingly popular of late is exemplified by 'The First Hundred Years,' at the Embassy Theatre. Unrivalled in his own particular field of suave fun-making for many years, Robert Montgomery is seen at his best as a boatdesigner who cannot persuade his wife Virginia Bruce to relinquish her career as a successful theatrical agent t6 make a home for him. The occasional semi-seri-ous side to the story confirms the reputation for versatility that Montgomery established for himself with his stellar performances in "Night Must Fall" and "Yellow Jack." Miss Bruce, who appeared with him in the latter production, handles one of her most important roles to date with an assurance and charm that placet her high up in the ranking of feminine stars of Hollywood. Warren William if as polished and debonair as usual an<] delineates an interesting character in con vincing style. Alan Dinehart and Binnk Barnes are the best of a strong supporting cast, while Richard Thorpe is responsibl< for a delightfully smooth and capable piece of direction. Norman Erasm adapted the story from his own origina work. ST. JAMES'. Purely as a ventriloquist, Edgar Bergei may not be a world beater. Indeed, evei his dummy Charlie McCarthy openly tell him that he "can see his lips move." Bu for wisecracks, wit and general dialogu there is probably no entertainer livin who can touch him. Auckland audience have shown that he has just as muc appeal for them as he has for America 1 ky their enthusiastic receptions c 1 which he is starree 1 Lett ?' Introduction," now at the S' The, "allies of sophist cated <3torl ,e McCarthy and the liters nlockneanedness of his country c»usi ; Mortimer SnertJ, who pays a short vis to towjj during the film, have evoke roars of delimited applause at every shov mg of the film. But Bergen and his dun mies, though providing most of the higl lights of the picture, are not the onl attractions by any means. Beautifi Andrea Leeds. Adolphe Menjou. Georg Murphv, Rita Johnson ami Eve Arden ar the other principals in the dramatic am gripping story of an ageing actor who through a letter of introduction, that he is the father of a yown ~*°^ t When he does not reveal the*®*", first, for professional tad realise what a tragic incident* wfll toOOW-
REGENT. Combining in rare form, action, love, suspense, human interest, poignancy and thrills. "Spawn of the North." opening on Friday at the Regent Theatre, is a film that would seem destined to prove one of the most popular of ret-enf months. Set against the unusual background of the salmon fisheries of Alaska in the earlier days of their exploitation, the story presents in vivid and spectacular manner the struggle between honest fishermen and piratical parasites who steal the fish Ij catches from their more hard-working fellows. George Raft has a role that surpasses in dramatic scope and opportunity even that in "Souls at Sea." and he does j. full justice to it in providing one of the highlights of the film. Henry Fonda is U quite as good as he was in his two most recent triumphs. "Blockade" and "That Certain Woman." and maintains his g reputation as one of the outstanding younger actors in Hollywe>od. Dorothy Lamour. wearing rough woollens in place of her more usual sarong, is excellent in a role far different from anything else she ,2 has ever done. The story tells how two ~ close friends (Raft and Fonda) become r enemies when the former turns to fisli r Ijiracy. He sees his mistake, however, and sacrifices his life to destroy the pirates and their leader (Akim Tamiroff). CIVIC. Lavish production and good performances by nil members of the cast are feaJ tures of "Always Ge>od-bye." which opens at the Civic Theatre on Friday. There 1 is human appeal in abundance and the J mother-love angle shouid make it of s especial attractiveness for female patrons. 7 Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall 5 i in the leading roles live up to their high ' | respective reputations, but many of the 1 highlights of the show are provided by a ' five-year-old child, John Russell, who : speaks his lines, like a veteran acts • with ease. Comedy relief is provided by I Cesar Romero, better known for his vil- ' la'nous characterisations. The dramatic : story deals with the adventures of a young : girl (Miss Stanwyck) saved from suicide 1 on the death of her lover by Herbert | Marshall, who stops her in the act and ! takes her to his apartment. When she 1 tells him she is going to have a baby, he | helps her through the difficult period and gires her another start in life after arranging for the baby to be adopted by a fine, wealthy couple. How she is separated from the child for five years, but eventually meets him again and marries ; his _ foster-father, is told in gripping fashion, and suspense is maintained to the finish. Lan Hunter, Binnie Barnes and Lynn Bari are also in the cast.
AMUSEMENTS GUIDE.
H.l*. THEATRE—The Great Nicola. PICTURE THEATRES. STRAND—Loretta Young- and Joel McCrea In "Three Blind Mice." ROXY—Chester Morris and Bruce Cabot in "Smashing the Rackets" and Ronald Regan and June Travis In "Love Is On the Air." REGENT—LaureI and Hardy tn "Swiss Miss." CIVIC—Fred Astalre and Ginger Rogers In "Carerree." MAJEBTIC—Boris KarlofT tn "West or Shanghai" and Dick Powell and Bosemary Lane In "Hollywood Hotel." , BT. JAMES'—Andrea Leeds and Adolphe - Menjou In "Letter or Introduction." ' MAYFAIR—EveIyn Dal] and Ambrose ana 3 his orchestra In "Kicking the Moon r Around" and Gloria Stewart and t Michael Whalen tn "Time Out For t Murder." ;1 EMBASSY—Robert Montgomery and Vlre glnia Bruce In "The First 100 Years." •, LONDON—Warren William In "Times e Square Playboy" and Margaret Lindn say in "The Law in Her Hands" n ADELPHI—Guest NightALEXANDRA—Guest .Night, e AMBABSADOR—Guest Night, a ASTOR—"Bengal and "Escape From rl Devil's Island." 0 AVONDALE—"LittIe Miss Roughneck" and i- "Law or the Underworld." :e BERKELEY (Miaaion Bay) — "London >f I Melody" and "Merry-go-round or is 1938." T | BIRKENHEAD—"Night Spot." t. BRITANNIA — "On Our Selection" and n "Dangerous to Know." d CAPITOL—Guest Night. s CRYSTAL PALACE —Guest .Night. 1 DE LUXE—"Vogues of 1938." t EMPREBB—Guest Night. 8 GAIETY—"Crime Over London." " QREY LYNN Guest Night. KINGSLAND—PopuIar Night. MAYFAIR—Guest Night. i PEERLEBS "Mr. Moto's Gamble." i PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night, t PRINCEBS—Guest Night. : REGAL—Guest Night. : | REGENT (Epaom)—Guest NlgM. ' RIALTO—Guest Night. , STAR (Newton) —"The Buccaneer" and k "Lea's Sing Again." I BTATE (Devonport) — "Panamint's Bad I Man" and "City Girl." STATE (Symonda Street)—" You Can't Have Everything" and "Think F*st. 1 Mr. Moto." STATE (Onehunga)—Guest Night. | BTRAND (Onehunga)—Guest Night. . TIVOLI—-"Smashing the Rackets" and "Love Is On the Air." | TUDOR—"Lilac Domino." ; VICTORIA—Guest Night.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19381130.2.120
Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 283, 30 November 1938, Page 13
Word Count
2,059AMUSEMENTS. Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 283, 30 November 1938, Page 13
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Auckland Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries.