AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 75, 30 March 1939, Page 22

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Manhattan Melodrama." The sound of that name will conjure up many memories in the minds of film-goers who have followed the development of the cinema during the past few years. Thfy will be memories of one of the finest dramatic productions to come from Hollywood since the talkie first astounded the world. And a unique opportunity of again seeing the film will be provided next Friday at the Majestic Theatre when a re-issue is screened for the first time. That great trio of stars, Clark Gable, Myina Loy, and William Powell handle the leading roles. The story deals with a swashbuckling gambler, whose lover leaves him and becomes married to a district attorney. Fate decrees soon after the gambler should find himself in the dock, with his former lover's husband as prosecuting counsel. He is sentenced to death, but further details of the crime come to the ears of the attorney, with remarkable results. A newrelease, "Vacation From Love," will also be shown. Stars are Dennis O'Keefe and Florence Rice, others in the cast being Reginald Owen and popular comedian Herman Bing. EMBASSY THEATRE. Not nearly enough is seen on the local screen of the outstanding dramatic talents of the Canadian-born actor .Raymond Massey. His latest film, one of the best he lias yet made, is a screen version of the London stage success "Black Limelight," which had its New Zealand premiere performances to-day at the Embassy Theatre. Opposite him plays Joan Marion, the Tasmanian actress, who is now among the leading English players. Others in the cast are Walter Hudd and Henry Oscar. The film deals with the passionate struggle by a wife for establishment of her hitsband's innocence after he has been accused of a series of lunatic murders. Besides being one of the most ingenious thrillers ever portrayed on the screen, it is one of the finest dramatic pieces ppssible. For that the credit is due to Massey and Miss Marion. Hudd, who will be remembered by those who attended the Embassy last week as a prominent member of the "Housemaster" cast, again impresses as Lawrence Crawford, a lawyer friend of the leading pair. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. "Young Dr. Kildare," drama of the struggle for recognition of a young medico attached to a metropolitan hospital, is far from being just another of those hospital pictures. That Auckland theatregoers appreciate the fact is demonstrated by the film's outstanding success at St. James' Theatre. Central figure in this production is Lew Ayres, who gives another of the outstanding portrayals which have made him so popular in recent months. With him is associated that fine old trouper Lionel Barrymore, Jo Ann Sayers, Lynne Carver, and Nat Pendleto.n. In the development of the plot, Kildare comes to a city hospital as an interne, but finds himself up against an irascible old chief of staff (Lionel Barrymore). He saves a would-be suicide from doing away ■with herself, but while he is doing so a patient dies. He is in disgrace, but decides to set about curing the girl from her strange fears. In an outstanding conclusion he shocks the . psychiatrists and effects a cure. Outstanding supports _<ye also showing.

PLAZA THEATRE. The crazy Ritz Brothers have had many audiences all but paralysed with laughter in their films. But they have never had such opportunities for letting off their own particular brand of steam than in "Straight, Place and Show," the hilarious lacing comedy which will have its first screenings in Auckland on Friday at the Plaza Theatre. For the story was written by Damon Runyon and Irving Caesar. No better criterion of high-pressure mirth exists. The title of the film has the same significance as the New Zealand racegoer's "win and place." They are supported, in this story by two of the greatest comic writers of our time, by lovely Ethel Merman (singing several Brown and Pollack hits), Richard Arlen, Phyllis Brooks, George Barbier, Sidney Blackner and Paul Hurst. It would be impossible to give the plot of any Ritz Brothers' production, but this one roughly concerns the romantic troubles of a gentleman rider and the girl who thinks he loves the horse better than her. Then the Ritz Brothers take a hand; the result is "Straight, Place and Show." STRAND THEATRE. It is always a screen event of major importance when Tom Walls comes back in one of his all too infrequent comedy productions. The latest is "Craekerjack." which-to-morrow will be screened for the first time in Auckland at the Strand Theatre. Debonair as ever, Tom in his new film takes a part described as a modern Robin Hood role. He is known to Press and public as "Craekerjack." He is a jewel thief who robs the rich to pay the poor. In the development of the plot he is concerned in a murder, when criminals kill a man while he is committing a robbery. Realising that they are using his name to cover their crime, he sets out on his own to bring about their capture and clear his name. Walls' personality is perhaps the greatest factor in the film's success. Excellent supporting items will also be screened.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE.

H.IN. THEATRE—StanIey McKay's Gaieties. CIVIC SQUARE —Amusement Park PICTURE THEATRES. BT. JAMES' —f,e-w Ayres and Lynne Carver In "Young: Dr. Xlldare." MAJESTIC—RandoIph Scott and Hope Hampton In "The Road to Reno" and Robert Wilcox In "Gambling 1 Ship." REGENT—Olivia De Havllland and Claude Rains In "Gold Is Where You Find It.' EMBASSY—Raymond Masse'y and Josh Ma'nlon in "Black Limelight." MAYFAIR—"The Legend of Prague." STRAND—John Barrymore and Marjorle Weaver In "Hold That Co-ed" and Margaret Lockwood In '-The Lad* Vanishes.*' ROXY—Michael Whalen and Jean Rogers in "While New York Sleeps" and Neil Hamilton in "Hollywood Sitadiium Mystery." PLAZA—Barbara etanwyck and Henry Fonda in "The Mad Miss Mairton." ClVlC—Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller in "Pygmalion." LONDON —"Aren't Men Beasts" and "Four Days' Wonder." ADELPHl—"Varsity Show." ALEXANDRA —"The Mad Miss Manton" and "Gateway." AMBASSADOR—Guest Night. ASTOR—-"Adventures of Marco Polo" and "Way Out West." AVONDALE —"The Bad Man from Brimstone" and "London By Night." BERKELEY (Miaaion Bay)—' Double Wedding" and "The Accusing Finger." BRITANNIA—"Red River Valley." CAPITOL—"On Such a Niglit" and "Big Show." CRYSTAL PALACE—"The Mad Miss Mainton" and "Gateway." DE LUXE—"Three Blind Mice" and "Speed To Burn." EMPRESS—Guest. Night. GAIETY—"The PerTect Specimen." GREY LYNN—"In Old Santa Fe" and "Queen or Hearts." KINGSLAND—"We're Going To Be Rich" and "Love and Hisses.'' PEERLESB—"Panamint's Bad Man" and I "Bank Holiday." PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night. I PRINCEBS —"Little Miss Broadway" and "Alcatraz island." l REGAL—Guest Night. REGENT (Epaom)—"l See Ice" and "A Day at the Races." STAR (Newton) —"Romance For Three' and "Bad Man of Brimstone." BTATE (Devonport)—"Room Service" and "A Slight Case or Murder." STATE (Symonda Street)—" Boy From Barnardo's." BTATE (Onehunga)—Guest Night. STRAND (Onehunga)—Guest Night. TIVOLI—"WhiIe New York Sleeps'' j-u "Hollywood stadium Mystery." TUDOR—"Holiday." VICTORIA—Guest Night.

REGENT THEATRE. Cossack chief turned Texas cattle king, a large-scale rustler who has amassed a fortune through his illegal activities is the central figure in the exciting drama "Escape From Yesterday," which is the next feature production scheduled for release at the Regent Theatre. First screenings will be on Friday. Akim Tamiroff, fresh from his triumph in "The Buccaneer," is responsible for another outstanding performance, this time in a starring role. Leif Erikson and Frances Farmer take leading supporting parts, while others on the cast list are Lynne Overman and Vladimir Sokoloff. The exCossack's carefree Texan life is interrupted by the arrival of his divorced wife, who presents him with the soil of has not seen for 20 years. Just as he decides to go straight for the boy's sake he is caught and sent to goal. Thinking that lie can help his father escape, the boy joins the Army, and a stirring climax is enacted as the boy struggles between duty to the service and devotion to his father. CIVIC THEATRE. First of the famous George Bernard Shaw plays to reach the motion picture screen, "Pygmalion" continues to dr<jw large crowds to the Civic Theatre. Whgn it was first announced that Shaw had at last been persuaded to allow his talents to reach the film-goer many must ha.ve felt a little dubious. But, thanks to the magnificent work in adaptation done by three English writers, Shaw's play has lost nothing in the process of necessary change from play to motion picture. Scoring triumphs in "Pygmalion" are Leslie Howard, a name to conjure with both on the screen and the legitimate stage, and a comparative newcomer in Wendy Hiller. Miss Hiller plays the' role of the dustman's daughter who is taken from her flower stand by a phonetics professor and taught to be the perfqpt society lady. Her performance in the scene in which she has her first big test in the social world can only be described as superb. It can be said that this production marks the beginning of a new era for the British industry. Outstanding supporting items are incorporated in the programme. MAYFAIR THEATRE. Starting a season to-morrow at the Mayfair Theatre is a film with a wealth of comedy and a wealth of talent to make the best of it. It is called "Next Time I Marry," and will head an outstanding double-feature programme. Second attraction at the Mayfair will be announced later. "In Next Time I Marry," Lucille Ball, a young star, but nevertheless one that is recognised as among the best Hollywood has to offer in the comedy field, handles the leading role. Opposite her is erstwhile Western player, James Ellison. However, it is a long call from the Jimmy Ellison of the Hopalong Cassidy series to the polished James Ellison of "Xext Time I Marry." The story deals with the mad-cap marriage of an heiress

and a plain common-and-garden worker. Each has his own advantages to gain from the match, but the girl, having accomplished her objective, wiehea to divorce him and marry a titled foreigner. But to make sure that he is the one to file the divorce, the husband locks her in his trailer and heads for Reno. The man with the title sets off in pursuit and a merry chase ensues.