AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 16

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT. The colourful saga of the growth of avi.ition during the past 30-odd years, and a f-ri 11>I»i1 romance between two men and ■ ' -ill. an- the dual themes of "Men With V. ;n-.-." hi Hie Ht-rat Theatre. This • lil.s tin- lii-l or-,;.-ion on which a film liiMinm with ll.\in_' lins been produced in !' ■ .i:.i oimir. and cn-dit is duo to William \\ <-.liii.ui, tin- director, tor making such I'M-iii-nt job nl' tin- colour processing, i n,i 1),. remeinbei cil 1 hat Wt.-llniail ii'i !i-l two other recent lei-liuii-oluiir 11 inn. |. "Nothing Sacred" mid "A Star is I'" 1 ii." nml hi- hiii (in nod iin even more ■ iuiiii>--ivp reputation for his work in "M-n With Wings." Kred MM.-.Miirr.-i.v, 1 U.i.N Miihiiiil iind Louise Campbell me the I , i iiwip.ils, s three young enthusiasts wlio dei-idi- to devote tlieir lives to aviation ■•nlipii Ihe Wriuht brothers fust take to Hi" air. when the three are still in tlieir .■luidhood. MAJESTIC. The troublous Xoi th-wext frontier of Iml i.i I'm ins the background for yet another tln illm-' advciituie-rilin, this time ■'Si.,iMi (!n-i- IJcng.ii."' from the Kepublic !.:udios. The stoi.\ of ■■Storm Over I'iulm: con, ems a rebellion against ihe lliiili.-li fiiifi-n in N'ni th-west India and i-!.ill'ulh inte: weaves , the rt>inance of two l'.ii_lish brothers for a girl who is betrothed to the elder, Handsome young I'.itiic Knoules and Richard Cromwell »!•■ ilie I.i others. Kochi-lle Hudson is the tiiil. DiiinUiillo is convincing a.-» lli>- insti-jfitnr of the revolt, and Colin Taplev. H.dliNvell Hohl.es. Jol.m Btirton and Claude Allistcr arc also featured. As .with the otlicr films of llii-; I.N pi , , ait ion i« the keynote of ••Storm Over lieniral." ami (iariett Ford's f,i.-t-moving phy haw been capably handled by Director Sidney Salkow. \\ u\ in , Moir;s. I'riscilla Lane, Humphrey ISiWiirl an.l Hugh Herbert are the stars of tin? associate at tv.iction. ■"Men Are Such Fools," an hilarious romantic comedy. ST. JAMES. "Truth is stranger than fiction" is a phi ase that lias gimvn almost hackneyed "illi use. but it might well be applied to the story ■>: tin- foiiiidation and growth of .i riNiiniiiriit.v solely for hoys, and governed by buys, (hat is told in "Hoys' Town." at the St. .lames Theatre. The community »,H founded by a Catholic priest. Father ri.iua-.m. when he realised that, rather tli.in keepinjr a home for the aged, he should work for the youngsters wh-o. because of nnha|i|.y family circumstances or sordid environment, do not have much opportunity of le.lining to live like decent citizen*. Since its inception, the little town has mown, and has become a selfiiovi'i- _- and almost self-contained community that has proved a wonderful inriuence for | amongst American boys. All the dr. Una and romance of this story is vividly depicted in the film, with Spencer Tracy giving a performance, as Father Flanagan, that won for him the Academy Award for lim Mickey Rooney ie also outstanding, as the brother of a who comes to the town and almost succeeds in wrecking the priest's "oik before he comes under the healthy influence ul the community. CIVIC. All the colour, tunefulness nnd comedy of tho original work of Gilbert and Sullivan is retained in the screen version of "Thi! Mikado.'" opening at the Civic ■ Theatre to-morrow. (Srt-.it difKculty was experienced in obtaining the performing rights of tli is Savoy opeia for film production and it Nvas not until (ieofl'rey Tove, l.inioiis orrlirxtl il conductor and authority on (lil'.crt and Sullivan, used |,i s intluence tli.it the • ,:hf could be bought. Mr. l'iip"j-t d'O> iy ("iii-tp. who owns the jic-i-Iniming :,-.:'iis to all the Savoy operas iilloivi',l "Tli- Miii-nlo" to l>n reproduced lon t!i-.- Ki-ieeii on the condition that it j would not be main rated or altered to any exU in. « iMi Ihe it-Milt tl, it the s.teen pl:> closrly follows the oi hrinal. Kenny Baker, popular young American tenor, heads the cast us Xanki-Poo. with Martyn (Jrern, Sydney Uianville. John Barclay and Jean Colin |u oiiiiiientl.v cast. Almost all the other plavers are from the Rupert d'Oyly Carte Opera Company. "The Mikado" was filmed entirely in technii colour and the use of this process has resulted in making the picture one of the most spectacular ever produced in England. MAYFAIR. Sparkiinsr with fun and life. Shirley Temple's latest starring vehicle. •■.Tiist Around the Corner." coming to the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow, promisee to prove one of the most popular in which the nl , I.- star has appeared. Shirley was rivnMy Noted Ameiit• i's number one star! lor the third time. an.l. judging by her. enthusiasm and zest in this film. Mie sequel to be out to prove her right to Iliat, honour. As time wears- on succes'-i lor Shirley is becoming harder to attain tor she i* losing her childish "cutcness" and hiw to rely more on acting. That she .-till does prove y<, popular is a credit to her talent as a "ulraiirht." actress, and she flioilld, having shown herself to he possessed of such talent, now go on to even greater heights. The story, one of the most original for any of Shirley's pictures, deals with the complications that follow her mistaking a lean old banker for "I nele Sim." America's national figure Charles Farrell. .loan Davis and Bert Lahr are also in the cast.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. H.HB. THEATRE —-a Trip To Hades." PICTURE THEATRES. CIVIC SQUARE —Amusement Park. BT. JAMES —«ppnrer Tγ.-.?." and Mickey Hoonry in "Boys' Town." MAJESTIC —Rohert Donat and Fllssa Landi in "The count or Monte Oisto." EMBASSY —Lulse Ralner and Paillette Godriard In "Dramatic Pchool." REGENT —Fred Ma* - Murray and Ray Milland in "Men With Wing-s." MAVFAIR —Sidney Toier in "Charlie Chnn In Honolulu." STRAND —Jane Withers In "Arizona Wildcat." PLAZA —r.oretta Youn* and Richarl Greene in "Kentucky." ROXY —Hopalong Cnssldy In "Suns.M Trail" and "The Lost liuigie." CIVIC —-Victor Mcl.agrlen ana Gary Gran? In "Gung-a Din." LONDON —"Torgroupn Faces" and "You Can't Rfat 1.0ve." ADELPHI —"Snow White and the Seven livvarN." ALEXANDRA —"JezebeI" and "Always in Trouble." AMBASSADOR —Guest JVijrht. ASTOR —"Man or the Moment" and •Mlg-hty Treve." BERKELEY (Mission Bay) —"Owd Bob ,, and "Biilldosr Drummond in Africa." BRITANNIA— "Youtn Takes » Fling" and "Paid to Dance." CAPlTOL —"Biillrlop Drummond In Africa" and "My old Kentucky norm-." CRYSTAL PALACE —"Jezebel" and "Always ! in Trouble.'' ' j DC LUXE —"Slig-ht case or Murder" and ! "AlTHJlrs or Annabel." | EMPRESS—" Sue// , .md "Affaire or; Annabel." ] I GAIETY —(iuest MgJU. GREY LYNN— "Topper." KINGBLAND —"CHrl or Uie Golden Wml." PRINCE EDWARD —Guest Tflffht. PRINCESS —"The Lady Vanishes" and I "Mold that Co-ed." | REGAL —Guest Mffht. i REGENT (Epsom) —"Breaklnfr the Ice" and "When TlMer Meets Thier." STAR (Newton) —"Vog-ues jf 1938" and ••Stand In.' - STATE (Devonport) —"Adventures or • lUibin IhKKI." STATE (Bymonds Street) —"Maniiattin Melodrama" and "Burn 'F.m Uμ, 1 O'Connor." STATE (Onehunga) —Gueet Nlg-ht. STRAND (Onehunya —"Holiday." TUDOrt— -carefree." VICTORIA —Guest Mg-ht. T,WO Ju , n~ie S " lnSel Trall " ? nd " The Lost , PKRLCSB— ''Yeiiow Jack" ' I AW ON DALE— Hi old Chicago" '

HIS MAJESTY'S. The myetk revue "A Trip To Hades," featuring Chang, the famous Oriental maprieian, again attracted a large audience to Hi* Majesty's Theatre last nijjht. when ChaiiK'ts amazin« slpijrht-of-hand tricks, as Nvoll as his more difficult feats of magic. proved as popular and as mystifying "a« ever. The innocence with which Chans; presents his tlicks, and lii« emooth-flowing dialogue, tend to make thi« piotliiction ■■ill the more bewilder in?.- This magician ban the aniazini; ability of making ducks and guinea pigs materialise Jpparontly out of the thin air, and of mating them disappear in the same uncanny manner An excellent ballet, headed by that clever nttle dancer Joanna Claire, gives wholehearted riiipport to make this show a trreat hucccwi. The Bridges Trio and their ( iibiin marimba band add an unusual and attrat-tive niusk-al touch to the programnie. Booking arrangements are advertised. STRAND. Jane Withers helps a former Mexican outlaw bring law and order to a little Western town in "Arizona Wildcat," etill showing at the Strand Theatre. Young • lane nceiriK to improve in her own particular brand of acting with every appearance on the fcrecti, nnd she is s*>en at her liveliest in this film. Action is fast tliroudhosit the production, and there is

no dull moment to slow up the movement Jane is seen as the adopted daughter of Leo Carrillo, who had been a tamoue outlaw in Mexico many years before. When a gang of crooks, headed eeoretly by the sheriff himself, steak a shipment of gold ami kills three men in the process. Jane decides that something ought to ibe done about it. Something ie none about it. in no uncertain manner, and the resulting complications make for a thrilling and amueing film. Henry VVileoxon, Pauline Moore and William Hemy are also featured. REPERTORY THEATRE. "Tobias and the Angel." James Bridiee' famous allegorical comedy, is to be presented in St. Andrew's Hall by the Auckland Repertory Theatre for a season opening to-morrow, May 12. One of the most famous London critics, commenting on this play, expressed the opinion that it was "obviously destined to become a classic' Whether this prophecy will prove correct or not remains to be seen 'but there is no doubt that the play holds unusual interest and appeal for all Playgoers. The producer, Miss Elizabeth ixie, has spent weeks ensuring that the setting and costumes would be historically correct, and her efforts should result in the play beine unusually impressive in retard to spectacle, especially as it deals with a highly colourful period.