AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 192, 16 August 1939, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS.

"RENEGADE TRAIL." j ROXY-TIVOLI. Hopalong Cassidy William Boyd. Windy Halliday George Hayeß Lucky Jenkins Russell Haydem. ce Charlotte Wynters. Smoky" Joslin .... Russell Hopton. Joey Joyce Sonny Bupp. Hopalong Cassidy rides again in the riproaring Western thriller, "Renegade rp la 'V W^ic h opened at the Rosy and rivoli Theatres to-day. Hopalong's campaign to prevent an escaped convict from conspiring with frontier outlaws against his own wife piles thrill after thrill on top of each other in this latest romance from the famous writer of Western romance, Clarence E. Mulford.

Renegade Trail" deals with the escapades of a desperate criminal who escapes from gaol determined to blackmail his wife, the owner of a fine Arizona ranch she has built up herself. His most potent weapon against her is her haunting fear that her young son will find out the identity of his father, something she has always hid from him.

Cassidy and his saddle-mate, Lucky Jenkins, meet the situation when they arrive in the community to visit their pal, Windy Halliday, who has been recently elected marshal. Perplexed at the recent outbreak of lawlessness in his town Windy asks the competent "Hopalong" to help him out.

Hopalong's willingness to handle the case increases when he meets the beautiful Mary Joyce. From then on not only does lie have to avoid the shots of dangerous rustlers, but also the fiery darts of Cupid. The picture moves from excitement to excitement as Hopalong and his cheery friends plot brain and brawn against the wiles of the desperate criminals.

Hoppy's difficulties are increased with Mary Joyce's reluctance to reveal the exconvict as htr husband. In order to shield the news from her young son she passes him off as a brother, but when he throws away his second chance she joins forces with the law in the final round-up.

"Renegade Trail" carries Boyd much further along the road to romance than any other previous "Cassidy" story, and Hayes and Hayden as his two pals. Windy and Lucky, experience many an anxious moment wondering how to prevent their pal from falling for the lovely lady's charms, and in this connection uproarious comedy sequences result.

A screamlined saga of swing, "Mr. Chump" is the second attraction. Johnnie Davis plays the part of the man whose three interests in life are his trumpet, the stock market and the sister of his landlady. Before he turned to acting, Johnnie Davis was a member of Waring's Pennsvlvanians, singing "hot" tunes and swinging them on his trumpet, and in this direction he shows his ability in this film, which is one of the brightest seen lately. It comes from the pen of George Bricker. ST. JAMES'. Mark Twain needs no introduction, and his brain-child Huckleberry Finn has been the friend of most of us since childhood. | Now we can see this famous character on the screen, for "The Adventures of Huc-kleberry Finn" starts a season at the St. James' Theatre on Friday. The famous juvenile actor Mickey Rooney plays the title role with his usual ability, and it is with keen excitement" that audiences follow t'he adventures of Huck as he sails on a raft down the flood-swept Mississippi, as he flees from the law, aiding his faithful negro friend Jim to escape, as he explores a derelict houseboat by lantern light' after a murder party, as he races to head off a lynch mob after the blood of Jim, until this dramatic film come 6 to its conclusion. Walter Connolly, well-known to screen fans as a character comedian, takes the part of a card-sharper, "The King Of France," in the production, and the role of the negro Jim is played by Rex Ingram, who came to prominence as *'De Lawd" in the controversial film "Green Pastures." The film is another outstanding picture from the famous M.G.M. studios. MAJESTIC.

A* comedy melodrama, "The Gang's All Here," opens a season at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. [Jack Buchanan, noted for his successes in musical comedy, makes a bid for international honours in this expensively made El&tree offering without the expected aid of song or dance. Topping t"hfe bill with Buchanan is Edward Everett Horton, the clever comedian whose name is a household word, and Googie Withers, who uses her interesting personality and fascinating features to considerable effect. The story tells how John Forrest (Jack Buchanan) returns to the job of insurance Investigator to find himself up against a notorious gang of thieves and racketeers, and to get into the heart of the racket poses as a wanted killer. This dramatic play is relieved by bright comedy, making the film most enteitaining. The second attraction is a Zane Grey thriller. "Heritage of the Desert." This great Western story maintains Zane Grey'_ international reputation as a leading writer in this sphere. Gun play, fierce fighting, ruthless treachery and tender romance are all expertly woven to make this film finst-class erterUainment.

CIVIC. Equally popular with children and adults is the talented young juvenile actress Shirley Temple, who appears at the Civic Theatre on Friday in "The Little Prin-1 cess," one of the greatest and most popular classics in world literature, coming from the pen of Frances Hodgson Burnett. The screen version of the well-loved story of the rich little girl who became a elavey was "produced to celebrate Shirley's fourth year as a star of the first rank. It has been acclaimed not only as Shirley's finest picture but one of the truly great pictures of all time, and is sure to find great" popularity with both parents and children alike during the holiday vacation. Richard Greene and A hit a Louise are prominently featured in this picture, which is the firet technicolour production Shirley ha 6 made. Also presented on the Civic'e holiday programme are two cartoons, one of which is a Walt' Disney production in which both Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck appear, and the second a technicolour Terry Toon film. PLAZA.

A smashing melodrama of three women who brush wings with death as they thunder" around suicide turns in the trickiest aeroplanes that fly, "Tail Spin" begins a season at the Plaza Theatre on Fridav. Alice Faye takes the part of Trixie Lee, a crack pilot who flies for the money that's in it and for the mother and young brother who need her help; Nancy Kelly stars as Lois Allen, a quiet, plucky girl who flies because it brings her closer to the devil-may-care husband she adores; Constance Bennett is shown as cool, superior Gerry Lester, who flies because the only man she has ever cared about thinks it is the greatest game in the world. In this action drama Charles Farrell and Kane Richmond give sterling performances, bringing them, back once again to the heights of fame. Popular demand brought Farrell back, but in Richmond's case chance played a big part. After being away from the studios for a year with jungle fever, Kane happened to run into the director of "Tail Spin," and won the coveted role after a screen test. All players unite to make this an outstanding aviation story. MAYFAIR. Risking death for patrons' entertainment, the Seven Flying Santells, who are to appear in conjunction with the screening of Edgar Wallace's "Old Bones of the River," will come to the Mayfair Theatre, starting on Friday, for a season. These famous American dare-devils do acrobatics on the top of a pole 30 feet in the air, dance, jazz, somersault and juggle on a single strand of wire, and other astounding feats. "Old Bones of the River" is an amuMhg comedy based on stories by Edgar Wallace. That king of merriment, Will Hay, heads the cast as Benjamin Tibbets, a professor, Who goes to Africa and becomes the hero of the day. The crusty and fumbling old pedagogue takes charge of an African administration when Commissioner Sanders goes sick with fever. His adventures take him into ! many a tight corner with most amusing i consequences, and film patrons wanting a hearty laugh will not be disappointed-

REGENT. The dashing, carefree adventurer of "The Adventures of Robin Hood," Errol Flynn, takes on more modern guise for his latest starring vehicle, "The Dawn Patrol," scheduled to open its local season at the Regent Theatre on Friday. He is seen as a hard-drinking and hard-fighting veteran of aerial combat on the British front in the middle of the Great War. He is one of the mainstays of "A" Squadron, which is constantly being reinforced by raw youngsters from the flying schools, who are shot down almoet every time on their first or second patrol flight. Then the commanding officer of the squadron is transferred, and Flynn is put in charge. It is his job to send up the youngsters to be butchered by the enemy. His lifelong friend and comrade, brilliantly portrayed by David Niven, becomes his enemy when the new C.O. sends up Niven'e young brother, to meet his death, and the story moves on to a thrilling, dramatic climax, when Flynn himself meets the fate to which he has unwillingly sent so manyothers. Flynn's performance is outstanding, and good acting is also displayed by Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp and Melville Cooper. EMBASSY.

"The Great Waltz," glamorous musical drama based on the life of Johann Strauss, recreates the romance of old Vienna at the Embassy Theatre. The life story of the famous musician draws large crowds to enjoy the film version of the biography set in the glittering spectacle and in the full glory of Strauss' immortal melodies. The golden-voiced, much heralded Melissa Korjus makes her initial screen appearance in this outstanding film. Fernand Gravet, who plays the role of Strause, learned to play a violin and a piano, to waltz as it was done in 1848. to conduct an orchestra and write music for his role. Mumcally the picture is outstanding. Symphony orchestras of 90 pieces, augmented by rare Stiadivarius and Amati violins, are recorded through nine separate sound channels in the largest recording task in history, while choruses of 100 voices help to make this one of the most outstanding musical dramas of the year.