AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 18

AMUSEMENTS.

"MR MOTO TAKES A VACATION." ROXY - TIVOLI. Mr. Moto Peter Lorre Hendxix Mamlerxon Joseph Schildkraut Professor Hildebrand .. Lionel At will Dleanor Kirke Virginia Field Howard Stevens John King Susan French Iva Stewart Director: Norman Foster (Fox). Also: "BROADWAY MUSKETEERS," starring Margaret Lindsay and Ann Sheridan. Bland, astute and inscrutable as ever, the famous fictional detective Mr. Moto is back again—guarding the crown of the Queen of Sheba. The film is "Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation," and to-day it had premiere Auckland screenings at the head of a good programme showing at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Quite at home now in his chosen Oriental role, Peter Loire takes the Moto role. Of interest in this latest mystery drama is the appearance of one of the screen s really great character actors-— Joseph Schildkraut, who plays the part of a kindly old gentleman who did not turn out so kindly after all. In the supporting cast are Lionel Atwill, Virginia Field. John King, Iva Stewart and Victor Varconi. As might be gathered from the title, Moto needs a 'holiday. He doesn't get it. Accompanying an archaeological expedition to Arabia the little man finds the time to solve two murders.

1 he scene opens at tile discovery of the famous crown of the Queen of Sheba. Prom that time until the end of the film Mr. Moto is seldom far away from the priceless collection of jewels. Aboard ship going back to the United States one of the party unwittingly reveals the identity of Moto. who is disguised as a scientist. A band of jewel thieves attempts to kill iiim. I*ast-movmg and dramatic sequences follow as Moto tries to ensure a passage for the crown to the safety of the San Francisco museum. A desperate criminal takes a hand and it is not before two dastardly murders have been committed that Motos cunningly conceived plan brings the criminal to book.

Second on the programme is the dramaticproduction "Broadway Musketeers.' 'I here a leavening of comedy in thin production, which features three young starlets iu Ann Sheridan, Marie Wilson and Margaret Lindsay.

\ with is well to the fore, for one of the finest performances is that of the six-year-old Janet Chapman. Ann Sheridan is perhaps the most interesting member of tlie east, for this beauteous star has been pointed out by those who know as likely to go a lons way in films. .Tolin Litel gives a finely-etched portrayal in the male lead. REGENT THEATRE. I 'I here will be trouble abounding at the I Regent Theatre. The season is George { l'ormby. The hatchet-faced Lancashire J lad s latest hilarity feature is "Trouble Brewing," and its season begins on Friday. Few comedians have been so deeply enshrined in public favour as Form.by— one look at his income tax demand would prove that—and the film not only shows an astute realisation the comedian's talents, but is a pro™iction as good as Hollywood e.an turn out. Form by is seen as a printer's compositor with a penchant for <leteetive work. The changing scene includes a newspaper office, a racecourse, an all-in wrestling hall and a 'brewery, and there are as many differing types of characters. The frenzied beer bottle battle in the brewery as George unmasks the crooks it; the highlight of the show. In the case are (Joogie Withers. Uus MeXaughton. Carry Marsh and Ronald Shiner. "Trouble Brewing'' promises to be a challenge to the long-faced and a delight to anyone with the merest dash of a sense of humour. There are some Form by songs, too. EMBASSY THEATRE. Aucklanders cannot have enough of the brilliant musical feature, "The Great Waltz." which is drawing even larger crowds than before to the Embassy I heatre. And why not? Presenting as it does the glories of the Strauss melodies, through the medium of the singing voice of Miliza Korjus. it must rank high in any estimation of the musical films of all time. Acting honours rest with the 1 two most important screen stars in the piece—Luise Rainer and Fernand Gravet, others in the east being Hugh Herbert anil Lionel Atwill. This is the story of Johann Strauss and his Poldi, from the time the great Viennese waltz composer lost his job as a bank clerk and took up music until his final honours at the -Knipcror s court. His marriage to a childhood sweetheart and his subsequent infatuation for the beautiful star of the ope'a form the background for what is perhaps the most widely loved music in the world. .An Australian travelogue, an Our Gang fromedy alid a brilliant Pete Smith specialty combine to make the programme one of great variety. CIVIC THEATRE. Harking back to the days when the j world became more dance conscious probably than ever before. "The Story of I "X ernon and Irene Castle.*' now screening | before large crowds at the Civic Theatre, j is the story of the most famous dancing j pair of pre-war America, played by the most famous dancing pair of the modern era —Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, together for the eighth time in pictures. This is a glittering pageant of American progress as reflected in the victorious . sweep of the world's most illustrious I dancing duo. The filming of "Vernon and | Irene'' was made in Hollywood under the direction of Mrs. Vernon Castle herself. The struggles of the Castles to win their | way to recognition as dancers, their sudden ■ fame and happiness, and Vernon's dramatic I experiences as a member of the Roval | Flying Corps—all these things are blended ■ to perfection in a film of really great j worth. Walter Brennan, Edna May Oliver and Janet Beecher are prominent. A Walt Disney cartoon is also showing. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A thrilling story of crime and society, of murder and romance, is "Society Lawyer," which on Friday will begin an j Auckland season at the Majestic Theatre. Of most importance in this production are i the star names--"Walter Pidgeon, Virginia Bruce and Leo Carrillo. It is hardly possible to imagine a more fitting trio for the type of film. Some may remember when this story was presented first some years ago under the name of "Penthouse." This is the fast-moving story of an attorney high in the social scale who, having become friends with a gangster by defending him, becomes embroiled in the investigation of a murder of a girl by her gangster sweetheart. In the cast are Eduardo Ciannelli. Lee Bowman. Frances Mercer and Ann Morris. Co-feature on this programme will be the hilarious "Hold My Hand," which presents the old English favourite of stage and screen. Stanley Lupino. In the meantime the Charlie McCarthy show "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" continues to draw large crowds. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Sequel to the dramatic medical film that had the young medico Dr. Kildare as the leading character, "Calling Dr. Kildare" will have its premiere performances at St. James' Theatre on Friday. Again Lewi Ayres is seen in the title role and Lionel | Barrymore is another who was in the first j film. Mystery and romance are skilfully I blended in the latest Dr. Kildare produc-1 tion. Efforts of the doctor to save the! life of a' youth who has been wounded at I the same time as a murder was committed I have Kildare in trouble at the start of the film. The picture introduces the unusual circumstance of a doctor being engaged in detective work, a dramatic background being provided by the search for the real criminal after an innocent man has been arrested. As in the last film Barrymore's Dr. Gillespie character is a gem of dramatic portrayal. Others in a film that has moments of real comedy as well as drama of intensity are Lynne I Carver, Laraine Day and Lana Tunper. j This is a film to be seen. '

MAYFAIR THEATRE. "Wuthering Heights," screen version of the Bronte classic, continues to drawlarge audiences at the Mayfair Theatre. One of the most remarkable pictures seen here —and certainly the most extraordinary drama ever produced in England— this film has two stars extraordinary in the leading parte. They are Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. Olivier professes dislike of the screen, but he has apparently sunk his dislike and produced evidence that he could be one of the finest screen stars of them all. Associate feature at the Mayfair is the brilliant musical film "Moonlight Sonata," which is having a return season. Ignace Jan Paderewski, world noted pianist and Polish champion of liberty, is seen on the screen for the first time in this production. Excellent supporting items are included in the programme. PLAZA THEATRE. United again after "Alexander's Ragtime Band," and associated with the famous A 1 Jolson, Tyrone Power and Alice Faye are the stars of "Rose of Washington Square," which on Friday will start an Auckland season at the Plaza Theatre. "Rose of Washington Square" features the original Jolson of the black face. His immortal "Mammy" melody is stated to be the hit of the picture. A dozen or more of the familiar songs of yesterday are featured. Actually the story parallels the spotlight career of Jolson himself and of one of his contemporaries. Direction will l>e perfect, with Gregory Ratoff as the man responsible. He has never made a poor picture. In liis cast he has such players as William Frawley, Joyce Compton, E. E. Clive and Louis Prima, while the songs are those of the "old firm" of Mack Gordon and Harry Revel. "Rose of Washington Square" is a "must" picture, if only for the appearance of A 1 Jolson.

AMUSEMENT GUIDE.

PICTURE THEATRES. BT. JAMES'—Mickey Rooney and Walter Connolly In "Huckleberry Finn " REGENT —Errol Fiynn and Basil Rathbone in t'The Dawn Patrol.*' EMBASSY—MfIIza Korju? and Lnlse Rainer In "The Orep.'. Waltz." MAYFAlß—Laurence Olivier In "Wutherfngr Heights" and "Moonlight Sonata." STRAND —"Tom Sawyer. Detective," and "Code of the Streets." PLAZA—Charles Laughton and Vivien Leigh In "St. Martin's Lane." CIVIC—Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers 1n "The Story or Vernon and Irene Castle." MAJESTIC—CharIie McCarthy and W. C. Fields in "You Can't Cheat An Honest Man." ROXY—Peter I.orre in "Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation," anrl Ann Slerldan and Margaret Lindsay in "Broadway Musketeers." ADELPHI—Guest Night. ALEXANDRA—Guest Night. AMBABSADOR—Guest Night. ABTOR—"Spendthrift" and "That's My Story." AVONDALE—"Our Fighting Navy." BIRKENHEAD—"There Goes The Groom.'' BERKELEY (Mission Bay)—" Suez." BRITANNIA—"GirIs* School" and "Pirates of the Skies." CRYSTAL PALACE—Guest Night. CAPITOL—Guest Night. DE LUXE—"Letter or Introduction." EMPRESS—"Hollywood Cowboy" and "Isle of Fury." GREY LYNN—Guest Night. GAlETY—"Tovarich." KINGBLAND—Guest Night. MAYFAIR—"Cowboy and The Lady" and "Alfs Button Afloat." PRINCEBS—Guest Night. PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night. PEERLESS—"Kentucky." RIALTO—Guest Night. REGAL—Guest Night. REGENT—finest Night. STAR (Newton) —"His Affair" and "Paris Honeymoon." STATE (Devonport)—Guest Night. STATE (Onehunga)—Guest Night. BTRAND^(Onehunga) —"You Can't Take It 'TATE (lymondt Street) —"Fast and TUDOR—"Marie Antoinette." T,VO H! —",i Mr Moto Takes a Vacation" and Broadway Musketeers." VICTORIA—Guest Night. SOUTHERN CROSB—"On Our Selection."