Amusements Reviewed

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 15

Amusements Reviewed

"I AM THE LAW." MAJESTIC. ££ VKS2, ."".VSUiinfc, Krwrrr..-. "BJri Director: Alexander Hnli. * Columbia AN": "I..VUDKN OK Till; MOOV • jl«rrl..g fat U Itrlcn and ?ohi. fainted against the stark background l *.'•' " city an,| replete with fresh di.imattc turns which make it a irrcat onginai among the more familiar tvr.es ot aiiM-ganglainl 111111 s. ,\ni the Law." now i".i cening at the Majestic Theatre, is dcli- ! i l'i I " | V t, J ,c 111 which those who love .. be thrilled ate catered for to the exnemo limit, hdward (i. l.'obinson, reboinsed ~s the perteet gangster of tilnidom. nerds n,, introdu. tion In all his .pictures -- IS the hcry personality who gives " 'em the uoiks ail,l is the centre of scenes "Inch cause audiences to gasp. But in "I Am the Law, Robinson is seen on the ' i .t"' 0 .- Instead ot being the "Little aisai ~! the uaiigsters he is cast as tile In lid-mannered |, lu professor. John Lind>.M "ho takes on the task of wiping out in' ..i keteei s. li M t he finds that even among the men allotted him there are 11 ai tors in the pay of the gangsters, men 'M'-otf to their racketeering bosses tvery move contemplated by the deterin lined man who is out to smash the chiefs «the underworld. Ihe tear of citizens 10 testify because of what might happen 1" themselves and families is the bi" obstacle to be surmounted, and not being able to get men to come forward, Robinson is summed up as a failure bv the district attorney and dismissed. But dismissal does not mean defeat and Robin.«"n is more determined than ever to put mii end to the lrtwletssness. He envois Viis t'irmer class ol_ colleae students as his hisistants and from that moment things . in ppen, I here are thriljing louiid-ups, clubs are raided, homes entered and gangsters aricst.ed without compunction, and by pitting the rival gang* against each other hobinnoii nets somewhere. Dictaphones and cameras are "planted ' and they re»oi d incidents which the crooks cannot challenge. I here is sensation after sensa* tion as Robinson literally blows the town up in his hunt of the criminals. How he accomplishes his job makes one of the most exciting films yet screened. Robinson gives a wonderful impersonation of the man who lears nothing or anybody. He is ably assisted by John Beal. as Paul Ferguson, the son of the Mayor of the « ity l Otto Kruger), who is actually one ot the heads of a gangster group. Barbara tj Xeil, as the wife of the professor and who enters into the spirit of his work, is excellent, as is also Wendy Burrir, who is in with the racketeers and actually is photographed eonwnitting a murder. Her confession come# when she is shown a film record ot the murder being committed. A t>righ comedy is "Garden of the Moon," in which the principals are Pat OBt icn arid John Payne, well supported by Margaret Lindsay and Johnny Davis. The story deals with the rivalry between O'Brien, impressario of the famous night club, "Warden of the Moon," which incidentally provides the theme song, and Payne, :i go-getter loader of a dazzling swing band. Throughout the story O'Brien is either hiring or firing Payne and his band or resorting to all sorts of ruses to robire them. Features of the delightful film are the singing of Pa.vne and ♦he music of Joe Venuti and his swing "eats." The two pictures arc each firstclass fare. ROXY TIVOLI. Gangster menace, as it affects the lives <kf the innocent in a community, is presented with gripping realism in "My Son in n Criminal,' the melodrama which heads the programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Leading character is Alan Baxter, while Jacqueline Wells has the main feminine role. Central thsme of the film concerns a fight for justice after criminal forces have placed the blame for n crime on the shoulders of a policeman's son. Baxter, -who has been acting consistently well for some time, bas his best rolo yet in "My Son in a Criminal." In different vein, "Pardon Our Nerve," which is the associate feature, presents Lynn Bari and June Gale in a rollicking tr.le of two girls trying to make money. In the coursc of thetr search they become joint-managers of a huge but completely dumb gentleman -w'hom they put in line I'w a title bout. All goes well until on the

nitfht of the battle the two girls are kidnapped. Then the fun begins in earnest, j flayers in this film include the comical Kd Bropliy. Guinn Williams and Michael 1 Whalen, who has the role of a 9ports writer. ASTOR, DOMINION ROAD. ( Jury Cooper and Claudette Colbert provide ionic delightful comedy in "Blue!>eard's Eighth Wife," main attraction now nfc the Astor Theatre. Dominion Road. F.rnst Lubtisch produced. "The rhatner." with Dennis O'Keefe and Ann Morris, is also showing. THE BERKELEY. Rollicking comedy is the keynote of "Bnv It in French." starring Olympc Brndnn and Ray Mitlnnd, now at the Berkeley, Mission Bay. "Inside the Maginot Line." revealing the marvels of ilia French fortification*, i« a notable feature, at the head of- the supporting programme.. BRITANNIA. PONSONBY. "Three Loves ILis Xancy," starring ■Tanct Oaynor, Robert Montgomery and Franchot Tone, heads the bill at the Britannia Theatre, Ponsonby. Associate fpaturc is the amusing "Little Tough Guys in Society," with Mary Boland and Jvhvard Everitt Horton. VICTORIA, DEVONPORT. A brilliant cast plays in "The Shining Hour," now at the Victoria Theatre, Devonport. Included are .loan Crawford, Margaret SulJavan and Robert Young. "Dead Men Tell Xo Tales," starring »t.age player Kmlyn Williams, is also showing. TUDOR, REMUERA. rieiiniting three old favourites. "Three fnuirt Girls Grow Up," now at the Tudor Cinema, Romueta, is notable for the singing of Deannu Durbin. The others are. of rounse, Xan Grey and Helen Parrish. Charles Winninger is outstanding as the girls' father. GAIETY, TAKAPUNA. "Merrily We Live." a rollicking farce of family life—atid what a family!—is the main film Rt the Gaiety Cinema, lakapuna. Stars aro Brian Aherne, Billie Burke and Roland Young. It is full of fun and grand entertainment. PRINCESS, DOMINION ROAD. Role of the notorious Jesse James is handled to perfection by Tyrone Power in the film of that name now screening at the Princess Theatre, Dominion Road, ffenry Fonda is another in the cast. Cofentui ed is "Made For Each Other ' with • fumes Stewart and Carole Lombard. ADELPHI, RICHMOND. flipping drama centring around secret service activities is presented in "They Made Her A Spy." which is at the Adelphi Thpatre. Richmond. Allan Lane and Sally Eilers are the leading players. Associate feature is "Return of the Cisco Kid," starring Warner Baxter. AVONDALE TOWN HALL. With Frank Morgan. Robert Young aiid Mary Astor featured "Romance tor Three," now at the Avondale Town Hall, has no shortage of stars. Edna May Oliver is nlao there. "Avenging Waters" starTing Ken Maynard in the associate feature. REGENT, EPSOM. Singing stars Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy nre together again in the musical treat, "Girl of the West, muln attraction at the Regent Theatre. Kpsorn. In tcchnicolour, this is a nota.ile liltn. A March ot Time is also showing.

"THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK." CIVIC. Louis XIV i , ~ I 'liillippe g a - vwa «l Maria Theresa r s Hay ward I I>'A rtaitnan ,1- Joan Bl "nett , I'ouquM ,• narreQ William I I'orthos .V. Jos, ' l ' U Sehildkraut Aiho« Alan Hair Miks Marnier ' or . Juhies Whale. L'nited Artists. Pit ,V J ' c • W " i,, ' ch a to he neriod lht ',^ an th * Iron Mask," received it thr l am -r, enth "siast,call y bv •? the Clvlc Theatre last night jvh™ "he VrmcT'rf KT. *s^*"=.^?" ••Three o "'Musk T t' S th ° fit ° ry with the Xleximlpr- n ° ers atmosphere that -Alexander Dumas created for France His v. tr " ovel ,s 'n all its swashbuckling vigour, with love, war sword B fi V l ? b " orn ?f ~t,> B. treachery and " the French highwavs. A teaturo °f the film is the dual role played bvMi n n WI, * tltl . ,t e ki »« brilliantly waid w'L ;."" lan,,c Louis HayJ • hose differentiation between the Ms "actimr 3 '*K'r#' S H 1V e of tation f'li ' , !' fi double interprethe picture B " l,tlcty and The story concerns Louis XIV of lns twi " brother Phiilipe anTron° ' mp [ uo '} ed in ,he Bastille wFth , , " iask damped over his head keeping him there until rescue bv musketeer, enabled him to supplant Louis as King and marry Maria Teresa of Spam in his stead. The plots and counter oiii-ni' 1e:r ,' n 8 to this ultimately happy and tlirm" f1 " P , a highly adventurous and thn'hng ta) e. « The Mnn jn thfi , ron .Mask contains many sequences of dashing sword play and violence, crass country u T shado , w ' v , P' iso » adventures. ul,„, ,^ mes high-tension melodrama Mien action supplants dialogue and biades leap out of scabbards. Produced on a most lavish scale and containing many remarkable settings, the picture shows respect for realism of detail a* well as mass effect, while all or most ot the incidents familiar to readers are slioun on the screen. The famous swordsman d Artagnan. is given a fine Portrayal by Warren William, supported by the three other Dumas heroes, Portos, Aran,is an( , At , los Ag th{ , , ove , and sifted Maria Teresa of Spain, Joan Bennett is seen in, perhaps, her best role so' far. Joseph Sehildkra.it as the ti eacherous l'ouqnet. Walter Kingsford as the statesmanlike Colbert, and Marian Martin as Mademoiselle de la Valliere are outstanding in a strong cast. This is a picture that 110 one who loves rapid action and romantic drama should miss. The secondary film subjects on this programme are of unusual interest, and include the latest "March of Time," showing uncensored pictures from Japan. T- nd i "Unusual Occupations."' Charles ( iuckwell was warmly applauded last i night for nis selections on the Wurlitzbr organ. He featured national airs of the Allies and the nations of the Empire. and the new British marching song. "Boomps-a-Daisy.'' PLAZA THEATRE. Film sweethearts of "Alexander's Ragtime Band.'' Tyrone Power and Alice Faje are reunited in a film of similar tj pe, "Hose of Washington Square," which yesterday -began its second successful week at the Plaza Theatre. Add to that the fact that AI Jolson makes a welcome reappearance, singing some of the songs that made him so famous in an era not so many years away, and you have the makings of a musical film extraordinary. Some 12 or 13 old favourites are featured in the film, most of them written by Gordon and Revel. The story has its locale in Broadway and its characters in the players of some years ago, many of the scenes _ highlighting the career c>f Jolson himself. Unlike so many musicals, "Rose of Washington Square" has a powerful story that is not there just to put the music across. Jolson. is the dominant figure of this film. His songs, "Mammy" in particular, are thrilling memories of most theatregoers remember. In addition, outstanding supporting items are showing at the Plaza. MAYFAIR THEATRE.

Transferred now to the Mayfair Theatre for a season, the latest Fred AstaireGinger Rogers feature "The Life of Vernon and Irene Castle" is having a remarkable run of success in Auckland. And it is no wonder, for the film strikes a new note in screen biography. In fact it is the biography of entertainment itself, presenting the lives of the dancing favourites of a quarter of a century ago through the screen portrayals of the pair who have been prime dancing favourites of the post-Great War era for a long time now. "The Girl and the Gambler" is the associate feature. This stars Leo Canillo, Steffi Duna and the son of the famous veteran Jack Holt, who goes by the name of Tim. This is the story of an audacious scheme employed by a dashing Mexican bandit to win the affections of a reluctant scnorita and at the same time win a large wager on the outcome of his efforts. Carrillo, as the bandit, has one of those dashing roles in which he is so much at home. This is the first release of "The Girl and the Gambler" in Xew Zealand. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO. England's Charles Laughton, recognised by many as the screen's most distinguished character actor, has a part that fits him like a glove in "St. Martin's Lane," which has been transferred from the city and is now screening at the Crystal Pajace aud Rialto Theatres. With Laughtou in this film is another interesting star. Vivien Leigh, for she is the English girl who beat Hollywood's best on their own ground for the coveted Scarlett O'Hara role in "Gone With the Wind." The film is a story of the cockney buskers, street entertainers who play to theatre queues in London. A remarkably well-balanced programme is made up with "Wife, Doctor and Nurse," a brilliant and witty comedy-drama which has three great stars —Warner Baxter, Loretta Young and Virginia Bruce. STATE, SYMONDS STREET. "Honolulu," the brilliant musical comedy feature that has as its most striking ingredient the dancing of twinkletoed Eleanor Powell, is the principal attraction now screening at the State Theatre, Symonds Street. Many musicaldancing films have been made, but with its locale in the colourful Pacific island this strikes a new note. Supporting players include Robert Youug and the inimitable comedy wise-cracking pair. Gracie Allen and George Burns. They are at their very best, adding even more lustre to a film that is well endowed with that recommendation. The State guarantees that the first half alone is worth admission price, and that is a fair offer, for a March of Time is featured. STATE, ONEHUNGA. Erril Flynn and Olivia de Havilland have the leading roles in the delightful comedy-romance, "Four's a Crowd," which is the main fijin at the State Theatre, Onehunga. Singing cowboy Gene Autrv stars in "Goldmine in the Sky," the cofeature. GREY LYNN CINEMA. What a movie-lover's treat is "Stablemates." for it has Mickey Rooney costarred with Wallace Beery! This is the film screening at the Grey Lynn Cinema. It is a delightful human interest drama. "Escape from Yesterday," with Akim Tamiroff, Is also showing. DE LUXE. MOUNT ALBERT. Beautiful technicolour marks the production "Gold is Where You Find It," heading the programme at the De Luxe Theatre, Mount Albert. George Brent and Olivia de Havilland are the etars. "Peck's Bad Boy at the Circus" is cofeatured. MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM. - A thrilling boxing feature, with Robert Taylor in tne leading role is "The Crowd Roars." which heads a fine bill at the Mayfair Theatre, Sandringhani. Maureen O'Sulliva 11 is co-starred. "Strange Faces," with Dorothea Kent, is also showing.

STRAND THEATRE. _l-rorn the throbbing streets of the worlds most dramatic citv, Xew York tram the lives of boys, too old for their years, struggling for a livelihood in the midst ot a competition that leaves all but the strong in poverty, comes "Xcwsbovs' Home, the thrilling feature that yesterday began its Auckland season at the .Strand Iheatre.

Featuring th > grim realism faced by lllclau boys whose battle? are fought 011 noisy street corners, the picture starts •tackle Cooper and features Edmund Lowe, Wendy Barrie. Edward Xorris and Samuel S. Hinds. with Universal"* rough and ready band of Little Tough Guys who have already made a name for themselves in the screen world. Cooper, one of the few juvenile stai s who has made a comeback in adolescence, is seen as a newsboy who risks his life for his publisher. This is Cooper's best work so far. and if he keeps on in this vein he will eclipse even li'.s tame as a brilliant youngster. The Crime Club provides a modern hospital tor its latest adventure in the realm of detective chillei*. "Mystery of the White Room." which is the associate feature 011 the Strand's excellent bill. Seventh in this popular series, it maintains the high standard set by previous productions.

Thrilling action begins with the scapel murder ot' a doctor in a darkened surgery. From that point 011 a sinister killer is loose in the hospital. The only witness who can identify him is blinded and veildeled incapable of speech when acid is tin own in his face.

Bruce Cabot plays the lule of the heroic doctor who unravels the mystery after he has risked his life. Helen Mack appears opposite him, while other members ot the cast are Joan Woodbury. Constance Wolth, Mabel Todd, Kolaiid Drew and Tom Duggan.

All round the programme is an excellent one, well balanced and with all the factors that make for really good cinema entertainment.

PRINCE EDWARD, NEWTON. Direct from a highly successful Queen Street scasoti, oil Can't Cheat an Honest Man," the latest nianiteslation of the brilliance of Kdgar Bergen's dummy Charlie McCarthy, is now at the Prince lid ward Theatre, Xcwton. And, further, Charlie is in conflict throughout with another brilliant wisecrack artist, W. C. Fields. Mortimer Snerd. Bergen's amusing yokel dummy, has some of the best comedy moments. Fields luis the role of an impoverished showman, pursued by as lively a bunch of creditors as ever chased an erring debtor, Elisabeth Bergner's latest film, "Stolen Life," is the associate feature. In this outstanding melodrama the Continental star has as her leading man English Michael Redgrave. STRAND, ONEHUNGA. A gripping drama of life at sea is "Our Fighting Xuvy," which is screening at the Strand Theatre, Ouehunga. This features 11. B. Warner and joung Richard Cromwell. "Gambling Ship," with Robert Wilcox and Helen Mack as stars, is also showing. EMPRESS, NEWTON. Things go all third dimensional in "Topper Takes A Trip," the hilarious main attraction at the Empress Theatre. Newton. Roland Young and Constance Bennett are starred. The Dionne Quintuplets provide the co-feature with "Five of a Kind." REGAL. PONSONBY. Dick Powell is in good singing voice, and Pat O'Brien is also at top form in "Cowboy From Brooklyn." now showing at the Regal Theatre. Po.isonbv. The Dionnes are starred in "Five of a Kind"' with Jean Heisholt and Cesar Ronieio. ALEXANDRA, GREEN LANE. Perennial favourite. Gracie Fields, again demonstrates the remarkable personality that has made her a friend of all. in "Keep Smiling," which is the principal attraction at the Alexandra Theatre, Green Lane. The Joneti Family are in "Safety In Xumbcrs," co-featured.

AMBASSADOR, POINT CHEVALIER Another of the series that has proved so popular of late, "Judge Hardy's Family" heads the bill at the Ambassador Theatre. Point Chevalier. Mickey Rooney and Lewis Stone are again prominent. "The Young In Heart" is also screening.

REGENT. Ccorge Formby plus a gang of criminals plus a brewery, an all-in wrestling hall and several other strange settings equals "1 rouble Brewing." That seems to have been the equation upon which the hilarious Lancashire lad's latest laughter hit has been based. Yesterday it began its second week at the Regent Theatre, (•eorge is seen as a printer's compositor with a "yen" for crime detection. When his real chance conies he is not wanting, and there is fun aplenty before lie traps the desperadoes in a brewery and routs tlieni in a thrilling battle with beer liottlcs as weapons and no holds barred. Amidst all this excitement George stops now ;i ml then to sing some of his inimitable ditties. "Fanlight Fannie" being an outstanding example of the 1-ni mby art. Cius Mc-Xaughton and Goouic Y\ ithers aie the more important supporting players. Also showing at the Regent is a film entitled "The Warning." which is a prophecy since proved only too true. It presents in pictorial form the preparations for major combat carried out in the Old Country by civilians • and soldiers alike. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. 'J he career of young Dr. Kildare is continued —and with an exciting sequence oi events —in the second of the series, "Calling Dr. Kildare," which is the highly siiccesstul film that yesterday started its second week at the St. James' Theatre. Lew A .vies stars again. In "Young Dr. Kildare" Ay res manifested all the hopes that followed his comeback performances in such films as "Poor Mnn. Rich Girl," and in this film he has never been better. Lionel Barrymore is as accomplished as ever in the role of irascible Dr. Gillespie. Nat Pendleton and Lana Turner are in the cast. The film is about Kildare's light to save the life of a wounded boy, and his subsequent tight for justice when the boy is wrongfully arrested. The unusual situation of a doctor engaged in detective work offers much scope for dramatic work. "Penny's Picnic," one of the delightful Pete Smith specialties, is notable for being in technicolour. and •'Giants of Norway'' is a Passing Parade of more than ordinary interest. The St. • lames' news service is up to the usual high standard. STAR. NEWTON. Francois Villon, scalawag, possible murderer and poet, is brought to the screen in "If I Were King." now at the Star Theatre. Xcwton. Chosen for the coveted role was Ilonald Colman, too little seen in the motion picture field now, and a magnificent job lie makes of the role. His leading lady is the beautiful Frances Dee, while Basii Rathbone acts the villain as only Rathbone can. Spectacular, romantic and ever entertaining. "If I Were King" i.s a notable photoplay. Old favourite William Boyd, in the role he has made famous. is seen in "In Old Mexico." the associate feature. Ife plays the role of Hopalong Cassidy. A Popcye cartoon entitled "\\ ii.l Bill Hickok" heads the supporting programme. WINDSOR, PAPAKURA. "Gnnga Din." a thrilling epic of army life and advcntuie. is the main attraction at the Windsor Theatre. Papakura. Gary (•rant, Victor McLaglen. Douglas Fairbanks and Joan Fontaine arc the major I stais in this exposition of the Kipling j theme. METROPOLE CABARET. Dress will be optional to-night at the i Metropole Cabaret. Sammy Lee and his i Americaiiadians will play the music. A | new scale of charges is advertised. PETER PAN CABARET. | "1 too u i ps-a -Dais y will l.c featured by ] that fine combination. Johnny Madden : and his Swing Kings, at the Peter j Pan ( abar.'t to-night. Heavy booking is lepnrtcd. ! SKATEWAYS. | The Flying Santells are still providing thrills in plenty at jhe Skatewaya rink, top of Khyber Pass Road. These seven amazing Americans arc outstanding performers. PIRATE SHIPPE. MILFORD. 1 here i.« a aland old-time dance carnival set, down tor to-night at the Pirate Shippe, Milford Beach. The Pirate Shippe band will play and special transport arrangements have been made.

EMBASSY. How a brilliant foreigner whose treatment and cure of cripples amazes London, attempts the cure of a Harley Street man's ■ crippled daughter to gain recognition for himseii. is told in the screen version of tlie stage play by Dorothy Brandon, "The Outsider,"' which is attracting large crowds tc> the Embassy Theatre. Taking the leading roles are Australian Mary i Magmre and the dramatic actor George Sanders, last seen here in "Confessions of | a „ Xazi Spy." Others present are P. Kynaston Reeves, Peter Murray Hill and Kathleen Harrison. Ragatzy, the man played by Sanders. i.s an egotistical, absent-minded man of brilliance who lias ' no degree. This puts him beyond rhe pale as far as Harley Street is concerned, but he flings out tile challenge, and before his ultimate triumph the real Ragatzy. the man beneath the swagsrer and pugnacity, is revealed. Miss Mauuire is in brilliant form as the crippled "girl. The Embassy s supporting programme is outstanding. It includes a "Scrappy" cartoon, a travel film of Jamaica and a realistic mock battle involving Polish land forces. RIALTO, SUNDAY. At the Rialto Theatre to-morrow night picture programme will be screened j ieaturing one of the singing films of Gene Autry. popular cowboy star. The laugh- I tei" hit "All In." starring Ralph Lynn ami Claude Danipier, will also be shown. STRAND. SUNDAY. 1 lie Australian free thought lecturer, Miss Ann Lennan, will speak under the auspices of the Rationalist Association tomorrow night in the Strand Theatre. Her subject will be "llie Martyrdom of Poland. "Money I alks," starring Judy Kelly, heads the picture programme. CAPITOL, BALMORAL. l'-irol l'lynn as l'obin Hood and Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marion head the cast in "I.he Adventures of Robin Hood." which is the main film now at the Capitol Theatre. Balmoral. "Back in Circulation," starring Pat O'Brien and .loan Blondell, is also showing. STATE. DEVONPORT. A brilliant acting pair in Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne are co-starred in "Xearest thing to Heaven." which heads the programme at the State Theatre. Devonport. Associate feature is the exciting "Daredevil Drivers." witli Dick Pureel 1 and Beverley Roberts. DANCING. Peter Pan Cabaret, popular dancing; Johnny Madden and his Swing Kings. Pirate Shippe Cabaret, ..Id-time dancing; Pirate Shippe orchestra. Xew Metropole Cabaret, popular dancing: Sammy Lee and his Anierieanadians. Chez I'aree Cabaret, popular dancing; Chez Paree baud. Rialto Ballroom. popular dancing; Rhythm Rascals Orchestra. (.oronation Ballroom, popular dancing; Ted C'road and his band. St. Mary's Hall, popular dancing; Conlion's orchestra. Crystal Palace Ballroom, modern dancing; Epi Shalloon's band. St. Sepulchres Hall, modern dancing; Reg. Gould and his band. Gaiety Hall, old-time dancing; Carlton orchestra. Xew Dixieland Cabaret, popular dancing: Xew Dixieland band. Manchester I nity Ilall. popular dancing; i Ait. Larkin and his band. Masonic Hall, ohVtime dancing; Operatic Quintette orchestra. '