AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

REGENT THEATRE.

You may except Shirley Temple—but it's etrange how no formula eeems to succeed on Hollywood's silver ecreen bo well as does the Deanna Durbin mueical. With her meteoric eucceae. in her first effort, "Three Smart Girls." Deanna captured the hearts of millions throughout the world—at the reputedly "•awkward" age of 14! If ehe wae awkward, let's never eee graceful children on the ecreen! But Deanna has held the world's attention with a series of clean, fresh stories of young girlhood until now, at the stilltender age of 17, she makes an attempt to graduate—elowly, ever eo slowly—into the romantic claee of leading lady. Innumerable actresses have been featured players. even state, at earlier ages—Nancy Kelly was only 15 when she played eo well opposite Tyrone Power in "Jesse James." But Deanna Duribin m different. Her maidenliness is the essence of her popularity, and that first kiss with Robert Stack in the appropriately-titled film "Firet Love," now showing at the Regent Theatre, muut come as something of a ehock. The whole thing is tastefully done and the changeover to romance should be easy for Deanna.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Melodrama—that is the keynote of entertainment offered by the current dualattraction programme at the Majestic Theatre, where "The Island of Lost Men" and "6000 Enemies" are screening. "The Island of Lost Men" ie an enthralling tale of intrigue and counter-intrigue, of plotting and sudden death, of lawbreakers and lawmakers, in a. novel setting. Ita stars are Anna May Wong and J. Carroll Naish, with Anthony Quinn and Eric Blore featured. "6000 Enemies," one of the most abeorbing murder mystery films to be shown in the city for months, has a cast headed by Walter Pidgeon, Rita Johneon, Paul Kelly, Nat Pendleton and Harold Huber. The Majestic'e change of bill on Friday will bring an old favourite with New Zealanders—George Wallace. George's latest Australian-made comedy is "Gone to the Dogs," in which he romps through a sequence of crazy situations in juet as amusing a fashion as he ever did on the local fleeh-and-blood stage. As an additional attraction the Majestic k showing "One Hour to Live," with Charles Bickford, Doris Nolan a»d John Litel in the principal roles.

CENTURY THEATRE. Auckland's newest cinema, the colourful Century, Queen Street, ie still showing its finst attraction, the Shirley Temple film "Susannah of the Mounties." Adventure, excitement end laughter chase each other in rapid euccesshSn across the screen in thw new picture, which depicte the struggle between the Indians and the Canadian Mounties at the time the Canadian Pacific railroad was pushing through to the west coast. Randolph Scott and Margaret Lock wood, star of "The Lady Vanishes," have featured roles in support of the golden Miss , Temple. The Century's next change of bill will bring its patrons the much-publicised production "Elsa Maxwell's Hotel for Women." Remarkable for ite daring effort to exploit the great persona] fame enjoyed by the overweight Elsa Maxwell, perhaps the world's No. 1 giver of crazy parties, the film succeeded unexpectedly in placing on the list of Hollywood stars another newcomer, Linda Darnell. A distinctly unusual picture from beginning to end, it should create much discussion when released.

EMBASSY THEATRE. Strangely unfamiliar to New Zealanders, Frank L. Baum's book "The Wizard of Oz" ie popular with millions of Americans. Sales in the 30-odd years since it woe written lhaye exceeded tih-j 10,000,000 mark. Now, with more than the, usual degree erf technical perfection, Hollywood Jiae filmed the book. The story of young , Dorothy and her strange trip in the heart of a "twister" from Kansas to the wonderful land of Oz, where «lie has amusing and terrifying adventures, gives the EmIbaesy one of die finest entertainments. "The Wiaard of Oz" is not a cartoon, but a β-eal motion picture photographed in technicolour. Some idea of itf. splendour may he gauged from the fact that the production cost wae in tihe vicinity of £750,000. There are 9200 featared players, prominent among whom are Judy Gotlend as DoirVfahy, the little farm girl who visits the Land of Oz; Ray Bo&er, as the Scarecrow; Jack Haley as 4he Tin Woodman; Bert Lahr ae the Cowardly Lion; Margaret Hamilton, as the Bad Witch; and Billie Burke, as the Good Witch.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE. In the third -production from its British studios (the other two were "A Yank at Oxford" and "The Citadel"), Metro-GoM-wyn-Mayer has given the world a brilliant cinematic rendering of James Hilton's magnificent novel "Good-bye, Mr. Chipe." This film is the current attraction at the St. James' Theatre. It depends almost entirely on the success of Robert Donat'e portrayal of the kindly old English schoolmaster around whom Hilton built his great story. Donat more than lives up to expectations. This amazing young man who appears all too eeldom on the world's ecreene has, in fact, never yet turned out an inferior picture. Picturegoers will remember with pleasure hie unforgettable "Count of Monte Criato," which "made" him. then euch epics of entertainment as "The Ghost Goes West," "The 39 Steps," "Knight Without Anmour" and "The Citadel." In "Goodbye, Mr. Chipe" he has the assistance of Greer Garson. . a lovely young leading lady who, if this first-claee interpretation of a role that would have taxed a much more experienced actress is a criterion, is going right to the top of the celluloid' ladder.

PLAZA THEATRE. "There's been too much dressing up on the screen," said Pandro 8. Berman. production executive at R.K.O. 6tudios, Hollywood, one morning. So he made a picture that, while not dispensing with the necessary adjunct of good costuming and lavish settings, bespoke far more than the clothing of the stars. He made "Fifth Avenue Girl," the present show at the Plaza Theatre. "Fifth Avenue Girl" hae everything that a light holiday entertainment should have. Strong family appeal is its major factor in the race for success. It is even better comedy than Ginger Rogers' recent "hit" film, "Bachelor Mother"—and that ie saying a great deal. Aβ William R. Weaver, "ace" reviewer for the trade journal "Motion Picture Hprald" said, " 'Fifth Avenue Girl' is solid entertainment juet as easily comprehensible to the cowboys who Saturdaynight in Laramie as to the limousine trade." Mr. 'Weaver adds that it is the kind of picture which would fill thoae endless rows of seats at the giant Rockefeller Radio City Music Hall ae easily as it would the hard benches at John Smith's "Hickory Hills" Nickelodeon. CIVIC THEATRE. One of the biggest stage successes—it' was an enormous money spinner on Broad-' way for a period of two years—is now showing in screen form at the Civic Theatre. This is "Golden Boy," a welltold tale of the prize-ring in which a newcomer, William Holden, is starred. Holden was taken out of the cast of the New York play and put, against mature advice, into the film's top spot. The success he makes of the job is proof of the old definition of the motion picture industry as "the unpredictable gamble." Holden gives a sterling portrayal, and is greatly helped by firstrate performance on the part of that 'veteran of characterisation on the screen,

Adolphe Menjou, and of love]y Barbara Stanwyck. Mies Stanwyck is a talented actress who can vary her interpretation of a character with much more ease than can many of Hollywood's eo-called stare. She did a fine job of work in the feminine lead of "Union Pacific" for Cecil B. de Mille, and in "Golden Boy" ehe has just such another difficult assignment. However, ae could be expected, ehe comes through with flying colours. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Flesh-and-blood entertainment at Christmas—Aucklanders have had it from Messrs. J. C. Williamson and other professional organisations so often that.they would feel lost without it. This year's entertainment is provided at Hie Majesty's Theatre by a spectacular new J.C.W show, the "Switzerland Ice Ballet" Company. Travelling about 75 persons, the company has between 40 and 50 artists, who are headed by the world champion, Miss Megan Taylor, a most attractive and willing "skaterina"—horrible word, but one supposes that we shall have to get used to it. One of London's big-time comedians, Eddie Marcel, is given an important spot of the bill. Phil Taylor, however, will provide the public wife a sample of the ekating tricks that appeal m every country; he is listed as a world champion trick-skater, if there is any such championship! In addition, the company has a full quota of beautiful skating girls —regrete, ekaterinas!—and men skaters. The whole programme is an exceptionally well-assorted one, with a variety of entertainment that cannot fail to appeal to all h "?hday makers. A tour of the Dominion will follow the Auckland season.