AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 9, 11 January 1940, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

CIVIC THEATRE.

The Jamaica Inn of Charles Laughton B new picture of that title, from the boot by Daphne du Maurier, still exists on tne bleak Cornish coast, although the period of the story is the year 1840. Miss du Maurier depicts it as a den of cut-tnroats and plunderers who lure unwary merchant ships to their doom on the eurtswept rocks. Actually, now, 120 years later, the place ia a respectable pub ana haven for wayfarers. This was the word brought by Charles Laughton in advance of "Jamaica Inn," which is being released at the Civic Theatre. At the same time Laughton revealed that, although tne ancient inn still stands, its prototype in the film is a movie set —erected on a sound stage in a studio near London, far from the Cornwall locale of the story. There are two reasons for this. One, that English picture companies almost never go on outdoor location, unless it is to such distant places as the French Riviera. British weather is too dependably bad, and wastes too many days of costly time. The other reason is that Jamaica Inn now has i dence of modernity—power lines, a petrol filling station, and—horrors!—a neon sign. j • EMBASSY THEATRE. Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn for charm, and Roland Young. May Robson, Fav Bainter, Genevieve Tobm and lan Hunter for laughs—that's the dish ot entertainment set before the patrons or the Embassy Theatre, where Yes, My Darling Daughter" opens a season to-day. "Yes, My Darling Daughter" was adapted from' Mark Reed's very successful stage play of the same name. It deals witna subject which is still not mentioned in manv of the best circles, you know. In a word, it's about a daughter of the house deciding to run away with a young man T lowover, she is mightily disappointed when none of her family seem to object strongly except her father, and complications set in galore when it is discovered that the modern generation was not the only one to have its moments of rebellion. Mother and aunt and grandma all come into it. The result is a series of hilarious situations and brilliant comedy dialogue. Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn, the lovers of "Four Daughters," are again teamed. MAJESTIC THEATRE. With to-night's final screening of the prison melodrama "Blackwell's Island' and the mystery thriller "Death of a Champion," the Majestic Theatre will be ma ™" ing room for to-morrow's release of the much-publicised farce, "Unexpected Father." Baby Sandy, regarded by columnists and critics in America as being one of the most important child discoveries of the decade, has his first big part in this new comedy, which is reported to be a succession of amusing dialogue, wisecracks and hilarious situa- , tions from beginning to end. Mischa Auer adds his peculiar Russian style of humour" to the general mix-up. The romantic interest is in the hands of Shirley Ross and Dennis o'K.eefe. With "Unexpected Father" is screening "The House of Fear," a spine-tinjrling mystery story. Done in the best Hollywood tradition of mysteriously opening and shutting doore, strange noises and queer happenings, with secret menace and the threat of death lurking behind every shadow, the picture should prove enough for any lover of thrills and chills. William Gargan, Irene Hervey and El Brendel afe featured players. PLAZA THEATRE. Never has a propaganda film caused so much interest and comment as "The Lion Has Wings," current. entei - tainment at the Plaza Theatre is doing. Alexander Korda made it in 12 days for a cost of £25,000 — amazingly cheaply by comparison with many of rhe major epics of the screen. The technicians were paid full salaries, I but all the actors, with the exception of I Ralph Richardson and Merle Oberon, who : ."rave their services, received five guineas c. dr". The first part of the film, skilfully | constructed from news reels, shows how | Biitain worked and played while GerI many prepared for war. Then follows j the declaration of war, and then a reconstruction of the raid on the Kiel Canal j and an imaginary night air attack on London, both tremendously exciting, the more so because the one was real and the c'o'.ier may b? p.nv dav. There is a vcnurncc. perhaps a li'.'ilo long, showing Low England awoke to the danger of the [Spanish Armada, with the full-sailed galleons cutting to ~.n armada of the air, ! r.r.d .the r)H l-.;r-. ends with Raloh Richardson, n.A.F. pilot, and Merle Oberon, Red Cross nurse, reunited after a night on duty. STRAND THEATRE. Not even your gangster films contain the melodrama and thrill-packed action that a Tarzan jungle picture possesses, and "Tarzan Finds a Son," now showing at the Strand Theatre, is no exception to this rule. Johnny Weissmuller, former Olympic and world's champion swimmer, is again in the title-role, with Maureen O'Sullivan (who else could it be?) as his mate. Five-year-old Johnny Sheffield does splendidly in the role of the foster-son who conies to the famcj< pair of jungle lovers through an aeroplt.ne crash in the forest, in which he is the sole survivor. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Only four performances are left before the Auckland season of Messrs. J. C. Williamson's "Switzerland" Ice Ballet concludes. Miss Megan Taylor, world champion and star of the 6how, has made a great "hit" with local playgoers with, her excellent skating, while her father, Mr. Phil Taylor, himself world champion in 1914, has provided one of the' best pieces of entertainment ever presented in this city. His trick skating is amazing. Done at tremendous speed, it is none the less impressive because he wears a continual smile, as though it were merely practice. Others in the company are the Mackinnon sisters, Elsie Heathcote, Diana Grafton, Ronald Priestley, Hal Scott, Eric Gerrard, Connie Graham, Ernie Marconi, Tommy Russell and Graham Hobbs. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. After a surprisingly brilliant career, considering the small number of his films, Robert Donat appears to be firmly established in the hearts of audiences in this city. His latest picture, "Good-bye, Mr. Chips," adapted from James Hilton's bestselling novel, is running a long-run season at the St. James' Theatre. Telling in "Cavalcade" form the story of an English schoolmaster who looked on while the world around him moved along the thorny path of progress, the story provides powerful drama along the channels of iunian emotion which everyone can understand. Siniple and direct, the character Mr. Chips is easily followed by everybody who sees the film. Robert Donat is supported by a brilliant newcomer in C \ rr *" Garson, whose loveliness and ;■■> hould mark her out for big things i the s.vecii world of 1940. P!OXY-TIVOLI. To;' shcc. excitement it would be difficult to go paoi "'Charlie Chan at Treasure latest of the Earl Derr Biggers stc.y -, which is screening currently at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Sidney Toler, successor to the tragic "y ""'v.rr Oland. has his third Chan role in the r.rw mystery thriller and again proves l - .i:n.-rl: an :dc;>! choice for the part. This 10 t' lo San Francisco ■ P.,' '' : ' a!V " tC> c °i ve an amazing crime rninie ai:d to track down a master of the occult who der.;s death insidiously and -*•*'".'iou?!y by means ol a rsychic aiTO\v In thn latest advent:;, e t!i° famous sleuth enlis •• the aid ot Rhrulnii, the great magic played bv Cc;;:U' Romero. And, of cs *.c. : son, in the person f! Sen i ling, is never far away from the ci danger. Pauline Moore has an ' ■ l ole as the mind-reader in Phfrlini's act at the Temple of Magic on i . : Island, and others featured in t::c- Fowley, June Gale, !)( v .-' i : I':•.i 1 s;•. Sally Blanc, Biliie I' w. Willy Vcinon and Donald MacUii'le. A; 1 _tir.ii in fine performances unth".- the expert direction of Norman Fester, who, incidentally, is Miss Blanea linej.iiiii. T! e other picture on the same hi" .->t bot'i theatres is "The. Adventures of .t-me Arden," another action-packed iii-.-.oai-:na. It features Rose la Towers, a screen newcomer, in the title ro , e y, William Gargan as leading man and Benny Rubin as chief provider of laughs.