AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

''ON TRIAL" ROXY—TIVOLI. Robert Strickland John Litel Mae Strickland .... Margaret Lindsay Doris Strickland .... Janet Chapman Joan Trask Nedda Harrigan Gerald Trask .... James Stephenson | Also: "CAI-Li OP THE UOCKIKS," with Charles Starrer t, an<l "The Son* I of the Pioneers," singing troupe. Two powerful romantic melodramas share the lioxy—Tivoli bill on to-day's change of programme. They are, '"Call of the Rockies," a hard-ridin", hardshootin' talc of the West into which the producers have interpolated a leavening of cowboy music, and "On Trial," an adaptation of the famous Elmer Rice stage play. Written in the days when the legitimate stage was enjoying a golden era, "011 Trial" was then a sensational melodrama. It is still a good melodrama to-day. The way it comes up on the screen, with the "flashback" technique utilised to make for clarity and to add "punch' , to the basic plot and its ramifications, fully justifies the laudatory comments made about the picture by various oversells critics. The new version of "On Trial - ' retains all thr elements that made the original a talkod-about attraction. Action and dialogue are Very well balanced. Suspense and surprise ceeiu to have been emphasised to a greater degree than the original play or any of the several pictures that have been based on it. The theme of "On Trial" eoncerne a young business man, Robert Strickland, v ho, on trial for a murder of which he is apparently guilty, makes no effort to defend himself or collaborate with his counsel. With the accused on his way to the electric chair, the lawyer summons the young man's daughter, J)oris, to testily on her father's behalf. The evidence the child gives forces her mother to take the stand. A din ma tic climax its brought about, which makes the unconquerable Right once more supreme and vindicates tin- hero. The uniformly good acting of the principals adds to the film's credibility. CENTURY THEATRE. Joan Bennett exploits the ability to turn brunette once more in "The Housekeeper's Daughter," a .brilliant comedy-romance now screening at the Century Theatre. Mitta Bctictt lirst revealed this ability in "Tfado Wind*," in which it was said that she wa*s attempting to outdo Hedy Laxnarr for brunette glamour. She continued with dark locka with the highest success in her role of the Infanta of .Spain in ''The Man in the Iron Mask." Xow comes, after pure glamorous romance and historical drama, modern comedy. "The Housekeeper's Daughter" is hilarious screen fare, with ■Joan in an amusing and sympathetic role. She Ims a wt'll-chtweu cant to support her, including AdoLphe Alonjou (a.s a drunken •'ace." re-porter), .John Hubbard (as a. wealthy and polished young m;in who tries to luvi'ik into big-city journalism). Donald Meek (a* a li.ira.ised city editor), Peggy Wood, William G.irg.in, Lilian Bond, George K. Stone and Marc Lawrence. REGENT THEATRE. Following tho current hijjhly-sueccseful Deanna Durbm season, the Kejjent Theatre will present, on Friday the much-discussed film "Dodse City," which was given a lavish world premiere in the city of the name where the locale was set. Dodge City was originally a brawling, turbulent city in the centre of the vast cattle country, which is now known vaguely as "the West.' , The virile personality of handsome Krrol Flynn ia ideally used, in the role of a venturesome young Irish soldier of fortune who has become a cowboy in Texas niter having fought in the army of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Tho story o>t the picture picke him up when lie has become the trail boss of au outfit driving a huge herd of Texas longhorn steers up along the Ohisholm Trail to Dodge City, the little town in southwestern Kansas that had become tho largest cattle shipping centre in America after the Santa Fe railway had been extended to what had merely been a drinking and carousing centre for the soldiers from nearby military post Fort Dodge. EMBASSY THEATRE. A new romantic love team, tried tentatively in "Four Daughters," is most tiuccessful in "Yes, My Darling Daughter," tho current attraction at the Kmbassy Theatre. Thus consists of l'riscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn. Their romantics, to judge by the reactions of Embassy audiences, are tirst-class cinematic entertainment. An interesting poy>t was noticed during the filming of "Yes. My Darling Daughter." Both l'riscilla Laue and Fuy BstUiter had to weep for the camera. Neither had to have menthol or onion* to help them—a nod from the director was fiiouph. Miss Lane took one minute and 15 seconds to start tears rolling down her check*, but Mies Bainter. who had to start dry-eyed, only 22 seconds. She stopped immediately the scene was over, but Mis Lane could not stop for more than five minutee. And if you think automatic crying ie easy, ju.st try it sometime! PLAZA THEATRE. Powerful melodrama and amusing coinedy-roinance, with the lightest leavening of romance, form the strong emotional appeal of "The Lion Has Wings," curnent long-run attraction at the Plaza Theatre. However, the real entertainment of this significant and dramatic picture lies not so much in its routine aspects as in ite frank, straightforward telling of the story of how the British Empire came to be involved in this war against aggression and in reconstruction of a hypothetical air raid over London and the famous Kiel Canal raid on the Sunday after war broke out. The first portion of the film consists of newsreels mid commentary depicting how Britain played and lived while Nazi Germany thundered out its war preparations and its hate poison. Came the awakening with the "September crisis" over the Sudetenland, and Britain built up a mighty defensive and offensive military system in less than the year that was -pared to her before the storm broke last September 1. The film's great dual climax •ontes with tile two reconstructions, the Kiel Canal raid scene*, depicting the ictual Royal Air Force officers who took part in it. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. One of the most powerful dramatic performances ever given by a young man in the screen may bo credited to Robert Donat with his acting of the name part n the film version of James Hilton's bestielling novel, "Good-bye, Mr. Chips." now showing in a long-run season at the St. Tames , Theatre. Xo young actor has ever combined so successfully the ability to be leading man and character actor at the same time. "Good-bye, Mr. Chips" illustrates this ability splendidly. The story is a powerful and timely one dealing with the reactions to his country's progress and setbacks of a typical English schoolmaster. Drama and romance are beautifully expressed in the story. The appeal nf the film to Auoklnndera i« proved by its undoubted eueeess—it haa been screening at the St. James' since Christinas. CIVIC THEATRE. Charles Laughton, remembered for his .brilliant character roles in such pictures as "Les Miserable*," "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "RuggU'-s of Ked Gap, comes back after an all-too-long absence horn the screen in another fiiat-class dramatic performance in "Jamaica Inn,' which ie showing this week at the Civic Theatre. He takes the part of Sir Humphrey Pengallan, squire of Cornwall, entertainer ot the nobility, yet withal the evil genius ! behind the nefarious doings of the gangs of wreckers who haunted the nearby 'coast. Here is a story of a lonely inn on the bleak Cornwall moors, not far from the coast. Its name was evil, coaches whisked past and no man knew what horrors its ever-closed shutters hid. Yet it was to "Jamaica Inn" that Mary YelUin went when her mother died, to join her aunt and the man her aunt married. Joss Merlyn. The evils of the inn. its dread secret, and the gatherings of 'the wreckers, she was all too soon to learn, to make her way in frenzied haste to Sir Humphrey for his protection. Little I did she know he was the evil genius who j guided her uncle Joss and his band of ' cut-tfiro*t*.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. The current comedy and myetery dual bill at the Majestic Theatre, comprising the films "'Unexpected Father," with Baby Sandy starring, and '"The House of Fear," ] with William Gargan, Irene Hervey aad El Brendel as principals, will give place at the Majestic Theatre on Friday to another double-feature programme. This ; will consist of "Television Spy," a power- j ful melodrama of action, menace* and romance, and "Hawaiian Nights," a dreamy musical romance which features Johnny Downs, Mary Carlisle, Constance Moore, Eddie Quillan and Sol HoopiiVs! Hawaiian Band, also Matty Malneck'e orchestra. '"Television Spy" deals with a ! new aspect of television—the possibilities ] it might hold in the future for military j experts. The featured players in the film i are William Henry, Judith Barrett, Anthony Quinn and William Collier., sen. j Together, these two films ehould provide Majestic audiences with a firet-rate entertainment, offsetting each other perfectly. ! Their respective types of ecreen fare are I the basis of all successful storiee, and they present their wares in a form that has been proved to be what the filmgoing public likes and wants. STRAND THEATRE. That amazing group of real-life youngsters alternatively known as the "".Dead End Kids" and the "Little Touch Guy*" (from the name of tJbeir firet film and iUs sequel), are featured once more in a melodra.nta.tic picture, "Call a Messenger," wjiicih will on Friday replace "When To-morrow Comes," with Charles Boyer and Ireno Dunne, at the Strand Theatre. Besides the kids, or the guy*—have it how you will—'"Call a Meeeenjjer" features Larry ("Bueter") Oralbbe, former Olympic a.Ti<l world champion swimmer, also Mary Oarlfisle, A-nne Najjel and Victor Jory. On t'he twrnie projriamme Avill be "Inside Information." ivith Dick Koran, Harry Carey and June Lang as principals.