AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE, Much praise has rebounded to the credit of Robert Donat for his work in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," the splendid cinema version of James Hilton'* beat-celling novel. "Good-bye, Mr. Chips" is the latest of a long line of Donat films which hare failed to register anything but boxoffice "hits." These include such memorable productions as "The Count of Monte Cristo," "The 39 Steps," "Knight Without Armour," and "The Citadel." In those and his other films he has established an | enviable reputation as the only youthful I character actor in the top flight of stars. He can combine, such is bis histrionic versatility, the qualities of handsome, romantic leading man with the demands of a character actor; In "Good-bye, Mr. Chips" he portrays with splendid effect the "Cavalcade"-like figure of Mr. Chips, an English schoolteacher who watches his country develop through crises and triumphs. These he sees through his own personal joys and sorrows. The story provides excellent entertainment material, and Donat is at the top of his form 1 in portraying it. A clever new actress is his leading lady—the lovely Greer Garson —for whom a brilliant future has been confidently predicted. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

A stage play which has proved an I immense success in London and Xew York will be presented for the enjoyment of local theatregoer* at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday week. This is "I Killed the Count," which Tan for a year in London before the war interrupted its season, together with every other play being staged in the metropolis. A successful Broadway season was also presented after its initial production in London. The Auckland presentation will be made by a talented Anglo-Australian company, comprising such familiar names as Doris Packer (of "The Women"), Harvey Adams, Clifford Cowley and Katie Towers, also such talented newcomers to NewZealand as Atholl Fleming, Jane Connolly, Alec Pratt, Eric Reiman, Horri Thomas, Reg Collins, Fleming Burrett, John Howard and Norman Lee. The play "I Killed the Count," is essentially a mystery-melo-drama of a novel pattern. Revolutionary in its conventional murder theme as was r "Ten-Minute Alibi," it deals with a 1 thoroughly nasty villain who is very properly killed off in full view of the audience by no fewer than four people. Thus it starts, continuing in suitable strain to the surprising finish. The company has a repertoire of four plays, the other threr> bein'sr "The Church Mouse." "It's a Wise Child," and "Yes, My Darling Daughter." PLAZA THEATRE. No purely propaganda picture up till "The Lion Has Wings" achieved anything like success when it boiled down to public popularity at the box office, which should undoubtedly be tile only criterion of a film's worth to the community. The fact that "The Lion Has Wings" is still showing to excellent houses at the Plaza Theatre, where it wat initially released on January 1, betokens the fact that the iilm has far more than propaganda. It has entertainment of the highest quality. The thousands of Aucklanderg who have seen the film have invariably been entertained by its melodrama and more than willing to be informed as to Britain's reasons for going to war. Those thousands have, session after session, loved to be told how | Britain played sports and conducted bueiI ness and pursued peace, and how the warlords of Nazi Germany concentrated only !on military preparations. They loved to see the power and strength which Britain developed when she eventually awoke as a direct result of the Sudeten crisis of September, 1988, to the necessity of defence. STRAND THEATRE.

After their tremendous success in a I series of melodramatic picture*, the "Little Tough Guys," known to filmgoers earlier * aa the "Dead End Kids," should have-.a " ready-made local audience for the fortlif- ! coming release at the Strand Theatre, "Call a Messenger," to be released after to-night's final showing of "When To-morrow Comes," a romantic dramn starring Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne. "Call a Messenger," to be shown after a melodrama as any of the boys' previous pictures. Its cast includes such sterling players as Mary Carlisle. Anne Nagei, Victor Jory and Larry ("Buster") Crabbe, former Olympic and world's champion swimmer. Together with "Call a Messen?er." the Strand will release "Inside nformation." with Dick Foran. Harry Carey and June Lang as principals. CIVIC THEATRE. The coaches avoided "Jamaica Inn," hidden in the harsh Cornish moors not far from the coast. Its name was evil, , and no man knew what its dark ulritters hid . . . Yet it was to "Jamaica Inn" that Mary Yellan went, to join her aunt and uncle. Only too soon was she to learn the full tale of its horror. So she learned of the smugglers and murderers, and the riff-raff of the coast; of the wreckers whose profession it was to lure ships inland by false lights when tempests blew, and raid the defenceless crew and plunder the cargo. Into her. life came love even in this out of the way hole, from a man who seemed to be one of the wreckers, but proved his love worthy of her. She too, came to know Humphrey Pengallan, the squire, sinister brains behind the equally sinister doings of "Jamaica Inn." These people are all in "Jamaica Inn," the absorbing film now screening at the Civic Theatre. The picture stars Charles Laughton as the sinister squire, and Maureen O'Hara, a beautiful Irish newcomer to films, as Mary Yellan. Others in the cast are Marie Ney, Leslie Banks and Emlyn Williams. EMBASSY THEATRE. Those Lane sisters! You got a full dose of them, after nibbling for a number o<f films, ifi "Four Daughters." Another good draught, to carry the metaphor on, is offered in "Yes. My Darlin# Daughter," the current comedy show at the Embassy And Hollywood has made "Four Wives" and is thinking of making "Four Widows." The Lane sisters—Rosemary, Priscilla and Lola—are definitely boxoffice assets to Hollywood and the film world in general. Priscilla has it on her own in "Yes, My Darling Daughter," amusing screen version of a highly successful Broadway stage play. Priscilla, interviewed on the set when making this film, said she wanted to get the whole Mullican elan (that's the family real name, believe it or not!) on to one large "estate" in Hollywood. Besides the three film-star sisters, there would be two more sisters, Leota and Martha, and their popular and talented mother. Then Priscilla started counting "in-laws" and their possible relatione and friends —until tolerant Hollywood shuddered at the thought of the Lane migration. ROXY-TIVOLI. Melodrama is still the keynote of entertainment at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres, where the current fare is provided by two red-blooded action films entitled "Call of the Rockies" and "On Trial." The first is as good a "Western" as the two sameprogramme cinema, houses have shown. Charles Starr ett, wiho will be remembered by many picture fans for his innumerable straight romantic roles in silent and earlytalkie days, has a good role, of which he makes the utmost in "Call of the Rockies." Perhaps greatest individual m "pull" in the cast of this film, however, " is exercised by the "Sons of the Pioneers, ' a troupe of singers who are caat in particularly entertaining roles as a joyful group i>( men who would just as soon fill a cold-blooded killer full of gun lead as warble a romantic ditty to the tune of a spanning guitar under a prairie moon. The other film. "On Trial," is a first-rate cinema adaptation of a famous stage play bv one of America's foremost playwrights. Elmer Rice. Written and produced first when the legitimate stage was in its lusty, sensational heyday, the play still makes absorbing entertainment. It has been filmed many times, but none of the picturieations have received the care ana benefits of modern knowledge to the extent that the present production has benefited. John Litel and Margaret Lindsay head an eminently capable cast of players.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. After tie great success Baby Sandy scored in the recent Bing Crosby picture, I "East Side of Heaven," the infant actress was placed in her own starring film, "Unexpected Father," whicih is now under release at the Majestic Theatre. This highly amusing comedy, which also features Miseha Auer, Shirley Ross and Dennis 4 O'Keefe, is screening in conjunction with the terrifying mystery-melodrama, "The House of Fear." Both pictures will give place to-morrow to another well-chosen dual bill, comprising the melodrama, "Television Spy," and the musical romance "Hawaiian Nights." "Television Spy" deals primarily with the havoc that unscrupulous handling of the modern scientific marvel of television could camse in peace and war, and boosts a cast headed •by William Henry, Judith Barrett. William OoFlier sen., and Anthony Quinn. The other film is a comedy-romance with more than the usual quota of music, and with its locale set in dreaimy Waikiki Beach, Honolulu. Two famous orchestras, led by Sol Hoopii and Mntty Malneek, | respectively, are featured, together with such established screen figures as Mary Carlisle, Johnny Downs, Constance Moore and Eddie Quillan. CENTURY THEATRE.

Hal Roach, Wlio was responsible for the production of the highly diverting "Topper" and "Topper Takes a Trip' as bis initial full-length cinema gives us now "The Housekeeper's Daughter," an equally humorous and slightly more dramatic entertainment, which is currently screening at the Century Theatre. The name pant is well played •by lovely Joan Bennett, who carries on with the brunette tradition she set_so successfully in "Trade Winds" and The Man in the Iron Musk." As her somewhat asinine yet distinctly appealing romantic interest, John Hubbard a foot firmly npon one rwjg of the Hollywood success ladder. _ The story being one of American journalists at work, there » an abundance of alcoholic refreshment which mere New Zealand typewriter slaves never seem to find part of their job. Adolphe Menjou is suitably drunk ( and always immensely funny as an ace reporter. William Gargan George Jv Stone, Peggy Wood and Donald M ee *' (as a hilariously harassed city editor) complete the main members of the him s supporting cast. The Century is ako showing "Sued for Libel," another newspaper story, but much more of a melodrama. and interesting news reels. lne theatre's next change of programme will introduce "Nurse Edith Cavell, a splendid Hollywood version of the famous Great War story, starring Anne > eagle.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE. Civic SQUARE —Amusement Par*. PICTURE THUTWI. OXFORD —Linaa Darnell In "Hotel for Women" and "Three Musketeers. plaza—Ralph Richardson »nd _ * erle Oberon In "The Lion Has Wings. STRAND—Irene Dunn.and Charles Boyer to "When To-morrow Comes. CENTURY —Joan Bennett in "The Housekeeper's Daughter." CIVIC —Charles Laughton and Jfaureen O'Hara In "Jamaica Inn." MAJESTIC—MIscha Auer' and Sprier Ross In "Unexpected Father* and House or Fear." I HOXY—Charles Starrett In "Call of the Rockies" and John Lltel and Margaret Lindsay In "On Trial." ST. J AUKS' —Robert Donat and Orttr Garson In "Good-bye. Mr. Chips. REGENT —Deanna Durbm and Robert stack tn "First Love." ■■•ASSY —Prlscllla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn In "Yes, My Darling Daughter." AOELPHI —"Full Confession." ALEXANDRA— "Valley or the Giants." MTOR —"Stagecoach" and "Burn 'Em LP O'Connor." AMBASSADOR —Guest Night. AVONDALE —"The Citadel." BRITANNIA —"Naughty Marietta" and "Bulldog Drummond's peril." BERKELEY (Mission Bay)—" Four's a : Crowd." CAPITOL—-"Let i s Live." CRYSTAL PALACE —"Four Feathers." DE LUXE —"Hose or Washington square" and "Hacket Busters." EMPREBS —"Wise Girl" and "Chas. Chan at the Olympics." GAlETY—"Fisherman's Wharf." GREY LYNN—Guest Night. KINGS LAND —"Nearest Thing to Heaven" and "Exposed." PRINCE EDWARD —Guest Night. PRINCESS—"The Three Musketeers" and "Hound of the Baskervilles." PICTUREDROME —"Mr. Chedworth Steps Out." PEERLESS —"The Adventures of Robin Hood." REGAL —Guest Night. RIALTO—"Four Feathers." REGENT (Epsom)—" Confessions of a Nazi Spy" and '-Gorilla." STATE (Davonport)—"Man in the Iron Mask'' and "Way Down south." STATE (Onehunga) — "Girl and the Gambler." STRAND (Onehunga)—Guest Night. STATE (Symonda Street) —"The Sun Never Sets" and "For Love or Money." STAR—"Too Hot to Handle" and "Young Dr. Kildare." TUDOR—"The Saint Strikes Back." TIVOLI—"CaII of the Rockies" and "On Trial." VICTORIA—Quest Night. RADIO PROGRAMMES. 1YA—7.40 p.m., "What Shall We Eat?" talk hy Dr. Elizabeth Bryson; 8.0, "Mr. Chalmers, K.C."; 8.15, "Wandering With the West Wind"; 8.45, "The Fourth Form at St. Percy's"; 9.25, studio concert by Band of the Ist Battalion, the A.uckland Regiment; 9.35, "Dad and Dave"; 10.10, Oscar Rabin and his Romany band, with vocal interludes by Pinky Tomlin. *YA—7.3O p.m., "Who's Who and What's What?" 8.0, "The swing-time Harmonists"; 8.20, T. G. Hislop, baritone; 9.25, Owen Jensen, pianist; 9.44, N.B.S. string orchestra. * v *—B.o p.m., chamber music hour; 9.0, classical recitals. 1*1"—7.0 p.m., sports session. Bill Hendry; 7.45, "The Life or Cleopatra"; 8.30, Tex Doyle in Western songs.