AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 50, 28 February 1940, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

"BEWARE SPOOKS." ; ROXY—TIVOLI. Roy Oiffbrd Joe B. Brown Betty Loo Winters Mary Carlisle CoiumlHsfcmer Lewis .... Clarence Kolb Slick Eastman- . Marc Lawrence Nick Bruno- Don Beddoe Danny Einuiett .... George J. Lewi* Director: Kdward Sedgwick (Columbia).' Also "Thp Escape," with Kane Richmond and Amanda Duff. Carrying felonious fun-making to the highest degree, Joe E. Brown shows what can be done by. a "dumb cop" in "Beware Spooks," which opened a season at tfie Roxy and Tivoli Theatres te>day. This is roaring, tearing comedy with a police and underworld setting and a dash of the occult. What happens in the film is a ludicrous exposition of "out of the frying pan into, the fire," and the-creator* of the atory liave thrown all previous rulea out of the window. Fired from the Force because he inadvertently allowed killer Eastman to escape, and aided crook Bruno in staging a hold-up, the ex-rookie cop Gifford goes on his honeymoon with his bride. At a summer resort he picks up the trails ofr two famous Then comedo rlels of the wildest fun ae the chase develops" through a fun house that contains all the tricks and devices known. The spooky rooms are just too spooky for all the principals, and contribute'to make one of the funniest pictures released last year. In addition to Joe Brown, Mary Carlisle and Clarence Kolb are featured in suitable part* The second attraction that appeared at both theatres fe "The Escape," a dramatic story which' opens with the burial of a gunman, deals with the efforts of a reporter to get a "scoop" for his acandal-sheet, and reveals in a delicately worked-out sequence that tenement children can be saved from the criminal career that usually develops from their environment. The story is told by the old family doctor. Kane Richmond, Amanda Duff and June Gale take the leading roles in a picture that is full of excitement and extraordinary' situations. REGENT. Baaed on the etory of W. Somerset Maugham "Toe Beachcomber," which ia the main attraction at the Regent Theatre, baa all the ingredients that go to make a good picture. I revolves around the escapades of "Ginger," English remittance man, on an ialand in the Netherlands East Indies. Hie drunken pranks make him a general nuisance and, in spite of his Friendship with the Government officer at the place, he ie eventually marooned on a nearby ialaad. Practically everyone would like to be stranded if, ae happened to "Ginger," he .was surrounded by bevies of beautiful maidens who waited on him hand and foot. The only fly in the ointment came-later when a woman missionary waa compelled to spend a night on the island with him. Her earnest endeavours to bring about the best in hie nature produce some remarkable situations . and a'most unexpected ending, diaries Laughton has the leading role, and there is an excellent supporting cast headed by Elsa Lanohester who, it will be remembered, first made her mark in the film world witt* Eaughton in ?B>nry; VIEt." There are eome fine tropical scenes in the picture, beautiful native girls and a strong comedy interest.

-■ v cemtuiiv. . .-. • :. A variatien of the father and son theme, "Here I Am a Stranger," which season at the Century Theatre on Friday will appeal to patrons of all ages. ; The picture, produced by Harry Joe star* Richard Greene., who has drawn a ;*ide following, vjMJui- Ricjiard Dix, who appears to have,entered a new phase in hjs career.'- This in a story that ie'wbven around divorce. David, child of divorce, karns after entering college that the shabby, Allen is his real father, Aftei 1 effecting the regeneration ofihie paireatai: the boy in a sitoation that really tests hie character. In tiiis film, which » one of the strangest are •itoatioiM thst will appeal to the greatest lover of forceftil drama. These situations, however, are eucceerfuLy solved without uterropting the lopcal eeaoence of a rtory that will be an indelibft memory to any pereon who see* it. There *re no hytterics in the erodnction, which i« an unvarnished atody of a man and hia experiences. .;.- ■ -:;■.■. ~' : ' ' ' ■

CIVIC. There is nobody in the crooning world as popular aa Bing Crosby, and be is eeen and heard at hie best in. "The Star Maker," which is' drawing crowded houses at the Civic Theatre. With hie popularity at the same peak as when' he attained fame, he takes -irp~tjhe mantle of another age. There, must be few who do not remember Gua Edwards, the famous vaudeville entertainer and the eponeor of child stare. "The-Star Maker" is the story of Edwards' life.. It is essentially a musical film, combining both the old and the new in songs, and eome very popular number**, which include "School Days," "Sunbonnet Sue," "If I Was a Millionaire," "In My Merry Oldemobile," "I Can't Tell Why I Love You, But I Do," "I Wonder Who'e Kissing Her Now," "Go, Fly a Kite," "A Man and Hi* Dream," "An Apple For the Teacher" and "Still the Bluebird Sings." Associated with Bing Crosby are such leading artiste as Louise Canvpbell, 'Ned Sparkea and Linda Ware, the latter a sensational 14-year-old singing star. , There is also Walter Damroscb and his Philharmonic Orchestra. The personality of Bing Crosby shines through every character that lie portrays, and that fact ia no exception in this picture.

BT. JAMES. Described as "the hottest box-office attraction of 1939" the M.G.M. film "The Women," which opens a season at the St. James' Theatre on Friday, will provide something new wajy o? amusement for the sophisticated, the unsophisticated and all those who have ideas about life in general and -women in particular. The picture, of course, ie all about men —but it deal* with the woman's aide of the <tu(vtion. Sages have always said, "Look for the woman," but they have never added, "And eee what they eay about the men." Well, here it ie. Norma Shearer is the good, woman of the party and the target "for the catty, bad women, victims of their malice and malicious in reprisal. Thie is a picture that tells a man juet What his wife thinke and talks at the bridge parties—and it will make all women iblueh. It is not an orderly picture, in the strict sens* of the term, but it tell* the truth, even if it happens to be unpleasant. No one should miss thie extraordinary film. Joan Crawford, Rosalind RuaseU and Mary Boland play realistic roles.

EMBASSY. All picture fane who liked "Four Daughter*"--and everybody did—should not miM weeing "Daughters Courageous, which opens a etaeon at the Embassy Theatre to-morrow. Priecilla, Rosemary and Lola, Lane and Gale Page are once ■gain united as an actress quartet of lively and affectionate eietere. They also have the same suitors, John Garfield and Jeffrey Lynn vying for the hand of Priecilla, Frank McHugh courting Lola, and Dick Foran—this ie a slight differencetrying to divide his affections between Rosemary and Gale. All the human, romantic and heart-warming qualities of last year's screen hit are combined in thk freah and captivating tale. This time, the problems of father and mother conKern the girle, to eay nothing of the ups and downs of their own romances. Deserting hie wife and family to keep a rendezvous with the universe, father returns home juat as his ex-wife is about to marry a steady and respectable business man. What happens then ae far as hie four daughters and their complications ate concerned makes a picture so far above the average that every Aucklander will want to see it. Here ie a family problem that i> solved in a startling fashion.

MAJEBTIC. Some of. .the funniest scenes seen on the screen for ,a long time occur in the Capad comedy, "Let's Be Famous," which will be shown for the first time at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Among the laughterladen sequences is one in which Jimmy, portrayed by Jimmy O'Dea, makes*"a parachute descent in the hope, that it will get him * radio contract. The fact that he is partnered by a talent scout makes the situation even more ridiculous. Then - there is the famous broadcast that proves to be more successful than the principals ever thought. To add to the attractiveness of the film, which is comedy at high epeed, . there are catchy songs specially written by Noel Gay, composer 'of the popular "Lambeth Walk/' The whole show has an infectioue gaiety that carries it aloeeclit • «i«*ry pace. Good avpport in xolef comes from Patrick Barr and Milton Roenter. Aift4her fine picture bin the Mffle programme jir"Legion Of Lost 18yere,V ai hlre«thitakfa«|»uper-thriller of outcast pilots *tib -htanrt defiance at the dangers of the ckiee, Witt Richard Arlen, Anne Nagel and Andy Devine in the leading roles. There is also a film showing Auckland's welcome to H.M.S. Achillea.

AMUSEMENTS OITIDB. CIVIC eqUAßC—Amusement Park. PKTURI THsWmm. MJUEtTfC—Ann sothern and Robert Young in "Matsie" and Preston Foster in "Missln* Evidence." ROXY—Joe E. Brown in "Beware Spooks" ana Kane Richmond In "The Escape." , •T. JAMS'—Hedy Lamarr and Robert Taylor in "Lady or tbe Tropics. ,, OMFOfm—Laurel and Hardy In "Flying : Deuces" and "20.000 Men a Year." manrr—Charles Laurnton in "Tbe Beachcomber." PLAZA—Jean Arthur and James Stewart In "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." BMBAMV—LioneI Btrrymore In "On Borrowed Time." . . •TMlND—"Proressor Mamlock." ONTURY—BasiI nathnone and Nigel Bruce In "Sherlock Holmes." CIVIC—Bine Crosby and Louise Campbell ... in "Tne Star Msker." ADBLPHi—Guest M*bt. ALBXAMMM—Guest Night. MTOR—"Three Married Men" and "Booloo." AMBASSADOR—Guest Night. BUNCBLBY (Mission Bay)—" Good Girls Go to Paris." CAPITOL —"Grand Jury Secrets" and "They Made Her a Spy." CRYSTAL PALACB—Ouest Night. DB LUXB—"When G-Men Step In" and "Ask sTPolicemen." fMPMWtj—"Slim , ? and "Always Good-bye." •AIBTY—"Four Girls In '* enBV LYNN—Guest Night. PICTURKDROMC—"Fugitive in the Sky" and "The Go Getter." PRINCE COWARD— Guest Nlfht. PRINCESS—Guest Nlgrht. peerless—"l've Got a Horse" and "Crime Over London." REQAL—Guest MeDt. RIALTO—Guest Night. REGENT (Epsom)— Guest Night. STATS (Devonport)—Guest Nlgnt. STRAND (Onshunga)—Guest Night. STATE (Onehunaa) —Guest Night. STATE (Symends Street)— "Gone to the Dogs" and "Mr. Wont In Chinatown." STAR—"The Crowd Roars" and "Fast and Loose." TUDOR—'The Outsider." TlVOLl—"Beware Spooks" and "The Escape." VICTORIA—Guest NifhL NEW ROYAL—"The Saint strikes Back." BRlTANNlA—"lnvitation to Happiness." liberty—"Out west with the Hardys." * ________ RADIO PROGRAMMES. IVA.—B.O, Lener string quartet; 8.18. Robert Simmers, baritone; 8.30, Dora Judson, piano; 8.45. suite. "Les PUI- - Champetres" (Monteclair). *VA.—B.O, "Tally Ho" overture by Ansell; 8.9, "Round tbe Piano"; 8.33, Grace Adams East, American trumpet virtuoso; 8.48, Paul Robeson, bass; 0.20, "The Radio that Hitler Fears"; 10.14. Dance music by Manuel Raymond and orchestra. IVX.—B.O. Military bands on parade; 0.34, "Personal Column"; 0.48, Rudee Vallee and his Connecticut Yankees. 1X5J.—7.45, "Search for a Playwright"; 8.0. Peep into Filmland, with "Bible."