Amusements Reviewed

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1940, Page 6

Amusements Reviewed

"HOLLYWOOD CAVALCADE." CGVCURX. Molly Adair Alice Fayo. Jlieliael Llnnett Connors. .Don Ameclle. l)avid.Siungold..J. Edward Bromtic.rg. Nicky Haydcu Man Curtis. I '" t . l ' 'i»"icy !Stuart Erwhi. Chief of I'olicc led I'rontv. Director: Irving Cunmiiogs. 20th Century Fox. Pictures of outstanding merit sometimes come in small Tots, and the saying is true of •■Hollywood Cavalcade," which heads the new programme at the Century Theatre. In character, it is the story of a boy and girl romance with Hollywood as the location. As a, screen entertainment the story is a convincing blending of melodrama and abundance of humour. The production is entirely in Technicolour, and this greatly enhances its entertaining and pleasing value. Despite temptations towards the reminiscent, the picture adheres to the story and keeps it marching on in the romantic course of a boy seeking a girl and a girl seeking a boy.' . There is a splendid sequence of Keystone comedy, and audiences will find it just as humorous as the original audiences of old Keystone did—and perhaps even more amusing. The picture includes a sequence reproducing a Jolson number in '•The Jazz Singer." _ • The screen favourite Alice Fayc is at her best and Don Ameehe plays his role nf the self-centred director to perfection. "Hollywood Cavalcade." which is a considerably more romantic love story than it is history, should prove delightful holiday fare. There are excellent supports, including a rollicking film in which Leon Errol, Cecil Kcll.rway ami Lupe Valez arc featured in "Mexican Spitfire." "MARX BROS. AT TTIi, CIRCUS." CIVIC. Attorney Loophole... .Groucho Marx. Antonio Cllico Marx. "Punchy" Harpo Marx. ,7cfr Wilson Kenny Baker. Julie Itamlall Florence Klco. Peerless Paulino Eve Anion. Director: Edward Buzzell. M.-G.-M. A laugh riot, even more mirth-provoking than "A Xight At the Opera" and "A Dav At the Races," is the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedy "At the Circus," featuring the three inimitable Marx brothers, which heads the new programme at the Civic Theatre. It is a veritable circus of entertainment in which Groucho, Chico and Harpo Mars turn the "big tent" upside down with their appearance as trapeze artists, wild animal trainers and clowns circus. This picture is easily the most spectacular and uproarious of am- bv the three famous brothers. This time'the producer has added another feature bv presenting two fine vocalists, Kenny Baker and Florence Rice, in several bright song hits and show numbers. In addition to their crazy comedy antics Harpo Marx for the moment becomes serious and plays a particularly beautiful harp solo, while Chico won applause from the audience with his novelty piano number. The music in this picture occupies many spotlight moments. In such a picture the story is of minor significance, and on a slim framework are hung countless Marx gags. The plot concerns a circus manager.~a strong loan, and a midget who steals the former's bank roll. How the money is couraged to keep on loving his girl, and how he is reinstated in his dowager aunt's good graces is delightfully told. For those in search of bright holiday entertainment "At the Circus" should be noted as a "must see" picture. Of more than ordinary interest is the programme of secondary film subjects. These include a fine Carey Wilson miniature. "Miracle At Lourdes." a news gazette depicting current world happenings and showing the return of the cruismExeter and the 300 seamen rescued from the German ship Altmark. "Maintain The Right," a fine pictorial story of the work of fhe Canadian Mounted Police, and an extremely amusing picture of three baby bears. STRAND. "The Women," which opened a season at the Strand Theatre on Thursday, is an eye-opener to people who have the idea that women say nothing that is not ethical. This is the' most "catty" of "catty" films, and those who have seen the famous play will enjoy the screen version. This film depicts what women will do to each other, and everyone who sees it will admit that that is plenty. The mere man who sees the picture will either be disgusted with women forever or else he will be prouder of his sex—for the theme of the film is the pursuit of man. Either the women have a man or have not. If they haven't they are trying to get one. If they have, they are trying to keep him. And the job is difficult both ways. The dialogue in this picture is brilliant —not merely in one section, but right throughout. There is not a dull moment in what must be the best picture of the year. The acting is superb—and so it should be in view of.the magnificent cast that has been assembled. The director, George Cukor, has made a fine job of the wittiest film cynicism that lias been presented. PLAZA. When the rains came they made a difference to the personalities who are the main-springs of "The Rains Came," the film that is drawing big audiences at the Plaza Theatre. This is the story of a woman who has no scruples and a past that has been temporarily forgotten by the circle in which she mixes. Nevertheless, she has set her mind on captivating a young East Indian, and she is not prepared to let the handicap stand in the way of her ambition—not even a husband and the respectability that his position gives her. It was then that the rains came, and with them came an earthquake and floods that wreaked devastation among the peoples. The film, which is adapted from the famous book by Louis Bromfield, illustrates the changes that can occur when ordinary .people are faced with something beyond the ordinary. As a study in psychology, this ■picture has, so far, been unequalled. Tyrone Power takes the role of the 'young Indian potentate, and George Brent adds laurels to his career as the bard-drinking Englishman. Mvrna Loy has the main feminine role. There is (tlso a splendid supporting programme. ' OXFORD. ( Effervescing with brilliant dialogue, ' snappy situations and happy entertain- ' ment, "Over the Moon," which has opened a season at the Oxford 'Theatre, is an all-coloiir comedy cocktail and excellent holiday fare. This masterpiece of Ales- ( ander Korda's, which was delayed for J six months owing to the outbreak of the ' war, carries Merle Oberon, one of the ° loveliest of Britain's stars across a Icaleido- J scope of action in Venice, St. Moritz and ' Monte Carlo. Though the story is light P in conception, it has an interest that f holds the audience from, first to last. It !' deals with the adventures of a young \ woman, who finds herself a multi-million- £ aircss and Is surrounded by a bevy of ? ...■tune-hunters and parasites. Her own » hcin~ C ™ a ?°", ng clo <-' tor . who objects to « oared t? I°' "' C }™W™». but is pre- tl The e wl ri cu " sht on ~is own terms. " with ,1 I, hke , ■ * ? lic;,to lo " st°ry told tl a tu all the sophistication of modern life >> "ill enjoy the presentation "Over tl c t. Moon/* It ,s a long time since there t! humour 0 ",,;, e&innnln'l ?"„,!, Piq " ant I DE PARIS. t] With "Young Vienna Sings Again," the y De Paris Theatre opened a Tiew' programme on Thursday. This is a musical triumph with the haunting music of Strauss. There are beautiful snow-capped a mountains and also Europe's best child !■ actors playing the "Nativity of Christ." v 'The film reveals the best that was in the e old Austria, the "Blue Danube" being a one of the attractions. This is a delight- I ful film woven up with Austrian waltz and played- by famous actors. There is ri also, for the first time in southern screen- is ings, "Song of Youth," which reveals all T that is happening in Moscow as far as b the youth of the country is concerned, n In this picture are all the Soviet heads, fl

"BRITISH INTELLIGENCE." MAJESTIC. Franz Strendler Boris KarlolT. K-lenc Mariraret Liu.lsav. Frank Dennett Bruce Lester. Arthur Bennett Holmes Herbert. I'eats Leonard Mndio. Director: Terry .Morse. Warner Bros. Drama, stern and realistic, is the keynote of the Warner Brothers' picture, "British Intelligence," which opened at the Majestic Theatre to-day. That master of sinister roles, Boris Karloff, is the leading man, playing the part of Franz Strendler, a daring German super-spy, who caused the death of untold hundreds of British soldiers during the Great War. Cast opposite him is the beautiful Margaret Lindsay, who also has the part of a leader in the vicious world of espionage, which is portion of every war. As daring as she is attractive, she is responsible for many of the thrills with which this picture abounds. Packed with action, the film will excite even the most sophisticated of picturc-gocis from start to finish. It shows the cruelty and ruthlessness of the Germans in the last war, their cunning and strategy, but, in spite of their brilliance, how they are outwitted bv the superior intelligence of the British Secret Service. While keeping within the bounds of fact, the producers have left out none of the thrills of war, from nervously concocted plots to aerial bombardments. The acting is brilliant, and considerable credit goes to Terry Morse as director.

The second attraction, "Mutiny in the Big House," is a stirring storv of prison life. It tells of the courage and daring cf the prison chaplain/ Father Joe (Charles Bickford) in the face of death by the hands of escaping convicts, and of gallant Johnny Davis (Denis Moore), who risks his life ill an effort to save the wellliked chaplain. Produced on a realistic note, this film should prove as exciting as the first attraction. "BABES IN ARMS." ST. JAMES'. Mickey Moran Mickcv Roonev. Patsy Barton .lutlv Garland. Joe Moran Charle.s Wiininscr. Judge Black Guy Kihhee. Rosalie Essex June Preisser. Florrie Moran Grace Haves' Director: Busby Berkeley. M.-G.-M. Musical comedy at its best, "Babes ill Arms," made a decided hit with patrons in its first appearance at St. James' theatre on Thursday night. With Mickey Rooney in a role to display his fun specialties to advantage, Judith Garland in tunetul songs that go with a swing, and a host of able and experienced comedians and character artists in the cast, the show provides' a bright and sparkling entertainment.

The story harks back to the stagedepression days when old musical hall favourites fell into the slough of despond, with a cleverly constructed sequel of a rebellion by their stage-bred sons and daughters against standardised ideas of entertainment. In arms against oldfashioned methods, these clover babes plan a crusade of modernised vaudeville

calculated to bring back to them and their parents the favour of the vanished public. With Mickey Rooney as their leader, a great_ hand-picked company of Hollywood's juvenile celebrities and prodigies march to victory in every conceivable kind of musical and comedy entertainment, with a party of notable old-timers filling in interludes of attractive character acting. From the crashing entry in their marching song "Babes in Arms,'' with Douglas McPhail's voice indicating that Nelson Eddv has a rival at hand and Grace Hayes challenging the high notes of more notable Graces, the show becomes a whirl of merriment. It is also a fascinating parade of juvenile talent and precocity suggesting that the Hollywood celebrities of to-morrow are close on the heels of the reigning film stars.

Adding to the evening's pleasure, the supporting programme carries intriguing sport, fashion and topical overseas items in the news section, as well as a convulsing musical cartoon, antl an instructive sketch on counterfeiting in the L'nited States and methods of detection. REGENT. All the old scenes arc there in "Beau Geste," the attraction at tiic Regent Theatre. What was more exciting and thrilling in 1026, when the first silent version of P. C. Wren's famous book was put on the celluloid than the scenes where the fort was manned with corpses realistically holding guns rg.tinst the invaders, when they were discovered bv the relieving party, and when the sergeant's death occurred and the escape from the fort beseiied bv Arabs was successful!-,- ,uco,nplished? Just as they drew cheers from the audiences of 13 years ago. they urge the sophisticated present-day picture-goers to stand on their seats and yell. It seems that Mr. Wellmau-has set himself a high standard as a direct.-,;- ami has then surpassed it. 11l the talkie version of the famous book. Gary Cooper tips the east, with Riy Milland .ml Ko-bei t Preston in strong supports: Thf villainous and forbidding Sergeant Murkof l ' is iorii -,ycd by Brian ' Doulevy, one of the finest of

"heavy" actors in the film world. Susan Hayward and Heather Thatcher have the leading roles in a masculine picture that has an appeal to everyone, regardless of age or sex. ROXY—TIVOLI. The Wild West at its wildest is the theme of "The Marshal of Mesa City," the film which is the attraction at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Starring George O'Brien and Virginia Vale, the picture deals with that historical period of the latter part of the nineteenth century when the Western frontier was over-rim with gunmen, outlaws and criminals o: evcry description. It was at this time that desperate measures were necessary in the interests of law and order, and the peace officer came into his own. 'This is the role that George O'Brien portrays in this exciting film. As the honest officer, who dedicates his gun and his life to the restoration of decency in Mesa City, he fights against all the influences and paid henchmen of evil. How he conquers them is told with plenty of gunfire and high-time Western drama. The second feature at both theatres is "Konga, The Wild Stallion," one of the most exciting outdoor films that has ever been produced. The storv tells how a famous horse got his owner into trouble and then got him out of it. The third feature is a presentation of Ray Whitley and his 0-Bar-B cowboys in "Sagebrush Serenade." EMBASSY. In "Dark Victory," the picture that is drawing crowds at the Embassy Theatre, Bette Davis excels in an acting record that has never been equalled in her career, pull of poignant drama and moving situations, this film is one of the best of its kind that has been shown in the Dominion. The part of a girl of wealth, who is threatened

with a brain affliction that will shorten her life to ten months from the time of the opening of the story, is played by Miss Davis, and the surgeon is played by George Brent. He has fallen in love with the girl, in spite of the obvious end that she must undergo, but when she finds out her fate through certain sources, she turns to a life of artificial gaiety. Later, she tires of

his and she and|the surgeon marry. What appens after that combines triumph over

terrible odds, and pathos that will move the most hardened of pietiiregoers. Humphrey Bogart, as a rough but uncouth horse trainer, interprets his role well, and the best feminine part, with the exception of that taken by Bette Davis, falls to the young Irish lass, Geraldine Fitzgerald.

SUNDAY SHOWS. Rialto, Newmarket.—Two big features are scheduled for patrons. The first eatures Join, Lodge and Margaret Lockwood m B;mk Holiday." a film with high entertainment.value. Olapham and Dwver Hour" '" teat "re film "Variety

Strand, Queen Street. — \ musical romance, featuring Douglass M'ont-ome'rv is the mam attraction "Harmony°Lane"." The screening ot the film will be preceded by an address by Mr. A. Hall Skelton. who will take as his subject "Easter—Myth or Historical lact?