AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 150, 26 June 1940, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

"THE LONE WOLF STRIKES." ROXY-TIVOLI. Michael Lanyard .... Warren William Delia Jordan Joan P>rrv Jamison Eric Blore Jim Kyder Alan Baxter Kinnip Wpldon Vstrid AHwyn Kmil Gorlick Montagu Love director: Sidney Salkow. Columbia. Also: "CAFE HOSTESS." with Preston Foster and Ann Dvorak. Comedy and mystery ar<> ekilfully Wended in "The Lone Wolf S.trikes," Jateet of the films dealing with the exploits of Louis Joseph Vance's most famous character. It opened an Auckland season before good houses at the Rosy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. "The Lone Wolf" has been depicted on the screen on a number of occasions previously by at least half a dozen diffsreut etare. In the new film he is seen in the person of euave Warren William, who has made successful appearances in the same character before. William makes the character a debonair, dashing personality that should appeal to most types of filmgoers.

Old friend Eric Blore ifl ae amusing ae ever as "The Wolf's" valet, with Joan Perry charming in the feminine lead' and Alan Baxter, Astrid Allwyn and Kobert Wilcox outstanding amongst the other featured players.

In the new film complications arising over a string of purloined pearle are responsible for causing the famous gentleman crook to emerge from self-inflicted retirement as a fish-fancier. Before the proceedings are over there are two murders and a ton of thrills.

The workings of a ruthless night club racket are dramatically exposed in the eecond-attraction on the same programme, "Cafe Hostess." In this film Ann Dvorak is seen as a hostess at a notorious night •club wtho tires of the life, and, with the help o£ her virile sweetheart, played by Preston Foster, sets to w&rk to clean up ,the organisation. Fast action is the keynote of the picture, with fine performances coming from the principals and also Wynne Gibson, in a major supporting role. CENTURY. Sandy Powell, of the Yorkshire accent, is som-jthing of an institution over the radio, and despite his comparatively rare appearances on the screen hae a big following amongst pieture-goeis. These fane will be catered for at the Century Theatre when Sandy'e latest film "All At Sea," opens there on Friday. ' Added interest and entertainment value will be given the film in that ite background ie the British Navy, on -which the fate of the Empire to-day so heavily depends. Collaboration of the Admiralty has cnaibled the producers to register some spectacles on the high eeae, with the action flashing easily frani tee Chatham barracks drill ground to the grey eiante tihat guard the English Channel. Tihe etory, a rather dramatic excuse for Sandy's peculiar brand of easy fooling, presents him as a chemist's messenger enrolled in the Navy by mistake. Most of the slapstick hinges upon his efforts to get 'back a tube of explosive stolen by foreign spiea. Kay Waleh, George Merritt, Gus MacNaughton and John Warwick are also in the oast. ST. JAMES". • The sophisticated comedy "Remember?" opening at the St. James' Theatre on Friday,* provides beautiful Greet , Gareon -with her first role since 'her triumph in "Good-ibye, Mr. Chips." The story of the film ie familiar in outline, but with a new twist in tiie ending, which, together with the adroit handling, should, from advance reports, bring the film -well up to the standard ■"■-.hioli 'has come to 'be expected at St. James'. Lew Ayres, as "Sky Amee," loeee Ilia girl..: (Mim Garsou).. to his best friend (Robert Taylor). Preoccupation with' business affaire, however, split asunder the happy pair, and it remains for "Sky" to come to the rescue with a novel solution resulting in the two lovers beine reunited in a second marriage ceTemony. The entertainment essence of the film hinges upon the comedy evolved from the basic situation, the brand of comedy pnrtakirifr of the sophisticated in every reepect. Billie Burke and Reginald Owen »ive characteristic t>enformances, while George Barbier and Henry Travel's capably fill minor roles. EMBASSY. Stealing the greater part of the thunder in Paramount Britkh'e romantic farce "French Without Tears," showing at the Embassy Theatre, is a comparative newcomer to the screen in the form of Roland Culver. Aβ an ultra-cautious, supremely dignified, naval officer in a French academy for aspiring English and American diplomats, he proves amply- that he ie a giand screen type and a fine comedian.. The comedy revolves around the depredations wrought on the male population of this pocket campus by the sister of one of the students, a designingly alluring American blonde harbouring . visions of possessing something in the nature of a male harem. Ray Milland as the one member of the community who does not succumb to her he surrenders through sheer exhaustion—gives ft sterling performance consistent with his successes in other recent light roles. F>llen Drew* a» the female bluebeard. David Tree, ae Chris, a simple-minded soul with an English accent —presumably a typical Englishman—and Guy Middleton, as another of the students, are also excellent.