"ON DRESS PARADE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXXI, 14 September 1940, Page 6

"ON DRESS PARADE."

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Slip Duncan Leo Oorcey. Cadet Major Rollins Billy Halop. Cadet Ronny Morgan Bobby Jordon. Cadet Johnny Cabot Hunts Hall. \Cadct Gcorgle Warren Gabriel Dell. Dutch Bernard Punsley. Director .... William Clemens (Warner Bros.). With an impressive record of film 6ucccsses, tlic famous "Dead End" kids have become an institution rather than a team of gifted lads. They have epitomised a section of contemporary. American life that has won for them and the class they represent a sympathy and understanding that could have been gained in no other way. Hitherto their pictures have dealt with stark facts, with the seamy side of life; with the underdog's struggle to achicvc a place in the sun. Keen interest was therefore centred in "Dress Parade'/ at the Majestic Theatre yesterday, when these likeable kids were seen in a comedy. Gone were the city touglis. The wisecracking, long-haired, gutter-hardened denizens of the slums became model youths at one of America's leading military academics. But the hooliganism pemisted and it was this human element and the worldly wisdom of Leo Gorccy, toughest of the lot, that gave sauce to a piquant story. Yesterday's audiences found the picture excellent entertainment. Suspense and dramatic force have been welded into /'Hot Steel/' supporting I picture, in which Richard Arlen and Andy I Dcvine, both fine actors, are featured. The stoiy is told around a giant steel mill, where the have the role of furr.acc men. There is romance, too, with Peggy 1 Moran and Anne Xagel portraving widely i different characters. Anne Xagel lias been transformed froni a wistful heroine to a glittering vamp, while blue-eyed Pegcy Moran is seen as the young girl who '•apturcs the attention of Arlen from her rival. Rounding off a fine\ programme was another thrilling episode of the serial, "The Green Hornet," and a most interesting coloured feature, "Nature's Mimics," showing birds and animals in a variety of clever tricks. "TOO MANY HUSBANDS." CENTURY THEATRE. n!n ky - nd « Jean Arthur. 8!!iJ? a ? dew j Frcd Mac Murray. Lo *' ndcs Melvyn Douglas. ii Harry Davenport. Gcnrude Houlihan Dorothy Peterson. nip£s»«V - - -......... Melville Cooper. D,rcctor Wesley Ruggles (Columbia). Once a stage comedy of great repute and success, "Too Many Husbands" has proved especially amenable to film production, and in its first Auckland appearance, at the Century Theatre last night, made an immediate hit as one of those joyous, carefree comedies on the plane of J )ecdß '' and "Can't Take It With ion. It is of the rare type of natural humour that goes with a free swing of laughter from the outset, and is accompanied by a choice selection of supshorts that make the evening's entertainment at the Century something to recall with pleasure.

It is, of course, a tale of the ancient liu in an triangle which, in tills instance is occasioned by accident, and opens on the moment of realisation by the girl of the .awful truth that she is possessed of two n*<bands and could be equally happv with cither. Too many cooks may spoil the broth, but in this particular brew of fun too many husbands just give an added piquancy to the sport as developed bv Jean Arthur.. Fred Mac Murray and JUelyyn Douglas into a competition for turning the best man into the permanent bridegroom. With Harry Dcvcnport, Worthy Peterson. Melville Cooper, Edgar Buchanan and Tom Dugan in the small but fielcct cast, the progress of the story is given a series of surprise twists that pile up the hilarity as they also bewilder patrons as to the outcome, which turns out to be an uproarious climax. It keeps you cnessing as well as laughing. . Outstanding in an entertaining and instructive eotcric of featurcttcs is "Hie Philippines," a study of the natural wealth of this East Tndies group developed under American protectorate, and the -present American- Japanese conflict of influences, with a lead on their possible bearing An the fate of the Dutch East Tndies. Personalities in the news'included in the gazette items are the two Australian judges who -have recent.lv left the, Bench for dmlomacy and politics. There are two excellent comedies also on the programme. ROXY-TIVOLI. Step by step with the famous international detective, Philo Vance, audiences at the I\oxy and Tivoli .Theatres arc solving one of the most thrilling espionage mys- °, f r all time, as illustrated in "Calling I liilo Vancc,' main attraction at both theatres. Based .on one of S. S. Van Dines famous thrillers, the story is a particularly timely one and full use of this fact has been made by William Clemens, who directed it. James Stephenson and Margot Stevenson capably handle the main roles, while excellent support is given by Henry O'Neill, Ed. Brophy, Ralph Forbes, J Jon ald Dougl.js and Sheila Bromley. As might be expected, the number of suspects is such as to entirely baffle any but the most skilful 'amateur investigator, while clues galore make his task even more difficult. Associate attraction, "Half a Sinner," stars Heather Angel and John King in a story of an adventurous girl who finds herself involved in situations which are as awkward as they arc baffling. TUDOR THEATRE. In addition to the current screen attraction,'"Hotel For Worn en," at the Tudor Theatre, Rcmuera, there is also a stage presentation by Joan and Betty Itaynor. who give an attractive .programme of songN and one-act plays. Details arc advertised.