Amusements Reviewed

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 237, 5 October 1940, Page 12

Amusements Reviewed

"VIRGINIA CITY." REGENT THEATRE. Kerry Bradford Errol Flynn JuU« Hmyne Miriam Hopkins Vance Irby Randolph Scott John Murrell Humphrey Bogart Mr. Upjohn Frank McHugh Olaf Swenaon Alan Hale Director: Michael Curtlz (Warner-F.N.) Unquestionably Warner Bros, have produced something on a large scale in "Virginia City," wbicli heads the new programme at the Regent Theatre. It is just a big, glorified Western melodrama, with its usual thrills and human interest. The value of the picture may be enhanced by the fact that the story is, according to Warner Bros., authentic. In other words, the incidents depicted actually happened, but the authenticity of these incidents does not add a great deal to the picture's actual dramatic or melodramatic value. The interest is held because of the fact that the hero has been given by President Lincoln, an assignment which he is determined to cany out. In his efforts the hero is followed by the good wishes of such people as lived north of the Mason and Dixon line, for the story unfolds during the American civil war, and has to do with the thwarting of the plans of the Confederate army.

The story, an original screen play by Robert Buckner, deals with the attempt of Confederate sympathisers in Virginia City, Nevada, to smuggle a shipment of gold bullion to President Jefferson Davis toward the close of the Civil War. Errol Flynn portrays a Union officer sent to Virginia City on special duty to prevent shipment of tlie gold. Randolph Scott plays a Confederate officer, and Miriam Hopkins is the girl to whom both men pay court. Directed, as was "Dodge City," by Michael Curtiz, the film emphasises action throughout. There is the dynamiting of a prison, an attempted hold-up- of a stage coach, the rough-and-ready life of Virginia City, the escape, pursuit and siege of the wagon tram transplanting the bullion, and other thrilling incidents. There is much shooting and plenty of fighting.

An excellent supporting programme oi short films is also screened.

" UNTAMED." CIVIC THEATRE. Dr. William Crawford Ray Milland Alverna Easter Patricia Morrison Joe Easter Akim TamlroS Les Woodbury William Frawley Mrs. Maggie Moriarty Jane Darwell Mrs. Smith Esther Dale Director: George Archainbaud (Paramount). An outstanding melodrama of the American north woods, "Untamed," filmed in Technicolour by Paramount and enriched by polished acting, heads the new programme, which was well received by large audiences at all sessions at the Civic Theatre yesterday. Featuring such well-known players as Ray Milland, Patricia Morrison, Akim Tamiroff, J. M. Kerrigan, and others, the production, which is by Paul Jones and directed by George Archainbaud, is derived from Sinclair Lewis' novel, "Mantrap," the screen play being by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan and Frank Butler. The novel was a treatment of the "eternal triangle," the heroine of which" was of a temperament and disposition suggesting the title, but the film version has had the corners of the triangle' adjusted and the girl is now the young wife of a North Woods guide as heroic and noble as the young city doctor with whom she falls in love, and vice vensa:. Unusual in conception and treatment, "Untamed" offers highclass entertainment.

The secondary film subjects are of such high quality tnat they merit individual mention. The latest Paramount News reveals current world happenings and exclusive shots of the huge convention 'which nominated President Roosevelt for a further term, and this is followed by a Paramount Pictorial of unusual interest. Another short features a famous American dance band and several radio and stage stars in some fine musical and vocal numbers. Then there is another of the nnusual "Stranger Than Fiction" series, while comedy is provided in the latest Popeye animated cartoon, "Wimmin Is A Mystery." ST. JAMES'. The latest and one of the best of the se!«iea of biographical pictures to be seen in the city in recent months, "Edison the Man," continues to draw capacity houses to the St. James' Theatre. Spencer Tracy, who portrays tile great inventor, gives yet another faultless performance and, naturally enough, steals most of the thunder. Rita Johnson, however, as his wife, and Ljynne' Overman, Charles Ooburn and Gene Lock hart, give characterisations which it would be difficult to criticise. The story combines well the wizardry of Thomas Edison's inventive genius and the hiunan interest side of his life, resulting in a well-balanced tale acceptable to all. The theme is more than the recounting of his struggle against the vested interests of the moneyed classes; it is also the story of his triumphs in spite of the strongest opposition. Wher,eiii lies the moral that although genius must inevitably clash with conservatism, it cannot be denied indefinitely. OXFORD.

With all the spectacle of the entertainment era of a decade ago, "Lillian Russell," which has be6n transferred to the Oxford Theatre, has blonde and lovely Alice Faye portraying the first and greatest of America's glamour girls. Don Ariieclie and Henry Fonda also are seen in this Darryl Zanuck's 20th Century Fox film. Cast as Alexander Moore, a newspaperman in love with the gorgeous Lillian, Henry Fonda, fresh from his triumph in "The Grapes of Wrath," gives another stirring portrayal in a highly dramatic role. Handsome Don Ameche is flgen as Lillian's composer-husband. Lillian Russell was famous for her marvellous voice as well as her splendid acting, and Alice Faye, sings many of the Old'time songs which she popularised. Amojng the admirers of the great actress -were "such famous persons as Diamond Jim Brady, the financier, and Jesse Lewishon, the copper king, who are played respectively by Edward Arnold and Warren William. Irving Cummings directed. EMBASSY. Carried out with all the sinister air of mystery • which the story calls for "The House of "the Seven Gables," showing at t]he Embassy Theatre, has already proved itself a sure draw. Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel was a best seller, almost a classic. Hollywood has made a great book into a memorable picture. The tale is of a New England family in the nineteenth century and of the reaction of the last generation to the legacy of hate and avarice which they receive along with the house of the seven gables. _ Margaret Lindsay takes the part of.Hepzibah, whose life is continually overshadowed by the quarrel of the two hot-headed Pyncheon brothers played by George Sanders and Vincent Price. This, trio carry off difficiHt roles in a fashion which shows they have appreciated to the full the psychological angle OfL the story,, while Miles Mander and Cecil Kellawny also turn in creditable portrayals. The supporting programme, which- is.- light in tone, contrasts favourably with the main feature. STRAND. The scenery of the far-famed landscape as caught by the movie camera is not the least attractive portion of "Florian," ably described as the surprise picture of the year, which is continuing to please audiences at the Strand Theatre. The story is an unusual combination of ballet and horse interest dealing with the period of the fall of the Hapsburgs, and carries on to modern America, where among strange surroundings the young people -who had left their own count-ry l"vork out their salvation. Universal appeal in a picture is rarer than would be imagined, but it is safe to say that "Florian" possesses this attribute. Ballet, with all its dainty and appealing beauty, horse interest in one of the finest stallions in America, scenery as outstanding as any ever seen on the screen and a story of struggles, heartbreaks and laughs all go tb make the fllm one of the most —a im «iit*.

"THE GHOST COMES HOME." MAJESTIC THEATRE. Vern Adams Frank Morgan. Cora Adams Billle Burke. Billie Adams Ann Rutherford. Lanny Shea John Shelton. Hemingway Reginald Owen. Mortimer Hopkins, Snr, Donald Meek. Director William Thiele (M.0.M.) (Also "Law of the Pampas" with William Boyd.) Comedy, bright breezy and continuous, is the highlight of "The Ghost Comes Home" showing at the Majestic Theatre. In these tense times a good laugh is a tonic indeed and the picture which stars Frank Morgan, is a whole dispensary of medicinal laughs. With Morgan is Billie Burke, a "character" in herself. Ann Rutherford, .John Shelton, Reginald Owen, and others well-known on the screen, and hilariously they go through their hour and a half in some of the most amusing situations imaginable. Morgan plays the part of a henpecked husband, the owner of a, small store in an equally small town. A friend promises him a million dollars to spend in improving the town, but Morgan is reported later to have met his death in a shipwreck. However he turns up again and matters become extremely complicated, especially when he plans to bring his domineering wife to her knees. In doing so he becomes involved with the business crooks of the town, gete timself into all kinds of trouble, but eventually exposes the crookedness of the political coterie and emerges Public Citizen No. 1. It isn't so much that he should come out on top, but the manner in which it is brought about that makes the story. He is certainly the liveliest and shrewdest "ghost" one could imagine. In different vein is "Law of the Pampas" another of the Hopalong Cassidv serics with, of course, William Boyd doing the major part, but well supported by Russell Hayden, Steffi Duna, Sidney Toler, and others. A feature of the picture is the jitterbug dancing of Steffi Duna, who plays the part of a daneeliall belle. Some veny fine singing is altso worked ifito the story, which is well in keeping with al! Hopalong's stirring adventures of the range and ranch. A couple of European killers commit murder hoping to inherit a vast estate, and they look like winning out until Hopalong and his men step in, and in a death battle fought on the pampas and finally at the ranch wipes out the murderers. There are thrills aplenty in "Law of the Pampas."

"CHARLEY'S BIG-HEARTED AUNT." CENTURY THEATRE. ■ • ■ ■ Arthur Askey. Ait f d on Richard Murdoch. s™f>t Brown Graham Mofiat. Bcout Moore Marriott. <GBU) ine rollicking comedy of a merry college masquerade which set the mark for furi-fun-making on the stage nearly 50 years ago in "Charley's Aunt' is surpassed as an extravaganza by the modem screen version that opened an Auckland season in the Century Theatre last night. A new creation, built round the genius' for comical female impersonation by an English artist, Arthur Askey, it has a fresh and natural vivacity, with periods oi riotous mirth that set it above the oldtune original in quality of entertainment. The best Charley's Aunt I've ever seen," was an expression of opinion heard repeated several times among the outgoing patrons after the .show.

Ketaining the style and background of the old stage favourite, with Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch and Graham Moffat ii\ the lead as room-mates and escapade-leaders at Oxford University, the story branches off into an impromptu impersonation by Askey of Murdoch's rich aunt before the dean and proctor in an effort to draw away from their devoted heads the condign consequence of an overmerry night out. Not Brazil where the nuts come from, but Birmingham where the nuts and bolts come from was the vague address of the aunt of title and influence. When Askey is in the impersonation up to his neck he finds the "nutty" flavour of his job is more than he had counted on. Mention of the lady's name recalls to the austere Oxford heads the embarrassing memory that the titled wealthy woman was once an Oxford barmaid with whom,' in their salad days, they had dallied on the river. While Askey goes nuts, and bolts from one predicament to another, the dean and proctor are kept dodging a skeleton of the past, and Charley's real aunt enters uninvited to bring about a mirthful showdown. With Moore Marriott revelling in the role of impish janitor, the Askey-Murdoeh-Moffat confederacy sustain a long sequence of glorious hilarity.

A fine assortment of supporting shorts gains unusual distinction by inclusion of a "March of Time" revelation of the place and importance of the Dutch East Indies to England and America in impending war developments.

PLAZA. "Saps at Sea" —the title is appropriate. This latest of Laurel and Hardy.'s showing at the Plaza Theatre has gone to prove beyond doubt that slapstick comedy, far from dying out, is more popular than ever. •There"is still enough of the child about Us to find amusement in exploding gas stoves, refrigerators that play music and ice-producing radio sets—you feel a fool while you do it but you laugh just the same. Ollie and Laurel decide to take a rest cure at- eea because Ollie's delicate nerves have been set on edge from working in a born factory. To this end they hir<i a boat whioh they carefully tie to the dock, and. prepare for a restful time. But an escaped' murderer takes command and soon the three of them find themselves well and truly at sea—take it as-you'will. But it all ehds happily with Lam-el and Hardy looking unhappily through the bars of the lock-up—from the wrong side. ROXY-TIVOLI. A fast moving story with net ion, romance and «lrama provided in liberal quantities. "I Was a Convict" continues to find public favour at the Roxy and Tiv-ioli Theatres. This Republic drama has Barton Mac Lane in the main role and this talented actor has turned out in the film one of the best performances of a somewhat hectic screen career. He is ably supporter! by Beverly Roberts, an attractive rising star who supplies the romantic interest. The story is of a millionaire food magnate who is sentenced to prison for income, tax evasion, and while behind the bars strikes up a friendship with "Ace," one of the toughest inmates, played by Mac Lane. After his release he arranges for a parole for his friend and offers hint a position in his business. "Ace's" struggle against the temptation to rob his employer is handled extremely well. Also showing is a lighthearted musical farce "Laugh It Off," in which Johnny Downs, favourite of many Broadway musical success, plays in the romantic role opposite talented Constance Moore. STATE. The screen's happiest, family arc seen in further hilarious adventures in "Judge Hardy and Son," main attraction at the State Theatre, Symonds Street. As in previous similar films. Mickcy Rooney, as the youngest of the brood, is seldom out of hot water and paveg the way to most of the laughs, while Lewis Stone, Cecilia Parker and June Presser also are seen in familiar roles. "Cavalcade of Academy Awards" heads an attractive supporting programme.