AMUSEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

ST. JAMES' | Superlatives come easily when talking j of "Gone With The Wind," which, is! screening at the St. James* Theatre. I Everything connected with it has re-j ceived the finest attention procurable. The ; finest technicians, the finest settings, and ! the finest actors for the parts have all | graced the film version of the best-selling novel by Margaret Mitch'ell. The story and j its method of telling give to the screen depth, breadth and sweep which it- has not previously known. "Bigger and bettor' is a suitable way of describing "Gone With The Wind." Jt most, certainly is bigger,' for ifc runs for three hours and forty minutes, and holds at. the moment the world's record. Another record which will not easily be surpassed is tlie ten Academy A wards which it received. But of for"inost importance is the acting of the excellent cast. Above leproach are the performances ■of Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'llara, (Mark Gable ats Rhett Butler, Olivia de llavilland as Mclanie Hamilton and Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes. But one critic truly said "the closest anyone came to stealing the show from the tiery .Scarlett was the performance of ] Tat tic MjicDaniel, the b'txoni negro mammy. She had many line scenes and made the best of them." So also do the oilier •actors make the best of their scenes in this great film. MAJESTIC "Flowing Gold." a lusty story of love and adventure in the American oilfields, will make its local debut at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Heading the cast of this Warner Brothers' lihn are Pat O'Brien, John Garfield and lovely Frances Farmer. This talented triumvirate play their roles well, gearing their performances to the exciting tempo of plot and direction. O'Brien is seen as Hap O'Connor, a capable oil foreman. Garfield ft cast as Johnny Blake, a young iconoclast, friendle;** and alone in the world. He has accidentally killed a man and the hardships he endures for this act have caused i him no end of trouble. lie and O'Brien meet in a Western boom town and despite] occasional flashes of temperament become i attracted to each other. When Hap meets with a serious drilling accident Johnny I takes over as foreman. There is additional j trOifble when these two men meet and fall in love with the same woman. Francos I Farmer. Also screening is "Just Wil- j lia.m,"with Dicky Lupino and Ruddy McDowell. This light and humorous entertainment surrounds the adventures] of a young but by 110 means unintelligent I youth who finds himself mixed up with j the success of his father in a municipal election. The "William" series by l'iclimal Crompton will be well known to many readers and this picture will be especially welcome to them. EMBASSY The story of a man who tried to withdraw front the world, on an island near 1 Java, and a woman who restored his faith in mankind through the power of her love J form the basis of Paramount's "Victory," , which will begin sgreening at the Embassy Theatre to-morrow. For long the story by Joseph Conrad has been read and enjoyed. The vividness and power of Coflrad's writing makes wonderful material for Xft>llywoo<t to turn into a screen play, and with the aid of a good cast they have c-one so. 'i he picture stars Frcdrie Ma tell in the role of Heyst, the cynical recluse, I'ield a« Alma, the girl who leads Heyst back to the world which he Htslias to lorget. March needs 110 introduction to screen audiences and those who Mice and Men ' will remember -Miss tieldr, tine performance. This couple undergo two nights of terror when three sinister characters invade their island paradise. Heading the impressive featured cast is Sir Cedric llardwieke. Of all the villainous roles this accomplished actor has played his part in "Victory" is probably the most villainous. In his role of Mr. Jones Sir Cedric is a "gentleman" living by his wits, and when he is bored he is most dangerous. Included in the cast are Sig Ruman, Margaret Wycherly, Jerome Cowan, Fritz Fefd, Lionel" ltoyce and Rafaelo Ottiano. ROXY—TIVOLI Tim Holt experiences more excitement and adventure as* the star of "Wagon Train," showing at the Rosy and Tivoli j .Theatres, than have rarely been seen in an j outdoor thriller of the early West. Making J his debut as a Western lad with his clever j four-footed companion, Duke, Tim Holt is seen as a courageous and adventurous owner of a fleet of covered wagons, such as used to haul food and provisions t-j outlying communities in the ISTO's. Tim's assignments in "Wagon Train" not only included such perilous activities as battling pillaging blood-thirsty Comanche tribes and sniping road agents, but, in addition, he is trying to outwit and outlaw a band which is seeking to control his business for its own unscrupulous needs. Holt, son of the veteran screen star, Jack Holt, is perfectly at home in the saddle, with the six-shooters and with bare tists. His adventures should be sufficiently thrilling to satisfy the most demanding of Western movie-goers. Martha O'Driscoll supplies the feminine interest in "Wagon Train." Also screening is "Riders of the Dawn," with Jack Randall and Peggy Keys. With music and thrills combined, this picture should prove of great interest to all Western fans, as it introduces a new star to Western films in the person of Jack Randall. CENTURY A thrilling action drama, Columbia's "Escape To Glory," comes to the Century Theatre on Friday with a superb cast headed" by Pat O'Brien and Constance Bennett. Supporting the co-stars are John Halliday, Melville Cooper and Alan Baxter. John Brahm directed, from a screenplay by P. J. Wolfson. Too much credit cannot bo accorded each member of the east associated in this production, a surging tumultuous story of ordinary human beings hovering on the brink of disaster. Both players and technical staff combine to make "'Escape To Glory" a production filled with drama, action and romance which is lived in fleeting and fearful seconds. Passengers ou a strange voyage j are confronted with a fearful problem. It is "if you had only a few moments of life, ] how would you 6peud each precious I second?" The reason is they are doomed to destruction, but they do not know when j I exactly it is to come. As a soldier of fortune, and as a "secretary" who prefers • sables the co-stars are well fitted to their j roles. Halliday is cast as a crusading dis- j I trict attorney fleeing from gangland" i vengeance with his nemesis in the form "of i Alan Baxter. Cooper is seen as a man wh > 1 lived in fear all his life until he died n i I splendid death. This is definitely a story! full of action. j PLAZA j That Charlie Chaplin in "The Great 1 Dictator," which is screening at the Plaza I Theatre, has a message to convey few will • deny, but it is not so easy t-o decide exactly what his message is. At the end , of the film he speaks. This is, of course, 1 part of the message,.but it is in the s-catli-j ing satire which runs throughout the film ' that much of his contempt for dictators • and dictatorships is expressed. Whatever ; the message and whatever its interpret.!- ! tion, the film is far more than just a pro- i paganda picture. Chaplin has alwajs! made the world laugh and he makes 110 ! exception to the rule iu "The Great Dictator." Every type of comedy has its turn, but there are two highlights of different types which are particularly, enjoyable. Chaplin as Hynkel, the ruthless demagogue and dictator of Tomaini.i. is superb. His speech to a cowed and regimented audience is good material for laughs. But here 6atire is the predominant factor and wherever there is satire a ' person is left with a slightly bitter feeling , at the end. But in Hyukel'a diplomatic • activities with Napaloni slapstick comes into its own and there is no time for anything but loud and hearty laughter. Although it might be unfair to say that the world's diplomacy is carried out in such a wa>;, it certainly adds greatly to the entertainment of a great film.

REGENT Pictures by Cecil B. de ilille iiave iron for themselves a wide reputation the >iOrth-west Mounted Police," whicb ie showing at the Regent Theatre will go iurther to eiihaiiee this. It is t film magnificent both in its production and in the acting of an exciting story. De Millo has chosen an excellent subject for the! first of hia all Technicolour films. The ' greens of the trees, the reds of the Tedcoals and the varied colours to be found in an Indian settlement all make good material for colour photography. So, too. F oo 'l ooks of Madeleine Canroil and J axilette Goddard, who have the leading icnunine roles. Kxccllent performances are given by Gary Cooper, Robert Preston and Pri'fiton Foster. Essentially a picture ot outdoor action and thrills, the "Xortlij west 1 1 n]iie'' has a story which, although no ciaim is matle for it as accurals .itetory id not far removed from it. A rebellion of lialf-breeds threatened to assunio tremendous and dangerous proportions. and it was only the Mouuties who saved Canada from a most unpleasant rebellion. The plot has plenty of little j knotches to keep interest alive and has a I line climax when seven Mounties ride into .a hostile Indian camp where preparations ■ arc being made to wipe out every white man m the province. j VOGUE. | Mai ie Antoinette,'' which is showing j«t the V ogue theatre, is appealing in the , ma-nifieence of its production alone. This .spectacular Metro-Gokhvvn-M.iver film 1 hats at the head of a large cast Norma Sheerer and iyrone Tower. Apart from the love story running through this pic- | ture the doings of her fpjuble hiifflvand are pathetic, yef mast interesting. There are many tense moments in a ilight from the palace. STATE. Wallace Beery rides again and shoots ana kills and amuse** in adventures at Wyoming, which is the title of the film I screening at the Stare Theatre. The ca=t | includes Leo Carrillo. Ann Rutherford, il.ee Bowman and Marjorie Main. Beery | thunders his way through the storv, engages in several trigger contests in the thwarting of and in plott'in? (himjsolf. Action and adventure a'bound tlirougliout the illm.

AMUSEMENTS GUIDE

CIVIC SQUARE—Amusement Park. PICTURE THEATRES ST. JAMES'—Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in "Gone With The Wind." REG .si > ' T :r c :l l . ry , Cooper and Madeleine Carroll In North-West Mounted Police." PLAZA—-Charlie Chaplin and Paalette Goddard In The Great Dictator." " OX^2£ D ~^PiF?? r n S.« CTS 1" "Kitty Foyle" and Dr. Christian Meets The Women." EMBASST—Joan Blondell and Dick Powell In "I Want A Divorce." I STRAND—George Raft and Ann Sheridan In "The Road To Frisco." CENTURY—CharIes Laughton and Carole Lombard In "They Knew What They Wanted." clv ?£r Mart t a Scott an <l William Gargan In "Cheers For Miss Bishop." MAJESTIC—WaIter Pldgeon lm "Sky Murder" and Richard ArJen in "Black Diamonds." BOXY—Tim Holt In "Wagon Train" and Jack Randall In "Riders of the Dawn." PEERLESS (St. Hellers)—" St. Martin s Lane." PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night. PRINCESS—Guest Night. REGENT (Epsom)— Guest Night. REGAL—Guest Night. RIALTO—Guest Night. STATE (Symonds Street)—" Wyoming." STATE (Onehanga)—Guest Night. STATE (Devonport)—Guest Night. STRAND (Onehunga)—"Spring Parade" and "The Cfccus Girl." TIVOLI—"Wagon Train" and "Riders of the Dawn." TL'DOR—"Pride and Prejudice." VICTORIA—Guest Night. VOGUE—"Marie Antoinette." AVON (Newton)—" Kitty Foyle" and "Dr. Christian Meets The Women." ASTOR—"Premiere" and "Where the West Begins." ADELfrHl—Guest Night. ALEXANDRA—CIosed ior Rebuilding* AMBASSADOR—Guest Night. AVONDALE—Guest Night. BRlTANNlA—"Everything Happens At Night" and "On Dress Parade." BERKELEY (Mission Bay)—" Untamed." CAPlTOL—"Virginia City" and "Heroes In Blue.'* CRYSTAL PALACE—Guest Night. DE LUXE—"Twenty-one Days Together." FORESTERS (Birkenhead)—"Each Dawn I Die." GREY LYNN—Guest Night. GAIETY—"When the Daltons Rode." LIBERTY (Parnell)—"Blackwell'a Island" and "Saint's Double Trouble." MAYFAIR (Sandrinffham) —"Pack Up Your Troubles" and "Light ol the Western Stars." NEW ROYAL—Guest Night. PICTUREDROME (Milford)—"Two Thoroughbreds" and "Escape To Paradise." RADIO PROGRAMMES 1YA—7.15 p.m., Book Review; 7.55, Studio recital by Tessa Birnie (pianist); 8.10, Studio recital by Kvelyn Busbridge (mezzo-soprano); 8.37. Studio recital by Kenneth Neate, Australian tenor. 2YA —8.43 pjn.. "Under the Baton": Melodious pieces by lavourite orchestras; 9.30, "Gems irom 'The New Moon' 9.42. "At Eventide"; 10.0, Ray Herbeck and his Music with Romance. 1YX —8.0 p.m., "Bands and Ballads"; 9.0, Variety hour; 10.0, Light recitals. 1ZM —7.0 p.m., Orchestral music; 8.0, With the Rotorua Maori Choir; 8.30, Concert programme.