Amusements Reviewed

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 10

Amusements Reviewed

EAST OF THE RIVER" MAJESTIC Joe Lorenzo ' John Garfield Laurie Romayne Brenda Marshall Teresa Lorenzo Marjorie Rambeau Tony George Tobias Nick Lorenzo William Lundigan Judge Davis Moroni Olsen Director: Alfred E. Green (Warner Bros.). Also: -LAW AND DISORDER," with Barry K. Barnes. Drama which moves swiftly is presented in the Warner Brothers' production, ""East of the River," the feature attraction on the new programme at the Majestic Theatre. The setting of the story is the lower east side of Xew York, and the film goes back to the pro-depression days of ]!>27. The story tells of two boys nurtured in the molting pot of Xew York's east side. It. follows them down through the years to the present. Starting out as wastrels the boys take divergent paths in those formative years. One is a college graduate, the other a prison graduate. •John Garfield plays the role of the gangstor—the grown-up hoodlum. Finishing three years in San Quentin penitentiary, ho derides to go home to see his mother and the boy his mother had adopted. This boy is Nick, the other hoodlum, now graduating from college. With him Garfield brings a gangster "gun girl.'' The action of the story is fast and provides exciting entertainment.

'I he two leading ladies in the east are I'i'iula Marshall and Marjorie Rambeau. Tin' latter is seen as Garfield's mother, and her guiding influence is always in evidence. Miss Marshall is cast in the part of Laurie Romayne whom Garfield loves, but who marries his brother.

"Law and Disorder," the other feature on the programme, is a mystery story with a light comedy dialogue. The story is centred round a young junior partner of a legal firm who defends several criminals in court, and ihis* defence is so strong that they are acquitted. By doing this he changes his policy, but this is justified when the gang of criminals is captured. Barry K. Barnes takes the role of the young lawyer, and prominent parts are taken by Diana Churchill as his wife, and by Alastair Sim as his senior partner. ST. JAMES' A "darling"' picture to warm the cockles of any movie-goer "s heart, whether Hibernian or otherwise, and set straight for the enthusiastic endorsement of Gaelic gatherings in particular, although possessed of universal entertainment appeal. "Little Xcllie Kelly"' is nieetng with well deserved success in its season at the St. James' Theatre. Inspired by the musical offering of George M. Cohan, the picture offers several surprises besides its rich, warm Irish wit and sentiment. Main point is that it marks Judy Garland's advance to maturity, by casting her in the dual role of mother and daughter. This is not such an incredible track of casting as might appear as the maternal angle is eliminated in the early stages, leaving Miss Garland with a role well suited to her yeara and talents.

George Murphy plays husband and father to Judy's dual assignment and on such a double level is natural and appealing. Much of the humour and humanity exuding from the story's script comes from the rollicking, "rambunctious*' characterisation of Charles Winninger as Nellie's grandfather. Douglas McPhail's fine baritone tones and young appearance accommodate Miss Garland to perfection in several musical and romantic interludes.

The story is a human affair consisting mainly of young Nellie's efforts to reconcile her father and grandfather, the latter being in a state of perpetual huff over the marriage of his daughter, who dies in the early stages. When the old man objects to "her friendship with young

"Dennis Fogarty,"' however, a. timely stand is made by both father and daughter, and the grandfather—after carefully avoiding anything in the nature of work over a long period of years, even to the extent of throwing fake heart attacksfinds himself at last obliged to go out into the cold, harsh world, whence he returns a sadder and wiser man. A picture for all.

OXFORD—AVON The fortunes of an impecunious dance band form the centre of the light-hearted plot of James Roosevelt's "Pot o' Gold" which has now been transferred to the Oxford and Avon Theatres. The band, to summarise the story, practises its programing on the rooftop of a third-rate boardinghouse in which the general rouseabout is none other than that rising star Paulette Goddard. Tongue-tied James Stewart enters into things as an improvident music store proprietor, while Charles Winninger has a rich role as Stewart's wealthy uncle who is the natural solver of all the problems if matters would only sort themselves out. Horace Heidt and his musical knights capably look after the musical angle under the general direction of George Marshall, who scores another success in his production of one of the happiest films of the year.

Audiences can laugh and thrill with the two-fisted tongh and romantic sleuth "Michael Shane. Detective."' which also shows at the two thc%res. This new mystery-thriller has Lloyd Nolan starred in the title role and lovely Marjorie Weaver heading a strong featured cast. Nolan plays the bodyguard of a wealthy heiress who is murdered in particularly callous fashion with his own gun. He was the last to see her alive. Tt would be a tough sport for anyone but "Michael Shane, Detective."

REGENT It is always difficult for sailors in a strange town after a, long spell at sea to find their own ship again when at length their consciences i>rick them once again to thoughts of duty, and if a spot of bother is encountered in the search !.• one really worries about it —least of all the sailors. But when three 'hilarious memhers of the British senior service wander aboard «n enemy pocket 'battleship on which they proceed to sea the situation assiimies rather a.n unusual aspect. This is the foundation for the plot of "Sailors Three," the refreshing film at the Regent Theatre.

-As might be expected the three matelots —Claude Hnlbert Mack's brother). Tommy Trhider and "Michael Wilding—have moments of difficulty in dealing with the situation, .but it is a tribute to the resource of the Royal Navy to ibe able to say that it all turns out sp'endidly with the three capturing the ship in true buccaneering style. What is less satisfactory, from the buccaneer's point of view, is that they are pursued by representatives of the night of the said "Royal Navy as soon as they have gained possession. The picture is a splendid example of the fact that Britain has still to lose her sense of humour and it is a tribute to the men of the motion nicture trade that such a film can be turned out in wartime. Outstanding personality among the cast is Tommy Trinder, making hi« screen debut. As leader of the trio, he overshadows the excellent performances of Hul'l>ert and "Wilding, and it is abundantly clear that we shall see him again. A "Match of Time" newsreel an,} Pathe British News are among the supporting programme.

STATE One of the most powerful films to make an appearance in recent months, "Spawn of the North,*' is the new main feature at the State Theatre, Symonds Street. The original story was a husky, dramatic and grip-pins affair and the screen, as .might be imagined, has enhanced all these ■attractions without losing any of the threads of the engrossing story. _ The eternal triangle, which in this case is set in the snow-clad wilds of Alaska, is formed by Melvyn Douglas, Dorothy Lamour and Henry Fonda-—a trio capable of handling this type of situation to perfection. The age-old question of secretary versus wife is considered in light vein in "Daytime Wife," a cleverly-produced comedy which forms the bulk of the supporting programme. Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell are the couple to discover that « secretary' bas everything that a wife possesses. "The Advance into Syria" is a highlight among the uewsreel session.

I "THIS THING CALLED LOVE" PLAZA Something new in sophisticated comedy is given to picture patrons in the film "This Thing Called Love/' which commenced a season at the Plaza Theatre yesterday. The leading male character, though not necessarily "hero," of many delightful comedies, Melvyn Douglas, gives one of hie best performances in this bright picture, while Rosalind Russell, whose name conjures up in most patrons' minds a happy memory of amusing films seen, is his leading lady. The screen comedy abounds in situations and dialogue which, to describe them as amusing, would not do justice to the film. The screen play upon which George Sea ton, Ken Englund and P. J. Wolfson collaborated, basing their work on the play by Edwin Burke, tells a story rather different from the usual run of comedies of this type. Ann Winters (Rosalind Russell) has some rather unusual ideas about marriage, which she expounds early in the play, and when she marries Tice Collins (Melvyn Douglas)' she attempts to carry these into practice. Collins, however, has a rather different view upon the subject, and his attempts to persuade his wife to change her outlook upon the matter provide, on the one hand, much trouble for the characters and much amusement for the picturegoers. Many more people enter into the picture complicating the problem for the unfortunate married couple, but making all the more laughs for the audience. Finally, however, everything comes to a happy conclusion. Praise for this excellent picture must go not only to the actors and the writers of the play, but also to Williarm Pelberg for his production and Alexander Hall for his direction of the film. These two men received high praise in the United States for their work in the picture, and after seeing the film, patrons here found that praise well warranted. "DESPATCH FROM REUTERS" CIVIC THEATRE The romance of a name that lias been in the forefront of the world's news for over a century is told with unusual thrill in a "A Despatch from Reuters," the jbig icature in the now .programme at the Civic Theatre this week. Among other contributions to an enjoyable programme, giving the spice oi variety, are topical news items, a Porky cartoon, a cross-section study of young America's dash to the flying school, and vocal and instrumental numbers ,hy Reg Morgan and Fred Carlsen. It is that small signature line "Reuters," or "Reuters Agency,'' familiar to all ■people of all nations "by its persistent appearance below the .big headlines of the newspapers, or at the tail of most big news items, that has ibeen expanded in "A Despatch from Renters'' to a fascinating bale ox the Dutch youth, Julius Renter, who shadowed the trail of telephono, teletrraph and cable the world over in his obsession to 'bring the peoples of the world closer together 'by an immediate news service. In early Jays he filled in the communications network with pigeon post, and gradually built up first a commercial service, and then an international news service. With Edward G. Robinson in the title role, and Edna Rest and Eddie Albert in highlights of the supporting cast, "A Despatch from Renters" keeps the audience interested in the romance and thrill of the outstanding episodes of a news service that set the standard for reliability, created a tradition and conquered rivals, self-seekers and Press conservatism. Incidentally, the creator of the service had to keep on reminding his British clients that the name was pronounced "Roysters," not "Rooters."

Among the war service phots included in the viewsreel a'feature is that of women in the machine shops of Britain at -work and at .r/lav. The funeral of the late Kaiser in Holland is also an impressive pha=e of recent events overseas. The Civic specialty of stage variety acts in person is undertaken tin's week 'by Fieri Carlson in musical items on an assortment of queer musical instruments.

CENTURY Thorne Smith's harassed character with whom everyone must secretly sympathise, is once again plagued by one of those illogical sort of ghosts that only a Thorne Smith can create in "Topper Returns," successful attraction at the Century Theatre. By crossing with the implements of entertainment which made his "Topper" a' topper, those devices which have characterised honse-of-mystery melodrama in films such as "The" Ghost Breakers," Ha) Roach has produced a hybrid which is guaranteed to produce and provide both laughs and shudders with neither sacrificed ill the interests of the other.

This time the wraith, which keeps on turning up when least expected and generally misbehaving itself, is played by Joan Blondell, killed a.t the start of the picture by the man who is himself exposed to meet a murky fate in the final reel. Between these points life is extremely complicated for all concerned, with wall panels, disappearing chairs, subterranean passage*;, hooded men and all the other familiars of the formula utilised in profusion to create confusion. Roland Young is once again Topper to the life, and his wife is as conventionally unconventional as might be expected from a Billie Burke portrayal. Eddie (Rochester) Anderson gets more than his share of the laughs as the negro servant, who is all for getting out of it. but can't, while a bewildered detective in the person of Donald Macßride is also entertaining in his efforts to solve this most exceptional ease.

Melodrama and slapstick—an unfailing combination; and in "Topper Returns" it works to perfection.

"From the Four Corners," a short feature on the supporting programme featuring Leslie Howard with an Auckland private and Australian and Canadian representatives, is well worth seeing.

STRAND One of the longest, yet most engrossing novels yet written, "Anthony Adverse," has come to the screen in brilliant fashion with an enormous east and a set of stars which would be hard to surpass. The film is now making a welcome return season to Auckland at the Strand Theatre. Fredric March plays the title role of Heryey Allen's masterpiece to perfection. He is not only -the colourful adventurer who. in imagination, was decades before his time, but is also the lover that Hervey drew so sympathetically. Vlaying opposite him is lovely Olivia dc Havilland at her best in a role which calls for more than the usual quote of versatility. She is appropriately dressed for the part out of one of the most extensive wardrobes that a film has ever called for.

Close behind the principal* in attracting attention are Claude Rains. Edmund Gwenn—who has been steadily making a name for himself in featured roles since _the release of "An Englishman's Home"—Donakl Woods and Akim Tamiroff. The production called for 98 speaking parts, in all, and on top of this again a cast, of 2500 extras was found necessary to bring out the atmosphere of the book which has long been a universal favourite.

This is a picture in which spectacle has been used as a background and has not been allowed to overshadow the intimate love story of the king of adventurers. Warner Brothers have long been noted for their willingness to take on anything on a large scale, and this time they have excelled themselves. Filmgoers who are not particularly noted for their memories, have never forgotten the first showing of this film, and most will welcome an opportunity to renew acquaintances with it.

There is a well-varied supporting programme. DANCING Pirate vShippe Cabaret, Pirate Shippe Band; Crystal Palace. Epi Shalfoon'ii Band; Masonic Hall, Collegians' Band; Rialto Ballroom. Rhythm Rascals Orchestra; Orange Coronation Hall, Chevalier Baind; Metropole Cabaret. Metropole Band; St. Sepulchre's Hall, Merrymakers' Band: Westhaven Cabaret. Al Clark's Orchestra: Peter Pan l_ab.net. Peter Tan Band.

VOGUE J The "dumbest" radio and screen, star, yet to delight audiences, Gracie Allen, is the ?prime mover in much, of *he fun, and laughter in the happy-go-lucky musical comedy, "Honolulu." the new feature at the Vogue Theatre. With 'her. of course, as the dxitt of her "accidental'' wit, is the long-suffering George Burns. Romance "noath the tropical moon is provided in classical style by shapely Eleanor Powell and Robert Young and, with a fair proportion of sons and dance included, the ■picture must .be classed as .being in the happy state of possessing universal appeal. The fast-moving mystery-drama, "Tell No Tales," also shows, -with Melvyn Douglas and Louise Piatt heading a capable cast. - The supporting programme includes air mail news and a tastefully produced coloured travel talk, "Rural Hungary." An excellent all-round programme. CINEMA GUIDE STRAND —Fredrick March and Claude Rains in "Anthony Adverse." CENTURY—Joan Blondell and Roland Young in "Topper Returns." ClVlC—Edward G. Robinson and Edna Best in "A Dispatch From Reuters." MAJESTIC—John Garfield in "East of tha River" and Barry K. Barnes in "Law and Disorder." ROXT—Charlie Chan in "Dead Men Tell" and Kent Taylor in "Repent At Leisure." ST. JAMES'—Judy Garland and George Murphy in "Little Nellie Kelly." REGENT—Tommy Trinder and Claude Rulbert in "Sailors Three.** PLAZA—Melvyn Douglas and Rosalind Russell in "This Thins Called Love." EMBASSY—Edith Fellows and Wilbur Evans in "Her First Romance." STATE (Symonds Street)—" Spawn of the North" and "Daytime Wile." OXFORD—James Stewart in "Pot 'o Gold" and Lloyd Nolan in "Michael Shayne. Detective." TIVOLI—"Dead Men Tell" and "Repent At Leisure." TTJDOR—"The Ghost Breakers." VlCTOßlA—"Scatterbraln" and "I Want a Divorce." VOGUE—"Honolulu" and "Tell No Tales." AVON (Newton)—" Pot o - Gold" and "Michael Shayne, Detective." AVON'DALE—"AII This And Heaven, Too" and "The Marines Fly High." ASTOR—"Disputed Passage" and "SlighUy Tempted." ADELPHI—"TaII. Dark and Handsome" and "Young People." ALEXANDRA—CIosed for Rebuilding. AMBASSADOR—"Dance. Girl, Dance" and "Susannah Of The Mounties." BRlTANNlA—"Contraband" and "The Bank Dick." BERKELEY (Mission Bay)—"A Window In London." CAPITOL—"Dark Command" and "Untamed." CRYSTAL PALACE—"The Long Voyage Home" and "Too Many Girls." DELTA (New Lynn)—'South Of Pago Pago" and •World In Flames." DE LUXE—"No, No, Nanette" and "Emergency Squad." FORESTERS (Birkenhead)—"Convoy." GAIETY (Takapnna)—"The Mortal Storm." GREY LYNX—"CaII a Cop" and "Keeping Company." LIBERTY (ParnelD—"Climbing High" and "Santa Fe Marshal." MAYFAIB (Sandrincbam)—"lf I Had My Way" and "Saps At Sea." NEW ROYAL—"Tin Pan Alley" and "Spy For a Day." PEERLESS (St. Helier's)—"3outh of the Border" and "Calling All Marines." TICTUREDROME (Milford)—"Lucky Partners." PRINCE EDWARD—"Espionage Agent" and "A Date With Destiny." PRINCESS—"Torrid Zone" and "Playgirl." REGAL—"Kitty Foyle" and "Mexican Spitfire I Out West." j REGENT (Epsom)—" The Mark Of Zorro" and "The Ghost Comes Home." RIALTO—"The Long Voyage Home" and "Too Many Girls." RIALTO (Sunday)—" Gangs Of New York" and "Wolf's Clothing." STATE (Drvonport)—"Road Show" and "Flight Angels." STATE (Onehunga)—"So Ends Our Night" and "For Beauty's Sake." STRAND (Onehunga)—"l Love You Again" and •Mystery Sea Raider." RADIO PROGRAMMES Highlights irom to-night's radio programmes are as lollow :— IYA —7.48 p.m.. Studio recital by Hennyn MacIntyrc (violin); 8.12. Studio recital by Gwenda Weir (soprano). and Gerrard Plnnock I (tenor); Studio r cital by Doris Willoughby (mezzo-soprano); 10.10. Dance music. 2YA—7.45 p.m.. "In the Limelight": 8.J7. "Merry Go Lucky"; 9.25, Dance programme. ITX—7.O p.m.. After dinner music; 8.0, "Fireside Fun"; Filmland Memories. IZM—7.O p.m.. Sports results; Gordon Hutter; 7.30. Orchestral music; 8.0. Dance music.

Highlights from to-morrow's radio programmes are as follow:—

ITA—7.O p.m., Presbyterian Service, relayed Irotn St. James' Churcn. Preacher: Rev. H. J. Illburn; 9.35. Deanna Durbin; 9-52, Band of H.M. Royal Air Force. 2TA—7.O p.m., Roman Catholic Service, relayed from St. oerard's Redemptorlst Church; 8.37. London Symphony Orchestra; 827, For the Opera Lover. 1YX —8.30 p.m.. Philharmonic Orchestra; 8.42. Nancy Evans (contralto); ».3S, Igor Oorin (baritone). IZM —7.0 p.m.. Orchestral recordings; «.0, Concert; 9.0. "Tobermory", Talk by A. J. Sinclair; 9.30. Choral sci*ctions.