Amusements Reviewed

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 247, 18 October 1941, Page 10

Amusements Reviewed

• "THE CITY OF CONQUEST" CIVIC Danny Kenny James Cagney PeggyNash Ann Sheridan Old Timer Frank Craven Googi Ella Kazan Eddie Kenny Arthur Kennedy Scotty MacPherson Donald Crisp Directed by Anatole Litvak—Warner Brothers. "City For Conquest," featured on the new programme at the Civic Theatre, is a study of New York life in terms of action and ambition, failure and faith, despair, and determination. Moving at times with breath-taking speed, the picture gives audiences an entertainment of exceptional merit. Produced in the pattern of the "Symphony of a City," which is played near the close of it, the picture changes from fast to slow, from gaiety to gloom, again and again, but never loses its point. Jaimes Cagney plays a truck driver who turns boxer to win a fame he thinks will bring his sweetheart back to him and, blinded, ends the film selling papers. Ann Sheridan plays the girl, whose ambition to see her name in lights as a dancer takes her from him and who returns after descent to burlesque to join him at his newstand. Arthur Kennedy, as Cagney's brother, whose education in music he finances at a sacrifice to himself, is in the finale the one among the several who started in the slums and who secures his hold on fame. Those sections of the story which emphasise action, the boxing sequences, dancing sequences, a gang ride and other episodes of conflict, build a tension that holds through the performance of the symphony to the ending, where the sweethearts, separated, by their quest for fame, find peace and union in defeat.

In addition to the main picture, the Hawaiian film star, Mami Kaaimobu, appears on the stage. She gives her interpretation of "Lovely Hula Hands" to the music of her accompanist, Kamauna Hao. Momi iras the dancing star of the film "Waikiki Wedding." A Paramount News film, recently arrived, depicts amazing scenes of the early stages of Germany's attack on Russia, and also other amazing war scenes.

OXFORD—AVON Main feature at both the Oxford and Avon Theatres, "The Great American Broadcast," is both interesting and entertaining film fare. The story is linked up with the story of radio, from the first crystal sets of enthusiastic schoolboys to a modern hook-up broadcast celebrity programme. But it is also the tale of a girl who had two loves—in love with one of them and liking the other too much to hurt his feelings. The players are the stars of the now famous "Tin Pan Alley," and the picture contains much the same atmosphere. Alice Faye sings and acts up to her usual high standard, and Jack Oakie and John Payne • play opposite each other successfully as they both seek her favours. In addition, there is a wealth of variety acts with the Four Ink-spots, the Nicholas Brothers and the Wiere Brothers all showing out. Cesar Romero also enters in the romantic team with Mary Beth Hughes, who must be given full msyrks for glamour. Charlie Chan, with his host of queer sayings embracing typical Oriental philosophy, is the hero of the thriller "Dead Men Tell," which also screens at both theatres. The Chinese detective does it again—but only just—and for a time it looks as if he, too, is going to be put in a position where he can tell no tales. The two main films constitute an excellent all-round programme which should have a universal appeal.

"NEUTRAL PORT" PLAZA Captain Ferguson Will Fyffe British Consul (Mr. Carter) . Leslie Banks Rosa Pirenti Yvonne Arnaud Helen Carter Phyllis Caft-ert Jim Gray Hugh McDermott Director: Marcel Varnel (Gaumont-British). Timely, topical and a most "unusual comedy intermingled -with thrilling adventure of mural espionage is the all-British film, production "Neutral Port," starring Will Fyffe, Leslie Banks and Yvonne Arnaud in the chief roles, and whicfh (has commenced a season at the Plaza Theatre. I The film (has a settling in a neutral port called Esperanto, with Leslie Banks as the British. Consul and Will Fyffe, a determined merchant ship captain, who thinks of nothing ibut his ship. The declaration of war between England and Germany provides a graphic opening of tihe picture, which continues with engrossing scenes and a crackling narration paying a sustained tribute to the British naval resource and enterprise. The prosy, pugnacious Captain Ferguson (Fyffe) excels himself, and plays the part of a typical British sea-dog, who is out to get his revenge for the sinkinc iby the Nazi submarines of his beloved ship. His efforts seem to be doomed, for each time he "steals" a German ship as a reprisal, the submarinestorpedo her and Fyffe is landed in gaol for contravening the neutrality rights. His part is well supported by Yvonne Arnaud, scoring piquantly as the vivacious Rosa,, proprietor of the seamen's hotel, and who is determined to make Fyffe her fifth husband. The ensuing scenes are brimful of mirth, excitement and thrills. As the consul, Leslie Banks is the personification British competence and' resource. I hyllis Calvert provides the romantic interest as his daughter, in love with the consul s assistant, ably portrayed by Hugh McDermott, whose actions in assisting the British Government to combat the submarine mejace, adds to the film's interest. A thrilling scene of the Fleet Air Arm in action climaxes this splendid, programme, powerful in its patriotic appeal.

REGENT • F i',' st - rate m °dern comedy is provided in Paramount's "One Night in Lisbon," which is continuing a season at the Regent Theatre. War-time London $nd Lisbon are used as the setting for Fred Mac Murray's wooing and winning of Madeleine Carroll, but the war is only the background, much of the action taking place during sporadic bombings of London, and as one of the hero's lesser reasons for getting his conquest of the heroine completed forthwith. The emphasis on the urgency of this matter seems based on the theory that emotions quickened by war-time conditions include the amatory. Mac Murray plays an American pilot engaged in flying bombers to Britain, and Miss Carroll an English girl of the upper class, whom he meets in an air raid shelter and lays siege to immediately. John Loder portrays the formal British suitor who opposes the American's suit. The girl, serving her country as chauffeur for a statesman, obtains an aeroplane passage for Lisbon to meet the American before he catches the Clipper for home, but is given a letter to deliver which, unknown to her, is being used to decoy German spies. The statesman, the English suitor, the American's divorced wife and the spies all show up in Lisbon, making her bedroom something of a general crossroads, to her discomfiture, but it all ends as it should. As a comedy it depends upon dialogue and situation, now alternatively, now collectively, with the provoking of laughs its prime function in which it certainly succeeds.

"FORCED LANDING" MAJESTIC Dan Kendall Richard Arlen Johanna van Deuren Eva Gabor Andros Vanshek J. Carrol Naish Colonel Jan Colas Nils Asther Doctor's Housekeeper Evelyn Brent Chrls'jnas Mikhail Rasmuny Director: Gordon Wiles (Paramount). Also: "WEST POINT WIDOW." with Anne Shirley and Richard Carlson. A worthy successor of "Power Dive," Paramount'B "Forced Landing" met with an excellent reception from Majestic audiences when it opened its Auckland season yesterday. Even before the titles and credits are flashed on the screen, attention is attracted by a thrilling plane crash and assassination of the injured pilot as he struggles from the wreckage. The story that follows lives up to the opening and turns out to be an interesting tale of Fifth Column intrigue in an undefined Latin American country. An American pilot gets a job with the army of "Mosague," and then with an airline flying supplies to a defence construction job on the local Gibraltar. H? falls in love with the daughter of the Dutch construction engineer, but she, unfortunately, is engaged to an army officer who is really the leader of the Fifth Column movement. This movement hinders work on the defence project by killing the two previous pilots ferrying supplies and payroll gold to the construction site. After a series of exciting and entertaining adventures the climax is reached with an air battle. The film ends on a humorous note with everyone well satisfied.

Richard Arlen gives a splendid performance and, Eva Gabor shows unmistakably that her star is in the ascendancy. J. Oarrol Na»h, the native rebel general, and Nils Asther, the villain of the piece, also impress.

Also showing is the light comedy-drama "West Point Widow," a tale of the marital entanglements of one Nurse Nancy Hull, played by Anne Shirley. Others in a strong cast include Richard Carlson, Richard Denning, Frances Gilford, Maude Eburne and Janet Beecher.

CENTURY A film of character and distinction, the Gloria production "New Wine" is showing for a second week at the Century Theatre. Here is the music of Franz Schubert, climaxed by the St. Luke's choristers' eitiginjr of his "Ave Maria," brilliantly recorded in terms of narrative. Here is the life of Franz Schubert, its tragic shadows relieved by patches of accompanying humour, fascinatingly blended with his compositions. Here is, nevertheless, one picture, one entertainment, not two running alternatively, rich in appeal to eye, ear and intellect, a tribute to the production and ability of Williatn Sakely and his associate, Douglas Maclean. Heading the cast is Ilona Massey, beautiful singer who attracted much attention by her fine performance in "Balalaika." Schubert ia ably played by Alan Curtis, whose _ acting also leaves little to be desired in an exacting part. Of additional interest is the introduction into the film of the character of Ludwig von Beethoven. Albert Basserman surpasses himself in this role, making the character alive and convincing with subtleties of characterisation. These three fine dramatic performances stamp the film with an earnest appeal of its own. In sharp contrast are the comedy interludes. Binnie Barnes is delightful as a volatile but kind-hearted countess and draws more than her share of laughs, while Billy Gilbert as Poldi, Schubert's goodnatured landlord, is'also responsible for much of the humour. Gaiety and .pathos, earnestness and laughter, drama and beautiful music all have just the right amount of emphasis in this picture, whose appeal, though naturally greatest to music-lovers, is also strong to all who appreciate a well acted and produced film.

ST. JAMES' "Love Crazy," latest Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer vehicle for the humour of William Powell and Myrna Loy, is proving very popular with Auckland audiences at the St. James' Theatre, and is now in its third week. Hilarious slapstick provides most of the laughs, and the picture proves that the Powell-Loy combination is as funny in the field of physical comedy as in any other. The extremely funny situations, indeed, give more enjoyment than the intrigued chuckles usually drawn by smart dialogue. The domestic comedy begins when, for the sake of variety, a married couple decide to celebrate all aspects of their wedding anniversary in reverse. They begin dinner with the pudding until, through a series of unfortunate circumstances, including Powell's mother-in-law breaking her ankle during a visit, Powell is compelled to feign lunacy to delay divorce proceedings begun by his wife, who has been misled 'by a complicated situation. Powell's imitation o£ a lunatic keeps audiences roaring with laughter, which increases when he escapes from the asylum in which he has been incarcerated for giving too skilful a performance, dons feminine attire and in uproarious fashion evades all attempts by the authorities to recapture him. Miss Loy, alone, realises that he is acting, but the craziness of Powell's cavorting prevents her from convincing anybody. The loudest of the laughs greets an elevator sequence which, although pure slapstick, is so amusing that it has to be seen to be believed. Polish is added to the production by the performances of the supporting players, including Gail Patrick, Jack Carson, Florence Bates, Sidney Blackmer and Sig Rumann. Jonesy, a white cockatoo, also makes a brief but entertaining appearance. There is a supporting programme of varied and topical interest.

STRAND A bright and breezy programme at the Strand Theatre is headed by one of George Formby's most successful farces, "It's In the Air." George, who appears under his own name, is a young man with an ambition to wear a uniform. Any uniform would do in a pinch, but it turns out to be the natty trappings of the Royal Air Force which finally fill the bill. ,

His sister's fiance, who is a dispatch rider in the Air Ministry, calls at the house and leaves his uniform in Formby'B room when he changes his clothes. Such a temptation could not be resisted, and it does not take long for the clothes to dress the Formby person. An unaddressed letter is in the ipocket, so George thought fully goes with it to the address shown— the headquarters of the air force. This, of course, is simply looking for trouble.

Before he knows quite what has happened the "dispatch rider" finds himself involved in a host of amusing adventures and —incidentally—in love with the ser-geant-major's daughter. The daughter does*not mind a bit, but her father is less impressed. However, matters clear themselves up in a final brilliant piece of slapstick with Formby, who had never before left the security of solid earth, flying a new machine at the aerodrome before the admiring eyes of an official of the Ministry. As usual, George favours with several tricky musical numbers. He ends up with wings and the girl in the film, but there can be few among the audience with any hope for his future if his skill in the air, as illustrated, is any criterion.

A well-varied supporting programme includes a popular Popeye cartoon, air mail Paramount News with latest news from the world abroad, a particularly entertaining "short" by franky Masters and (his orchestra, and a Pabhe Pictorial survey of world affairs.

STATE A powerful story linked up with the growth of American oilfields, "Boom Town," new feature at tbe State Theatre, Symonds Street, has practically an allstar cast and a most successful Queen Street season to recommend it. This is the first suburban screening. Clark Gable and Spencer' Tracy are responsible for most of the action, commencing with a fistic encounter which has become a screen classic, and ending with a firm friendship which endures all trials and lasts for a decade. Taking the feminine leads are Claudette Colbert and Hedy Lamarr. both of whom rise to the occasion in splendid fashion. Frank Morgan heads the supporting cast. Also showing are a coloured cartoon and air mail newsreels. including shots of New Zealand troops abroad and several excellent sports features.

VOGUE | Having now played together successfully in several well-receivod films, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland need no recommendation to film fans. In "Andy Hardy Meet« a Debutante,'"' showing at the Vogue Theatre, they are better than ever. Dealing with the further fortunes and misfortunes of the beloved Hardy family, the story is well up to previous standards, and provides a good hour's amugement. Andy enters into society on this occasion and, as the title suasasta, becomes in•olved with one of the young hopefuls of the upper 500. It is to his old sweet- | heart, tuneful Miss Garland, that he? returns, however, in the end. a wiser—if not disocrnibly better —man. Second feature, "Jesse James" is a really well produced | tale of the life of the famous outlaw. | Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda interpret the parts of the James brothers to perfection, while Nancy Kelly and Randolph Scott also share in the exciting action which is well spiced with humour.

RADIO PROGRAMMES Highlights from to-night's radio programme* are as follow:— 15A—7.40 p.m.. Studio recital by the Carina Trio: «-0. Studio recital by Henry Reece (bass); 8.31. Studio recital by Julie Rushbrook (soprano); 10.10, Abe Lyman and his Calltornians. 2YA—7.45 p.m.. The Master Singers In melodhns memories; 8.35, "On the Black; on the . White": 8.37. "The Importance of Being Earnest": 8.43. "By Candle Light"; i-25. Make believe ballroom time. 1YX—7.45 p.m.. "Billy Bunter of Greyfrlars": BJO. "The Adventures of Marco Polo"; 9-30. Filmland memories. IZM—I.O p.m.. Sport results by Gordon Butter; 7.30. Orchestral music: 8.0. Dance music. Highlights from to-morrow's radio programmes are as follow:— ITA—7.O p.m.. Baptist Service relayed from the Baptist Tabernacle. Preacher: Dr. Alexander Hodge: 8.30. St. Hilda's Colliery Prise Band; 9.48. Doris Arnold's Kentucky Minstrels. 2YA—7.O p.m.. Roman Catholic service relayed from St. Gerard's Redemptorist Church: 8.30. The 8.8..C. Choral Society: t.rt. Freda Bamforth (soprano); 0.49. Browning Mummery (tenor). IYX—B.3O p.m.. 8.8.C. Symphony Orchestra: 8.48. Charles Panzera (baritone): 8.53. Mildred Dllllng (harp): 9.33. Conchlta Bupervl* (mezzo-soprano): 9.45. London Symphony Orchestra. "Belshazzar's Feast" Sibelius. IZM—7.O p.m.. orchestral music: 8.0. Concert: 9.0, "The Long Shieling OX the Misty Island" by A. J. Sinclair.