AMUSEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 287, 4 December 1941, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

"THEY MET IN BOMBAY" ST. JAMES* Gerald Meldrick Clark Gable Anya von Durea Rosalind Russell Captain Chan? Peter Lorre Duchess ol Beltravere Jessie Ralph The Oeneral Reginald Owen Inspector Cressney Matthew Boulton Director: Clarence Brown (M.c.M.) An abundance of action, clever dialogue, flashes of humour and a suspenseful story characterise "They Met in Bombay," which met with unqualified approval by audiences at the St. James' Theatre, where the film commenced a season yesterday. Although at bottom the plot is a variant of the one about the two jewel thieves, a he and a she, who at first compete for possession of a gem and then form a partnership which progresses from the professional to the romantic, the film by no means falls into the conventional rut. Clark Gable and Rosalind Russell are, as always, sound in their characterisations, with Gable somewhat more to the fore than Miss Russell. Other players are sharply subordinated, although Peter Lorre, Jessie Ralph and Reginald Owen turn In polished jobs of work in the minor roles.

As the title hints, the principals meet in Bombay on Empire Day. Both aim to steal the "Duchess of Asia," a highly valuable trinket • possessed' by the Duchess of Beltravers" (Jessie Ralph). By combined effort they manage the main part of the contract, but are forced to flee together on a tramp steamer to Hong**ere Gable, impersonating a British Army offlcer, is caught up in a clash of arms with Japanese troops and performs so valiantly as to be awarded the Victoria Cross by a grateful sovereign—after which he Is arrested by Scotland .Yard in connection with the Jewel robbery. He manages to escape, But fits better nature, never very deeply submerged, emerges in the final reel to provide an ending satisfactory to all parties. ♦i.&IHi 0 H g , h th ® stor y may sound "a bit thick, it is easier to take than a synopsis might suggest, and is, in fact, dealt with witS ? gy re , a listic manner. The clash with Japanese troops is a timely piece of direction and carried out dashingly in Lancers 0 " reminlscent of the "Bengal "Ghost Treasure" is a highlight on the well-varied supporting programme. ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

H.M. THEATRE—"The Quaker Girl.'* CIYIC SQUARE—Amusement Park. CTVlC—Robert Yoim« and Randolph Scott tn western uiilon. MAJESTIC— Ellen Drew In "The Parson Of Town" " Lloyd Nolftn 111 "Buy Me That ST- —£!" rk Gable and Rosalind Russell In They Met In Bombay." EMBASSY— Charles Boyer and Olivia da Havliland in Hold Back The Dawn." PLAZA—"Target For To-nlghf and Basil Radford In "Crooks Tours." *WDiT—Bob Hope and Dorothy Lam our In "Caught in the Draft." STRAND—Elisabeth Bergner and Michael Redgrave in "Stolen Life." CKN Jt'*Y—.Msrle oberon and Alan Marshal in Zjdlft. ■OXY—Bela Lugosi' In "Devil Bat" and Ruby Keeler in "Sweetheart of the Campus." OXFORD—Victor McLaglen In "The Black Watch" and Jane Withers in "Golden Hoofs." PRINCESS—-' 'Topper Returns" and "Accent On i Love. PRINCE EDWARD—"Cowboy From Brooklyn" and "Inside Information." REGAL—"Mad Miss Manton" and "Peek's Bad Boy With the Circus." REGENT (Epsom)—" Lady Hamilton" and "The Farmer s Daughter." BIALTO—"Santa Fe Trail" and "Hurry, Charlie, Hurry. STATE (Symonds Street)—"A Woman's Face." STATE (Devonport)—"Great American Broadcast" and "Stranger on the Third Floor." TIVOLI—"DeviI Bat" and "Sweetheart of the Campus." STATE (Onehunga)—"Gaucho Serenade" and "They Met In Argentina." STRAND (Onehong a)—" Night Work" and 'Dance, Charlie, Dance." TUDOR—"He Stayed For Breakfast." VICTORIA—"Drums of the Desert" and "I Married Adventure." VOGUE—"Alexander's Ragtime Band." VICTORY (Green Lane) —Opening To-morrow. AVO .?t, , (Newton)—" The Black Watch" and •'Golden Hoofs." AVONDALE—"Virginia City."

ASTOR—"Nice Girl" and "Mutiny in the Arctic." I ADELPHl—"Gasbags" and "Sleepers West" AMBASSADOR—-"Dr. Kildare Goes Home" And "The Lady's From Kentucky." BRITANNIA—"it All Came True" and "San Francisco Docks." BERKELEY (Mission Bay)—" Night Ol January 16." | CAPITOL—"The Face Behind the Mask" and "Pride of the Bluegrass." CRYSTAL PALACE—"Santa Fe Trail" and "Hurry. Charlie, Hurry." DE LUXE—;"No Time For Comedy" and "Saint's Vacation." GREY LYNN—"Whispering Enemies" and "Missing Daughters." NEW ROYAL—"Over the Moon" and "A Little Bit Of Heaven." BADIO PROGRAMMES 1YA—7.35 p.m.. The Master Bingers: 8.43, "When Dreams Come True"; 8.25, Btudio concert by the Auckland Artillery Band; 10.10, Dance music. 2YA—7.45 p.m.. Rainbow Rhythm; #.28, Harold Williams (Australian baritone); 9.45. Ravel: "Daphnis and Chloe," Suite Symphonlque; 10.1, "The Masters In Lighter Mlood"; 10.30, . Repetition of Talks from the Boys Overseas. IYX—7.O p.m.. Alter dinner music; 8.0, Chamber music; 8.13, Klrsten Flagstad (soprano); 8.37. Charles Panzera (baritone); 8.0, Classical recitals. IZM—7.O p.m.. Sports Talk: Bill Hendry; 7.35, Orchestral recordings; 8.0, Concert; 8.0, Oldtime Dance.