CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21967, 16 December 1936, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

FAMOUS VAUDEVILLE STARS ON SCREEN

"SING/ BABY, SING" COMING

"RAMONA" SHOWING AT STATE

There are few occasions when a film which confines itself exclusively to the development of a love story is able to be sincere without showing some disfiguring trace of sentimentality, but in "Ramona," which is in its second week at the State Theatre, the producers have succeeded in presenting a charming romance. An unusually good comedy will begin at the State Theatre on Friday. "Sing, Baby, Sing," is one of the most amusing films ever to be shown in Christchurch. The stars are Ted Healy and Patsy Kelly, with Gregory Ratofl and Alice Faye, and the film introduces the Ritz Brothers, famous American vaudeville stars. There are four new song hits. The Ritz Brothers pop on to the screen within a minute or two of the beginning of the picture. They Teemerge at intervals all the way through. Their first song-dance-de-lirium number is probably their best. Their "line" is grotesque parody and inconsequential humour. One dresses up as Mr Hyde, another as Frankenstein's monster. They confront each other and burst into Mendelssohn's "Spring Song."

AVON

"THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS"

War-whoops, scalpings, forest and river skirmishings, with France and Britain at war in America in the eighteenth century, form a background to "The Last of the Mohicans," the screen adaptation of which is showing at the Avon Theatre. Technically, the film is a revelation of what the newer producers can do in reviving the appeal of such familiar material. The appeal of the film is not to be doubted. There is no relaxation of the tense atmosphere of conflict, tribal and national, from end to end; British and French regulars fight for possession of Fort William Henry, the French assisted by the Huron Indians—former deadly enemies of the Mohicans, whom they all but exterminated. Because of the restrictions placed on children, preventing th«m from assembling in large numbers, the management of the Avon has decided not to show "The Captain's Kid," which was to have begun a season on Friday. In its place "The Case of the Black Cat," starring Ricardo Cortez and June Travers, will be shown. This is a fine mystery comedy of the Detective Perry Mason series, by Erie Stanley Gardner. The doings of Detective Perry Mason are well known to readers of popular fiction, and already the film series has established itself as one of the most popular screen entertainments.

CRYSTAL PALACE

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

"Sins of Man," which is now showing at the Crystal Palace Theatre, is a fine dramatic film. The other feature is "Ealf-Angel," a mixture of thrill, romance, intrigue, and humour. Next Friday "Special Investigator," with Richard Dix, will begin.

MAYFAIR

"GIRLS' DORMITORY"

There is something very attractive about the film "Girls' Domitory," which is now showing at the Mayfau* Theatre, although its title is one that suggests a bedroom comedy rather than the pretty little story which it is. The film is an interesting study of love in a girls' school, but when it is seen that the school is a finishing school for young women and that the object of affection is no less dignified a person than Herbert Marshall, it can be realised that this is not merely a sentimental exposition of calf love. "Girls' Domitory" introduces a new and engaging little person in Simone Simon, a talented French actress who makes her first appearance in Hollywood productions.

CIVIC

"PRIVATE NUMBER"

"Private Number" is this week's attraction at the Civic. It has a simple theme, treated simply, with enough laughs and enough genuine heartthrobs to make the watching easy, ( and with at least half a dozen good people in the cast. A strong undercurrent of drama in the original story is managed with a restraining hand by the director in this film version. One of the most successful and most impressive films of the year, "Rhodes of Africa," will begin a return season in the city at the Civic on Friday.

OTHER THEATRES

"The Suicide Club," starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell, Frank Morgan and Reginald Owen, is now showing at the Regent Theatre. The feature now showing at the Tivoli Theatre is "The Three Godfathers," starring Chester Morris, Lewis Stone, and Irene Hervey. "Menace," starring John Lodge, and "Whoopee," starring Eddie Cantor, make up the double-feature programme at the Theatre Royal this week. "A Woman Alone" is the current film at the Plaza Theatre. The stars are Anna Sten, the Russian actress, and Henry Wilcoxon, an English star. "White Death," a film of fishing adventure, is this week's feature at the Majestic. The stars are Zane Grey, Nola Warren, and Alfred Frith. "G. Men," starring James Cagney and Margaret Lindsay, Is now showing at the Liberty Theatre, along with William Boyd in "The Eagle's Brood." "Four Frightened People," with Claudette Colbert and Herbert Marshall, and "Tillie and Gus," with W. C. Fields, are at the Grand Theatre.