CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22335, 24 February 1938, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR “WIFE, DOCTOR, AND NURSE” One of the year’s really exceptional motion pictures, “Wife, Doctor, and Nurse,” sparkling Twentieth CenturyFox romantic drama starring Loretta Young, Warner Baxter, and Virginia Bruce, which will open to-morrow at the Mayfair Theatre, required stars in the important leading roles whose performances would aid the unusual story in reflecting the mood of to-day. Such an assignment necessitated careful consideration in choosing capable stars to portray the important characters. Because of her past successes, Loretta Young was chosen for the role of the wife, a woman with modern ideas, but not modern enough to share her husband. Warner Baxter, whose record of achievement in several past hits is unparalleled, was the logical choice for the part of the doctor who loves his wife but also needs his nurse. To share starring honours with Miss Young and Baxter, blonde, beautiful, and gifted Virginia Bruce was cast in the role of the nurse whose valuable assistance is so intimately a part of the doctor’s life. Featured in the strong supporting cast are Jane Darwell, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Cass, Minna GombelL and Margaret Irving. Walter Lang is the director, with Raymond Griffith as associate producer. The combined talents of Kathryn Scola, Darrell Ware, and Lamar Trotti were responsible for the brilliant screen play, i Also showing is the special Fox Australian newsreel showing the second series of the Empire Games, and the race in which Roberts was placed first by the judges, allegedly by mistake. Decima Norman is shown winning the 220 yards, and the Sydney launch tragedy is also shown. The current attraction at the Mayfair is “The Toast of New York.” It has for a background the financial giants who dominated the economic and industrial growth of the United States in the years immediately after that country’s emergence from the Civil Wap

CRYSTAL PALACE DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME A new double-feature programme, “Danger—Love at Work,” and “Roll Along, Cowboy,” will begin at the Crystal Palace Theatre to-morrow. There are many hilarious situations in “Danger—Love at Work,” in which Edward Everett Horton is featured. Travelling to the North Carolina home of the Pemberton family to get their signatures to a power-of-attor-ney. Jack Haley meets Bennie Bartlett, child-prodigy member of the family. Bennie has a genius for making himself a pest, and getting Jack in trouble with his beautiful sister, Ann Sothern. Many amusing incidents arise. Jack has met Ann on the train, and when he arrives he is considered the latest in Ann’s string of fiances, despite all his protestations that he is a lawyer anxious to have them all sign a document. True, the hapless Jack was a marked man the moment Ann laid eyes on him, but how was he to know this until too late? Besides, when it was too late, Jack himself was anxious to get Ann to the altar, if only to get away from her family. Smith Ballew, cowboy singing star of Zane Grey’s “Roll Along, Cowboy,” has recorded more than 5000 phonograph records during his musical career. In his new picture he sings three new song hits, “Stars Over the Desert,” “Roll Along, Ride ’Em, Cowboy,” and “On the Sunny Side of the Rockies.”

Boyhood days of Ballew were recalled by him with the filming of “Roll Along, Cowboy.” Although he was born and raised on the plains of

Texas, Ballew’s recent years have been spent as orchestra conductor and radio singer. He combines riding, singing, and adventure in this new production.

“There Goes the Groom,” starring Burgess Meredith, and “Melody of the Plains.” with Fred Scott, are the current attractions at the Crystal Palace.

PLAZA “MIDNIGHT MADONNA” “Midnight Madonna” will begin a season at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. “Who’s Your Lady Friend” will be shown on the same programme. “Midnight Madonna” introduces to Christchurch a remarkable new screen discovery, the four-year-old Kitty Clancy. The principals in the cast are Warren William and Mady Correll. It is a powerful story of a mother’s struggle for the possession of her baby in the face of a hostile society poisoned against her. The film was produced by Paramount. “Who’s Your Lady Friend?” is a delightful comedy. It is described as being delightfully different from others and a little daring. Betty Stockfield and Margaret Lockwood have leading parts. Now at the Plaza Theatre is “Sophie Lang Goes West,” which is notable for an atmosphere of excitement. There is swift action and intrigue in the picture. Gertrude Michael again takes the role of Sophie Lang. The other film is “The Headline Woman,” wI::-.-h stars Roger Pryor, with Heather Angel playing opposite him.

AVON “THE PRISONER OF ZENDA” A picture which should prove to be easily one of the most successful yet shown there is now being presented at the Avon Theatre. It is “The Prisoner of Zenda,” the film based on the book by Anthony Hope. Those who have treasured memories of the book will be hypercritical if they find fault with the presentation of the story. As to the acting, there is nothing to be desired. The inclusion in' the cast of such names as Ronald Colman, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., C. Aubrey Smith,’Madeleine Carroll, Raymond Massey, David Niven, and Mary Astor should be a sufficient guarantee of talented acting. It is hard to allot the honours of acting. Colman with a dual characterisation has the most to do, and it is possible only to admire everything he does.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED "The Emperor’s Candlesticks,” a story of two spies, will be the next attraction at the Regent Theatre. William Powell and Luise Rainer are in the featured parts. “The Merry-go-round of 1938,” starring Alice Brady and Mischa Auer, is now showing. “Keep Fit,’’ a George Formby comedy, will be the next attraction at the Majestic Theatre. “The New Adventures of Tarzan,” and Jack Holt in “Outlaws o| the Orient,” are on the current programme. “The Awful Truth,” the comedy attraction, will enter on its fifth week in Christchurch at the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow. Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, and Ralph Bellamy are the leading players. Ambrose and his orchestra in “Soft Lights and Sweet Music,” and the comedy, “It Can’t Last Forever,” starring Ralph Bellamy and Betty Furness, are showing at the Liberty Theatre. A double-feature programme is at the Grand Theatre. The pictures are James Cagney in “The Frisco Kid,” and Barton McLane and June Travis in “Bengal Tiger.”

CIVIC “SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS’’ Two new pictures, a brilliant comedy and an exciting mystery, will begin at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. The pictures are School for Hus bands” and “Dusky Ermine.’ Schools for Husbands,” which is a sophisticated and polished comedy of errors, has for its theme the volcanic effect which the advent of a fascinating young novelist of questionable morals has on the ‘ lives of two young married wives whose husbands have begun to take their unerring fidelity for granted. It is a clever and sparkling comedy full of piquant humour and delicate situations. Included in the cast are Henry Kendall, Romney Brent, Lex Harrison, Diana Churchill, and June Clyde. Much of the action in the Twickenham film, “Dusty Ermine,” with Jane Baxter and Ronald Squire, takes place in the Austrian Alps. Lovely scenes were shot, representative of the gay life in the snowy Tyrol, where a gang of crooks run a counterfeiting show. A hotel for ski-ers high up in the Alps formed one of the scenes actually made in the studios at Elstree. Here, among the brightly-dressed holiday-makers, highly dramatic action passes between the forgers and the detective (Anthony Bushell), who has followed the gang to Austria; Andrew Mazzei, the art director, designed a beautiful set for the hotel sequences, and all the furniture was built to his specification in the studio workshops. Scotland Yard finally solves a thrilling mystery which seems to the audience, which is kept in a high state of excitement, practically insoluble. George Arliss gives another fine display in “Dr. Syn,” the current attraction at the Civic Theatre. The romantic atmosphere of the eighteenth century is interwoven in the picture, which is an excellent melodrama, distinguished by splendid, acting.

STATE “VICTORIA THE GREAT” “Victoria the Great," the epic film story of the Victorian era, will enter to-morrow on its fourth week at the State Theatre. This story of deep human interest and humour has as its background the majesty and pageantry of a great nation during its most glorious and interesting period. The intensely human side of Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert of SaxeCoburg is emphasised in detail, and is an affair of the heart that appeals by its deep sincerity. Victoria is, of course, the central figure in the drama, and the Queen’s own diaries have been used in the story. “He addresses me as if I were a public meeting,” she once complained to her private pages. This episode is portrayed by a sly touch of humour. Victoria is first shown when; as a girl queen, she is awakened at night to a realisation of her great destiny. She is passing through the first intoxication of her power, autocratic, but intensely human and loving. Sixty years of British history are shown in the drama which ends on the triumphant note of the Golden Jubilee, The programme includes a special Fox Australian short of the Empire Games. One item shows the controversial placing by the judges of Roberts. Decima Norman is shown winning the 220 yards race, and there is a picture of the Sydney launch tragedy.