CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22336, 25 February 1938, Page 5

CITY THEATRES

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-day. There are many hilarious situations In "Danger—Love at Work,” in which .Edward Everett Horton is featured Travelling to jhe North Carolina home of the Pemberton family to get their signatures to a power-of-attor-ney, Jack Haley moots Bonnie 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 ha to know this until too late? Besides, when ‘it was too late. Jack hjmself 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 t 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.

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-day at the Mayfair Theatre, required stars in the important leading roles whose performances would aid the unusual story in’;reflectrng 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 Ypung was chosen for the role of the wile, a woman with modern ideas, but not modern enough to share her hus-* band. Warner Baxter-, whose record of’ achievement in several past hits is . unparalleled, was the logical choice lor 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, s 2nd gifted Virginia Bruce was cast in i r °l® 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 ■ director, with Raymond Griffith as associate producer. The combined talents of Kathryn Scola, Darrell Ware, and Lamar Trotti were respon- : (ible for the brilliant screen play. 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. Decrma Norman is shown winning the 220 yards, and the Sydney launch tragedy is also shown.

avo^t “THE PRISONER OF ZENDA” i. • 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 • cas t ot sut 'h 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. It is richly imaginative, this story \ a Ruritanian king and his English double, who foils the schemes of plotters against the throne. And it is presented on the screen with a vigour that the novel cannot match. Rupert of Hentzau, for instance, is even more reckless and dashing a figure than he is in the book. So engaging a “rogue . does the younger Fairbanks make of him that one is almost sonry to see • his plotting upset by the even more | intrepid Rudolph Rassendyll \ ading as the weakling king. The life of thp Ruritanian court', too, is presented so vividly that it loses its mythical quality, and that notable duel between Rassendyll and Hentzau has a vitality that only a very fertile imagination could supply to it as told in the book, in spite of Hope’s ability as a story-teller. There is a do-or-die spirit about the picture* that makes it \ truly thrilling.

CIVIC ft “SCHOOL FOR HfJSBANDS” Two new pictures, a brilliiant comedy and an exciting mystery, will begin at • the Civic Theatre to-day. The'pictures are “School for Husbands* 1 and “Dusky Ermine/* “Schools ter Husbands/* which is a sophis- • ticated and polished comedy of -errors, has for its theme the volcanic effect which the advent of a fascinating young novelist of question- '■ able 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. Ini eluded in the cast are Henry Kendall. 5 Romney Brent, Rex Harrison, Diana ■ Churchill, and June Clyde. t ;.Much of the action in the Twickenham film, “Dusty Ermine," with Jane Baxter and Ronald Squire, takes place the Austrian Alps. Lovely scenes ■ s ho£, representative of the gay tnc m the snowy Tyrol, where a gang of crooks run a counterfeiting show. A hotel for ski-ers high up in the Alps jOnned one of the scenes actually made HJ’ the studios at Elstree. Here, among - v e .. hrightly-dressed holiday-makers, •-;'fPKhly dramatic action passes between forgers and the detective (Anthony >i/Swshell), who has followed the gang T *.'?)• "bstria; Andrew Mazzei, the art I* designed a beautiful set for rHfS* hotel sequences, and all the furni- . ? iH re Was built to his specification in .studio workshops. Scotland Yard V' solves a thrilling t mystery ' seems to the audience, which is Ww a high state of excitement, practically insoluble;

PLAZA “MIDNIGHT MADONNA” Midnight Madonna” will begin a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. “Who’s Your Lady Friend” will be shown on the same programme. -.“ Midnight Madonna” introduces to Christchbrch a remarkable new screen discovery, the four-year old Kitty Clancy. The principals in the cast are Warren William and Mady Corrcll. ls ? 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. * The widely discussed problem of the ability of a law court to decide which parent is better suited to take care of a child is frankly discussed in “Midnight Madonna.” In the story, the child, four-year-old Kitty, is made heir to a large estate. -This causes her father, Robert Baldwin, estranged from his wife, Miss Correll, to wage a court battle for her custody. Because the mother is a night club entertainer, and a friend of William, a big-time gambler, the court awards the child to the father, but the decision is reversed when William employs some novel means to show the court how it erred in judgment. “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.

STATE “VICTORIA THE GREAT” “Victoria the Groat,” the epic film story of the Victorian era, will enter to-day 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 intei-sting 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 powerT autocratic. but intensely human and loving. Sixty years of British history arc shown in the drama which ends on the triumphant note of the Golden Jubilee. Care has been taken to maintain the historical accuracy of the. film. Even the rising of the Prince Consort from what was his deathbed to revoke a dispatch sent to the Northern States by Lord Palmerston during the American Civil War has been included. 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.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED "The Emperor’s Candlesticks,” a story of two spies, will start a season to-day at the Regent Theatre. William Powell and Luise Rainer are 'in the featured parts. 1 , “Keep Fit,” a George fFormby comedy, will begin to-day at the Majestic Theatre. “The Awful Truth,” the comedy attraction, will enter on its fifth week in Christchurch at the Tivoli Theatre today. * Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, and Ralph Bellamy are the leading players. Warner Baxter, Fredric March, and Lionel Barrymore are the principal actors in “Road to Glory,” which will start to-day at the Liberty Theatre. Otto Kruger in “Counsel for Crime” is on the same programme. “Annie Oakley,” starring Barbara Stanwyck and Mclvyn Douglas, and “The Plot Thickens.” with Zasu Pitts and James Gleason, comprise the double feature programme which will begin at the Grand Theatre to-day.