CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22358, 23 March 1938, Page 9

CITY THEATRES

MAYFAIR

‘FIFTY-SECOND STREET”

Tile scene ’Of New York's night-club life, with its talented array of entertainers, is presented in sparkling fashion in Walter Wanger’s “52nd Street,” which is coming to the Mayfair Theatre on Friday. Swing bands and comedians, eccentric dancers and singers, all gleaned from the 600-foot strip of 52nd street that is filled with night clubs, contribute their specialties to the first screen Story of America’s only swing street. This array of talent, which comprises Broadway and Hollywood’s finest, is woven into a sparkling romance, which combines all the mad swirl and colour of night life,, with a story of compelling interest. It was directed by Harold Young from a screen play by Grover Jones. The dance numbers were staged by Danny Dare and Walter Bullock, and Harold Spina contributed the songs and musical hits. It is released through United Artists.

Full of amazing exploits in Berlin during the Great War, “Lancer Spy,” which is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre, is chiefly notable for the meritorious performance of its principals and for the capable manner in which it was produced. In the cast ef unusually able players. George Sanders is outstanding.

STATE

“A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS”

In his latest film, “A Damsel in Distress,” showing at the State Theatre this week, Fred Astaire has shown that he can carry a picture through to success on his own. Fred Astaire. George Burns, and Gracic Allan make a team which can get the most out of the whimsical humour of the author P. G. Wodehouse.

It is not a musical comedy, so frequently and so easily, spoilt by spectacles, choruses, modernistic marble floors and stage. Astaire concludes with an eccentric drum dance, the only one of his numbers which could in the least be called artificial. Joan Fontaine has charge of the romantic side of the film, and her success is equal to that of the comedians. There is nothing in the film that anyone could wish altered.

REX, RICCAKTON

A very fine double-feature programme will be screened at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton, to-night, Thursday, and Friday, commencing at 7.45. One picture is Sir J. M. Barrie's captivating stage comedy “Quality Street,” featuring Katharine Hepburn and Franchot Tone, and the associate feature is the laughter special, “Pepper,” with Jane Withers, “Slim” Sum- , inerville, and Irvin S. Cobb.

PREMIER, NEW BRIGHTON

Tlie popular film. 'TOO Men and a Girl,” is having an extended season at the Premier Theatre, New Brighton, and will be shown to-night and on Thursday. Deanna*Durbtn is the star and she is supported by Leopold Stokowski and his orchestra.

CRYSTAL PALACE

“BIG TOWN GIRL”

Anything can happen to a girl m a big city, and for Claire Trevor everything happens at once in the Twentieth Century-Pox film, “Big Town Girl,” which will open at the Crystal Palace Theatre on Friday. ' Hiding from her husband, a bank robber (Alan Baxter), who has escaped from prison and wants her to flee with him, Claire Trevor disguises herself and finds work singing at the music counter of a store. She meets Alan DinehaTt, a press agent, and her_ subsequent adventures arouse the curiosity of Donald Woods, a reporter. The story comes to a climax with Claire, Woods and Baxter meeting in a tense, danger-laden situation. The Jones family will also be seen in their new film, “Borrowing Trouble.” The new Wheeler and Woolsey comedy. “High Flyers,” is now showing at the Crystal Palace Theatre. It contains a great deal of merriment and action.

PLAZA

“THE PRISONER OF ZENDA”

Acclaimed by enthusiastic audiences, the film, “The Prisoner of Zenda, is now in its fifth week in Cnnstchurch, having been transferred to the Plaza Theatre. An adaptation of the well-known story by Anthony Hope—a story set in picturesque surroundings—the film has been produced by David O. Selznick so well that even the most ardent of Hope’s admirers have no fault to find with the adaptation. Artistic direction has. in fact, added to its screen appeal as a story, and it has by no means suffered from distortion, as so often hapP< The cast includes Ronald Colman, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Raymond Massey, Madeleine CarrolL C. Aubrey Smith, David Niven, and Astor.

CIVIC

“DINNER AT THE RITZ”

Acclaimed as the most naturaßy beautiful actress on the screen at the moment, and received as one of the British studios’ most brilliant stars, Annabella is seen in a brilliant background of opulence and beauty in the gay cities of Paris and Monte Carlo, in “Dinner at the Ritz,” now showing at the Civic Theatre. . In this film she acts with a quiet, light touch of efficiency th*t is in keeping with her natural manlier. It boueatlv be said that her third oicture is the equal if no 4 the superior of her earlier achievements. Her moods are directed by the intricacies of a delightful story, containing equal measures of drama, romance. and comedy.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

The brilliant historical film, Parnell.” featuring Clark Gable and Myrna Loy, will open at the Regent Theatre on Friday. “Dead End, starring Sylvia Sidney and Joel MeRac. is now showing. . . Stanley Lupino and the original London stage cast will appear in Over She Goes." opening at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. Another feature beginning the same day WI R be “Trapped by G-Men. ’ ‘ Bulldog Drum-

AVON

“SOULS AT SEA”

The vivid background of slave-trad-ing during the early ye rs of the last century is made the of in “Souls at Sea.” one of the most spectacular films produced for a long time, now showing at the Avon Theatre. The scenes at sea, with their climax in the sinking of a clipper ship are sufficient in themselves to make the picture an outstanding attraction. But it is not a film which relies on spectacle only for its appeal; the dramatic story is brilliantly acted by a large and distinguished cast, which is headed by Gary Cooper and George Raft, and which includes Henry Wilf'oxon and Frances Dee.

The film opens with a trial scene, in which a young man (Gary Cooper) is charged with the murder of a number of people during a shipwreck. Cooper’s trial for manslaughter is based on the trial of the captain of the famous packet William Brown, a trial which caused heated controversy on two continents when it took place at Philadelphia in 1842- Henry Hathaway, who produced “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” went chrectly to the newspaper files of the Philadelphia “Public Ledger” for first-hand testimony of the survivors of the William Brown.

mond Comes Back” and “She Asked For It” are now showing. Featuring Robert Young and Florence Rice, “Married Before Breakfast” is now showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Pinkie Tomlin apoears on the same programme in “Sing While You re A *Ari exciting Hopalong Cassidy story, “Hills of Old Wyoming,” is showing at the Liberty Theatre. Rita Hayworth and Charles Quigley are the principal players. “The Shadow,” a story of mysterious happenings at a circus, is also showing. . ~ , _ „ Starring Edward Arnold and Sally Ellers, “Remember Last Night” is at the Grand Theatre. Also showing is “Stormy,” featuring Jean Rogers and Rex, king of wild horses.