CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22370, 6 April 1938, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

AVON “ DOUBLE OR NOTHING »» A freak will, which sets Bing Crosby, the task of doubling £SOOO. winning a fortune and the girl in 30 days, is the subject of “Double or Nothing,” Paramount’s new comedy which is coming to the Avon Theatre on Friday. The girl is Mary Carlisle and her problem is finding a way to reconcile love with duty. Martha Rave goes mad and Andy Devine and William Frawley, in the supporting cast, are not far behind. A singing band under Bing Crosby’s baton, Martha Raye at her funniest, together with the hilarious doings of comic Andy Devine and William Frawley, are all pooled for the mad 30-day race to a fortune. The story relates how Axel Clark, an eccentric millionaire, leaves a will which calls for the throwing away at random of 25 purses, each with a 100 dollar bill and an address on it, to test the public’s honesty. _ Four of these • are returned by their finders. Lefty Boylan (Bing Crosby), Liza Lou Lane, “Half Pint,” and Pederson. They are surprised to learn that each is to receive 5000 dollars reward for his honesty, and that if any of them succeeds in doubling this sum within 30 days, he is to win 1,000,000 dollars. If not, the money goes to Jonathan Clark, Axel’s brother. “Souls at Sea,” now in its third and final week at the Avon Theatre, is one. of the most realistic and spectacular films seen by Christchurch audiences for many months. The dramatic story is acted by. a notable cast with Gary Cooper and George Raft in the leading roles. There are also Henry Wilcoxon and Frances Dee. Actual history is used in the production which has for a setting the'.slave trade in the early years of the last century. CIVIC « THE SQUEAKER ” “The Squeaker,” Edgar Wallace’s popular detective novel, is realistically adapted in the film version, which will begin a season at the Civic Theatre on Friday. The stage play ran in London for more than two years, and the success of the picture is assured by the excellence of the cast, which includes Edmund Lowe, Ann Todd, Sebastian Shaw, and Stewart Rome. This is a London Films production and the producer was Alexander Korda. Recognised as one of the most brilliant stars attached to the British studios, Annabella. the beautiful actress which the Civic Theatre introduced in “Wings of the Morning,” is just as popular in “Dinner at the Ritz,” which is now in its third week at the same theatre. The gaiety of Paris and Monte Carlo provide the setting of the picture. Annabella is the daughter of a wealthy banker of Paris.

MAYFAIR “HITTING A NEW HIGH” • Lily Pons gives one of the most delightful performances of her screen career, which already includes several notable films, in her latest picture, “Hitting a New High,”' which will begin a season at the Mayfair Theatre on Friday. Also starred is Jack Oakie. Seven songs, ranging from operatic arias through classic “novelty” tunes to sparkling modern numbers, are sung by the beautiful diva, who is supported by such favourites as Eric Blore, Edward Everett Horton. John Howard, Eduardo Cianelli, and Luis Alberni. Altogether, “Hitting a New High” is rated as the funniest as well as the most melodious of the famous soprano’s films Aided by the best supporting cast she has ever had, Jane Withers, the versatile child star, gets up to her antics in a Western town. Mesa City, in “Wild and Woolly.” the Twentieth Century-Fox film, which will end at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. STATE “ the HURRICANE ” The. atmosphere of the South Sea Islands, which has attracted the writers of so many romances, is realistically captured in “The Hurricane, one of the most gripping films shown in Christchurch for some time, which is now showing at the State Theatre.' . Terangi, the young islander of Manukurua, is the first mate on a trading schooner, who, through no fault of his, fans foul of the law and is imprisoned. Attempts to escape bring an extension of his imprisonment, but at last he breaks free, accidentally killing a guard. How he escapes his pursuers makes an enthralling story that is brought to a climax when a hurricane strikes the island of Manukurua where he lives. CRYSTAL PALACE “THE LIFE OF THE PARTY” AND “SATURDAY’S HEROES” How a, girl evades marriage to an unwelcome suitor by declaring she is already married results in hilarious consequences in “The Life of the Party,” which will begin at the Crystal Palace on Friday. Gene Raymond and Harriet Hilliard provide the love interest in the film, which also includes six noted comedians, Joe Penner, Parkyakarkus, Victor Moore, Helen Broderick, Franklin Pangbom, and Billy Gilbert. “Saturday’s Heroes,” the other feature on the new programme, is a romantic comedy, which stars Marion Marsh and van Heflin. The double feature programme which will finish at the Crystal Palace to-morrow, contains two comedy successes. Heading the bill are the famous Ritz Brothers, whose clever buffoonery enlivens “Life Begins in College.” “Change of Heart” is a delightful comedy-romance, in which Gloria Stuart and Michael < Whalen take the principal parts.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED Anna Neagle’s latest film, “London Melody,” which stars also Robert Douglas and Tullio Carminati, will begin at the Regent on Friday. "Night Must Fall,” a murder mystery, with Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell, is now showing. Jean Arthur is the star of the comedy, “Easy Living,” the coming attraction at the Majestic. An amusing comedy, “Can You Hear Me, Mother?” featuring Sandy Powell, will finish tomorrow. “Parnell,” a historical film, starring Clark Gable and Myrna Lqy, is the current attraction at the Tivoli- It was transferred from the Regent Theatre. ••Midnight Menace,” starring Charles Farrell, and “I Cover the War,” featuring John Wayne, are the attractions at the Liberty. “The Private Secretary ” with Edward Everett Horton in the lead, and “Way Down East,” starring Rochelle Hudson and Henry Fonda, is now being screened at the Grand.-

PLAZA THEATRE DOUBLE-FEATURE - PROGRAMME A happy combination of pathos, humour, romance, and stirring military pageantry make “Pride of the Marines,” which will begin at the Plaza Theatre on Friday, one of the most diverting comedy-dramas of the new season. “Pride of the Marines” features Charles Bickford, Florence Rice, and little Billy Burrud in a rollicking, joyous tale of a brawny marine who adopts a 10-year-old - lad and brings him to the military post to live. Filmed entirely at the United States Marine Base in San Diego, the film presents Bickford as the gruff Sergeant Steve Riley, a Marine who would rather fight than eat. A mile-a-minute romance interspersed with sparkling dialogue and situations is a fair description of Universal’s new comedy hit, “The Lady Fights Back,” the other feature on the coming programme. Given lavish production, and a fine cast headed by Irene Hervey and Kent Taylor, the picture moves through a swift series of comic and romantic adventures. Irene Hervey, as Heather McHale, pretty girl manager of a millionaire’s fishing club, is well cast and gives a performance that establishes her in the new role of comedienne. “Thunder Trail,” a Zane Grey western thriller now at the Plaza Theatre, recaptures all the old thrill and a little more. There is another feature on the programme, which will finish to-mor-row—a film story of a terrible flood disaster. “On Such a Night” gives Grant Richards his important debut in big film work. REX THEATRE “The Awful Truth.” an hilarious comedy co-stasrmg Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, will start a season of three nights at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton, to-night. Mainly responsible for the comedy is Irene Dunne, whose deft clowning as Lucy Warriner excels her “Theodora” for laughs. So sure are her antics in playing opposite Cary Grant, that it is hard to imagine her admirers ever letting her return to her stately film past.