CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 7

CITY THEATRES

CIVIC « THE SQUEAKER ” Although he died in 1932, Edgar Wallace is still one of the most w/delyread authors. His novels retain their position among the leaders in the bestselling class, and lan Hay’s dramatisation of “The Frog’’ was one of the biggest successes of the London stage this year. Now Alexander Korda has made “The Squeaker,” one of Wallace’s most popular plays, into a film. It will begin to-morrow at the Civic Theatre.

The story, a detective thriller in the best Wallace tradition, deals with a despised figure in the underworld who gives information about his accomplices to the police. Edmund Lowe was brought over from Hollywood to star in the Korda production and has a colourful role as a clever police inspector who is nearly ruined by an over-fondness for drink. But his brilliant handling of “The Squeaker” case restores' him to official favour.

There is a strong cast in support, headed by Sebastian Shaw, Ann Todd, Tamara Desni, Robert Newton, Alastair Sim, and Stewart Rome. With his suave and polished manner, there is no actor in films more eminently suited to the role of a detective than the popular Edmund Lowe, and his performance in "The Squeaker” is superb. The story deals with the return to the portals of New Scotland Yard of a detective (Edmund Lowe), who several years before had had to resign. His return is in the nature of a trial —he has to atone to the authorities for his past misdemeanour by bringing to justice a man who for montns has been bringing off some of the most daring jewel thefts in the city, and known to the police and the underworld alike as the “Squeaker.” A man high in public opinion, the “Squeaker” does not undertake the robberies himself, but calls on known criminals to do the tasks. Actually he is a receiver of stolen goods,, and the fact that he knows the identities of the men he employs, whereas they do not know who he is, enables him to obtain the stolen jewels from them at a paltry price. When a charge of murder is found against him the arms of the law, under the charge of the detective-on-trial, reach out and he is eventually trapped into making a confession. i The acting is superb and the love interest is supplied by Ann Todd. Handsome Sebastian Shaw, who scored opposite Miriam Hopkins in “Men are Not Gods,” scores again in this film. Ann Todd, the beautiful and gifted blonde Korda “find,” is splendid, and Tamara Desni, the Russian beauty, is dazzlingly lovely as a night club star. 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 will be Anally shown at the Civic tonight. The gaiety of Paris and Monte Carlo provide the setting of the picture. Annabella is the daughter of a wealthy banker of Paris. STATE. t* THE HURRICANE ” The gripping realism of “The Hurricane,” which :s at the State Theatre, makes it a notable film. With the South Seas for a setting, the story is full of interest—it was written by Charles Nordhoff and J. N. Hall, on whose novels that very successful film, “The Mutiny on the Bounty,” was based—and splendid acting and the able use of Hollywood’s technical resources have done the rest. The names of Jon Hall and Dorothy Lamour who have been given the leading roles, will not mean much to many theatre-goers, but there is - a guarantee of good acting with the inelusion of C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, and Mary Astor in the cast. But Jon Hall and Dorothy Lamour show that newcomers to the films can sometimes be quite as convincing in their acting as those who have proved their reputations over a long period. Certainly there can be no fault found with the acting in this picture. MAYFAIR « HITTING A NEW HIGH ” Lily Pons, as delightful an actress as she is a singer, and the ( comical Jack Oakie, are the stars of Hitting a New High,” a musical comedy and romance, which will begin Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. It is saia to be one of the most entertaining films of Lily Pons’s career. Seven songs, ranging fr °i? ° arias through classic novelty tunes +n «!narkline ■ modern numbers, are sung by the beautiful diva, who is supnnrted bv such favourites as Eric Blore, Edward Everett Horton John Howard. Eduardo Gianelli.and L Alherni Altogether, Hitting a mew wish” is rated as the funniest as well £'lL mSt m.taliou. of the tohtous SO SSS’b “hi best has.ever bed Jane W.thers the Sa ViSs Western town. Mesa City. and Woolly,” the Twentieth fllm w y hich .will end at the Mayfair Theatre to-night. CRYSTAL PALACE «THE LIFE OF THE PARTY” AND “SATURDAY’S HEROES” n np +he gayest musical comedies of thl year is the main feature on the programme beginning to-morrow at the Crvstal Palace—“ The Life of tne Party,” which stars the new romanUc S 3; irf diverting » girl evades marriage to an unwelcome suitor by declaring that she is alr6Also in the picture are six noted comedians, Joe Fenner Parkyakarkus, Victor Moore, Helen Broderick, Franklin Pangborn, and Billy Gilbert. ~ „ With its opening scenes laid on a streamlined train and the rest of th_ action occurring in the striking settings of an ultra-modern hotel in Santa Barbara, California. “The Life of the Party” offers a distinct departure from the usual type of musical comedy .entertainment. Six song hits are featured in this RKO Radio picture, which was directed by William A. Seiter, Tackling the problem of whether college football players should frankly admit they are professionals or continue their masquerade as amateurs, ‘‘Saturday’s Heroes,” which is the other film on the coming programme, is a timely contribution to an interesting topiq. Marian Marsh, opposite, van Heflin, supplies the romantic interest. The story is mainly concerned with the reaction of a particular player to the system of paying off athletes in scholarships and dish-washing jobs while the universities build expensive stadiums and libraries from the receipts. The double-feature programme which will finish at the Crystal Palace tonight comprises “Life Begins in College,” with the Ritz Brothers, and “Change of Heart,” a delightful com-edy-romance, in which Gloria Stuart and Michael Whalen take the principal narts.

AVON «DOUBLE OR NOTHING ” There is novelty of plot which gives ample scope for the skill of Bing Crosby in “Double or Nothing,” Paramount’s new comedy, which will open a season at the Avon Theatre to-mor-row. In the story of the film, Bing Crosby, through a freak will, is set the task of doubling £SOOO, winning a fortune and the girl in 30 days. The girl is Mary Carlisle and her problem is finding a way to reconcile love with duty. Martha Raye goes mad and Andy Devine and William Frawley, in ths 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,” which will finish to-night 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. PLAZA THEATRE DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME All the elements which go to the making of a successful film story are contained in “Pride of the Marines, a most diverting comedy drama, combining pathos, humour, romance, and stirring military spectacle, which will head the programme beginning at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. “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 him 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 tine cast headed by Irene Hervey and Kent Taylor, the picture moves through a swift series of comic and romantic ad lrene Ur Hervey, as Heather McHale, pretty girl manager of a millionaires 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 ?keatre. recaptures all the old thrill and a httle more. There is another feature on the programme, which will finish to-nignt —a film story of a terrible flood disaster. “On Such a Night gives Grant Richards his important debut in big film work.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS LIMITED

Anna Neagle’s latest film, “London Melody,” which stars also Robert Douglas and Tullio Carminati, will begin at the Regent to-morrow. 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, wili finish tobe transferred from the Regent, “Night Must Fall” will begin a season at the Tivoli to-morrow. The present attraction is “Parnell, with Clark Gable and Myrna Loy. The programme to begin at the Liberty is made up of ‘ Thank You Jeeves.” a Wodehouse story, featuring Arthur Treacher, and “To Mary With Love,” in which the stars are Myrna Loy and Warner Baxter. “Mid-, night Menace,” with Charles Farrell, and “I Cover the War,” with • John Wayne, will end to-night. “The Law in Her Hands,” starring Mary Lindsay and Glendq Farrell, and “The Black Mask,” an exciting mystery story, comprise the programme which will begin to-morrow at the Grand. “The Private Secretary” and “Way Down East” will have their final screening to-night.