CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22376, 13 April 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

CITY THEATRES

AVON

* 888 TIDE **

One of the most successful colour fiW that have yet reached the screen is the first technicolour sea story, “Ebb Tide,” which will open on Saturday at the Avon Theatre. There has been no setting so far which sh iws itself so perfectly adapted to technicolour photography as the South Seas setting of this story by Robert V>uis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne. The lush tropical vegetation, the bright blue of Pacific skies, and the water shading of the South Pacific all needed to be filmed in colour, and in “Ebb Tide all their beauty is recorded to the best advantage . . . , “Ebb Tine” tells the .dory of four strangely assorted lives that are entangled on a little South Sea island and are separated at last by violence and murder in a forsaken trading post run by a cruel madman. . Oscar Homolka, who appeared in two English-made pictures ' Rhodes of Africa” aad “Sabotage,’ makes his American debut in "Ebb Tide” in auspicious circumstances, for the film proves to be an example of Stevenson’s best sea stories. . Barry Fitzgerald, formerly of the Abbey Players, makes the most of a generous role as the unscrupulous Cockney, and Frances Farmer is beautiful and most likeable as the girl who is stranded among desperate men. Ray Milland, who made a hit in “Easy Living,” plays the part of the derelict nobleman with charm and vitality. Although he is generally acknowledged as the crooner among crooners, Bing Crosby’s vocal feats are wisely not made the excuse for the story of “Double or Nothing,” which is now at the Avon Theatre, and those who like Mr Crosby should need no recommendation to see this film, for they will hear him in songs they will thoroughly enjoy.

MAYFAIR

** HAPPY LANDING *

Sonja Henie is given every opportunity to display her artistry as a skater in "Happy Landing." a musical romance, ranging in its settings from gay Norseland festivals to New York winter-time spectacles. This 20th Century Fox film, which was directed by Darryl F. Zhnuck, and which will open on Easter Saturday at the Mayfair, features also Don Ameche, Jean Ibersholt, Ethel Newman, and Cesar Komero. , ... „ It tells the story of a song-wntlng .band leader (Cesar Romero) who flies across the Atlantic for a publicity stunt and comes down in a Norwegian fogbank—almost in the middle of a folk festival known as a "Bride’s Fair. The custom which starts the trouble is a rule that if a young man dances twice with the same girl at the party, he has proposed. , , ~ „ The songs by Pokrass and Yellen include "Hot and Happy.” "A Gipsy Told Me.” "You Are the Music to the Words of My Heart.” and “Yonny and His Oompah.” While Sonja Henie swept in graceful'curves across the ice of the studio 1 rink in making the film, she took the entire camera crew for a sleigh-nde. Technical effects men actually contrived such a sleigh ride for the cameramen, because in this way, the motion picture audiences which see ’•Happy Landing" could really follow Miss Henie round the ice. An excellent insight into the Hitler regime is given in the "M 3 * 6 * l of Time" film on the supporting * Programme. which deals with Nazi Germany. seen from within. The title of the film now at the Mayfair, “Hitting a New High, might lead prospective patrons to believe that the new release is something to do with high-kicking dance artists. But it is far from that The new high is the thrilling high note of Lily Pons, talkie and opera star.

PLAZA

« TEXAS TRAIL ” AND * THIS

WAY PLEASE»

Those three comrades of the range. Hopalong Cassidy, Windy Halliday and Lucky Jenkins, bring a new exciting adventure story to the screen in Paramount’s “Texas Trail," which will Tome to the Plaza Theatre on Saturday, along with “This Way, Please. “Tcxds Trail/' one of tne most exciting films of this series, deals with the Spanish-American war penoa, when Cassidy is commissioned by the army to round up a huge herd of wild horses. Rustlers hear of the plan and try to steal the horses, overpowering Hopalong and his men while they sleep. But Cassidy fights his way out of the spot in one of the best battles ca his career, and joins the army to go to Cuba lifter completing his mission. The cast includes William Boyd, George Hayes, Russell Hayden, Judith Allen, and Alexander Cross. Mary Livingstone, Fibber McGee, and Molly, the radio comedians, make an auspicious screen debut in ‘This Way Please,” the other attraction. Conceived in the gay tradition which made "Waikiki Wedding,” “Turn Off the Moon.” and other musical comedies the hits of the year, "This Way, Please” gives a full portion of humour, melodies, and wholesome romance. The double-feature programme now at the Plaza Theatre is headed by “The Lady Fights Back ” an outstandingly entertaming romantic comedy. The other attraction on the programme, “Pride of the Marines, starring Charles Bickford and Florence Rice, has a story of quite an unusual kind.

STATE

m the HURRICANE **

The gripping realism of "The Hurricane,” which ia showing for an extended season at the State Theatre, alone makes it one of the most notable of films. The story has a South Seas setting. It was written by Charles Norahofl and J. N. Hall, on whose novels that verp successful film, “Mutiny on the Bounty, was based. Splendid acting and the able use of Hollywood’s vast technical resources have done the rest for a really g °The fi Btory is simple enough, but seems to have captured the imagination of theatregoers wherever the film has been shown. Terangi. the yoimg islander of Manukurua. the first mate on a trading schooner, who. through no fault of his. falls 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.

REX THEATRE

Thomas E. West, the outstanding New Zealand tenor, will appear at tue Rex Theatre. Riccarton, to-night and to-morrow night, on the eye of his departure to fill important engagements in Australia. . On the screen Paul Muni and Miriam Hopkins are starred m Thc Woman X Hove, • thrilling drama.

cmo

u THE SET’S THfi LOOT**

Jack Buchanaa returns to hafevo^ ite musical comedy in The Skrs me r ” nroduced by his own new unit He appears as a young aircra f„f“ l |„. er whose brilliance as an mventorfin aliy transports him from the room to the directorial cham nt his company. All the same, he has tone to induce two snappy,, new dance fashions, “Swing Madame” and “The Montreal. w _ rh _ r a Crnmanv who has invented a new type P of aeroplane in which the Air STS? trying to tale the credit for the mvenMkra Losseff. the lovely young Russian singer who will be seen m ttos country for the first time m The Skv’s the Limit,” was discovered for the screen by Jack Buchanan who, once again, has had his well-known success g in “talent-spotting”; tor,. apart from vivid beauty and a- glorious voice, his new find brings to , ‘he screen a personality already acclaimed on the Continental stage and a glamour for which is predicted World-Wide apPe |dgar Wallace’s novels and plays should be a happy hunting ground for the producer of motion pictures, and it is surmising that the extraordinary gepius s of this most prolific wnte L r . thrillers has not inspired more films of the type of “The Squeaker, which will finish at the Civic Theatre to-mor-row night.

CRYSTAL PALACE

« HAWAIIAN BUCKAROO ” AND « double danger **

Smith Ballew, the popular .cowboy has a part much to his liktog to the title role of ‘‘Hawaiian Buckaroo.” a healthy out-of-doors adventure film, which will head the Easter double-feature programme coming to the Crystal Palace on Saturday. U=cd in a Western picture for the ‘ first time, the setting of an isle of the Pacific prove* a splendid location for the vivid action of the jlory and the romantic singing of Ballew. On the trail of cattle rustlers the tall cowboy swaggers into trouble and fights his way out Excitement and romance abound in “Double Danger,” RKO Radio’s new mystery thriller, which will also start on Saturday. Preston Foster and Whitney Bourne head the cast of tms unusual film, which presents the popular "gentleman burglar” theme m a new form and with many unexpected complications. Instead of one of these suave persons in the film, there are.two. One of them is Foster, ostensibly a novelist who conceals his light-fingered activij ties under the cloak of writing mystery stories. The other is Miss Bourne herself a mysterious woman who manages to steal the famous Konjer diamonds and who in turn loses the priceless stones to Foster. Foster and Miss Bourne give brilliant performances in roles that call usual suavity and significance. Hindsas the persistent police official. Donald Meek as a jeweller, Paul Guilfoyle, Cecil Kellaway, Arthur Lake, June Johnson, and other players acquit themeslves finely under Lew Landers’s direction. “The life of the Party,” RKO Radio's latest musical comedy, is the chief attraction now at the Crystal Palace. The second feature of a bright programme is "Saturday’s Heroes,” which deal* with college football in America.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS,

LIMITED

Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy appear together again in “Maytime,” based on the operetta composed by Hunt Stromberg, which will begin at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. “London Melody,” with Anna Neagle, will be shown for the last time at the Regent to-morrow. One of the most popular musical films of recent years, “One Hundred Men and a Girl," in which Deanna Durbin heads a strong cast, will come to the Tivoli Theatre on Saturday. The present programme features “Night Must Fall,” with Robert Montgomery in the leading role. Caesar, the famous Hollywood dog star, will appear on the stage of the Majestic Theatre during the screening of a film in which he'appears. Trailing the Killer,” booked to begin on Saturday. Also on the coming programme is “No Time to Marry,’ ( with Richard Arlen and Mary Aston Easy Living,” an amusing comedy starring Jean Arthur and Edward Arnold, will finish to-morrow night. A Wodehouse comedy, “Thank You, Jeeves!” and a romance, “To MarjWith Love,” make a double attraction at the Liberty. Arthur Treacher .s Jeeves and David Niven plays Bertie Wooster. Myma Loy and Warner Baxter are co-starred in the second picture. . , A double-feature programme is. also being presented at the Grand. The Law in Her Hands” is packed with action, and “The Black Mask” is a thrilling mystery play.