CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

CRYSTAL PALACE “RAWHIDE” AND “MAID’S NIGHT OUT” Hard hitting, revolver shots, and cowboy melodies are combined in “Rawhide,” which begins to-day at the Crystal Palace with “Maid’s Night Out.” Smith Ballew, as a fighting attorney, and Lou Gehrig as a fighting baseball player, - pit themselves against 23 of the most dangerous characters of the West in “Rawhide.” By arrangement with Christy Walsh, “Larrupin’ Lou” drops his baseball spikes for spurs, trades _ his bat for a revolver, and moves his thrills to the West. When racketeer rustlers begin to cause trouble, Gehrig shows exactly how hard he can hit. The story deals with bare-fisted adventure and fast action in the rough Arizona cattle lands. To the tune of rollicking range ballads, Lou Gehrig, the baseball idol, and Smith Ballew, the singing cowboy, go into partnership to destroy the most dangerous band of range racketeers ever to invade the west. Evalyn Knapp, Arthur Loft, and Si Jenks are also featured in the film. In “Maid’s Night Out” Joan Fontaine and Allan Lane have the leading roles. This comedy derives much of its mirth from the mistaken identities involving the two principals. Lane is the amateur milkman, whose gruff, selfmade father insists on his learning the milk business before he will allow him to take the family yacht to Tahiti for his marine investigation. One of the conditions of the agreement provides that Lane must not capitalise the family name. When he meets Joan Fontaine doing housework at her luxurious home, he assumes she is a servant girl, an assumption she maintains for the fun of it. On this groundwork are built up the novel ramifications of the plot.

PLAZA “FOLLOW YOUR HEART” AND “RECKLESS LIVING” In “Follow Your Heart,” which begins to-day at the Plaza with “Reckless Living,” Marion Talley, the famous coloratura-soprano, has the leading feminine role, opposite Michael Bartlett, America’s handsome young tenor, who scored such a sensational success as Grace Moore’s singing partner in “Love Me Forever.”

Of special interest is the mixed chorus of dancers assembled and directed by Larry Ceballos, celebrated screen impresario. They appear in several numbers in support of Marion Talley and Michael Bartlett during the production of the musical romantic “Magnolia” sequence, which is one of the features of the film. “Reckless Living,” a story of love and adventure on the race track, presents Robert Wilcox and Nan Grey in the chief parts. It tells of the endeavours of Danny Farrell to make enough money to enable him to return to his home town. Like the rest of his friends who all live in the same boardinghouse, he is broke. A further complication is that he is in love, and the girl seems to favour someone else.

MAYFAIR “HAWAII CALLS” The story of “Hawaii Calls,” which begins at the Mayfair to-day, follows the adventures of Bobby Breen and his Hawaiian friend. Pua Lani, two boys who have earned their living on the streets of San Francisco. They make their way to the Hawaiian .Islands as stowaways. Befriended by Ned Sparks, the ship’s musician, the boys escape from the ship at Honolulu. The singing of Bobby Breen is a feature of this picture during which he is heard in six songs, including classic favourites of Hawaii, and also such new hits as “Hawaii Calls,” "Down Where the Trade Winds Blow,” and “That’s the Hawaiian in Me,” all specially written for the picture. The music is unusually haunting, being supplied by Raymond Paige and his orchestra, who are featured, in addition to numerous native musicians.

Cmc “45 FATHERS” With Jane Withers in the lead, and a new combination —the Hartmans, famous as Ventriloquists and satirists of the dance—in support, “45 Fathers,” which begins at the Civic to-day, promises unusual entertainment. The film also features Thomas Beck and Louise Henry. A -group of millionaires draws lots to determine “which lucky man is going to have his life brightened by this sweet little girl,” and then they call for help as Jane starts throwing things round and the ventriloquising Hartmans start throwing their dancing, voices, and discretion to the winds. The screen play by Frances Hyland and Albert Ray, based on a story by Mary Bickel, first finds Jane with the Hartmans aboard a vessel bound for New York, where she is to be adopted by the members of a millionaire explorers’ club, of which her father was a member. A series of hilarious situations results when the inseparable trio, after arriving in New York, find their way to the club, where the solemn members are thrown into an uproar as Jane goes wild.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED Mae West handles a political campaign like a veteran - in Paramount’s “Every Day’s a Holiday,” which will open at the Majestic Theatre to-day. She is supported by Charles Winninger and Edmund Lowe. “Cloistered,” which deals with life in a convent, will begin at the Tivoli to-day. The film is a reverent treatment of an unusual theme. “Rainbow on the River,” starring Bobby Breen, and “Silent Valley,” with Tom Tyler, will begin at the Liberty to-day. "Love on a Bet,” starring Gene Raymond and Wendy Barrie, and “We’re Only Human,” with Preston Foster and Jane Wyatt, will begin at the Grand to-day. “Mad About Music,” starring Deanna Durbin and Herbert Marshall, is proving very popular at the Regent, and its season is being extended for another week. Gail Patrick is also featured in the film.