CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22446, 6 July 1938, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

AVON “THE BUCCANEER” Cecil B. DeMille has used the broad panorama of the war between Great Britain and the United States, in 1812 as background for his Paramount film, “The Buccaneer,” which is coming to the Avon on Friday. Fredric March is cast as the famous pirate chief, Jean Lafitte, whose love for a belle of old New Orleans, Margot Grahame, and her country, the struggling young United States, makes him join with General Andrew Jackson in the defence of New Orleans against the British attack. The film is panorama of a crucial period in history, showing the burning of Washington, the Louisiana of the picturesque Creole days, arid the defence of New Orleans by General Jackson. , March is seen as a pirate who turns out to be a hero when he realises that, his adopted country, the United States, is in 1 - danger of destruction. His sweetheart, Margot Grahame, a New Orleans belle, stimulates his patriotism by insisting that he become respectable before their marriage. Although he helps Jackson win - the battle of New Orleans, he loses both his respectability and his sweetheart when the secret gets out that his men destroyed the American merchant ship Corinthian, on which Margot’s sister and= many other prominent citizens were passengers. With Jackson’s aid, March escapes and goes into exile on his flagship, Raven. Franciska Gaal, the only survivor of the Corinthian, whom he has fflade his maid-of-all-work, goes with him, and on the deck of the ship he realises for the first time that she is the girl he really loves. In the supporting cast are Akim Tamiroff, lan Keith, arid Walter Brennan. < DeMille soared no effort to make this production an overwhelming spectacle, in keeping with the theme of the infant republic fighting for its life fcx “bring the crucial days of the war of History on a broad canvas, convipcing heroes and heroines, and mass 'i scenes jf unusual splendour unite to 1 make “The Buccaneer” the greatest ; Production of DeMille’s career, k „ Marie Walewska,” starring Greta I v»arbo and Charles Boyer, is at prev Bert snowing at the Avon.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

The current programme at the Regent ? r .%? r ’k er t Taylor and Eleanor Powell *'! Broadway Melody of 1938.” The “■ai has a lavish supporting cast of entertainers and comedians. Beg. Borrow or Steal.” starring f /-‘l* .Morgan, and “Flight into No--0610 ’ starring Jack Holt, are now J -.the Majestic. “Penitentiary,” tarring Walter Connolly, will begin °n Friday. Tv About Music.” starring Deanna fra and He'-bert Marshall, has been Fansferred to the Tivoli. Gail Patrick also prominent in the film. / oonja Henie, the popular skating star a with Don Ameche in “Girl in Million.” which is now at the Lib.The second film. “Qff to the A++ features the Jones family. >• r „ the Grand the current programme “36 Hours to Kill." starring "o°? la Stuart and Brian Donlevy, and iS .Lights and Sweet Music." with and his orchestra.

Somewhere there is someone who som.«?i“ ething you need or needs y° u have. Read and- use p s ess ” Classified Want AdverSb words Is, 3 insertions

CIVIC

“LOVE AND HISSES”

Walter Winchell, one of America’s most popular and most versatile newspaper columnists, and Ben Bernie continue the film feud which has made them famous in “Love and Hisses,” Twentieth Century-Fox’s new musical, which begins at the Civic' Theatre on Friday. Additional entertainment will be provided by the stage appearance of Tom Robson’s Band.

The fight in “Love and Hisses” is about pert and saucy Simone Simon, the Marseilles-born Parisienne who makes this her debut as a singing comedienne. With Joan Davis playing her usual role of the girl who clowns with her knees and her elbdws, and Bert Lahr as her lover and henchman tc Ben Bemie, ample scope is given to the subtle Americanisms and humour of -the two leading i’men. Dick Baldwin is the young man who eventually wins the fair Simone, ■ When Ben Bernie*, tries to interest Walter Winchell in his hew protege, Simone Simon, fresh from Paris, with a view to, getting some of the advertising which Winfchell could put over the air for him in his daily broadcast. his hopes are shattered. Wishing always to get the better of his friendlv rival. Winchell puts over the air the most adverse criticism of the new “find” conceivable. Simone’s rise tc fame and glory is quickly checked, but Bernie conspires with his colleague Bert Lahr and soon she is independently "discovered” by Winchell who plans for her a tremendous publicly campaign unaware of her identity or of her 'connexion with Bernie. Ruth Terry, a 16-year-old singing discovery with a rich contralto voice sings one of the songs by Gordon and Revel. “Broadway’s Gone Hawaii-” ■ At present showing at the Civic are “The Lilac Domino.” starring Michael Bartlett, and “The Sky’s the Limit ’ starring Jack Buchanan.

CRYSTAL PALACE “FATHER O’FLYNN” AND “QUICK MONEY” “Father O’Flynn,” a romantic Irish story, begins at the Crystal Palace on Friday, with “Quick Money.” The stars are Tom Burke, Jean Adrienne, and Robert Chisholm. The story of “Father O’Flynn” concerns the love of Macushla, the daughter of a rather shady former army officer, and Nigel, son c' Sir John Robinson. Because of the girl’s family history, Nigel’s father does not approve of the match. These difficulties are made worse when the father turns up, deceives everybody, and carries off Macushla. In the end everything is straightened out by Father O’Flynn. In “Quick Money” there is a happy blend of romance, comedy and fast action. The film, which stars Fred Stone, tells a lively story about small town politics and an attempted raid on the community treasury, which is frustrated only after Stone, as Mayor, incurs the enmity of almost the entire population. ,' Gordon Jones and Dorothy Moore are seen in the romantic leads. Berton Churchill has a featured. part, as the city “slicker,” Sherwood Bailev and Dorothy Vaughan appear as members of Stone’s family, and Paul Guilfoyle, Harlan Briggs, and. Frank M. Thomas have important parts. . The plot centres on Stone, as Mayor, and Barton Churchill, a native .son who returns after a prolonged absence Churchill claims that he is a financial wizard and that he has amassed a fortune. , _ , , At present showing at the Crystal ■’alace are “Island in The Sky” and “You Can’t .'eat Love.”

MAYFAIR

“THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER”

Both extremes of acting experience are represented in the cast of the technicolour production, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” which begins the Mayfair on Friday. Tommy Kelly, the 12-year-old star of the film, has had no previous acting experience whatsoever. May Robson, who plays Aunt Polly in the picture, which is directed by Norman Taurog, with Jackie Moran and Walter Brennan, has been in the theatre 54 years. She made her debut on September 17, 1883, as Tilly in the stage production. “The Hoop of Gold.” Tommy was discovered as a Bronx school boy by talent scouts who had tested, viewed or interviewed more than 25.000 boys looking for an unknown to play Tom Sawyer in the Selznick production of the Mark Twain classic, which is released through .United Artists Tommy Kelly is the typical American boy who recreates “Tom Sawyer.’ Jackie Moran is Huckleberry Finn, May Robson is Aunt Polly. Walter Brennan is Muff Potter,. Ann Gillis is Beckv Thatcher. Injun Joe is played by Victor Jory, Micky Rentschler is Tom Sawyer’s friend Joe Harper, and his half-brother, Sid Sawyer, is played by David Holt. “Hawaii Calls,” starring BobbBreen, is at present showing at the Mayfair.

PLAZA “HITCH-HIKE LADY” AND “STATE POLICE” I John King and Constance Moore have the leading roles in “State Police.” which heads the double-feature programme running at the Plaza Theatre this week. The efforts of the police to put an end to a new development in racketeering form the subject of this film and the story is a sensational, but not an improbable, one. “Hitch-Hike Lady,” which is being shown in conjunction with “State Police,” provides excellent entertainment also. Alison Skipworth has the leading role of a widowed mother living in England, whose son, as she thinks, owns an orange farm in America wher. actually he is an inmate of the San Quentin Penitentiary.

REX THEATRE, RICCARTON Another outstanding programme will be screened at the Rex Theatre tonight, to-morrow night, and on Friday. “Love is News,” with Tyrone Power. Loretta Young, and Don Ameche in the chief roles, and “Flight From Glory,” starring Chester Morris. Whitnev Bourne and Onslow Stevens are the two attractions,