CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22464, 27 July 1938, Page 4

CITY THEATRES

AVON “HER JUNGLE LOVE” Bay Milland and Dorothy Lamour head the cast of “Her Jungle Love,” which will begin on Friday at the Avon. The story deals with a romance between a handsome young aviator, whose aero,plane is wrecked on a lonely South Sea island, and a native girl, who has never before laid eyes on a white man. Probably no two stars in Hollywood are more often associated with tropical romance than Milland and Dorothy Lamour, he having recently appeared in “Ebb Tide” and she in “Hurricane.” In “Her Jungle Love” they are assisted by a cast of popular players, including Lynne Overman, who wise-cracked his way through “Night Club Scandal.” “Her Jungle Love” maks a continuation of the experiment which brought sucli success in “Ebb Tide,” of using technicolour to bring out all the exotic charm and beauty of a tropical background. But where “Ebb Tide” took place mostly in a ship, the setting of “Her Jungle Love” is exclusively a South Sea island which affords perfectly adapted material for colour photography. Three new songs, written by one of Hollywood’s best known teams, will be heard for the first time in “Her Jungle Love.” They are “Jungle Love.” “Coffee and Kisses,” and “Lovelight in the Starlight.” "You’re a Sweetheart,” starring Alice Faye, is at present showing at the Avon.

PLAZA

“AREN’T MEN BEASTS”

One of the most successful stage farces of recent times has been made into an unbelievably funny screen comedy, with Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton in their original stage roles, also heading the screen cast. "Aren’t Men Beasts” is the title of this entertaining film, which will begin at the Plaza on Friday. Robertson Haro is seen in his funniest role to date, as a little dentist who, through no fault of his own, finds himself involved in a scandal with a beautiful and mysterious foreign woman.

Alfred Drayton, the celebrated stage actor, is starred with Hare, and together they prove to bo the funniest comedy team since Stan Laurel met Oliver Hardy. Although Alfred Drayton has appeared in numerous films, this is the first time ho has proved himself a screen comedian of the first rank. His mannerisms and his bullying the pathetically down-trodden Hare, is comedy of'the most brilliant kind. Hare, too, long-recognised as one of the screen’s leading comedians, has found in Drayton his ideal screen partner.

Supporting the new comedy team, in addition to Billy Milton, are June Clyde, the vivacious stage and screen player. Judy Kelly. Ruth Maitland. Amy Vcness, Ellen Pollock, and other well-known players. In addition there will be shown at the Plaza a first-rate attraction has has yet to be announced. .The curl 'enl programme 'edmprise.The House of a Thousand Candles.” and “The Gentleman from Louisiana."

CRYSTAL PALACE

“FIGHT FOR YOUR LADY” AND “FOR THE SERVICE”

John Boles, Jack Oakie, Ida Lupino Margot Grahamc, Erik Rhodes, and' Gordon Jones head the large cast of favourUes who have a mirth field dav Jn Fight For Your Lady,” a now romantic comedy, with songs, which bcgnis at the Crystal Palace on Friday with ‘‘For The Service.” The story, an amusing collection of implausible but highly delightful incidents, is laid in Europe, with the action starting in London and progressing rapidly to Budapest. Boles depicts a love-sick wealthy concert singer, Oakie is his wisecracking pal and physical trainer, who undertakes to manage his love affairs as well, and both Ida Lupino and Margot Grahamc are ladies of the stage—the one of Budapest and the other of London.

The associate feature will be “For The Service,” starring Buck Jones. It is a story of the courageous scouts who gave their lives that the United States might extend from coast to coast. Savage Indians and white villains are confronted in Jones’ relentless fight,to save his captain’s son and serve his government. Clifford Jones, Beth Marion. Frank McGlvnn sen., Edward Keene, and Fred Kohler are in the supporting cast. The current programme presents “Tarzan’s Revenge” and “Too Many Wives.” J

MAYFAIR

“THE ADVENTURES OF

MARCO POLO”

The film “Marco Polo,” which is now at the Mayfair, makes excellent use of the romance and adventure of the legendary journey to China of a Venetian traveller in the thirteenth century. It does not pretend to be a literal chronicle historically correct in detail, but it is abundantly entertaining and spectacular, and many times creates novel effects that give vitality to the story. In Gary Cooper the film has a star who. as Marco Polo, takes his part with the laughing and romantic manner which made Douglas Fairbanks so popular in his prime.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

The cm rent programme at the Regent is headed by “There’s Always a Woman,” starring Joan Blondell, Melvyn Douglas, Mary Astor, and Frances Drake. Friday’s new programme will present Jeanette Macdonald in "The Firefly.”

“Wide Open Faces,” starring Joe E. Brown, is now at the Majestic. The associate feature is “Wings Over Africa,” with Joan Gardiner. “Sinners in Paradise,” starring John Boles and Madge Evans, will begin on Friday, together with “The Louis-Schmeling Fight” in slow motion. , “The Great Ziegfeld,” starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, and Luise Rainer, is now at the Tivoli..

“Cafe Metropole,” starring Loretta Young and Tyrone Power, and “Sally of the Regiment," with Wallace Ford and Anna Lee, are now at the Liberty. The new programme at the Grand presents “Secret Agent,” with Madeleine Carroll, and “Star for a Night," with Claire Trevor.

REX THEATRE

A double-feature programme, “To Mary With Love,” and “A Girl with Ideas” will be screened to-night and on Thursday and Friday at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton. Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy are the stars of the first dim.

CIVIC

“THE BARONESS AND THE BUTLER” Every now and again a film comes along that delights by its originality of story and freshness of threatment. Such a one is “The Baroness and the Butler,” which is now in its second week , at the Civic, and continues to draw good houses. This gay comedy should have many admirers. It has succeeded in catching the tone and flavour of an old regime suddenly confronted with a dilemma in which the self-effacing butler emerges as Prime Minister of his country and equal with his employers.