CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22678, 5 April 1939, Page 5

CITY THEATRES

STATE “THE COWBOY AND THE LADY” “The Cowboy and the Lady,” showing at the State Theatre, is a film of a very unusual kind, an exceedingly entertaining one, and an example of the best type of modern film production. Merle Oberon, who takes the leading feminine role, is a very popular star, and Gary Coopei. who plays opposite her, is no less so. , “Kentucky” The glorious tradition of an American state that has produced many of the world’s most famous horses inspired “Kentucky,” which will begin on Saturday at the State. New Zealanders, who, like Kentuckians, have the love of a thoroughbred and the thrill of the race game in their blood, will welcome “Kentucky,” which must take its place among the screen classics of the turf. ' If an audience nowadays can contain any person who has not yet attended a race meeting,' that person will learn in little more than an hour and a half just why the “sport of kings” grips and enthrals its devotees. “Kentucky” be faulted any-

where. It has a first-class story, it has intense excitement and fast-moving drama, it is notable for some superlative acting, and it builds up tb a climax in the famous Kentucky Derby, which cannot fail to move the most phlegmatic picture-goer. Filmed entirely in technicolour, “Kentucky” has some glorious scenes of the famous “blue grass” country where so many champion horses have been bred and trained. The luxuriant beauty of the country, the old-world elegance of its stately homes, and above all the sheeny coats of . the horses which are its pride, are shown in all their glory by the colour process. The acting of the principals is excellent, and there are a host of fine character actors in the less important parts. Walter Brennan, as Peter Goodwin, almost steals the honours; his is a really superb performance as the bitter and testy old man,'who is driven by two great forces —love of thoroughly eds and pride of house. The former oroves the stronger, and finally overcomes -the last obstacle to the happiness of two young people. CRYSTAL PALACE “WHILE NEW YORK SLEEPS,” “MELODY AND ROMANCE” The double-feature programme now showing at tne Crystal Palace provides exciting and varied entertainment. The chief film, “While New York Sleeps,” stars the popular roving reporter, Michael Whalen. The other feature in a good programme, “Melody and Romance,” is provided by Hughie Green and his gang with Margaret Lockwood, Jane Carr, and Alastair Sim. A flagrant miscarriage of justice that sends an innocent rancher to prison starts a series of exciting events in R.K.O. Radio’s “Lawless Valley,” starring George O’Brien, which will begin at the Crystal Palace on Saturday. .* -’!(-The story- presents tlie stJlwart star as a voung cattleman who is sentenced to the penitentiary for robbing a stagecoach, although he is entirely innocent of the crime.’ He is framed by a crooked sheriff and the two real criminals, and it is this trio of desperadoes whom -O’Brien seeks to expose when he filially is paroled from goal. Kay Sutton, Walter . Wilier, Fred Kohler, sen., and Fred Kolher, jun., appear in prominent supporting roles. The double feature programme will be completed by “Flight to Fame,” starring Charles Farrell and Jacqueline Wells. MAYFAIR “THE YOUNG IN HEART” The screen version of George Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” will conclude its long and successful Christchurch season at the Mayfair td-morrow. David O. Selznick’s latest success, “The Young in Heart,” will begin at the Mayfair on Saturday. Based on I. A. R. Wylie’s story, “The Gay Banditti,” “The Young in Heart” tells the lovable, laughable story of the Carleton family, who live by their wits and their charm and can boast of having been kicked out of only the best places from the Riviera to London. Father “Sahib” Carleton, an actor, whose family loyally support him in the preposterous myth that he is Colonel Carleton, late of the Bengal Lancers, is a role made to order for Roland Young. Charming twittering “Marmy” is played to the life by Billie Burke, and there are the two children George-Ann (Janet Gaynor), who has become engaged to a sober, wealthy young Scot, who sees through the family and says so; and Richard (Fairbanks, jixn.), who has hooked a girl rich enough to take care of the intire family for the rest of their lives. , CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED “Young Dr. Kildare.” starring Lew Ayres, Lionel Barrymore, and Lynne Carver, is at the Regent this week. “Marie Antoinette,” with Tyrone Power and Norma Shearer, will begin ° n “Theodora Goes Wild,” with Irene Dunne and Melvyn Douglas, is the chief attraction this week at the Tivoli. 41T4 . 4 _ At the Majestic this week , Its in the Air,” with George Formbjf, beads the programme. _ V . George Wallace in "Let George Do It” and Rin-Tin-Tin, jun. in’ Skull and Crown,” are the attractions at the Liborty \ At tlie Grand are Joel McCsea in “Banjo bn My Knee” and “Everything is Thunder,” starring Constancel Bennett. • i

CIVIC “THE MIKADO” “Prison Without' Bars” will conclude its season at the Civic Theatre tomorrow. Ever since the films were given a voice 10 years ago people have wondered when Gilbert and Sullivan operas would be brought to the world on the screen. Now at last it has been done, and it is fitting that the first to be produced as a film is “The Mikado,” the most popular of them all. This British film, produced m colour by Geoffrey Toye, the famous Covent Garden musical director of the d’Oyley Carte and Gilbert and Sullivan opera companies, is coming to tile Civic on Saturday. The film of “The Mikado,” seen at a preview last week, is a notable achievement as a spectacle as well as musically. Without colour, it _ could have given only a pale imitation of the Gilbert and Sullivan atmosphere, but the technicolour process enables the splendid costumes and decorative settings to achieve their full effect. But the spectacle is only part of such a show. The music is everything, and here the film is triumphant. The melodies are sung by an assembly ot singers such has never before been got together for a film. The leading players, all with years of Gilbert and Sullivan tradition behind them, sing the famous songs in a way that brings to life memories of famous performances of the past. They are backed by a chorus, every member of which is a highly skilled singer with the quality of voice that is insisted on in all Gilbert and Sullivan productions. As Ko-Ko, the tailor appointed executioner, whose love for Yum-Yum is the cause of most of the trouble, Martyn Qreen is excellent. He makes Ko-Ko just the sort of ridiculous and pitiable figure he ought to be. Then Sydney Granville makes an ideally pompous Pooh-Bah, with a fine voice, and a ponderously foolish air. John Barclay’s Mikado is a sardonically severe master. Jean Colin makes a lovely Yum-Yum and Constance Willis a delightfully funny Katisha—the characteristic Gilbert. and Sullivan “dame” part. Kenny- Baker in the important part of NankirPoo is an attractive young fellow, singing the famous tenor airs, notably “A Wandering Minstrel I,” with good effect PLAZA “BOOTS AND SADDLES” AND “YOUTH TAKES A FLING” •Over the Wall” and “The Missing Guest” will conclude their season at the Plaza to-morrow. Gene Autry, acclaimed as one of the most popular of singing Western stars, rides again in “Boots and Saddles,” which will begin at the Plaza on Saturday. Gene gives an excellent performance, with his usual catchy songs and his nonchalant manner. In the course of the production he reforms two horse-rustlers and a spoiled 10-year-old youngster as well. Assisted by an able cast, including “Smiley” Burnette, Ronnie Sinclair, Republic’s latest find, Judith Allen, and Guy Usher, it is no wonder that Genes latest picture has been eagerly awaited by hi*s legion of admirers. The poignant heartaches which conflicting ambitions may bring to reckless young love provide Universal s new dramatic hit, “Youth Takes a Fling ” with its motive force., Andrea Leeds and Joel McCrea are the stars in this film, which is also on the new programme at the Plaza. As the young Kansas farm boy who has dreamed for years of going to sea, and comes to New York seeking work on a boat, Joel McCrea has his most impressive role since “Wells Fargo. Miss- Leeds, in her portrayal of the romantic girl who sells wedding gowns and lives only for the day she herself will be a bride, is called on for the most versatile performance of tier career. REX, THEATRE The outstanding comedy, “There’s Always a Woman,” with Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas, and Prison Break,” starring Barton Mac Lane and Glenda Farrell, will be shown at the Rex Theatre, Riccarton, to-night and to-morrow at 7.30.

AVON

“GOLD DIGGERS IN PARIS” “St. Martin’s Lane,” one of the greatest films of Charles Laughton’s screen career, will conclude its successful Christchurch season at the Avon Theatre to-morrow. “Gold Diggers in Paris,” the latest and most elaborate of the famous Warner Bros, musical series, will have its Christchurch premiere at the Avon Theatre on Saturday. . Especially notable because it brings Rudy Vallee back to the screen after an absence of three years, “Gold Diggers in Paris,” fifth in the “Gold-Dig-gers” series, has a poke full of nuggets in the form of laughs, catchy tunes, spectacular dancing numbers, and, of course, pretty girls. Almost rivalling in importance the return of America’s prince charming of the air is the film debut of Freddie Fisher’s Schnickelfritz Band, a sextet of the maddest musicians who succeeded in wedding hilarious comedy to infectious music.

The story revolves about a silly mistake which only a Hugh Herbert character could make—and he’s the one who makes it, when, as a representative of the Paris International Exposition sent to engage America’s foremost ballet troupe to take part in a contest at the exposition, he gets into the Club Balle in New York, a very “hotcha” night club, and engages the equally hotcha chorus to represent America. The engagement with the substantial . advance payment, comes as a lifesaver to Rudy Vallee and Allen Jenkins, who have been operating the club at a loss, and they permit themselves and their chorus—the Gold Digger girls—to be transported free to Paris. ' Here dangerous complications- ensue when the true identity of the “ballet” troupe is disclosed, but everything ends happily when the chorus girls go on at the exposition.