CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23130, 20 September 1940, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

CRYSTAL PALACE

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME

With the war at sea taking much of the spotlight irj the present international conflict, the defence of the Panama Canal as “America's lifeline” assumes greater importance in the national scene. Keeping the Canal open is vitally necessary to the present naval strategy where most of the fleet is stationed in the Pacific, but must have immediate unhindered access to the Atlantic. With this timely situation as its basis, the 20th CenturyFox film, which begins to-day at the Crystal Palace, “Charlie Chan in Panama.” takes on real significance not only as entertainment but as an unusual insight into the canal zone’s battle to prevent sabotage. Stuart Erwin and Marjorie Weaver are featured in this hilarious domestic comedy by 20th Century-Fox, “The Honeymoon’s Over.” which js the supporting attraction. The film is chuckleful of incidents, accidents, experiences, adventures and no end of hearty laughs. Stuart realises “The Honeymoon’s Over” when ho can’t make the income come in faster than the outgo goes out, while Marjorie soon discovers the difference between- romance in an office and love in a cottage.

STATE

“ MY SON, MY SON ! ”

Starring Brian Aherne, Madeleine Carroll, Louis Hayward. Henry Hull. Josephine Hutchinson, Sophie Stewart, and Laraine Day. Edward Small’s film production of Howard Spring’s international best Roller, “My Son, My Son! ’ opens at the State Theatre to-day. Directed by Charles Vidor from the screen play written by Loonoro Coffee, “My Son, My Son!” is being released through United Artists. The story of “My Son. My Son! travels through several cities and country sections of England and covers a period of more than 25 years. Mr Small called in John Ducasse Schulze and explained that England would have to be brought to Hollywood. Schulze, in turn, put a corps of research workers to work to preserve the accuracy of every little detail of set construction and decoration. The result is that audiences will see the cast performing in settings that are minutely patterned after places which actually exist in Englimd. The typical English atmosphere engendered by “My Son, My Son!” was preserved for the screen through the expert camera technique of Harry Stradling. The producer borrowed Stradling from Gabriel Pascal, British producer, in order to insure a photographic effect thoroughly in keeping with the English quality of the 1 screen play.

MAYFAIR

“JOHNNY APOLLO”

Not since “Jesse James” has Tyrone Power had a role like that of “Johnny Apollo” in the 20th Century-Fox drama of that title, which stars him with Dorothy Lamour at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. “Johnny Apollo" is the name taken by a young college man, a banker's son, who turns gangster when the father he idolised is sent to prison and his wealthy friends turn against him. Dorothy Lamour is more alluring than ever as “Lucky” Dubarry, the hard-boiled night club entertainer who understands and loves the boy, no matter what he does. Edward Arnold is seen as the banker father: Lloyd Nolan plays Mickey Dwyer, the gangster whoso mob Johnny Apollo joins. Charley Grapcwin is cast as a tippling former judge turned underworld lawyer. and Lionel Atwill is scon as the banker’s lawyer, to whom Johnny appeals in vain for aid for his father.

CENTURY

The two films to be shown at the Century Theatre to-night will be Prter B Kyne's "Valley of the Giants" and "The Cisco. Kid and the Lady." starring Cesar Romero and Marjorie Weaver. The programme will begin at 7.30 p.m.

LIBERTY

“LITTLE OLD NEW YORK”

The “days when cows roamed Fifth avenue, when grog was a penny a swig and the Astors and the .Roosevelts were just starting on their way, return to the screen in “Little Old New York,” a robust, romantic and entertaining drama which begins at the Liberty to-day. Also on the programme is an unusually interesting newsreel, “The Battle for England,” brought to New Zealand by the American Clipper, which shows actual raids on the English ports, and a merchant convoy running the gauntlet with German divebombers attacking. Nazi aeroplanes are shown being shot down by the Royal Air Force, and their pilots are seen escaping by parachute. "Little Old New York,” a Darryl F. Zanuck production, features Alice Faye, Fred Mac Murray, Richard Greene, and Brenda Joyce, and includes Andy Devine, Henry Stephenson, and Fritz Feld. The film abounds in such fascinating elements as barefisted fights and weddings, .ships set afire, cracked skulls, kissed girls, dancing, grog, and song. There is a headlong, headstrong tempestuous love interest as well, with Alice Faye, as a barmaid, belle of the waterfront. The second feature is “City of Chance,” with Lynn Bari, C. Aubrey Smith, and Donald Woods.

AVON

“THE SECRET OF DR. KILDARE”

Excitement, mystery, and humour are the three chief ingredients of “The Secret of Dr. Kildare.” and they are cleverly mixed. Beginning its third week at the Avon Theatre, “The Secret of Dr. Kildare” makes more popular still the “Dr. Kildare” series, of which it is the third. Lionel Barrymore, as old Dr. Gillespie, has a part which suits him admirably, and the other stars are Lew Ayres and Helen Gilbert.

A millionaire consults Dr. Gillespie (Lionel Barrymore) about his daughter, who proves to be a problem case. She has a horror of seeing a doctor, so Dr. Gillespie assigns his assistant (Lew Ayres) to find out what is the matter with the girl, without her knowing that he is a doctor.

PLAZA

NEW DOUBLE-FEATURE BILK

In “Range War,” coming to the Plaza to-day, “Hopalong” Cassidy (William Boyd) comes riding to the aid of despairing ranchers . who are

trying to build a railroad ’ spur, which will make it unnecessary, for them to pay tolls for their cattle to cross the property of a greedy land baron on the way to market. George Archainbaud was the director of the Paramount comedymystery, “Opened by Mistake,” featuring Charlie Ruggles, Janice Logan, Robert Paige, and William Frawley. "Opened by Mistake” is the associate feature in this programme. It tells the story of a murder hunt and a hunt for a million-dollar. thief.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED

“Balalaika,” starring Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey, and Charles Ruggles is at the Regent. “The Four Just Men,” an unusual story of international intrigue, begins at the Tivoli to-day.

“Geronimo,” with Preston Foster, Ellen Drew, Ralph Morgan, and Andy Devine, begins at the Majestic to-day. “White Banners,” starring Claude Rains, Fay Bainter, and Jackie Cooper, and “The Return of the Cisco Kid,” begin to-day at the St. James. “Ali Baba Goes to Town,” with Eddie Cantor and Roland Young, and "My Dear Miss Aldrich," with Edna May Oliver and Maureen O’Sullivan, begin to-day at the Grand.

“BRITANNIA”

OPENING TO-MORROW NIGHT

“Britannia,” opening at the Theatre Royal to-morrow evening, will provide the theatre-going public of Christchurch with something new and brilliant in entertainment. Never before in the city has such a number of attractions been packed into a 22hours’ programme. This has only been achieved by months of painstaking preparation and careful. organisation. Brilliant stage settings,, gorgeous frocking, delightful harmony and rhythm •in the song and ballet numbers, and sparkling wit in the comedy numbers, combine with a high standard of stage craft on the part of the 500 performers to present to the public superlative entertainment. Patrons are specially asked to be seated by five minutes to eight as the curtain must go up at 8 p.m., and it is desired that nothing should mar the effect of the brilliant “Britannia” scene with which the programme opens. “Britannia” has been promoted by the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association to augment its fund for the assistance of soldiers serving in the present war after their return to New Zealand. The box plans are filling rapidly at the D.I.C.