CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23262, 24 February 1941, Page 2

CITY THEATRES

LIBERTY " FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT " Alfred Hitchcock's excellent drama, "Foreign Correspondent," is now at the Liberty, afte- a successful season at the State. Joel McCrea and Laraine Day are among the stars in the cast. The players. Joel McCrea, Laraine Day. Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, and Harry Davenport, are not the first stars of Hollywood. But their playing in this film is as highly successful as anyone could wish; with first-class ohotography and clever direction, they have helped to make. "Foreign Correspondent" a film to remember with great pleasure. The associate feature. "So You Won't Talk?" is a comedy in which Joe E. Brown takes two roles, one of a meek book reviewei known as "Whiskers," cid one of a gangster leader, Brute Hanson, newly released from prison. PLAZA THE "DEAD END KIDS" The famous "Dead End Kids" are the chief stars in the main film at the Plaza this week. Their individual nan»2S— Billy Halop, Muntz Hail, Gabriel iJell, and' Bernard Punsly—are known to very few film fans. They are famous as a team of boys, and it is as a team of boys that they appear in their latest picture, "You're Not So Tough," which is showing at the Plaza. They have a leader who is adopted by an Italianborn woman now farming in the States; he brings along his gang—they have all been in prison together—and after a good deal of trouble he make' them work for their living. The associate features are a crime drama, "Dangerous Fingers," and the final chapter of "The Green Hornet." CRYSTAL PALACE A GENE AUTRY FILM The Western favourite, Gene Autry, is again to be seen at the Crystal Palace this week with his horses and his henchmen, Frog, Buddy, and Pete. The team is this time seen saving a goldmining town trom the evil clutches of men who try to sell off gold claims at fabulous prices, knowing them to be worthless. There is plenty 01 fast action n this stirring film, which is called "Man From Music Mountain." Featured in the cast are Smiley Burne.tte, Carol Hughes, Sally Payne, and Ivan Miller. The associate feature, "Glamour for Sale," shows the dangerous methods adopted by detectives to find out the truth behind one of the illegal "Escort" bureaus in America. Those who ts*ce part in the hazardous action in the film are Anita Louise, Roger Pryor, June Mac Cloy, and Frances Robinson. Don Beddoe plays the part of the criminal in chief. AVON •< FOUR WIVES '* "Four Wives," the successor to "Four Daughters," presented by • Warner Brothers, is showing at the Avon Theatre this week. Claude Rains, as Adam Lemp, the grand old musician is still the loving father of four daughters, but he laments the fact that he has four granddaughters, when he did so want at least one grandson. Aunt Etta (May Robson) again rules the house with a witty tongue and a kind heart. But the story .niefly concerns Ann, Kay, Tnea, and Emma. Ann (Priscilla Lane) is the widow of Mickey Borden, who was killed in "Four Daughters." Kay (Rosemary Lane) is just as carefree and heartfree as ever until young Dr. Forrest (Eddie Albert) comes along. Thca (Lola Lane) is happily married to wealthy Ben Crowley (Frank McHugh). while Emma (Gale Page) is Mrs Ernest Talbot. STATE "I WAS AN ADVENTURESS" A splendidly arranged film is now showing at the State, with the famous American ballerina. Zorina. in the star role. This is "I Was An Adventuress." a film with a story that includes adventure, humour, danger, and romance. It might be supposed, from a precis of the story, that the tale is far-fetched and fantastic. But this is not so. There is humour in every one of the wicked situations in which the three jewel mieves—Zo.ina. Erich von Stroheim. and Peter Lorre—meet to transact their most cunning business. These three devise schemes to fleece unwary millionaire travellers; but one such happens to be young and handsome (Richard Greene), and Zorina falls in love. The result makes an amusing story and an entertaining film. MAYFAIR " A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT " The dramatic theme of "A Bill of Divorcement," which is being screened at the Mayfair Theatre this week, is interpreted with such finished acting and presented with such excellent C holography that it should be seen y all those who do not wish to miss examples of screen art at its best. This film is based on a stage play which will be known by some Christchurch theatregoers. It was written after the last war. and deals with the problem faced by a woman when hereditary madness in her husband is brought out by shell shock. It is a dramatic subject which, when given careful treatment, provides full opportunity for study of- character. The stars are Maureen O'Hara, Herbert Marshall, Dame May Whitty, Fay Bainter, and Adolphe Menjou.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEM'AS. LIMITED

At the Regent the attraction is ’‘Edison the Man,” starring Spencer Tracy and Rita Johnson. The current programme at the Majestic is “Lucky to Me,” starring Stanley Lupino. The next attraction will be "Espionage Agent,” starring Joel McCrea. "Florian,” starring Robert Young, Helen Gilbert, and Reginald Owen, is at the Tivoli, now in its tenth week. At the Theatre Royal “Keep Smiling,” with Gracie Fields, and “There’s That Woman Again” are now showing. The new programme at the Grand includes “The Story of Alexander Graham Bell” and '"’' ) nted Desert," starring George O’Brien. At St. James’ the attractions are “Hotel Imperial" and “Oklahoma Kid.” Elisazeth Bergner in “Stolen Life” and Peter Lorre in “Mr Moto’s Last Warning” will be seen to-morrow.

CENTURY

“Four Feathers,” the picture version of A. E. W. Mason’s famous story, is the attraction at the Century Theatre, St. Albans. Ralph Richardson aod C. Aubrey Smith are starred.