CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23330, 16 May 1941, Page 6

CITY THEATRES

STATE

«21 DAYS TOGETHER ”

An excellent film to follow the famous “The Great Dictator” at the State, is “21 Days Together," opening to-day. In this film husband and wife, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, will be seen acting together for the first time by New Zealand audiences. The film play, based upon John Galsworthy’s “The First and the Last," is the story of a boy and girl who married and found happiness for three weeks, even while they, knew that police were hunting them for murder.

Vivien Leigh is seen in the new film as a refugee in love with a young Englishman, Laurence Olivier. Their romantic idyll is destroyed when her bestial husband suddenly appears on the scene. The*-e is a struggle; it ends with the man’s death. An innocent man is tried for the murder, and the two lovers, now married, spend three weeks of happiness and of despair while they await the outcome of the trial. If the man is found guilty, Olivier plans to surrender himself to the police; if the man is found innocent, the couple will flee the country and resume a normal life. “21 Days Together" thus becomes an absorbing study in emotion. MAYFAIR “ARIZONA” Jean Arthur, star of "Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” will be seen to-day at the Mayfair in "Arizona,” the action film that has been received with praise in America. The film is said to be full of action, romance, and thrills. With Jean Arthur starred and a supporting cast of thousands headed by William Holden, Warren William, and Pdrter Hall, produced and directed by Wesley • Ruggles, "Arizona” has been hailed as one of the outstanding outdoor films, a turbulent romance and a magnificent adventure. The story of Tucson in 1860, when advancing civilisation whipped into submission both the Indians and the bad men; "Arizona” has won the applause of motion picture critics and fans in every section of the motion picture industry. Miss Arthur is seen as Phoebe Titus, lone white woman in the Arizona territory, who dreams of the time when the land will be at peace, free from savage Indian raids and lawless frontier killers, and who courageously fights both to bring that day nearer. Those who saw William Holden in that first-rate boxing film, “Golden Boy,” will be eager to see this most promising young actor again. AVON “TILL WE MEET AGAIN” , Merle Oberon and George Brent are the stars of the next attraction for the Avon, the romance, “Till We Meet Again.” Also In the cast are Pat O'Brien; Geraldine Fitzgerald (who was seen In “Wuthering Heights”). Binnie Barnes, Frank McHugh, and the . comedian, Eric Blore.

. The poignant and tender love story begins in Hong Kong. At the Bar o i All Nations, Dan and Joan (the roles played by Brent and Miss Oberon), meet over a cocktail. It is a'hail and farewell meetirfg, for sbe is sailing back to-San Francisco imrrtediately. They part, and Dan runs straight into the waiting hands of Steve Burke (Pat O’Brien), a detective, who has trailed him all over the world since Dan, sentenced to death for murder, had escaped on his way to San Quentin. So Dan and Joan meet again on the boat, but she does not know he is a prisoner for Burke allows him the freedom of the ship. He, on his part; does not know that she has a heart ailment which may cut off her life at any moment. Both know, however, that every moment they have together is breathlessly Important, The romantic and tragic implications of this situation are fully realised in the brilliant'production, under direction of Edmund Doubling. LIBERTY ' X ** THE GREAT DICTATOR ” After a long and popular season at the State, "The Great Dictator,” which is still drawing full houses, is transferred to the Liberty to-day. With Paulette Goddard, Jack Oakie, Reginald Gardiner, and MaUrlce Moscovich supporting Charles Chaplin, the cast is better than that seen in “Modern Times" or "City Lights.” As author, producer, director, and actor in “City Lights," “Modern Times,” and "The Great Dictator,” Charlie Chaplin has proved himself to be one of the most gifted artists connected with the screen. In “The Great Dictator” there are songs and music written by the actor, who is said to be able to play any musical instrument. For the first time Chaplin is heard talking in "The Great Dictator," He takes a dual role, that of the little barber who is the double of the warmad dictator. He breaks the silence that belong to the little tramp for so many years, and in his method of doing this there is a surprise waiting for those who see “The Great Dictator." When Paulette Goddard arrived back on the Chaplin.set after her work In other studios/ she said. “Gosh, but it’s nice to be home again.’ This is how many fllmgoers, who remember the comedian over a period of 25 years, feel each time they see Charlie Chaplin again.

PLAZA

“AN ANGEL FROM TEXAS”

The next attraction for the Plaza, “An Angel from Texas,” Is the hilarious story of adventures—and misadventures—of Lydia Weston from Lone Star, Texas. Lydia, fresh from the triumphs In the Elks Auditorium, is bent on a great dramatic career in New York. Rosemary Lane plays this role, and opposite her Is Eddie Albert (also from Texas), and the rest of those “Brother Rats.” Broadway managers are singularly Unimpressed by Lydia’s high school histrionics, and she is forced to accept a secretarial job to Morris and Reagan, two shoe-string producers. When Eddie Albert comes to the big city with 20,000 dollars bulging, in his pockets and fostering the fond hope that he Will buy a hotel and settle down with Lydia, the producers pounce on him and sell him an interest in a play fairly reeking of moth balls. The Comedy continues with much laughter. The associate feature will be “Grandpa Goes to Town,” starring James Gleason, Lucille Gleason, Harry Davenport, and Maxie Rosenbloom. As can .be seen from the cast, this is a hilarious comedy,' ' crystalTpalace

“ELLERY QUEEN* MASTER DETECTIVE”

Ralph Bellamy is to be seen for the first time in a brand-new ‘detective Series—the Ellery Queen • series, the first of which will be seen at the Crystal palace to*day. This author’s most humorous , stories are avidly read by- many, and should make good films, Ralph Bellamy -is supported by Margaret Lindsay, as Nikki Porter; Charles Grapewin, as Inspector Queen; and James Burke, as Sergeant Velie. t , “Ellery Queen, Master DecteCtive," is Said to be one of the most ingenious, most thrilling pictures of its kind ever produced. A psychological murder provides Ellery Queen the Opportunity to’display his Hashing deductive abilities, with such clues as a vanishing body, a statue, a jewel-handled dag* ger, and a versatile raven keeping audiences in suspenseful, breathless anticipation. The associate feature is “Across the Sierras, V* a Bill Elliott Outdoor drama with mafia Walters in a, leading role.