CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 3

CITY THEATRES

AVON “GEORGE AND MARGARET” Judy Kelly, an Australian girl, plays the leading role in the comedy, “George and Margaret,” which will be shown at the Avon soon. In spite of their responsibility for the title, the characters George and Margaret are not actually seen in the film. But the fun begins when the Garth-Bander family receives a note from George and Margaret, a couple who have spent some years in India, announcing that the writers will be coming for lunch. All but Mrs GarthBander consider George and Margaret such bores that their one idea is to escape them on any pretence. Alice’s happy knack of turning on tears at will, however, succeeds, and the family agree to be at home when the visitors arrive. Curious things.then begin to happen, making this film a delightful comedy. MAYFAIR “BELLE STARR” “Belle Starr,” the petticoat terror of the Ozarks. comes vividly to life on the screen in a technicolour film bearing her name, which begins a season at the Mayfair to-day. Lovely Gene Tierney, a flaming new personality, won the role of the beautiful bandit queen opposite Randolph Scott, who portrays Sam Starr, the daring guerrilla leader who married Belle. “The usual conception of Belle is all wrong.” said Director Irving Cummings. “She was a beautiful Southern girl whose recklessness ran away with her." Also featured in the cast are Dana Andrews, John Shepperd. Elizabeth Patterson, Chill Wills, and Louise Beavers. THE STATE “THE MOON AND SIXPENCE” Stark realism, vivid drama, and exciting romance are blended in the new production of Somerset Maugham’s famous novel “The Moon and Sixpence,” which will begin a season at the State to-day. The cast of this film, which records the adventures and romances of a brooding genius, who differed from other men, includes George Sanders, Herbert Marshall, Doris Dudley, Elena Verdugo, and Eric Blore. The unusual story centres round an unusual man, a wealthy banker, who abandoned his family and society to become an artist. Charles Strickland, played by George Sanders, is the hero of the film, and his travels and adventures resolve into a kaleidoscope of colour and movement and sharp contrasts. CRYSTAL PALACE “ONCE UPON A HONEYMOON” A gay hilarious comedy-romance, laid against and contrasting with the setting of war-torn Europe, is the basis of “Once Upon a Honeymoon,” which begins a season at the Crystal Palace Theatre to-day for the first time in New Zealand. This new film, starring Ginger Rogers and Cary Grant, is a great film hit. United for the first time upon the screen in this adventurepacked romantic drama. Ginger Rogers and Cary Grant are starred respectively in the roles of an American girl married to a Nazi terrorist and a daring, news commentator who comes to her rescue. Supporting players, notably Albert Dekker as an American Secret Service agent, and Ferike Boras as a maid, give convincing performances, and the whole film is thoroughly entertaining. shokTs this WEEK AVON—Avon News Service, latest world topics; “Canadian Patrol,” travelogue; “Smoke Painting,” a stranger than fictio'n film; “Prelude to Victory,” March of Time. STATE—“Mask of Nippon,” world in action series; Unusual Occupations: Fox Australian News. CRYSTAL PALACE—"A Good Time for a Dime,” a Donald Duck technicolour cartoon; Pathe Sportscope. MAYFAIR—“Happy Cirdus Days,” a Terry-Toon cartoon; “Men of West Point,” an interest film; “Valley of Blossoms,” a Magic Carpet; International News and Fox Australian News. LIBERTY “ONE NIGHT OF LOVE” A musical film which had an unprecedented success when it was screened in Christchurch some years ago, “One Night of Love,” will be shown at the Liberty this week. Combining as it does a good story and good acting with popular music, “One Night of Love” is a film that will readily be seen a second time. Grace Moore, an international singer, has the leading role and sings “Chiri Biri Bin,” the “Havernera,” from “Carmen,” “One Fine Day” from “Madame Butterfly,” and other well-known songs, and also the theme song, “One Night of Love.” Tullio Carminati gives a splendid performance as Miss Moore’s strict singing teacher. “The Blonde from Singapore," an adventure drama starring Florence Rice and Don Beddoe, will also be shown. PLAZA “EYES OF THE UNDERWORLD” Based on the vicious activities of the thoroughly-organised motor-car theft gangs that have sprung into existence in the United States since the establishment of war-time restrictions on car and tyre sales. “Eyes of the Underworld” has a timely and exciting story. It will be shown .at the Plaza. Richard Dix is cast as an honest, efficient police chief, devoted to his motherless son. Giving him able support throughout the unfoldment of the story are such outstanding players as Wendy Barrie and Billy Nee. “Shadows on The Stairs.” a good mystery film, will also be shown soon at the Plaza.