ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 72, 18 December 1935, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Charlie Chan in Shanghai” Showing at State "Charlie Chan in Shanghai” is al. the State Theatre. In it Chan and his .son Lee are once again united, and together they face extraordinary dangers in breaking up an international drug ring. Mysterious assailant.-.' shout at Chan during the night, and attempt to kidnap him. but fail to match his Oriental wile. "This Is the Life.” Superb acting on the part of little Jane Withers ami an unusual story mark the Fox Film production, “This Is the Life,” coming to the State Theatre on Friday. Jane has gone far since she appeared as the obnoxious child in “Bright Eyes,’ starring Shirley Temple. In her new picture she gives a .scintillating performance both as a dramatic actress and a.song-and-dauce personality, and is ably supported by John McGuire, Gordon Westcott, Sally Blane, Sidney Toler, Gloria Roy, and Francis Ford, it is said. The .otor.y centres about a brilliant child performer who is made a virtual slave by her guardians until she is rescued from torment by John McGuire, falsely accused of robbery and seeking to avoid arrest by the police. Masquerading as a boy, she hitch-hikes across the continent with 'her new-found friend while an entire nation searches frantically for her. They have numerous adventures until McGuire gives himself up to the police to save Jane from being returned to her guardians. Bright Comedy, “The Gay Deception,” at Plaza “'The Gay Deception,” Fox Film's comedy romance, is now at the Plaza Theatre. Francis Lederer plays the boy who is unbelievably rich, handsome and a prince, but is pretending to be nobody, and Frances Dee that of a young and lovely girl enjoying a mad fling at life with the fortune. It all starts when the girl wins a sweepstake prize and decides to spend it on one delirious round of pleasure. Even though she is mistaken for an heiress, she fails to find the colourful life she had anticipated. “In Old Kentucky.’’ Will Rogers’s last —and greatest—picture, “In Old Kentucky” comes to the Plaza Theatre on Friday. Adapted from the play whose humour, sunny romance and tingling horse-race drama have made it a favourite of three, generations of Americans, “In Old Kentucky” stars Rogens in a role that presents his rich down-to-earth character in a most lovable light. Sam Hollman, famous humorist, and Gladys Lehman adapted the play to the screen, in a modernised form, but preserved all of its drama and its- rich comedy of character and incident. In the picture, Rogers enacts a shrewd and genial trainer of horses whose homely philosophy and keen wit sets right all the troubles of the impulsive people about him. Russell Hardie and Dorothy Wilson play the romantic youngsters in "Old Kentucky.” She is the daughter of old Charles Sellou, who i>s feuding with Charles Richman. Although Lis daughter fights to win Hardie for herself, it is Rogers’s shrewd aid that finally brings the boy to Miss Wilson. Gene Gerrard Returns to Regent in “Joy Ride” “Joy Ride,” at the Regent Theatre, reintroduces that engaging English comedian Gene Gerrard, who has, as a coadjutor in merriment, Paul Blake. “Hop-Along Cassidy.” Western stories are always so popular with a large section of the public that it is rather a matter for wonder that, up till now, no producer bad thought of making talkies based on Clarence E. Mulford's celebrated character of "Hop-Along Cassidy.” It has remained for Paramount to do so. Well above the average film of its type iu plot, photography, and acting, “Hop-Along Cassidy,” which will start on Friday at the Regent Theatre, initiates a sequence of Clarence Mulford films that should prove highly acceptable to nearly every class of picturegoer. For the name part, Paramount have brought back to the screen Bill Boyd, who acts with a breezy bravado as the hard-riding; hard-fighting cowboy hero. ’The story is all about the enmity between two ranches ■that is deliberately fomented by a gang of rustlers, of which the chief is foreman of one of the ranches. With the aid of Johnny Nelson, a young hot-head who is more or less in love with a girl on the “enemy” ranch, Cassidy gets to work and eventually discovers what is causing all the trouble between the ranches. Then they join forces, and in a hard-fighting climax among the rocks they storm the rustlers’ stronghold and settle accounts. "The Lxst Outpost-” Announced as a forthcoming feature nt the Regent Theatre is “The Last Outpost,” Paramount’s successor to “Lives of a Bengal Lancer.” “The House That Jack Built.” Throughout the Christmas holidays at afternoon sessions only, the Regent Theatre management are presenting a pantomime staged by Grace Brown. Nearly JO clever players will be seen in “The House That Jack Built” which has been produced by Grace Brown with all ballets and song« by Marjorie Vau.se. 'rhe pantomime will be screened at afternoon sessions only, commencing on Friday, December 20, and concluding on Thursday, January 2. Newspaper Story, “The Murder Man,” at Majestic With a story revolving around the exploits' of a newspaper reporter, “The Murder Man,” is at the Majestic Theatre. ' As Steve Gray the star reporter, called the "murder man,” Spencer Tracy suits the part to perfection. The plot centres round the murder of a crook financier, and the “murder man” is responsible for the detection of the murderer and for his being brought to justice. A special session of tennis featurettes commences each evening at 7.30. “Broadway Melody of It is several years now since the original “Broadway Melody” created such a sensation with its tuneful melodies, beautiful colourings and bright comedy, but its tunes are still heard and it has never been forgotten. Soon Wellington audiences will be afforded the opportunity of seeing Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Broadway Melody of 1930.” which is Io commence a season at the Majestic Theatre next Friday. If it can live up to its great predecessor, and critics.claim that it doixs so, it. should certainly be wonderful entertainment. An impressive cast is headed by Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell and Robert Taylor. Will Hay in “Boys Will Be Boys” at De Luxe “Boys Will Be Boys,” at the De Luxe Theatre, features that talented comedian, Will Hay, who is seen in his most noted role—that of a schoolmaster. Mr. Hay takes the part of the headmaster of a' sehotil .where the boys are as big a "bunch of toughs” as one could wish to sec. His adventures are many and alarming. The De Luxe Concert Orchestra is an added attraction. “Shipmates Forever.” The thrill and romance of naval officers in the making, men who in peace or in war, heroically brave death for their country in their line of duty is colourfully depicted iu the new Warner Bros.-Cos-mopolitan drama-with-music, "Shipmates Forever,” coming Friday next to the De Luxe Theatre. It is an intimate and revealing story of the lives of the midshipmen in their study rooms at Annapolis, on the parade grounds, and their cruises at sea. their loyalty, and their courage “under lire.” Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler head the cast. Dick personifies

the raw cadet, somewhat spoiled but with the makings of a man, who is whipped into shape as a gallant officer through the rigour of the Naval Academy training, and Ruby Keeler, the loyal daughter of the imvy'. While the picture is not a musical, several new songs are introduced, chief of which is a marching song, “Don’t Give Up the Ship.” In addition to these, Dick Powell sings a number of famous old sea balTads, among them “Abdul Abulbul Amir” and “Anchors Aweigh.” In addition the excellent supporting featurettes include a special comedy, "Keystone Hotel;” starring a great team of old favourites such as Ben Turpin, Ford Sterling, and Chester Conklin. Paramount Screening “Smart Girl” and “That’s Gratitude” The story of how a bright and pretty little American blonde’s right man marries the wrong woman, her own sister, is unfolded in “Smart Girl,” at the Paramount Theatre. Ida Lupino plays the vivacious lass whoso elder sister, Gail Patrick, captures the man they both love. The second feature of (lie double programme is “That’s Gratitude,” an extremely amusing and original comedy, starring Frank Craven and Mary Carlisle. “Behind the Evidence.” Tense, breathless drama merges with romantic situations of no little intensify throughout the unfolding of the fastmoving plot of Columbia's “Behind the Evidence,” which commences on Friday at tlie Paramount Theatre. From the very outset the picture exerts a powerful sway over the audience’s emotions. Tony .Sheridan, millionaire sportsman, is suddenly impoverished by the collapse of a trust coiiipany. Convincing a sceptical city editor that he will make a first-class reporter, he gets the job, and the material for the picture. The second feature is “Dinky,” starring Jackie Cooper, Mary Astor and Roger Pryor. “Bonnie Scotland,” With Laurel and Hardy, at St. James Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star in "Bonnie Scotland,” the Motro-Goldwyii-Mayer feature at the St. James Theatre. The two stars work their way on a cattle boat to Scotland, where they expect to inherit a large estate. On their arrival to their chagrin they learn that the estate lias been left to a distant cousin, and their share consists of some valueless heirlooms. Down and out, the pair are forced to enlist in a Highland regiment, and, before they know where they are, they find themselves on the NorthWestern frontier in India, engaged in a lively scrap with the crafty ruler of a hill tribe.