ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 263, 3 August 1936, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Petticoat Fever,” Film Drama, at Majestic Theatre

A drama of the irozen north, “Petticoat Fever,” makes piquant faro tor filmgoers this week at the Majestic Theatre. An ice-bound wireless station in Labrador, 1)0 milea from the nearest settlement, ie a very lonely spot, and Dascom Dinsmore, the operator in charge there, is a very lonely man who has not seen a white woman for a year (and a beautiful one for two years). Hence the upset when Irene Campion and her fiance, Bir James Felton, make their way to ins abode after their plane has crashed on the ice. What happens alter that makes a most laugh-provoking story. Robert Montgomery and Myrna Loy play opposite each other and are a perfect combination, with Reginald Owen as the latter’s blustery fiance. The wireless operator is so lavish in his attentions to his fair visitor that, despite his overwhe.nimg conce.t, Irene is unable to prevent feeling for him, and the two arrange to get married. Then another person arrives at the station Dinsmore’s fiancee of two years past. This situation brings the film to an ending which it would be a pity to disclose. The supports include a new Charlie Chase comedy. Paul Robeson Sings in “Show Boat” at the Regent “Show Boat,” that fine film of romance, excitement, pathos, and laughter, along the Mississippi is in its th rd week at the Regent Theatre. Beautiful Irene Dunne charms the audience w-th her numbers, “Make Believe,” ‘ After the Ball,” and ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man.” Another rich musical treat is provided by Paul Robeson, whose magnificent bass voice is heard in "Ole Man River” and “Ah Still Suits Me Helen Morgan is notably good as Julie, Parthy Hawkes is ideally portrayed by Helen Westley, and Charles Winninger is immense as Captain Andy Hawkes. The play is sumptuously mounted, some gorgeous ballets appearing in the Broadway scenes. The supporting subjects include splendid views of King Edward inspecting the Horse Guards, and at the Trooping of the Colour and a clever cartoon, “Skits and Sketches.”

“Mr. Deeds Goes to Town” at Paramount isan Third Week

A really first-class comedy-romance is presented in “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town,” which, in the third week of its Wellington season, is now screening at the Paramount Theatre. Gary Cooper, of “Bengal Lancer” fame, is Mr. Deeds, a countr Bed young man, whose inheritance of 20,000,000 doriars makes him news. He chooses New York as the place in which to see life, and the newspapers are promptly alert to see how he will spend his vast fortune. Jean Arthur, a young woman journalist, by exerting her undoubted charm, is firs* with the news of Mr. Deeds’s hilarious escapades, but later she relents -the ail vantage she has taken of his apparent simplicity. Mr. Deeds becomes involved with a crook lawyer whq, seeks to defraud him, but when he speaks out his enemies realise that he is not as simple as be appears, and the story is happily sorted out. Among the supporting players Douglas Dumbrille is outstanding as the dishonest lawyer, H. B. Warner as a Supreme Court judge, George Bancroft as a newspaper editor, and Walter Catlett as Mr. Deeds’s Press agent. “Rhodes of Africa.” In a stirring film of adventure and great and thrilling deeds, Walter H uston and Oscar Homolka appear in the great historical romance, “Rhodes of Africa,” which is coming to the Paramount Theatre on Friday. A photographic epic of the early days on the veldt.

Two-feature Programme at New Opera House

“Trouble in Paradise,” now at the New Opera House, finds Kay Francis more subdued than usual, but still with scope for her impressive personality. She is the wealthy controller of a Parisian jewellery firm, whom Herbert Marshall and Miriam Hopkins, in partnership, plan to use for their own ends. As unsuccessful suitors, Charlie Ruggles and Edward Everett Horton rival each other in humour as well as in devotion to the beautiful Madame Colet. The picture is notable for its attractive plot, and the faithful acting of the many stars assembled in its performance. “The Scoundrel” is a piece of bold.conception in which Noel Coward delivers himself of the profundities, disguised as cynicisms, to which his plays have introduced us. The thoughtful story loses nothing in the portrayal, but is ornamented by the depth-sounding dialogue. De Luxe Theatre Features “I Married a Doctor” “I Married a Doctor,” which is now showing at the De Luxe Theatre, is a picture one cannot help but enjoy. It is the film version if Sinclair Lewis’s famous story “Main Street,” and it is to the credit of Warner Bros, that they have kept fairly close to the original story. The story revolves around the pettiness and mischiefmaking gossip of a small country town — such a town as might be found anywhere in New Zealand. Pat O’Brien plays the country medico, and Josephine Hutchinson his pretty artistic wife from the city. Her battle with the narrow-minded small-town Mother Grund ies form the crux of the film. The supporting cast is headed by such well-known players as Ross Alexander Guy Kibbee, Louise Fazenda, and Olin Howland. The associate entertainment includes items by the Orchestra De Luxe and organ, which features the “Hungarian Rhapsody” No. 2. by Liszt.

“Fra Diavolo,” at St. James, Shows Laurel and Hardy

The hilarious antics of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy make a riot of laughter of the screen version of Auber's famous comic opera, “Fra Diavolo,” at the St. James Theatre. There are some stirring scenes when Dennis King’s glorious baritone is heard to fine advantage. The story opens when Olivero and Stanlio arc robbed of their life savings by bandits, and hit upon the bright idea of being bandits thamselves. Olivero pretends he is Diavolo, but eventually they encounter the famed bandit, though they do not know him, and Olivero is sentenced to be hanged Stanlio is ordered to be the executioner. In the meantime Diavolo discovers that his bandit gang failed to rob Lady Pamela (Thelma Todd). To frustrate possible identification of his men, he takes the due along as pseudo man-servants and pesetas the Marquis de San Marco. Their ridivulous advenutures soon render laugter painful, and the film ends in happy disarray. Jackie Cooper, the popular youthful actor, breaks a lengthy absence from the screen in “The Tough Guy,” which is screened in support of “Fra Diavolo.”

“Private Number” at State Theatre tells Human Interest Story There is a most attractive and humanely interesting screen story, perfectly expressed, under the title “Private Number,’ ’at the State, and an ideal

cast. Such polished players as Robert Taylor (of “Magnificent Obsession”) and handsome Loretta Young as the young lovers; Basil Rathbone in one of those keen cutting remorseless roles he knows so well; and Patsy Kelly as the heart-of-gold comedienne. It is the story of the rich young man who marries the pretty maid. The programme also includes Fox new’s films (including the first movie of the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their small son), a coloured symphony “In a Monastery Garden” (to Ketelbey’s music), “The Old Camp Ground,” and the comedy “Mixed Policies.”

Ben Travers Farce, “Pot Luck,” Screened at Plaza Theatre

Another jovial farce is screened when the Tom Walls-Ralph Lynu-Robertson Hare combination appears in the amus’ng Ben Travers, “Pot Luek,” at the Plaza Theatre this week. It ie a slick story involving crooks who steal a famous Chinese vase of fabulous worth, and the antics of Walls and Lynn as sleuths, who become involved in all manner of escapades before the gang is laid by the heels. The girl in the case is Dianna Churchill, who is engagingly attractive. The story moves to a breezy climax with an exciting revolver duel in which Lynn manages to drop the precious vase. “Pot Luck” is clever foolery and most amusing. The supporting programme is well up to Plaza standard and includes a very fine subject entitled “Progress,” illustrative of the craze for speed.