ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 23, 22 October 1936, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

Last Day of “The White Angel’’

at De Luxe

To-day at 2.15 and to-night at S o’clock are the - last opportunities to see Kay Francis in “The White Angel.” together with the splendid associate entertainment, which includes Sybil Jason in “The Changing of the Guard.” a gorgeous technicolour musical, and special atmospheric presentations by the Orchestra De Luxe and organ. “Earthworm Tractors." Joe E. Brown comes to the De Luxe Theatre to-morrow in. “Earthworm Tractors,” which is said to be his most hilarious comedy to date. 'The picture is based on a series of stories by William Hazlett Upson in the “Saturday Evening Post.” Joe brings to life on the screen the hero of these comedies, that blundering, and in his own estimation, natural-born supersalesman. Alexander Botts, who somehow always wins out in the end despite his egregious mistakes. Others in the cast include Guy Kibbee, Joe’s father-in-law to be; Olin Howland, father of his first love, who lived to regret he had forbidden his daughter's marriage to Joe; Dick Foran. Joe's rival for his Jove. The su|>porting programme will include a I nivorsal newsreel. “M hen Fish light’ (Sportlight series,. Vincent Lopez and his orchestra, and Vitaphone Topnotchers, vaudeville celebrities. Iris Mason will entertain with popular solos al the M urlitzcr organ, and the Orchestra De Luxe will be heard in musical selections. Regent Theatre Showing “The Princess Comes Across” A story packed with mystery, set on a luxury liner en route to New York, is unfolded in “The Princess Comes Across.” concluding this evening at the Regent Theatre. “China Clipper.' “China Clipper,” which will open tomorrow at the Regent Theatre, is a tribute to the vision, ingenuity and courage of the men who battled not only storm and fog. but also the timidity and prejudice of moneyed interests, to establish longdistance air lines round the world, and particularly the route between San Francisco and the Orient. Largely authentic in theme, and wholly authentic in setting, “China Clipper” stars Pat O’Brien as an aviator obsessed with the project of spanning the world by air. Faced with innumerable difficulties, doubted by his backers, estranged from h’is friends and his wife, his home-life broken up because he will allow nothing to stand in the way of his ruthless ambition, he nevertheless drives forward; unt'il finally he conquers not only the elements, but also those who sneered at his projects. Altitude-Guessing Contest.

An altitude-guessing contest will be held in connection, with the screening of “China Clipper.” A plane will fly over the city to-morrow at .12.30 p.m.. and at a heigbt'of between 1500 and 2000 feet will drop a Verev flare. The exact height of the plane at the time w*ill be registered bv its instruments, and the. nearest estimate to it received by the management of the Regent Theatre by noon on Saturday will win a prize of a free return air trip to Blenheim.

“Schniclitij? v. Louis” and “Three

Godfathers” al St. Janies

“The Three Godfathers,” from the pen of Peter B. Kyne, has lost none of its attractiveness in its adaptation to the screen, and io conjunction with a complete and graphic screen record of the Schmeling-Louis boxing contest, is now showing at the St. James Theatre. In the principal roles, Chester Morris, I.ewis Stone, and Walter Brennan, all true screen favourites, are seen as three “bad men,” who make a wonderful sacrifice to get a child back to safety and so save its life. “The Suicide Club.” Robert. Louis Stevenson once wrote a series of amusing tales about. “The Suicide Club,” a weird organisation supposed to have existed in London m JbbO, and now Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has made those stories into one of the most entertaining light thrillers of the season. Ibe Suicide Club.” which, after a successful week at. the Majestic is to be transferred to-njorrow to the St. James, presents a distinguished east of players headed by Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell.

“The Last of the Mohicans” at New Opera House

Fenimore Cooper’s immortal tale of adventure among fierce Red Indians, ‘ The Last of the Mohicans,” will conclude its Wellington season at the New Opera House this evening. Double-feature Programme. Thirteen souls and a black cat aboard an ill-fated ship on a sea of mystery—this is the story of “The Mystery of the Mary Celeste,” which comes to the New Opera House to-morrow. This screen solution of the world’s greatest unsolved mystery of the seas tells of the misadventures that, befell the Mary Celeste, which sailed from New York, with a cargo of alcohol, a shanghaied crew of desperadoes, a bullying first mate, a captain and his charming young wife, on a honeymoon cruise. Fourteen days later the vessel was found ghosting mysteriously toward Gibraltar, with everything in ship-shape order, but not a single member of the crew on board. Bela Lugosi heads the cast. A powerful and interesting drama, “Honours Easy, a story of crime and intrigue, the lust for revenge and the fight for honour, will be the associate feature.

State Theatre Screening “The Bride Walks Out” “The Bride Walks Out,” a merry corned v-romance, featuring Barbara Stauwvek, Gene Raymond, aud Robert Young, is in its final day at the State Theatre, “Swing Time.” Wellington will have its view of "Swing Time ” tlie latest R.K.O. Radio production, ’to star that most popular of screen teams, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, at the State Thclitre to-morrow. As is usual iu all the films made by these two favourites, melody is a large factor in the’ entertainment, in addition to the dancing which, of course, is one of the star attractions. In “Swing Time" the dancers introduce several new and most original routini's. and in the big production number. “Bojangies ol Harlem.’ Fred Astaire is seen in black-face and does a most complicated and entertaining eccentric tap. fl'he music for the s-how was composed by none oilier than Jerome Kern, who gave us “Show Boat” anil "Roberta.” It is both tuneful and, at times, novel, all the numbers having a direct bearing on the dialogue. “Seven Sinners” at Plaza Theatre Edmund Lowe and Constance Cummings are in their element in bunting down a gang of international crooks who have a penchant for train wrecking ns a means of getting rid of people who know too much in “Seven Sinners,” I be comedy melodv which is in its- final dav at the Plaza Theatre. “The Flying Doctor.” Itesci'ibed as Australia’s .supreme screen achievement. "The Flying Doctor" comes to lhe Plaza Theatre to-morrow, wiicii .Miss Jean Batten will make personal appearances at all sessions. The story has for its theme two dramas. Sandy Nelson (Charles Farrell) is a wanderer. Casual, tireless, incurably restless, ever on the look-out for wider horizons, he typifies the Australian adventurer. By chance he meets little Jennie Rutherford (Mary Maguire), and before his true spirit, momentarily drugged by the sweet romance. can reawaken to assert itself, he is married to her. But the eagle cannot

be pinioned. 'Pile ttory of Sandy s love is interwoven with the drama of the Aerial Medical Service.

“Suicide Club” Screening at Majestic

A. highly fantastic story so perfectly cast, so smoothly acted and cleverly produced that every moment of the film is precious, "Suicide Club” will conclude at the Majestic Theatre this evening. “San Francisco.” A film which promises to be regarded as a milestone' in motion-picture history is “San Francisco.” which is to commence at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. This picture should be doubly sure of a good reception—because it tells a worth-while story, and because of the superb photography which shows the earthquake and fire which swept the city in 1906. Jeanette MacDonald appears as a singer. Clark Gable has the role of Blackie Norton, dance-hall proprietor, and Spencer Tracy that of his Irish friend. Two New Films Coming to King’s Theatre Two new films will be screened at the King's Theatre to-morrow, in conjunction with personal appearances at all sessions by Miss Jean Batten. Danger rides the highway in "Crash Donovan,” in which the dynamic Jack Holt.is starred in the role of a motor-cycle officer 01. the California Highway Patrol. In the opening sequences Holt is seen as a daredevil motor-cycle stunt rider .with a carnival. He decides to join the motor-cycle patrol when he fails in love with the daughter of its commander; Later he and his police partner battle a gang of smugglers, whom they pursue over the highways at 80 miles an hour. Chasiug the criminals to their stronghold, Holt and his brother officer finally capture them in a climax filled with exciting events. In addition to its drama “Crash Donovan” furnishes an interesting picture of the hazardous work of the . motor-cycle, police. "Postal Inspector” relates a swiftly-moving story about a 3,000,000-dollar mail robbery committed during a terrific flood. This Universal picture features Ricardo Cortez, Patricia Ellis, Michael Loring, and Bela Lugosi. Most of the action occurs in a city beset by floods. The story begins with aii aeroplane sequence, in which an accident is miraculously prevented by a courageous aviator. Dramatic incidents take place while the threatening waters sweep away people and buildings. The city, plunged into darkness, can communicate with the outside world only through a single radio station. Movement about rhe flood area is possible only in boats. In spite of the obstacles, the postal inspector runs down the mail thieves in a spectacular chase, which brings out police in speed boats from every, direction, to pursue the robbers along swirling streams that "were formerly streets.