ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Beloved Enemy’’ Opens at Regent Theatre To-day

Once again the story pi the Irish rebellion of 1921 conies to the screen in Beloved Enemy,” which will begin to-day at the Regent Theatre. Meric Oberon, in a less exotic role limn she is usually given, is cast as the daughter ot Lord Atnleigli, au English diplomat sent to report on the uprising. Brian Alterne takes the part of secret leader ot the Irish. Ku Hould, the 12-year-old Dunedin boy, takes a prominent part as a young Irish lad who brings Lady Helen Athleigh nd Denis Riordan, the leader ot the rebellion together. The picture opens m thrilling fashion with the searchlights ot an English armoured ear sweeping the doorways of the houses, the inhabitant?} cowering back until the troops have gone by. The action moves swiftly through a succession of stirring events, with Riordan fleeing- before the raids of the English militia. 'Throughout tlie film there is a continual tension as the intelligence department slowly draws an ever-closer net Henrv Stephenson has the role ol Lord Athleigh, Karen Morley makes a welcome reappearance as an Irish widow, and David Niven also fills a major role.

Fourth Week of ‘'Three Smart Girls’’ at St. James

The wisdom of the children shall be visited upon the father, even to his great consternation. That, to twist the tail of a quotation, is the theme of Universal's comedy-drama, “Three Smart. Girls,” which is now entering the fourth week of its season at tlie St. James Theatre. Three daughters, learning that their millionaire father is about to slip into the matrimonial net of a fortune-huutiug international beauty, hasten to > save their parent from a foolish entanglement. The girls use desperate remedies to correct the situation, and the unexpected results are highly amusing. They employ a foreign nobleman to win the money-seeking beauty away from their father. One of the girls disappears in order to delay the wedding ceremony, and finally the sweetheart of another sister tricks the gold-grabbing damsel iuto boarding a steamer for Europe. The fun is swift, the dialogue brightly written, and tlie action merrily paced. Deanna Durbin, the new 14-year-old discovery witli the lovely soprano voice, makes her screen debut in "Three Smart Girls.” Leading roles are played by Biuuie Barnes, Alice Brady, Ray Milland, and Charles Winninger. Deanna Durbin sings three songs, the classic- “11 Bacio,” “My Heart is Singing,” and ‘‘Someone to Care for Me.”

“Lloyds of London” to Screen

at Plaza Theatre

The emotional glory of a woman’s love, the flaming courage of a hero’s lie, and the vengeful fury of a husband’s hate, bring intrigue, romance, and adventure to “Lloyd’s of London,” the Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox picture, which will open to-day at the Plaza Theatre. Tyrone Power, as the enterprising head of the great underwriting firm, is destined for screen fame through his portrayal opposite beautiful Madeleine Carroll, of a forbidden love, a romance which changed the fate of a nation. Freddie Bartholomew is co-starred with Miss Carroll, and the cast also features Sir Guy Standing, C. Aubrey Smith, and Virginia Field. Set against the turbulent canvas of the beginnings of British supremacy of the seas, the romance serves to focus into a stirring kaleidoscope the birth of the Empire, and the growth of the world's most extraordinary and exciting business organisation. 'The Battle of Trafalgar is the climax of the picture.

obby Breen in “Rainbow on the

River” at State

Replete with pathos, comedy, drama and spectacle "Rainbow cm the River,” the new singing film starring young Bobby Breen, will open at the State Theatre today. Songs designed to appeal to every tyne of music lover are sung by the nine-year-old lyric tenor. Set in the reconstruction period following the American Civil AVar, the story traces the early experiences of a young waif in New Orleans, where a devoted negro servant of his dead parents strives to bring up the lad in ignorance of his family name. Through the intervention of the kindly pastor of a parish church where Bobby sings in the choir, relatives in New York are traced and they send for the orphan in an endeavour to confirm his kinship. As a striking contrast to the simple life he enjoyed in his native Southland, Bobby finds himself a virtual prisoner in the frigid mansion of an unsympathetic grandmother. It is here that' he undergoes heart-breaking experiences, struggling against the scheming of an aunt and uncle who resent his presence.

“Show Boat” Returns to Paramount Theatre

A fitting revival for Easter screening at the Paramount Theatre i s that glorious musical success, “Show Boat,” with I’aul Robeson, Irene Dunne, Allan Jones, Charles AVinninger, Helen Morgan, Helen AVestley, and many members of rhe original cast of the Ziegfeld show. Now in its tenth month of the first run in Sydney, the last and greatest version of this immortal musical comedy romance seems to be always palatable. Those who have seen it will remember the remarkable singing of Paul Robeson in such numbers as "Ol’ .Man River,” ‘‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” and “Ah Still Suits Ale,” also the romantic singing of Irene Dunne and the now equallyfamous Allan Jones in “Make Believe,” “I Have the Room Above Her,” and others. Helen Morgan’s work in “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Alan” and “Bill”; Charles AVinninger’s superb characterisation of Captain Andy, in which lie almost steals the picture; Helen AVestley as Mrs. Hawks; Sammie AVhite and Queenie Smith as the eccentric dancers and comedy team ; Hattie MeDaniells as the black mammy wife of Robeson ; these are only a few of tlie highlights of one of the greatest pieces of entertainment ever screened.

Big- Easter Programme at De Luxe Theatre

There are three attractions on the Easter programme which will open at. the De Luxe Theatre to-day. The first feature stars' Gorge Formby. “Keep Your Seats, Please” is the funniest treasure hunt ever filmed. The picture is full of hilarious episodes with doctors, primn donnas, tram conductors aud goats, all doing their bit to provide laughs. Florence Desmond is George’s friend in troubles. Formby is in his element, pausing now and again to put over several saucy songs. In the second feature, "Tlie Girl on the Front Page" is a society blueblood who ha s inherited a powerful newspaper. The managing editor of Gloria Stuart’s newspaper is portrayed by Edmund Lowe. Tie and Gloria have a number of quarrels, and the dominant editor climaxes the conflict of the century with the line, "I'll make a newspaperman out of her if I have to marry her.” Attraction number three features Australia's leading comedian, George AVallace, iu songs, dances aud jokes.

“Trail Dust” and “Wives Never KnoAv” at King’s

A winning battle against drought and famine as South-west America knows them, plus the sinister forces of crooked cattle buyers, forms the background of “Trail Dust,” the latest of thp “Hopalong Cassidy” series of Westerns, which comes to the King’s Theatre to-dav. AVn-

liam Boyd, in his famous role of Cassidy, is in charge of a herd which is being rushed out of the- drought-stricken area to lift the threat of famine which hovers over the entire south-west. Jimmy Ellison, as Johnny, and George Hayes as “Windy,” ride with him again. Realising that the safe arrival of the herd at the railhead would frustrate their plans to enrich themselves through the , beef scarcity the drought has created, the cattle buyers throw all kinds of obstacles in Cassidy’s path. He overcomes them as they arise, with plenty of gun-play, hard riding and hard fighting in the process. A romance between Ellison and prettv Gwynne Shipman adds a wore gentle note to the film. An additional attraction will be the comedy, “AA’ives Never Know,” starring Charles Ruggles, Mary Boland and Adolphe Menjou, which has been transferred from the State Theatre.

Four Stars in “Libelled Lady” at Majestic

Jean Harlow, AA'illiam Powell, Alyrna Loy, and Spencer Tracy, unite their exceptional acting ability iu “Libelled Lady,” coming to the Majestic Theatre to-day. The action of the film centres about a society girl who considers that a newspaper has insulted her ana files a damage suit for five million dollars. Needless to say, the sued newspaper is thrown into an uproar and its managing editor solicits the aid of a former star reporter to extricate the paper from its difficulties. Iu bis scheme to make the heiress drop her .suit the reporter succeeds in making her fall in love with him. It is when he, iu turn, falls in love with her that complications begin, and the tale takes an unexpected and hilarious turn. “March of Time No. 3, 1931, heads a supporting programme which includes a cartoon, a Pete Smith oddity and newsreels.

Two Films at Kilbirnie Kinema To-day

Two films are featured on rhe programme at the Kilbirnie Kinema to-day. Before debonair George Ratt wins the hand of glamorous Rosalind Russell in ‘‘lt Had To Happen,” he goes through as amazing a series of romantic and highsniriteii adventures as the screen lias presented in some time. Presenting this team of screen lovers in their first role together, "It Had to Happen” is the story of a man who blazed his way to dizzy heights for a dazzling girl beyond his reach. Playing the name role in the screen version of AA 7 . J. Locke s worldpopular romance “The Beloved A agabond,” Maurice Chevalier will be seen in the second film. The role of “Paragot” affords him the opportunity, of being bis charming self, in a straight part, in which he also has occasion to sing some delightful and original songs.