ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

“The Plainsman” Now Screening at King’s A fine screen revival of early America, when men lived only by their wits and their two gnus. is presented in "Tile Plainsman.” now transferred to the King’s Theatre after a very successful season at the State. "The Plainsman” will indeed take a proud place among other De Mille epics, for it is very rarely ■ that such a polished film is placed be- | fore the public. "’The Plainsman” lacks nothing. The story is a simple one of gun-running activities between arms I manufacturers and the fierce Indian warriors jealous of losing their lauds to the encroaching whites. They meet with a fair measure of suece.ss until their activities are discovered by “Wild Bill” Hickok and his friend Bill Cody. Hickok is a man of action, and though the methods he uses to stop the trade would not appeal to students of the law, it is, nevertheless, very satisfactory. Bill Hickok has an able partner in “Calamity Jane.” and her romance witli Hickok, though perhaps not as other romances, gives an added appeal to the story. Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur head the cast, and they are supported by other popular players. “Rainbow on tile River.” "Rainbow on the River,” the latest film triumph of the eight-year-old tenor, Bobby Breen, will head the next change of programme at the King's Theatre. Comedy and Mystery at the De Luxe Theatre A typical English comedy of the welltiled type, “Aren’t Men Beasts,” which appears at the De Luxe Theatre tjiis week, deals with the efforts of a young man to escape from his past in time to marry. Robertson Hare, Alfred Drayton, Billy Milton, and the beautiful June Clyde, Judy Kelly, and Ellen Pollock have a lively time ami crack many jokes. The second film “Mysterious Crossing,” has James Dunn as a hard-boiled reporter trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a big banker. Regent Theatre Shows “Fire Over England” “Fire Over England,” with all its pageantry and loyalty, is being screened at the Regent Theatre at a peculiarly appropriate time. With rare exceptions, no picture in recent years has had such an auspicious debut as this spectacular historical drama of the stirring reign of Queen Elizabeth. “Fire Over England” was awarded the 1937 gold medal by the motion picture division of the League of Nations. The drama opens in the council chamber of Queen Elizabeth in the stirring days when her sea champion. Sir Francis Drake, was challenging Spanish power by his madcap adventures. St. James Theatre Screens Bright Australian Film Australia’s most ambitious and successful comedy production, “It Isn’t Done,” is screening at the St. Janies Theatre. The cast is headed by Cecil Kellaway, well-remembered on the boards of New Zealand theatres, Shirley Ann Richards, Frank Harvey and John Longden. In its story, “It Isn’t Done” is not original; but at least it gives a new twist to the theme of a typical Australian squatter transported, through legal wonders, to the English peerage and a country estate in Hertfordshire. Throughout, there is abundance of fun, good photography and smoothness of development. “Romeo and Juliet” Still at the Majestic “Romeo and Juliet,” at the Majestic Theatre, comes in triumphant guise to confound those who would argue that Shakespeare has no place in the moving-picture world. Norma Shearer is touchingly beautiful and expressive as tiie ill-starred Juliet, and there is no questioning the deep sincerity and naturalness of Leslie Howard’s Romeo. Outstanding is the performance of John Barrymore as the whimsical Mercutio. "Rose Marie.” The eagerly-awaited “Rose Marie,” starring Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, will be the next attraction at tho Majestic Theatre, beginning on Friday. Army Story, “Sally of the Regiment,” at the State A spectacular and amusing comedydrama of army life, “Sally of the Regiment,” is at the State Theatre. The film, which was produced by GaumontBritish with the assistance of the British War Office, has an excellent cast, headed by Anna Lee and Wallace Ford. More than 10,000 British troops took part in the picture. The British soldier is seen on the parade ground, at the regimental concert, taking part in boxing, being reviewed by the King, embarking for the East, and plunging into battle. As “Sally," Anna Lee gives a vivacious performance that fulfils all the promise she has shown in the past. George Arliss in “His Lordship” at the Plaza Not only the artistry, but the versatility of George Arliss is demonstrated in "His Lordship,” now at the Plaza Theatre. in which he plays a dual role. Two brothers, exactly opposite in character and temperament, have to lippear on the screen at the same time. The narrative records the efforts of two Englishmen to prevent the brother of one of them, Lord Doncaster, British Foreign Secretary, from plunging Britain into war with an Eastern Power. ’ Everybody Dance." The irrepressible Cicely Courtneidge will be seen again in “Everybody Dance,” the musical comedy which will begin at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. Astaire and Rogers in “Top Hat” at Paramount Dancing and singing to the tunes and lyrics’ of Irving Berlin, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers set a new high standard for screen musicals in “Top Hat.” now at the Paramount Theatre. Highlighted by songs and dances which play their romantic part in telling the story, "Top Hut” traces’ a romance which gets off to

flying love-at-first-eight start in London, and meets complications against the colourful background of the Lido. In the “Piccolino,” a distinctive Italian rhythm dance, the picture presents a surpassing successor to the previous AstaireRogers triumphs, the "Carioca” and the “Continental.” An ensemble arrangement is presented by a mixed chorus of (K) of Hollywood's finest dancers.