ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 141, 11 March 1938, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

Majestic Theatre Screening “Topper” Photographic effects, highly technical and Mpectacular on the screen, are introduced to portray the startling and hilarious episodes of beautiful ghosts fluttering through space in "Topper,” which commences its second week at the Majestic Theatre to-day. Constance Bennett and Cary Grant are co-starred for the first time, and the name part is played by Roland Young. Thorne Smith, the author of the story, dedicated one of his "Topper” books, “Topper Takes a Trip,” to Roland Young, which corroborates the studio's idea of casting Young for hie role in the new picture. A supporting cast of well-known players is ■headed by Alan Mowbray and Eugene Pallette, and also includes Arthur Lake. Hedda Hopper, Virginia .Sale, Theodore Von Eltz, J. Farrell McDonald, Elaine Shepard. Doodles, Si Jinke and the “Three Hits and a Miss.” “It’s A Grand~Old World” At St. James Theatre Sandy Powell, recognised as the gieatest comedian in England, is starred in “It’s a Grand Old World,” which will commence a ■ season • at the St. James Theatre to-day. Never before has the famous . Yorkshire comedian been provided with such a fine'vehicle in which to exploit his inimitable talents. The laughter-creating story, written by Tom Arnold, who is also responsible for 4 the production, deals with Sandy’s adventures after he wins £16,000 in a football pool. With this money Sandy indulges in the most humorous exploits imaignable, ranging from adventures with a circus lion to buying a country mansion by mistake and falling into a den of London crooks. As Sandy’s actress sweetheart, who is just an English country girl, trying to keep the family mansion in the family’s possession, Gina Malo gives a very pleasing performance. A great cast includes Cyril Ritchard, Garry Marsh, Frank Pettingell, John Turnbull, and Iris Charles. The picture was directed by Herbert Smith, while those two wellknown British'song writers, Michael Carr and Jimmy Kennedy, were responsible for the popular theme song of the picture, “It’s a Grand Old World.” It’s an ideal song for Sandy, and the great comedian puts it over in an unforgettable manner. An additional attraction will be the appearance on the stage of Jack Carter, yodejling and singing cowboy, direct fronS a record-breaking Australian tour. A Supporting feature on the screen will be one of the series, ‘‘March of Time.”

Regent Theatre Screens “The Life Of Emile Zola” Warner Bros.’ great screen achievement, “The Life of Emile Zola,” enters its third week at the Regent Theatre today. This massive and brilliant combination of biographical narrative and historic drama, is one of. the outstanding productions of the year, and it is made of greater importance by Paul Muni’s portrayal of the French firebrand novelist Emile Zola, a portrait that outshines his notable Louis Pasteur. The story opens in 1862 with Zola, a struggling young avriter, living in poverty with Paul Cezanne, the painter, in a Paris garret, and the first third of the picture is a narrative of the novelist's struggle for recognition and his final success, wealth and acelaiiu. He is ready to rest on his laurels and his story seems over. Then comes the famous spy scare of .1895, tlie trial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, and his £xile to Devil’s Island, to save the prestige of the French General Staff. On the appeal of Dreyfus’s wife, Zola is at last aroused, and once more gets into action. Muni draws this character, with its French explosiveness, its tenderness, and its fighting strength (consistent with earlyi manhood to maturity), with deep insight and unfailing artistry. Also in the film are Oale Sondergaard, Erin o’Brieii-Moore, Joseph Schildkraut, and many others. A supporting feature will be "This Mortoring,” a pieturisation of Sir Stenson Cooke's 'famous book telling the history of the foundation of the Automobile Association of England of which h.‘ is general secretary. The film is being screened under the auspices of the Automobile Association (Wellington.) State Theatre Screening “Lancer Spy” Peter Lorre is co-featured with Dolores Del Rio and George Sanders in “Lancer Spy,” Twentieth Century-Fox espionage drama, which commences today at the State Theatre. A German officer in the Imperial high command, Lorre so successfully carries out his mission that he becomes, ironically, assistant head of the German counter-espionage bureau. When George Sanders, in the title role, arrives in Berlin impersonating a German officer, he incurs the suspicion of Lorre’s chief, who assigns him to investigate. Realising that he must protect the suspected man if he really is a spy, Lorre attempts to find him out with the aid of Miss Del Rio, but Sanders is successful in evading detection. Carrying his extraordinary exploits to bold lengths, Sanders is decorated by the

Kaiser, and up to the exciting climax of the film is unaware of Lorre’s pro-Brit-ish espionage activities. In the thrilling, fast-paced series of events marking the exposure of Sanders, Lorre cleverly aids his fellow-spy to complete his mission, at the same time protecting his own position so that he can return, undetected, to his own activities in the very midst of German counter-espionage work. Double-Feature Programme At De Luxe "Cafe Colette,” which commences today at tlie De Luxe Theatre, contains all the essentials of a thrilling spy story. The agents of a foreign power, by a subterfuge, have secured possession of the coveted formula for a super explosive. But the formula is false, and they now cunningly seek the correct one with the aid of Vanda, the beautiful Parisian dancer, charmingly played by Greta Nissen. Unfortunately for the plotters she has fallen in love with the proposed victim, Captain Roger Manning (Bruee Seton), a British agent. The associate feature is “The Women Men Marry," starring George' Murphy and Josephine Hutchison. “Victoria The Great” Continues At Plaza Theatre Because of the conflicting emotions it arouses, “Victoria the Great,” which enters its third week at. the Plaza Theatre to-day, is replete with sufprises. There is never a dull moment as the film sweeps rapidly through its wide cycle of Empire events. The audience thrills to the scene where the Queen, by stern exercise of her royal will, averts war between the United States and England when she checks a too autocratic Prime Minister. Lord Palmerston, from sending what amounts to an ultimatum to AVashington. Anna Neagle, popular English film actress, appears in the title role, costarred with Anton Walbrook, international stage and screen star, with Walter Rilla and H. B. Warner as featured players. Lord Melbourne, Victoria’s Prime Minister, is portrayed by H. B. Warner. Rilla is cast as Prince Ernest, Albert’s chum, with whom he suffers all the agonies of seasickness when the two are en route to England on a Channel paddle steamer, one of the film’s lighter moments. New Paramount Screens “Rose Marie” The singing sweethearts of “Naughty Marietta,” Nelson Eddy and Jeanette

MacDonald, are starred in “Rose Marie,” the gorgeous romance of an operatic star and a sergeant of the Royal North-West Mounted Police, which begins a return season at the New Paramount Theatre to-day. Others m the cast are Reginald -Owen and j(llan Jones. A supporting feature will be “Going Bye Bye,” with Laurel and Hardy.