ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 243, 11 July 1938, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

Robert Taylor In “Yank At Oxford” At Majestic

“A Yank at Oxford,” at the Majestic Theatre, offers Robert Taylor his most convincing vole to date, and more than repays Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the time and effort spent in producing in England pictures equal in calibre to any made in Hollywood. In presenting Taylor in the title role as the cocky, all-star athlete who comes to Oxford to ‘‘teach the natives” and himself learns much in return, ‘‘A Yauk at Oxford” affords the star his greatest opportunity to demonstrate his athletic ability, his figir for comedy, and his ability to handle genuinely dramatic scenes. Lionel Barrymore, as Taylor’s father, and Maureen O'Sullivan, as the English undergraduate whom the hero meets at Oxford, lend their accustomed polished performances. "Test Pilot.” Based on an original story by Lieuten-ant-Commander Frank Wead, "Test Pilot,” a coming attraction at the Majestic Theatre, is an authentic aviation story steeped in the colourful traditions of the men who are building the future of aviation, test pilots who try new ships before they are approved. Thrilling Hying sequences, filmed with nine ground cameras and nine aerial cameras, provide the background for a new type of triangle. Clark Gable, in the title role, is divided between his love for Myrna Loy and his love of flying. The conflict between his wife and his job is the basis of a plot which incorporates scenes from air races, testing of . new planes, riotous night club sequences and touching romantic scenes between Gable and Miss Loy. Spencer Tracy is also starred. Paul Mantz, co-pilot and navigator with Afnelia Earhart, assisted by Ray Moore, a prominent racing flyer, was the technical adviser for the production of the film.

“Trial Of Portia Merriman”

At Regent

“There, but for the grace of God, I, Portia Merriman, would be facing a verdict of life or death—instead of this young, unfortunate victim of a coward's infatuation.” A sensational outburst from the lips of the country’s foremost woman barrister, forced by circumstances to be a stranger to her own son, and later ordered by Fate to defend the murderess of that son’s father. This is the problem of Portia Merriman, played with illuminating depth and insight by Frieda Inescort in “The Trial of Portia Merriman,” at the Regent Theatre. Heather Angel will not be soon forgotten as the unhappy English girl who is taken over to America only to learn the bitterness of scorn and hatred. Her betrayal forms the background of the dramatic trial scene, which has had few peers in screen history. “The Big Broadcast Of 1938.” “The Big Broadcast of 1938” opens its Wellington season at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Its cast of more than 100 stage and cinema stars includes W. C. Feilds, Kirsten Flagsted and Shop Fields and his swing band.

“Mademoiselle Docteur” At State Theatre

“Mhdamoiselle Docteur,” in which two great Continental favourites appear in a British firm for the first time, is being screened at the State Theatre. They are the blonde beauty of many German suecesses J Dita Parlo, and that great Hollywood‘figure, who a few years ago dominated the screen as a writer, director, and actor Erich von Stroheim. Others gathered for the leading roles in this film are , John Loder, Claire Luce, Gyles Isham, Clifford Evans.and John Abbott. “Mademoiselle Docteur,” is a story women around one of the most incredible charactors of modern history—Dr. Anna Maria Lessey—the German woman spy who became known during the war as Mademoiselle Docteur. Stroheim plays the role of the head of the German secret service. Also on the is a film record of the first cricket Test match between Australia and England.

Two Film Dramas At King’s

Theatre

“Charlie Chan at -Monte Carlo,” which heads the programme at the King's Theatre, is a drama of the gaming halls. Behind the laughter and banter of of pleasure-seekers, there is a tremendous stake in'etock manipulation which spells success for one. man and ruin for another. Into all the gaiety and sinister contrast of this latest and best of Twentieth Century-Fox’s Chan thrillers comes Charlie Chau and his Number One Son, Keye Luke, Depicting, the courageous fight of a beautiful young feminine lawyer, who risks love and reputation to save a simple backwoods girl, only to bo doomed by backwoods vengeance, "Career Woman” is the second feature. Claire Trevor and Michael •Whalen are cast in the leading romantic roles. Isabel Jewell, Erie Linden, Virginia Field and Gene Lockhart are also feature.

“Romance For Three” Showing At St. James

Nearly every poor man would like to enjoy the life of a millionaire for two weeks, and every rich man would like to go back to the simple pleasures—-at least for the same time. And that’s just what Frank Morgan, Robert Young and Reginald Owen do in the escapade of the Alps upon which “Romance for Three,” at the St. James Theatre, is based. Morgan turns poor while the other two actors become rich and powerful. Morgan, who has won a contest and has been given two weeks’ vacation at an exclusive Alpine resort, appears to be a poor man and therefore is treated badly by the management. Only one man is kind to him, and he is Henry Hull, the dishwasher. 'When Morgan’s family makes him return to his normal life ae the wealthy capitalist, he makes the dishwasher boss. Edna May Oliver, Florence Rico and Mary Astor have prominent parts.

“The Secret Of Lan Ying” And Comedy At De Luxe

The power behind the throne is the role played by Anna May Wong in “The Secret of Lan Ying,” the Paramount drama of a political monarch -who is ruined when he tries to trade his blackjack for a silk hat, at the De Luxe Theatre. Miss Wong, most recently seen as the secret agent in “Daughter of Shanghai,” plays the part of Akim Tamiroff’s friend and adviser in this story of the inside workings of a boss-ruled community. When Tamiroffi casts her aside like an old shoe in order to leave himself free to pursue a beautiful girl of the country club set, Miss Wong turns the tables on him and ultimately brings about his ruin. Her role in “The Secret of Lan Ying ’ is the type which has put Miss Wong m the front rank of Oriental players. The second feature is “Prescription for Bomance,” a riotous comedy, with Mischa Auer, 'Wendy Barrie and Kent Taylor.

Sonja Henie Film At The Plaza

Theatre “Happy Landing,” a film which presents Sonja Henie in settings as wide apart as a Norwegian folk festival and New York ice carnivals, continues its successful season at the Plaza Theatre. It tells the story of a song-writing band leader (Cesar Romero) who flies across the Atlantic for a publicity stunt and comes down in a Norwegian fog-bank almost in the middle of a folk festival known as a “Bride’s Fair.” The custom which starts the trouble is a rule that it a young man dances twice with the same girl at the party, he has proposed. The band leader, a little bit amused because one lovelorn little girl is giving him plenty of bis favourite food —hero worship—dances twice with Sonja Heme. That starts the show on its way.

“Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife” At New Opera House

“Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife,” which is continuing its Wellington season at the New Opera House, started with considerable advantage as a comedy when it bad Gary Cooper, Claudette Colbert, the material of a stage play that rocked its tens of thousands of theatregoers and Ernst Lubitsch. Cooper appears as Michael Brandon, multi-millionaire, yh° is playing around on the Riviera while conducting big deals by trans-Atlantic telephone, and Claudette Colbert as Nicole de Loiselle, who is going to be (though she doesn’t know it) Bluebeard s (Cooper’s) eighth wife. In the strange courtship which follows, there are some moments of pure comedy as good as anything that has been seen on the screeen.

“Oh! Mr. Gadd” And Irish Drama At New Paramount

“Oh 1 Mr. Gadd,” the film produced in Wellington, has been successfully launched at the Paramount Theatre. It has a simple but entertaining story running through it. It is written by a clever young Wellingtonian, Miss Phyllis Fitzgerald. The leading players are Miss Grade Kerr and Mr. Selwyn Toogood, who are both well-known Wellington amateurs. “Oh 1 Mr. Gadd” was directed by Mr. Harison Cook. “The Plough and the Stars,” which will be the associate feature, is taken from the play by Sean O’Casey. Heading the cast are Barbara Stanwyck and Preston Foster.