ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 287, 31 August 1938, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

“The Perfect Specimen” At Regent Theatre "The Perfect Specimen,’’ a comedydrama starring the immensely popular Errol Flynn and the no less well-liked Joan Blondell, is featured for an extended season at the Regent Theatre. This Warner Bros, production has been rated by pre-view critics as among the very best laugh-and-thrill photoplays of the year. It is said to show that Flynn, in addition to his qualities as a swashbuckling lighter with ancient weapons, is also a first-class battler with the gloved fists in the roped arena —a new locale for the handsome Irishman. An amusing idea actuates the story ot "The Perfect Specimen.”, An immensely wealthy grandmother, with ideas of her own about eugenics and environment, thinks that Errol, her descendant, should be brought up all his life on her estate and trained to be what the title of the movie indicates. Chance (and Miss Blondell) get him off the estate and he has his own way to make in a world of which he has been completely innocent. He proves that his tutoring has not been in vain, even when it comes down to boxing. He has been taught that as well as everything else, and he comes pretty close to fulfilling his grandma s hopes. There are two fights in the show, both of which Errol wins; there is a kidnapping scare; there’s a goofy poet, played by Hugh Herbert; a whimsical secretary to the old lady, played by Edward Everett Horton; a tough truck driver, played by Allen Jenkins; an energetic youth, played by Dick Foran, of western-movie fame; an attractive young lass, played, by Beverly Roberts —and no end of other amusing characters. “Boy Of The Streets” At St. James Theatre The characterisation of Jackie Cooper as the slum child who fights his way in life against adverse environment has seldom been better depicted than in the new Monogram release "Boy of the Streets, screening at the St. James Theatre. “Cocoanut Grove.” For the first time in their motion picture career, the Yacht Club Boys, who burst in and out of the plot in "Artists and Models” and "Thrill of a Lifetime, are given real character roles in ‘ Cocoanut Grove,” Paramount’s new film opening on Friday at the St. James Theatre, and tehir delicious antics are a running gag all through the picture. The story ot "Cocoanut Grove,” which stars I’red Mac Murray and has a featured cast ot such well-known entertainers as Harriet Hilliard, Ben Blue, Rufe Davis, Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiian Orchestra and Dorothy Howe, is the story of a happy-go-lucky swing band leader and his hungry crew playing their way to fame and fortune at Hollywood’s famous night spot, the Cocoanut Grove. 'lu their hilarious trek across country from Chicago to Los Angeles, the swing-nutty band annexes a kid, little Billy Lee, a sweet singing girl, Miss Hilliard, who in turn annexes Mac Murray’s heart, and a hillbilly comic, Rufe Davis. Adventures, mishaps and screwy situations are strung along the way. Among the new highlights of “Cocoanut Grove” is the first screen appearance of Harry Owens, wno composed the recent song hit "Sweet Leilani.” and his Royal Hawaiian Orchestra.

“The Drum,” Starring Sabu, At Plaza Theatre “Elephant Boy” Sabu, the darkly attractive young man whose adventures in the land where the elephants dance established him as a new kind of screen star, is back again in "The Drum,” the film version of a novel by A. E. W. Mason now showing at the Plaza Theatre. This time Sabu has the role of an Indian princeling who lives on the north-west frontier and who .is converted to friendship with the English after observing their behaviour under fire. It 'has comic soldier scenes and moments of intensity in which the whang of bullets in mountainous valleys hits the ear like a hammer. The cast is headed by Raymond Massey and supported by Roger Levesey, Martin Walker and Valerie Hobson, Among the supports is the “March of Time,” a film featuring national and international events. Last Days For “Merrily We Live” At Majestic Theatre "Merrily We Live” continues to attract capacity audiences at the Majestic Theatre. Constance Bennett and Brian Aherne are co-starred for the first time in this hilarious farce which ends its successful season to-morrow. Among the supports is a film of the third Rugby Test between the All Blacks and Australia. “Three Comrades.” In the new’ picture, "Three Comrades,” which begins a season at the Majestic Theatre on Friday, Robert Taylor and Margaret Sullavan provide a poignant romance, with Franchot Tone and Robert Young, also in stellar roles, adding performances which will rematin long in the memory of the moviegoer. “The Sheik Steps Out” At De Luxe Theatre A worthy successor has been found for the mantle of the late Rudolph Valentino in "The Sheik Steps Out," at the De Luxe Theatre. The associate feature, “Borrowing Trouble,” is a hilarious comedy, starring the popular Jones family. “New Zealand Marches On,” a review of topical events, is shown in support.

Thrilling Drama Screening At State Theatre The escapades of Alan Breck and David Balfour, characters of Robert Louis Stevenson’s immortal novel “Kidnapped,’’ are vividly and thrillingly portrayed by Warner Baxter and Freddie Bartholomew in the film now showing at the State Theatre. The leading feminine role is taken by Arleen Whelan, who becomes enamoured to Alan Breck. The cast of “Kidnapped” includes C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, John Caradine, Nigel Bruce, Miles Mander, Ralph Forbes and H. B. Warner. “The Baroness And The Butler” At Tudqr Theatre “The Baroness and the Butler,” now showing at the Tudor Theatre, co-stars William Powell and Annabella in a blithe screen version of the stage hit that had half of Europe agog. The associate feature is “'Walking Down Broadway,” starring Michael 'Whalen. Claire Trevor, Leah Ray and Dixie Dunbar. Double-Feature Programme At Paramount Theatre “I See lee,” starring the happy-go-lucky George Formby, is' sh, owing for a return season at the Paramount Theatre. Supporting the comedian are Kay Walshe, the attractive heroine, Frank Leighton, Cyril Ritchard and Betty Stockfield. “The Cherokee Strip,” the Warner Bros, melodrama starring Dick Foran, is the associate feature.

Madame Karno’s Monkey Circus At Opera House Madame Karno’s monkey circus, a stage show containing much of interest, is presented at matinees at. the Opera House On the screen there is an entertaining picture. “The Captain’s Kid,” starring Sybil Jason, May Robson, and Guy Kibbee, and in support a number of cartoons is shown. For the night sessions the main film is “Prison Break.” The main parts are played by Barton Maclane nnd G-lenda Farrell.