STATE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 66, 10 December 1938, Page 16

STATE THEATRE

First Double Feature Programme

V double feature programme was presented at the State Theatre yesterdnj. the screening of this type of. entert u - ment being announced as the future P H. ’ey at that bouse. There were no shoiSU ‘\Mr. Moto Takes u Chance,” which occupies the second half ot the iit-osjrriininr*. gives another episode in the lite ot tn Japanese character Mr. Moto, which

Peter Lorre is rapidly making famous on the screen. time he is in Cam bodia. ostensibly excavating old temples in pursuit of archaeology. but actually spying f’Ti the French Government on the activities of the high priest of a native kingdom who is plotting rebellion, ills work is compli-

cated by the presence of two American cameramen whose actions arc misunderstood by the pries! and by an American aviatrix who stages a crash in the jungle nearby. The superstition of the natives, the affection of the fat rajah for the girl (Rochelle Hudson), the endeavours of the cameramen to get unusual shots in sacred places, and the attempts of Moto to dominate the priest by disguising himself as a wierd old sage are other conflicting motives in the plot. Many are the eerie and exciting scenes among the ruins of the old temples. The film screened first is “Romance in Flanders,’’ featuring Paul Cavanagh. It tells its story by working backward from the present day to the days of the war. A British ex-soldier and his French wife go to a reunion in Flanders, and there she discovers working as a battiefield tourist guide a man who had been her husband's rival for her hand and her real lover during the war and who had been supposed dead. She finds out from him that after their marriage her husband had deliberately prevented his wounded comrade’s identification so that he should be able to keep her for himself. There are some very dramatic scenes, both wartime and post-war, but the plot does not hold together completely. Cavanagh has the touching role of the man deprived of romance by war. and Marcelle Chantal that of the girl. The film is English. PLAZA THEATRE * “I’ll Give A Million” Set in a port in the south of France, the 20th Century-Fox production, “I’ll Give a Million,” which opened its Wellington season at the Plaza theatre yesterday, is one of the most hilarious Hollywood romances of the year. Warner Baxter is starred as a millionaire who finds nil his friends to be too keenly interested in his fortune. The comedy, and romance, begins when be exchanges his lot for a time with, a tramp. As his yacht steams out of port he goes overboard in answer to the cry of a drowning tramp for help. After getting the man ashore he spends the night in his bunk under an abandoned scow, and in the morning makes off in the tramp’s clothes. Hilarious and ludicrous are the scenes which follow as tlie population searches for the millionaire in tramp’s clothes. The large-hearted citizens entertain all the tramps of the town in the hope qf finding him —for Baxter has said he will give a million francs for a real friend. Marjorie Weaver,, gives a fine performance as the niece of the clown in a circus Baxter joins. She thinks she is marrying a tramp, to. find a millionaire. Incidentally some of the best comedy of the film, follows Baxter's decision to establish his identity. Good support is given the lead by Peter Lorre. Jean Ilersholt, John Carradine, Lynn- Bari and Fritz Feld. The supporting programme is a varied and interesting one.