ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 71, 16 December 1938, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENTS

Laurel And Hardy Featured At

Regent Theatre

Flashed by on the screen of the Regent Theatre .is a eoneoction of mirthful adventures that should, appeal to anyone fond of hearty laughter, "Blockheads,'’ which begiUH with a giggle and ends with a guffaw. Here are Laurel and Hardy at their funniest. In the new Hal Roaeh-M.-G.-M. feature. Stan is seen as a returned soldier. His return to his native shores is somewhat delayed (twenty years, in fac;) by his devotion to duty. He is hailed as a hero and becomes more and more bewildered at the acclaim. Oliver Hardy comes to the rescue and takes him to his home. But instead of the peace, quiet, and hearty, appetising meals that Hardy bus promised, Laurel finds himself in n maelstrom of domestic intrigue. Minna Goiubell, as the shrewish wife of Harry, Patricia Ellis as the well-meaning neighbour; Billy Gilbert, with his well-known brand of dialect, as a big game hunter from Africa, and Janies Finlayson add immeasurably to the fun with excellent characterisations. John G. Blystone keeps the film moving at a brisk pace, with the hilarious gags springing up spontaneously from the amusing opening sequence to what is undoubtedly- qtte of the most ludicrous finales the camera has yet caught.

Claudette Colbert In “Tovarich” Continues At Majestic

“Tovarich,” the screen version of the world-wide successful play, continues lor the second week of its season at the Majestic Theatre. Produced by M arner Bros, on an unusually' lavish scale and having Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer as its stars, the picture is regarded as one of the funniest and most entertaining of the season's releases. The story finds- Miss Colbert as a grand duchess and Boyer, her husband, as a prince, both of the old Russian nobility, almost, starving in Paris, to which capital they have been driven by the Soviet revolution. This is despite the fact that they have deposited in a Paris bank some 40 billion francs. But their honour won't let them touch this money because it was given to them in trust ijy the Tsar. Efforts are made by certain I 1 rench-Russian interests to have the prince release the 40 billion to finance a counter-revolution which might restore the old nobility to control. He refuses, though he is promised plenty of money for himself and his wife. The entry of a Soviet commissar to the scene in an effort to secure the money leads to complications, giving rise to numerous and thrilling episodes. “The Crowd Roars.” The central character of "The Crowd Roars,” starring Robert Taylor, with Ed; ward Arnold, Maureen O'Sullivan and Jane Wyman, is a composite character, combining the characteristics of many champions and enacting incidents in the careers of others. He is credited with a ’’lucky punch” with which be knocks opponents out, after being well behind on points. His famous namesake, Al McCoy. won the middleweight title of the world from George Chip, with what was universally believed to be a very lucky punch, a wild right swiug to the jaw. “The Crowd Roars”-is to be the holiday attraction at the Mhjestic Theatre.

“My Lucky Star” Continues At King’s Theatre

Superb photography, part in sepia toning, permits Sonja Henle to be seen to good advantage in “My Lucky Star, which continues for the third week of its extended season at the King's Theatre. Sonia has a new role aa a young American girl of Scandinavian parentage who

works in a big city store. The dissolute young son of the managing director, played by Cesar Romero, has a brainwave and' sends Sonja to a big university under instructions to wear as many of the firm's magnificent winter clothes on at< many different occasions as possible. The job is no sinecure, for many feminine hearts are seized with jealousy when the pretty blonde skater appears on the college campus in a different outfit four times a day. One consolation which makes up for this is that the most attractive young man in the college, played by Richard Green, him been captivated by Sonja, am) stands by her in all her difficulties Everything leads up to the great college ice carnival, at which Sonja taken all honours. Supports include an unusually good travelogue and topical newsreels.

Will Hay In “Convict 99” Now

At State Theatre

The inimitable Will Hay gets mixed up with a gang of "jail-birdo” in his latest film. "Convict 99." which begins at the State Theatre today. In “Convict 99" Will Hay is a doctor who lias applied for a position at a prison and is welcpm»ed as the new governor. After getting mixed up with various intrigues he is thrown into prison, \\ hen he comes out he begins to reform the entire policy of the prison and starts by fitting every cell up as “exclusive apartments.'' Ambrose and his Band, Evelyn Hall. Harry Richmond and Florence Desmond are (lie stars of the new Gaunxmt-British t'lominions musical production. “Kicking the Moon Around,” which is the associate film. Combining all that its best in rhythmic dance music, original humour and carefree romance, this outstanding film is designed to exploit to the full the brilliant and contrasting talents and personalities of these well-known figures of stage, screen and radio.

“Hitting A New High” Begins

At Plaza Theatre

The latest Lily Pons musical film. “Hitting a New High,” which begins at the Plaza Theatre today, ranks as the most colourful and am-using of the diva’s three films. With Jack Guide co-starred, it it) a hilarious story with great, opportunities for the singing star to introduce musica 1 numbers logically. The story is a delightful satire on the politics of a great opera company. A feud between the company’s wealthy patron, played by Edward Everett Horton, and its Impresario, played by Eduardo Cianelli, is the basis on which most of the action turns. Miss Pons, a night club entertainer who is ambitious to crash the gates of grand opera, is caught between the two in the battle. 'Neatly counter-bal-ancing this theme, is a rom-antic plot involving John Howard and the singer.

“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” At

Opera House

“Alexander's Ragtime Band” begins a revival season at the Grand Opera House today. The film depicts the hardships and disappointments of a young musician to establish a small band in Hollywood. Alice Faye and Don Ameche portray the stirring story, laid in America’s most tumultuous decades, to the accompaniment of 26 Irving Berlin favourites. Two additional Berlin tunes were written, specially for the film. Ethel Merman, Jack Haley, Jean Hersholt, Helen Westley, John Carradine, Paul Hurst, Wally Vernon, Ruth Terry, Douglas Fowley, Chick Chandler, and Eddie Collins are included in the cast. "Adventurous Blonde,” the Warner Bros, comedy-drama, which is the associate feature, is the third in the series of "Torchy Blane” newspaper-mystery-comedy dramas, featuring Glenda Farrell and Barton Mae Lane. Glenda plays a girl reporter. Barton is a rather ponderous detective-lieutenant.

“Our Fighting Navy” Comes To

St. Janies Theatre

In “Our Fighting Navy,” which begins at the St. Janies Theatre, the British Navy is seen to advantage in a situation * parallel to the international crisis which swept Europe recently. The film was produced with the co-operation of the British Admiralty and the story behind the making is as exciting as anything on the screen. When Herbert Wilcox decided to make the picture be realized that he would have to find a. dramatic human story to sei against, the background nt the Navy. He ciiose “Bartimus —himself a naval officer and the best known among the present-day writers of sea stories — to prepare the story. Simultaneously with the completion of the story civil war broke out in Spain and the Navy had to go to the rescue of British subjects and refugees endangered in the general disorder. Bluejackets found themselves playing the role of mother, nursemaid, mid universal protector to these unfortunates —and this was almost exactly the story which “Bartimus" had written. , The film depicts the invaluable work which the British Navy does in peace time —saieguarding trade routes, going to the aid of those in need, upholding the prestige of the nation-—a story which lias never before been told on the screen. The plot is set in a mythical South American Republic where revolt breaks out, compelling the President to take refuge in the British Consulate. The British Consul refuses to hand over the President to the rebels who station a battleship in the harbour and are threatening to blow tun Consulate to pieces. A British cruiser dashes to the .scene and goes into action to protect the Consulate, which it does in a thrilling denouement. The cast of “Our Fighting Navy” is headed by 11. B. Warner, Richard Cromwell, Robert Douglas, Hazel Terry, and Noah Beery.

“The Great Garrick” Returns To Paramount Theatre

A gav comedy of the eighteenth century. "The Great Garrick,” starring Brian Aherne and Olivia de Havilland, is screening at the Paramount Theatre today. Though it is a costume play—the period being the 1750’s and the locale the theatres of London and Paris—it is not drama, nor is it a serious biographical sketch of David Garrick, who was at that time the world’s greatest actor.As the intrepid officer in the supporting picture, “Highway Patrol,” Robert Paige faces sinister undercover slayers who menace the lives of thousands. Getting a leave- of absence from regular duties Paige struggles to save a gigantic oil refinery and the girl he loves from a murderous combine bent on destroying both.

“Professor Beware” Begins At

De Luxe Theatre

California scenery has in fjie past doubled for. almost every outdoor spot in the world, but it recently took an unusually bad beating for scenes from Paramount’s new Harold Lloyd comedy, "Professor Beware,” which opens today at the De Luxe Theatre. The story of the comedy’ calls for a mad chase from Los Angeles to New York and the exteriors required took in almost every typical American outdoor scene. The screen romance with the most exotie background of tjie year is Paramount’s jungle saga, “Booloo,” featuring the handsome. New Zealander, Colin Tapley, which is the associate feature.

“Strange Boarders” Returns To

Tudor Theatre

“Strange Boarders,”’ starring. Tom Walls, returns today to the Tudor Theatre. The strange hoarders are a motley crew from whom Tom Walls, in his role of secret service agent, hopes to discover the identity of an international

spy who has been clever- enough to obtain copies of new aeronautical plans from the stronghold of a government office. Supporting Tom Walls in this picture is Renee Saint-Cyr, who appears as his wife; Googie Withers as a vampish inaid-of-all-work; Ronald Adam as a blind man; and Leon M. Lion in the role of a cockney laundry manager. The second feature is “Young and Innocent.” starring Nova Pilbeam and Derrick de Marney.