ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Happy Intrigue In Paris In ‘•Midnight” At Regent

As a vivacious chorus girl who arrives in Paris penniless but cheerful, and who earns the privilege to move among the most exalted cu-cles by her vivacity alone, Claudette Colbert once more reveals her flair for comedy, in “Midnight,” which has entered the second week of a season at the Regent Theatre. As may be imagined, the trend of events that enable her to achieve the almost impossible is truly hilarious, but the acting of the entire cast is at all times so unforced and natural, and the sparkling wit so disarming and appropriate, that the light-heart-ed plot never appears unconvincing. Don Ameche gives one of his more _ polished performances as a typical Parisian taxidriver who is the first to meet Claudette Colbert, and whose innate sense of gallant French chivalry sets her on her highly-amusing career. The closing scenes, where the chorus girl’s identity is in danger of becoming revealed, have been most adroitly handled, and the maximum suspense and its consequent humorous effect have been skilfully attained.

“The Saint” Of Service Again

At State Theatre

Dealing with the further exploits of Simon Templar a modern' Robin Hood, otherwise known as “The Saint,” is “The Saint Strikes Back,” the main feature at the State Theatre. The most amazing character in the annals of crime, this smiling, deadly killer, carries on a oneman campaign against gangsters. But unlike law enforcement agencies, “The Saint” is an outlaw himself, fights murder with murder, and steals the ill-gotten gains of other criminals. It is “The Saint's” ruthless crusade against the mysterious leader of a crime ring in a large city, with which “The Saint Strikes Back” deals primarily. Becoming interested in the plight of a beautiful girl whose father has been victimized by the underworld overlord, “The Saint” cooperates with the police in bringing the criminal to justice. As a circus performer who hates horses, but who appears under the Big Top daily doing a bareback riding stunt that captivates the audience, is Joe Penner in “I’m From the City,” the other feature. The truth is, however, that Joe is capable of equestrian feats only when hypnotized I An elderly ranchwoman sees his stunt and takes him back to her ranch so that he can win the annual horse race for her —and that is the beginning of much good fun.

Bright Musical Comedy Begins Season At Majestic

Eleanor Powell makes the most of every opportunity to show her wonderful dancing talent in “Honolulu,” the bright musical comedy which will begin a season at the Theatre Majestic today. "Honolulu” is not only provided with an entertaining story, but the dialogue and. above all, the beautiful settings of the principal’s .splendid sequences, mark it out as a most colourful production. Robert Young has a delightful dual role as a famous actor in need- of a holiday and a plantation owner who is not averse to trying his hand as an actor, and the two change places. The actor, however, finds that he has run into trouble in the plantation owner’s fiancee, who is determined that her marriage shall be postponed no longer; and occasional scenes of his double, who has undertaken personal appearances at New York theatres, show that he has fared little better. Most of the gay humour is provided by George Burns and Grade Allen, both of whom have typically “feather-brained’ roles, and other main parts are taken by Rita Johnson and Clarence Kolb. Included in a series of song numbers specially written for the film by the celebrated composers Gus. Kahn and Harry Warren, are “Honolulu,” “This Night Will Be My Souvenir,” and "The Leader Doesn’t Like Music.” and among the dance numbers are "Hymn to the Sun,” a splendid spectacle in which Miss Powell and hundreds of Hula girls take part, and a clever impersonation of Bill Robinson.

“Heart Of The North” Shows At St. Janies Theatre

A tale of the Royal Canadian .Mounted Police, "Heart of cue North,” will begin a season at the St. James Theatre today. Authentic in every detail, the picture destroys many a widespread. misconception of the operations and daily existence of the Canadian "Mounties,” but the actuality, as vividly portrayed in "Heart of the North,” turns out to be even more thrilling and certainly more interesting than the popular delusions. This production in colour has been made on the same large scale us all of the previous. ’ Warner Bros.’ colour pictures, and it has a cast so liberally sprinkled with outstanding nair.es that any one of at least half a dozen players could, with equal justice, be called the star. . The hero is Dick Foran, big and red-headed, who is most effective in outdoor pictures, and there are three giris, every one of whom could be nominated as heroine—they are Gloria Dickson, Gale Page, and little Janet Chapman, six-year-old starlet, who recently captured the hearts of a host of motion-picture enthusiasts in “Broad-way Musketeers.” Other important roles arc filled by Allen Jenkin®, Patrie Knowles, James Stephenson, Anthony xlverill, Joe Sawyer, Joseph King, Russell Simpson, and a dog actor who “steals” some of the scenes in which he appears—he is a huge police dog, called "Rex” in this picture, but in reality the famous “Lightning,” who was starred in “White Fang” and other films. . The country in which the story is laid is that wild stretch which borders the Mackenzie River in the far north-weet of Canada jyst below the Arctic Circle.

Stark & Human Drama Screens At King’s Theatre

Merle Oberon is cast as Cathy, Hottempered, devil-may-care nineteenth century lass who runs wild over the moors and crags of Yorkshire, in “Wutliering Heights,’ which will begin the second week of a season at- the King’s Theatre today. Cathy's beauty and vivacity attract the loves of two men—brooding and darksome IJeutlicliff (Laurence Olivier) and ooeially prominent Edgar Linton (David Niven). In her youth Cathy turns to Heatheliff in spite of his boorish manners and strange ways—because their love is mingled with Ihe mystery of tne moors. But Cathy’s love is not strong enough to stand the blows of disappointment. Heathcliff does not fulfil her childlike dreams and coiuiuer Hie world to lay at her feet. Instead, he deteriorates into a lowly stable boy, content to be near her and worship her. A strange and unhappy climax separates the lovers. Heathcliff disappears and Cathy marries Edgar J.iuton. But after two years Heathcliff returns, determined on revenge to teach the woman lie still loves the ways of pain. Mystery & Comedy Attractions At De Luxe Theatre The basis for “Bulldog" Drummond’s latest adventure, in “Bulldog” Drummond’s Secret Police,” an exciting and thrilling drama which will be the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre lor a season beginning today, is a 300-y-ear-old fabnlouw ’treasure in gold and jewels buried by Royalist soldiers. Drummond no longer lias to seek adventurn for in this film, adventure seeks him out: A’ famed scientist and a sinister criminal arrive simultaneously to look for the treasure which is buried in the depth of Drummond’s own castle; and when the criminal murders the scientist and earrie.--off Drummond's fiancee —they had hoped to be married the next day—Drummond joins in the hunt for the criminal. “Boy Trouble.” the. other attraction concerns the laughs, joys, and heartbreaks of modern family life. Mary . Boland and Charlie Ruggley head the cast.

Women Who Fly Provide Theme For Film At Plaza

Though the screen has given us many “epics of the air” and countless stories of aviation in cne form or another, "Tail Spin,” whiefi will begin a season at the Pmza Theatre today, i H a story of women who lly, the thrills that come with their s-plit-second,escapes, and the heart-throbs behind their spectacular lives. With Alice Faye as Trixie, Constance Bennett as Gerry and Nancy Kelly as Lois, “Tail Spin" is the exciting ta e of these three who brush wings with death in the gamble they can lose only once. Trixie flies for the money that s. m it, Gerry because she finds the sky s the place to hide from love, and Lois because it brings her closer to the man she loves. Exciting Saga Of New Zealand At Opera House liuvin-' recaptured in sound and sight the glon- of the days before the commj of the white man to Now Zealand, Hei Tiki,” which will begin a season at the Opera House today, tells of. the love of Manui, daughter of a chieftain tor Ma a, warrior of an enemy tribe, and of Mata s impersonation of the war god Manui is to be sacrificed. Not tb e “ exciting' sequences in the film a,e showing the lovers’ flight from M-m s people who pursue them across a Like n (50ft. war canoes—which were s P e l, !' ) £ built for the film. The climax of the picture is particularly exciting, being a spectacular pitched battle between th rival tribes, fought with typical Maon fervour. Double-Feature Programme At Paramount Theatre “Blondie,” of the American newspaper comic strip becomes a Hollywood star-in “Blondie,” the main feature on a doublefeature programme, which will IK pre seated at the I’arumount Theatre ' from today. The plot, following the motif of tlm popular characters, revolves round the astonishing ability of sincere but blundering Dagwood to get himself into diversified trouble. In tins particular instance, the young husband and fi ther has innocently become involved with a "•old-digging girl mimed Elsie who, working on his naive sympathy, has wheed ed him into signing her note for several hundred dollars. . Elsie has vanished and Dagwood its lett literally boldin tt tht sack. To make it worse, his endorsement was backed by a lien upon his household furniture. . „. . Thrills aplenty are there in the conflict between Jimmy Keenan who goes his own right way of living, and his brother who is the most successful racketeer in New York, in "Streets of New York, the other feature. The brother does not interfere with Jimmy’s night-schooling to become a lawyer, or with his support or little Gimpy. an orphaned crippled . boy, by selling newspapers, but it is to Jimmy he turns when he is hunted for the killing of a policeman. Picture Of Daring Outlawry Presented At Tudor No excuses for the fact that Jesse Janies came to be utterly ruthless in his outlaw escapades, are made in the picture, “Jesse James," which has returned to Wellington to screen at the Tudor Theatre. Nevertheless it does indicate that at the outset of his outlaw career the tide of fate wily against him. Driven with his brother, Frank, into the realms beyond the law by his simple determination to exact vengeance for the murder of his mother by a employee of the railroad which is just beginning to thrust its way across the vast grazing lands of, the West, he finds a joy in the new life of freedom and danger. 'There is still the rancour in his heart, however, and, though for a time he finds happiness in his marriage with Zcralds. a gently-nur-tured girl who gives up her life of ease to share his wild reckless liff when she finally leaves him he becomes a cold and ruthless desperado. The associate film will be the musical eomedv version of Alexander Dumas’ “The Three' Musketeers.” The Ritz Brothers masquerade as musketeers, but they know more about the use of carving knives 1 than swords.