ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

“The Saint Strikes Back” At The State Simon Templar a modern Robin Hood, known as “The Saint,” the central figure of “The Saint Strikes Baek,’ the main feature at the State Theatre. It in “The Saint’s” ruthless crusade against the mysterious leader of a crime ring in a large city, with which “The Saint Strikes Baek” de-als 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 equestian feats only when hypnotized I Claudette Colbert In Comedy At Regent 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 Ameehe 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 revealeel, have been most adroitly handled, and the maximum suspense and its consequent humorous effect have been skilfully attained. “The Girl Downstairs.” The next change at tha Regent Theatre will be “The Girl Downstairs,” a delightful story of a modern Cinderella and brought to the screen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. “The Girl Downstairs” will open its Wellington season at the Regent next Thursday, and will show Franchot Tone, Franciska Gaal, and Reginald Owen at their best. Eleanor Powell In Musical Comedy At Majestic Eleanor Powell makes the most of every opportunity to show her wonderful dancing talent in “Honolulu,” the bright musical comedy at the Theatre Majestic. “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. In the supporting cast are the inimitable George Burns and Gracie Allen.

St. James Screens Film About “Mounties”

Authentic in every detail, “Heart of the North,” the current attraction at the St. James Theatre, destroys many a widespread misconception of the operations and daily existence of the Canadian “Mounties,” but the actuality 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 as all of the previous. Warner Bros.’ colour pictures, and it has a cast so liberally sprinkled with outstanding names that any one of at least half a dozen players . could, with equal justice, be called the star. The country in which the story is laid is that vivid stretch which borders the Mackenzie River iu the far north-west of Canada just below the Arctic Circle. “Naughty Marietta.” A new copy of the famous Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film, “Naughty Marietta,” starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, will be screened at the St. James Theatre, when the programme is changed next Friday. Story Of Women Flyers At Plaza “Tail Spin,” at the Plaza Theatre, is a story of women who fly, the thrills that come with their split-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 tale of theee three who brush wings with death in the gamble they can lose only once! Trixie flies for the money that’s in 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. Mystery And Comedy At De Luxe A 300-year-old treasure of/gold and jewels, buried during the Civil War by Royalist soldiers, is the basis foi “Bulldog” Drummotids’ latest adventure in “ ‘Bulldog’ Drummond’s Secret Police,” the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. Drummond no longer has to seek adventure for in this film, adventure seeks Inn, out. A famed scientist and a notorious criminal arrive simultaneously to look for the treasure which is buried iu the depth of Drummond's own castle; and when the criminal murders the scientist and carries 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 Ruggles head the cast. Merle Oberon In Dramatic Role At King’s As Cathy, hot-tempered, devil-may-care nineteenth century lass who runs wild over the moors and crags of Yorkshire, Merle Oberon plays one of her best dramatic roles in “Wuthering Heights” nt the King’s Theatre. Cathy’s beauty and vivacity- attract the loves of two men—brooding and dark Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier) and socially prominent Edgar Linton (David Niven). In her youth Cathy turns to Heafhcliff in spite of his boorish manners and strange ways—because their love is mingled with the mystery of the moors. A strange and unhappy climax separates the lovers. ITeathcliff disappears and Cathy marries Edgar Linton. But after two years Heathcliff returns, determined on revenge to tench the woman he etill loves the ways of pain. “Jesse James” Screening At , Tudor Though making no excuses for the fact that Jesse James camo to be utterly ruthless in his exploits, the film about the American outlaw, which is now showing at the Tudor Theatre, does indicate that at the outset the tide of fortune was against him. He is shown to have been driven with his brother. Frank, into the realms beyond the law' by his simple determination to exact vengeance for the murder of hu mother. The associate film will be the musical comedy version of Alexander Dumas’ “The i Three" Musketeers.” The Ritz Brothers masquerade as musketeers, but they know more about the use of carving knives 1 than pwords.

Maori Legend At Opera House

Recapturing the story of the days before the coming of the white man to Zealand, “Hei Tiki.” showing at the Opera House, tells of the love of Manui, daughter of a'chieftain for Mara, warrior of an enemy tribe, and of Mara's impersonation of the war god to whom Manui, daughter of a chieftain, for Mara, exciting sequences in the film are those showing the lovers’ flight from Mnnui’s people who pursue them across a lake in 60ft. war canoes—which were specially built for the film. The climax of the picture is particularly exciting, being a spectacular pitched battle between the rival tribes, fought with typical Maori fervour. “The Mikado,” At Vogue Theatre, Brooklyn "The Mikado,” produced in glorious teebnicolotir, will be screened at the Vogue Theatre, Brooklyn, tonight; also “No Parking/’ with Gordon Harker.