ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 43, 14 November 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

New Opera House That Frenchman of universal screen renown, Julien Duvivier. was the director and the writer of the original story for “Life Dances On.” o r "I'd (,'arne't de Bal," which is at the New Opera House. It was Duvivier who was the director of "Th<- Legend ol* Prague.” so recently appreciated by many Wellington people. In this subsequent film there are eight separate episodes telescoped into an <-rga ttj,.whole anti bound together with a romantic thread, the treatment being as thorough as it is distinct. “Young Vienna Sings Again." A gay romance of tic- Austrian T\r--1 set to tin- haunting melodies of Daitubian waltzes. “Young Vienna Sings Again" wiii be shown al flic New Opera House from next Friday. 'l’his Him. which was maJiin Vienna before tin-Nazi oeetiptition. Utts been brought to New Zealand l.i Mr. Natan Scheinwahl.

The story of “Young Vieutm Sings Again'' (-entres -ut Totti Kern, assistant teacher in the village .school in Zell. Tmii is in love with Li-ni Lahntaler whose father wishes her to marry Wurzinger. .he wealthy storekeeper. Greatly interested in ski-ing. Toni makes the tiequaintiinee of Sylvia von Hansen, who has come from Vienna to take, part in the ski-ing festival. Lcni becomes jealous at Sylvia'sobvious interest in Toni, but the sellout teacher is not disloyal, and is greatly dejected when Leni’s father rudely rejects him as a suitor for his daughter's hand. When the LahntalerV: barn is accidentally destroyed l)v fire the flame falls on Toni, who is arrested. Sylvia, who could prove his innoeenee, lias left the village, but she return and Toni anil Leni are reunited. The boys of Toni's school raise money by a concert, assisting Toni to pay for the loss of (be barn and its contents. Richard (Junior) l-hirrell, ymithi'ul Wellington pianist and composer, will give platform performances. Farrell, who has already convinced amlieitees — concert as well as radio—of his earnest love for music, should find fresh n<lmirery during-- the coming week. St. Janies Theatre Charles Laughton am] Maureen O’Hara, a fresh player to the t-x-reen. .-ire seen to advantage in “Jamaica Inn." in the second week of a season at the St. Junies Theatre.

Mary Yellan (Maureen), demure colleen, soon became aware of the full tale of the horror of Jamaica Inn, though Hie stayed bendalh its roof because of her aunt, so lovely once, so battered and haunted now. She learns of the smugglers and murderers. of the riff-raff of the coast, wreckers whose profession it was to lure ships inland by false lights when tempests blew, and raid the defenceless crews and plunder the cargoes. Yet. even among this evil, avoided Cornish community, she found love. “Man About Town."

With Jack Benny, assisted by "RoehesI ter,’’ providing the comedy, and Dorothy Lamour part of the romance. "Man About ’Town’’ will be the next attraction at the St. James Theatre. “Man About Towu” has much lively music interspersed, being played by Matty Malneek and his Orchestra, and an attractive cast which includes Binnie Barnes. Phil Harris and Betty Grable. Regent Theatre Irene Dunne is a girl who goes to New York with high hopes of being a singer, but who has to compromise on being a waitrejw in a chain restaurant. null Charles Boyer is a famous pianist, rich in worldly possessions, but. emotionally frustrated' by a wife who is subject to spells of mental darkness, the res-uff of her baby being born dead, in “When Tomorrow Comes,” approaching the end of a season at the Regent Theatre. The waitress and the pianist meet, and are attracted. TJiey spend a day boating on Long Island sound, a few idyllic hours in his home, and then are forced by a hurricane to spend a night together in a church. Onlc a little more time is vouchsafed them,*72 hours from the time they meet, but it is enough to give tragic import to [heir parting when the pianist sails for with the wife whose helplessness makes her hold invincible. Plaza Theatre The comedy at the Plaza Theatre, "Ask a Policeman,” provides opportunity' for those amateur Shakespeares who revel tn competitions in which they apply the last line to a given limerick to exercise any I talent they may have awakened. In “Ask a Policeman,” Will Hay. Graham -Moffatt and Moore Marriott are members of a rural constabulary and find themselves on the track of a smuggling racket, which they endeavour in their well-meaning but blundering way to stop. One of the clues is contained in an old folk rhyme. Neither Will Hay nor Graham Moffatt has heard of it before, but the ancient. Moore Marriott, delving deep into his memory, manages to recite the first three lines—bur no more.

The trio is stumped; the last line will obviously put them on the heels of the smugglers. Then Moore Marriott remembers his father —am! how he i« ancient —may know the line. He does ; and the constabulary soon restore law and order to Tnrnbottom Hound. De Luxe Theatre A. rollicking farce with Dick Powell and Anita Louise at the head of the cast, the action of “Going Places,” which is being eh own at the De Luxe Theatre, is interspersed with some original and tuneful pongs. In the presentation of one of these songs. “Mutiny in the Nursery,” Powell. LouD Armstrong and Maxine Sullivan collaborate and are backed up by a coloured swing band- and chorus. The humour of the piece revolves round the masquerade by Powell, really a timid sporting-goods salesman, as a famous steeplechase rider.Tlie associate film, “I Stole a Million,” is tlie story of a man whose disregard for displeasing social customs carried him to the point of defying the world to question his code of living and loving. King’s Theatre “In Name Only,” which is being screened at the King's Theatre, describes how a wife's mercenary interest in her husband restrains her from giving him his freedom so that be may marry the woman he really loves. The co-stars are Carole Lombard. Cary Grant, ami Kay Francis. An unusually absorbing story of modern marriage. “In Name Only” easts Grant and Alios Francis as the unhappily married pair. Grant as the sou of a millionaire real estate operator and Miss Francis as a thoroughly selfish woman who married him only for bis prospects and his social position.

Whim Grant meets Miss Lombard, a young widow. (hey fall in love with each other. He appeals to his wife io give him his freedom: but Miss Francis has cleverly endeared herself io Grant's family, who think she is an ideal daughter-in-law. and she ”e--fuses to give up her position. Tlie consummation of Miss Lombard's :•<>- m.'ince with Grant springs from a serii— of pulsating dramatic episodes which speed “Ip Name < Hili.'' io a ho.art-piimdiiiig denonement. Theatre Majestic Rich in elaborate stage numbers. si-ssed of a good down-to-earth story revolving about a girl who climbs from singing in cheap night chibs to musical-oom-ed.v stardom. “Broadway Serenade.” released at the Theatre Maiestie, contains every eoneoiv.alde element of en teri.'iinment. The songs s-nng by the star I.Jeanette MacDonald). range in tvpe from hits of the Gay Nineties, through gram] opera selections. ami on to the popular tunes of today. "For livery Lonelv Heart.'' “One Look At Von" and “Time ('hann-s Everything'' ,-- tract ihe car

State Theatre

Columbia's “First Offenders." which features Walter Abel and Beverly Bob* erts, is the main attraction at the State Lheatre. It dramatically points out how first offenders can lie prevented from becoming habitual criminals. Directed bv Frank McDonald, tlie cast also includes Siu-Il players as Johnny Downs, Iris Meredith, Robert Sterling, George Offerman, jun.. Eddie Laughton, and Eddie Fetberstou. Desperately working against time a two-fisted district, attorney tricks an underworld king into confessing his crimes' before a million radio-witnesses, in “Crime Takes a Holiday,” the associate attraction. .Jack Holt, aS the district attorney, is the star. “Bov Friend" and "Lightning Conductor.’' At lasi, Jam- \\ itliers is having trouble with (be love bug—leastways, she does in “Boy Friend.” which will be the main attraction at (lie State Theatre from tomorrow. George Ernest, known to many theatregoers as the financially-minded Roger of the Jones Family, i< Jane's boy friend. "Lightning Coiidui'lor." tlie assoeiale attraction to lie, deals with n balloonbarrage disposition plan, the disappear anee of which provide the enthralling t heme. Tudor Theatre Tyrone Bower, as a motion-picture publicity man ; and Sonja Henie, as a country s’choolniistress who wins a contract for a much-advertised film role, provide the romantic interest —not without complications and hilarity—in “Second Fiddle." now at the Tudor Theatre. The associate attraction is a gripping war drama, though not dealing with the blood and the destruction of martial con? tlief. “Who Goes Next'.'"