ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

St. Janies Theatre Ardent film-fans will welcome the return season of “San Francisco,” which is now showing at tlie St. James Theatre. When it first came round, its realistic earthquake scenes were more than sonic of the audience could stand, unsettled as they were by our local tragedies, then still fresh in mind. Ami, of course, it had Jeanette MacDonald and Clark Gable to add to its own stirring appeal as a story. Set in a realistic background of the year 1006. the play deals with the fortunes of an oddly-assorted collection of characters. Clark Gable is the tough but relatively honest owner of a chain of gambling dens on the Barbary Coast —though den is perhaps not l lie best word for the glitter and spaciousness of these homes of vice. Spencer Tracy is at his best as a guest. Plaza Theatre "Eternally Yours.” now showing at tlie Plaza Theatre, features that popular pair of actors. David Niven ami Loretla Young. Niven plays the part of "The Great Arturo.” n world-famous magician, and Loretta Young plays Anita Peabody, a vivacious young society girl who, on the eve of her marriage to Don Barnes (Broderick Crawford), meets Arturo, falls in love with him and marries him out of hand. As usual iu a David Niven film, it holds a lightness of touch and, a definite sense of humour. Loretta Young acts with her usual flair, and the other characters enter into the spirit of the show very well indeed.

State Theatre Oliver Hardy falls in love in “The Flying Deuces',” the main feature at the .State Theatre. The girl, daughter of an innkeeper in Paris, where Hardy is stranded with his friend .Stan Laurel, accepts Hardy’s gifts of flowers and sweets,. but when he finally screws up enough courage to propose, tells him that there is someone else. Hardy determines to end it all, and, prepares to drown himself in the Seme, taking Laurel along in a brothers-to-deatli gesture. At the last moment they are deterred, however, and are persuaded to join the Foreign Legion where, they are told, men quickly forget the women who have tormented them. ' "Sued For. Libel” is the other feature. The principals are Kent Taylor and Linda Hayes. King’s Theatre With Joan Bennett and John Hubbard, one of the sereefi’s new leading men, at the head of the cast, “The Housekeeper s Daughter” has been retained at the King s Theatre. "The Housekeeper’s Daughter” is a lively comedy-romance. Sophisticated and very beautiful, the daughter of the socially-prominent Randalls' housekeeper wins the heart of the scion of the Randall family when she goes to live with her mother at the Randall residence. Egged on by the housekeeper's daughter, young Randall seeks and gets a job as a crime-reporter, and is deputed to be assistant to “The Deacon, otherwise Deacon Maxwell, “The Globes star crime-reporter (Adolph Menjou). Regent Theatre One of the most unusual films of recent months, and one of the most heartwarming and touching ever, “On Borrowed Time” has entered the second week of a season at the Regent Theatre. “On Borrowed Time” describes liovy a mysterious Mr. Brink —personification of death (played conservatively and very effectively by Sir Cedric Hardwicke) — visits the Northrup family and how dinerent members are affected by the visitations. Old Gramp Northrup (Lionel Barrymore) has an orphan grandson (Bobs Watson) who he dearly loves. J he grandson has an avaricious—and vicious —Aunt Demetria (Eily Malyon), who desires to get hold of the boy and his not inconsiderable legacy. De Luxe Theatre The programme presented by the management of the De Luxe Theatre this week should prove popular with ffimgoers. The main attraction, “Call a Messenger, is n swift-moving, action-filled utory involving not only the now-famous ‘ Dead End Kids,” but their prototypes, the “Little Tough Guys.” Billy Halop takes the leading part. . The companion attraction, The 1 orgotton Woman,” stars Sigrid Gurie, who made her debut in “Marco Polo.

Paramount Theatre “Man of Conquest,” probably Republic Film’s biggest picture to date, is the main item on the Paramount Theatios programme this week. The stars arc Richard Dix, Gail Patrick, Edmund Lilis, and Joan Fontaine. . As Sam Houston (“Houston of Texas’’) Richard Dix has one. of the best parts of his career, admirably supported by the comic antics of L e »m c Hayes as the ageless ( Laurie Upchuich. noted trapper and scout. Brought ui among the Indians, Houston has become almost an Indian himself, and is in consequence a welcome addition to the army of General Andrew Jaekson (Edward Tlie associate attraction, “Wolf Call.” in which John Cai-roll and Movita arc the principals, is a screen version of tlie Jack London story of tlie same name. Beautiful scenes of mountain, river and _ -ake add a note of the picturesque to this exciting production. Movita is charming, and John Carroll proves he can sing as well as he can act. Majestic Theatre Witli his fine performance in “Goodbye. Mr. Chips,” which is being received by enthusiastic audiences at the Majestic Theatre, where it lias entered the tiltn week of a season, Robert Donat adds to an already large collection of motion picture laurels. The smoothness and competent easiness with which Donat acts is good to watch, bearing iu mind that he starts with the portrayal of a young schoolmaster. Mr Chipping (Chips), and ends as an octogenarian. Tudor Theatre Tlie Darryl F. Zanuck production, which lias begun a return Wellington season at the Tudor Theatre. “Stanley and Livingstone.” introduces Henrv M. Stanley us he was in 1869, a reporter of bulldog tenacity who willingly risked his neck to gel his story. T’he fabulous exploits of Wyatt Earp, who tamed the wickedest, wildest city in the dangerous West of old. Tombstone. Arizona. provided tlie material for “Frontier Marshal.” which is the associate film.