ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 182, 29 April 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Regent Theatre The pomp and pageant.-y, lusty excitement, and glittering glory of ancient England continue to thrill and entertain audiences at the Regent Theatre, where "Tower of London” is being shown. It is based on the historical incidents of the time of Richard 111, and describes the dramatic and gripping deeds of that infamous man and his executioner, Mord, who aided him in hackin- a way to the throne of England. Basil Rathbone plays Richard 1(1. and Boris Karloff Mord. Ronald Sinclair, or Ra Mould. as be was formerly known in New Zealand, plays Prince Edward. "Gulliver’s Travels.” Deviating only in the slightest from the original story by Jonathan Swift. Paramount's cartoon version in colour of "Gulliver’s Travels." which will be released shortly at the Regent Theatre, contains romance that have won the book a place on most shelves. Majestic Theatre Even the large-seating Majestic Theatre has uot proved big enough to accommodate all those who want to see Clare Boothe's stage success, "The Women.” |>layed on the screen by such outstanding actresses as Norma Shearer. Joan Crawford. Rosalind Russell, Mary Boland. Virginia Weidler, and others, and its season in now in its third week. “The Women” centres on a group of women, who, with time on their hands, become too well acquainted with the personal affairs of one another, thus leading to a near catastrophe. While men are conspicuously absent the dialogue is almost entirely confined to the respective mates of the women involved. “Another Thin Man.” The next attraction at. the Majestic Theatre will be Metro-Goldwyu-Mayer's “Another Thin Man.” starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. De Luxe Theatre A sequel to that highly successful film, “This Man Is News.” and with the same characters that helped to make it a "hit.” the current attraction at the De Luxe Theatre, "This Man In Paris” is well directed and acted, with plenty of action and a rapid sequence of events. Barry K. Barnes is again Drake, the ace reporter, Valerie Hobson his wife and Alastair Sim the harassed news editor. Macgregor. Another reporter gets on to a big story of forgery, and Drake is sent over to Paris to handle it. only to find his co-worker murdered. Here the

action begins in earnest though there is a good deal of comedy to relieve any lensenetss, and the dialogue is sharper and sharper, neat aud to the point. There is the usual film police officer with his brain working five minutes behind everyone else’s. this time very well played by Barry Marsh, The associate film. "Parole Fixer.” is another storj' taken from J. Edgai'fHoover's now world-famous book, “Per.- ■ sons in Hiding.” It. is of the "Crime-.'’ Does Not Pay” school, ami (ells n ly.tstj.. ciuating aud exciting story of crimiitijMl let out on bail through uiiscrupuljj®sM’ means, and the havoc they deal. St. James Theatre Two actors who are amongst those the largest screen followings, James Ca":;! ney and George Ras. are starred in ‘Eaclt..: Diiwu 1 Dio." a Warner Bros.' picture dealing realistically with lite in a large prison, which is at the St. James Theatre. | "Each Dawn 1 Die" is a frank, grim, brutal aud tremendously exciting story to which the two premier bad men of the screen have lent their talents. Each in his own way outdoes everything in the line of vicious eliaraeterization he Ims done before. Others in the cast are Jane Bryan. George Bancroft, Maxie Rosenbloom, Stanley Ridges. Alan Baxter. Victor .Tory, Edward Pawley, aud Emma Dunn. •‘The Star "The Star Maker,” featuring Bing Crosby and Linden Ware, will be the next attraction at the St. James Theatre. King’s Theatre The “Raffles" of fiction has been brought to the films by Samuel Goldwyu, and it has enjoyed great success in Wellington, being now in its third week at t.he King's Theatre. It tells the story of a gentleman crook—a society man—who leads a life of secret crime for fun and adventure. He baffles Scotland Yard with his daring .and spectacular robberies for months; and then, just as he as about to withdraw from his dangerous career, he furnishes the Yard with its first and only due. Speedy action follows. David Niven, as the Amateur Cracksman, gives a notable performance, and Olivia De Ifavillnnd's portrayal of his cracksman’s fiancee proves her an actress of brilliant talents.! Other stirring performances arc given by Dudley Digges. Dame May Whitty, Lionel Pape, aud Douglas Walton. “Of Mice and Men.” •'Of Mice and Men." by John Steinbeck, a sensational novel and prize-winning play, is a coming attraction at the King’s Theatre, where it will open its Wellington season in the near future.

State Theatre With imaginative photography, smart handling of fast action scenes and firstclass acting by the principal characters, "The First Rebel” is the main feature at the State Theatre on a double bill. It is based on Neil Swanson’s best-selling .novel of the same title and deals with a '-■Starring period in the history of America, pudid in the 1760'5, "The First Rebel” deqS&'.jlies in dramatic fashion the revolt of ‘•■HM-'o.dlonists of Pennsylvania against the i > t?jjyfetjl.ion given by the British soldiery ' .■Tjftyliifijtffrupulous traders selling gnus and (''tmMj&fii'tioii to the Indians. " 'wi’be', theme of "Married and in Love,” ’‘ 4®c\iwher feature, is tho imperilling of 10 ( of marital loyalty and devotion ) ioyPen a beautiful interloper endeavours to : up the happy home. Alan Marshal billed; Barbara Read play the married /ttjiiu'ple. and Helen Vinsen the home'.wr'ecker. Plaza Theatre Michael Redgrave, whose popularity with Wellington audiences was well established in “The Lady Vanishes” is the star of “A Window in London.” a story of sequences inthe lives of some of London’s ordinary, everyday people which is in its second week of presentation a't the Plaza Theatre. Set beside the Thames, most of the action of “A Window in London” has for its background the building of the new Waterloo Bridge. Others in the east include Sally Gray, Paul Lukas, Patricia Roc, Hartley Power, and Gertrude 'Musgrove. The director was Herbert Mason. Paramount Theatre Two notable film attractions, “Under Two Flags” with Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert. Victor McLaglen and Rosalind Russell, and “Intermezzo—a Love •Story,” with Leslie Howard and Ingrid Bergman, are featured at the Paramount Theatre. "Under two Flags” is the screen version of Ouida's unforgettable story of a man redeemed from the "legion of the lost” by a woman’s love. Colman is a private in the ‘'legion of the lost,” loved by Claudette. She. in turn, has captured the heart of McLaglen, his major. When Colman, who has fled Englund to atone for his brother's crime, falls in love with the beautiful Rosalind, .the tale begins to rise to its peak of dramatic intensity. Human emotions form the inspiration to a vivid and moving drama in “Inter-mezzo—-a Love Story,” a David O. Sclznick production. Leslie Howard, memorable for his magnificent acting in the screen version of Bernard Shaw's “Pygmalion” is the principal, portraying a famous violinist whose frequent tours abroad estrange him from his wife. The violinist's romance with a woman pianist, young and beautiful, is presented with sympathy and understanding, making it a

realistic experience that lends the film a rare emotional appeal. The part of the pianist is taken by a Swedish actress, Ingrid Bergman, who makes her screen debut. Tudor Theatre The theme of “Over the Moon," now at the Tudor Theatre, which deals with the doing of a young woman who inherits a great fortune, should prove an acceptable one to the thousands of everyday people who dream of what they would do in the same circumstances. Merle Oberon plays the girl who inherits £18,000,000. and while she is engaged in the task of getting rid of it, she has to do her utmost to convince the poor country doctor she loves that he should still' mnrry her. despite her money. The colourful Cesar Romero, is the star of the associate attraction, “The Cisco Kid,” a story of adventures in Arizona.