ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 266, 5 August 1940, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

Plaza Theatre. —Lilting melodies recapturing tlie happy spirit of n golden age. in the history of America delighted the crowded audiences attending "Swancc River'' at Hie Plaza Theatre. Don Ameclie heads a strong east in the rule of Stephen Foster composer of such well-known tunes as "My Old Kentucky Home,’’ "De Camptown Races," “O ! Susanna! and "Old Black Joe." Al Jolson makes a wel - come return to the screen in anoliter leading part, with Andrea Leeds also l* rJ “ ininent’y cast. The picture is photographed entirely in brilliant technicolour. As his songs were tlie main part of his liie so Stephen Foster's melodies the most important part ot this film. Lhey form the background to the whole picture, and many of the haunting tunes which are known so well are beautifully sung.

Majestic Theatre. —Directed by . Ernst Lubitseh, who is famed lor his deft touches of sophisticated comedy, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Shop Around the Corner" heads the new programme at the Majestic Theatre. The story is a novel one. tracing the love affair of two shop workers, who both drcam of adventure and romance in the lar corners of the earth, and yet are being drawn to each’other through surreptitious and anonymous correspondence. The charming role of tlie rather wistful little shop girl is played with restraint by Margaret Sullavan. with James Stewart as her unwitting suitor. Frank Morgan, helix Bressart and Joseph Schildkraut add to the undoubted quality of the picture with highly amusing character portrayals. The next change of programme at tlie Majestic Theatre will tiring to its screen "Broadway Melody of 3940.” the musical film starring two of the. world s most famous dancers, Fred Astaire and Eleanor Bowel!.

St. Janies Theatre.—Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lainour and Bob Hope have the prin*, cipal roles in "The Hoad to Singapore, the new film at the St. James Theatre. Bing sings in his own inimitable fashion. Miss Lainour sings in hers, and Bub aids with song and dance. The story is set against a background of Javanese native life. Best scenes in the picture are those of the Eastern port where the hero (Bing Crosby), runaway sou of n shipping magnate, and his engaging mate (Bob Hope) elect to live as an alternative to directing big business from an ollied chair. It is here that they meet a beautiful dancer (Dorothy Lainour). After one ot the general fights which the two men start whenever existence is becoming dull for them they find the dancer added to the residents of their native bungalow.

Regent Theatre. —An unusual .story and a splendid cast supporting the star, Robert .Montgomery, make "Tlie Earl of Chicago ’ at the Regent Theatre, first-class entertainment. Hubert .Alontgoniery is Silky Kelniount. Edward Arnold is Doc Rainsay, Reginald Owen an English lawyer, Edmund Gwenn, a butler, and E. E. Clive has also a small part. The film shows the clash of two worlds, the underworld of a Chicago liquor l.nron and the dignified sphere of English country life. Born and brought up in an atmosphere of lawlessness, greed, and savagery, a young man fights his way to the top of gangsterdom. In doing so, he "frames" an attorney, wiio is thrown into prison on false testimony. Later, the gangster takes him into partnership. But then, suddenly, the gangster is found to be heir to an English title, an estate valued at two million pounds, and a seat in the House of Lords,

King’s Thealre.—Melvyn Douglas and joiin Blondell make a welcome re-appear-au'" jn "The Amazing Mr. Williams,” ■-.w sd’/qving at the King's Theatre. It shows the conflict in the life of a detective uecwein duly and romance. Melvyn Douglas is Kenny AVilliams, a lieutenant attached to the homicide squad, and Joan Blondell acts us his fiancee. The trouble starts over the fight of the chief ol the squad to make Kenny a good detective and his fiancee's determination to nmke him a good husband. Her attempts to force him to resign or to get the sacK form the background of the plot, but Kenny’s detective instincts are a distinct handicap to her plans. The occasion when Kenny took the crook he was escorting to a dance and the scene where he dresses up in female clothes to act as a decoy are two of the most laughable sequences in the film. Showing the famous “Futurana, /he most popular attraction at the New York AVorld’s Fair, “The AA'orld of 1960 is also on the programme.

De Luxe Theatre.—-Jack Benny, Ellen Drew, Rochester and Andy Devine'are seen in "Buck Benny Rideis Again,” the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. The story deals mainly with Benny's adventures on a dude ranch. J. Carrol Naisb and Richard Denny have the main roles in “Golden Gloves,” the associate feature.

Then' there was the personal appearance of Johnny Hutchinson, the American negro who is <o meet Young Gildo, the "Filipino Mash,” in the Town Hall, AVellington, next Saturday night. Hutchinson gave a 'brilliant display of shadow sparring and bag-punching.

State Theatre.—There is plenty of excitement in "The Spider,” at the Stale Theatre. Jean Gillie, Diana Churchill and Derrick de Marney head the east witii a theatrical background—a very distant background—to a double murder, Scotland Yard puts its bright young inspector on the job, masking his inquiries under a cloak of perpetual inebriation. Through the help of his young wife he has an assortment of clues to a gang of four jewel thieves, but it is the ringleadre, "The Spider,” who is difficult man to catch.

The handsome Cesar Romero, who first ployed the Cisco Kid in "The Cisco Kid ami the Lady," is again the colourful O. Henry outlaw in "Viva! Cisco Kid,” the associate outstanding feature.

Tudor Theatre. —The story of "My Son, My Son!" the main attraction at the Tudor Theatre, is woven about a father and son, and high hopes that fail to materialize. Brian Aherne gives a brilliant study of William Essex, though Louis Hayward, ns Essex's fluent mid deceiving son —"able to lie his way out of anything”—almost steals the honours from everyone. Madeleine Carroll mid others who give unforgettable performances are Henry Hull. Sophie Stewart, Josepliine Hutchinson, Laraine Day, and Bruce Lester.

Such favourite players as Barbara Read, Alan Mowbray,, and Helen Vinsen head the cast of the associate featurelength attraction, "Curtain Call.”

Opera House.—ln “Ninotchkn,” now showing at the Opera House, Grein Garbo appears in her first comedy part, and makes a triumphonr success of it. With Melvyn Douglas and a Russian version of the three Marx brothers to assist iter, she puts over a most amusing story while playing tlie part of a Russian envoy sent to I’aris to find out what the three previous envoys are doing with tin’ confiscated jewels of a grand duchess. What they are d<iing is selling them, mid having a fine time on the proceeds. She meets a Count who tran-forms her mode of life, and sombre garb and solemn mien are exchanged for startling Frocks mid gay smiles. After many eoinplieatioiis and much humour the story ends in Constantinople. Suburban Theatres Kinenia I Kilbirnie).—"Babes >n Artus," with Mickey Rooney mid Judy Garland; mid "Captain Fury," with Brian Aherne mid Victor McLaglen. Tivoli (Thorndoti I.- —"I,tidy ot the Tropics," with Hedy Lamarr mid Robert Taylor; and ‘Dcsitry Rides Again." with James Stewart mid Mtirlene Dietrich. Regal ( Karori). — "Everything 1 lappens at Night." with Sonja Henio and Ray Millmid: mid "The Aliasing People," witii Will Fyffe.

Empire (Island Bay).—“Tower of London.” with Basil Rathbone mid Inn Ilmitor; mid "Beware Spooks," with Joe E. Brown. Ascot. (Newtown). —“For Freedom,' with Will Fvffe mid member-' of the British Navy; mid "The Man Who Wonldti t Talk." with Lloyd Nolan mid Jean Rogers. Rivoli (Newtown). —"Each Dawn 1 Die,” with James Cagney and George

Raft ; mid “Swiss Family Robinson,” with Thomas Alilchell mnl Edn.-i Best. Voeue ( Brooklyn ). —"Daughters Courageous," will; John Gm’liehl and the "Four Daughters”; mul "Hohl .Mv llmul,” with Stanley I.npino and Fred Emery. King George (Lower Unit). — George Forniby in "(’nine On. George.” Prince Edward (Woburn). —“Topper rases n Triii." with Constance Bennet, mid Roland i'oitng: mul “British .Intelli genre." with Boris Karloff and .Margaret Lindsay. De Luxe ( Lower Hutt). —“South ot the Border." with Gene Aulrv mid Smiley Burnette; mid "Mr. Moto Takes !1 Vacation." with Peter Lorre. Capitol < .Miramar). —“Alndmnoiselle Docteiir.” with John Loader and Dita Parlo; mid "The House of Fear.”