ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

St. James Theatre. —That British studios should carry on the production of Britisb film for British people, despite tlie handicap of tremendous difficulties, is tlie direction of the British Govern meni. and Cinesomid, Australia, are inflowing tills instruction. How well they have eiled may be judged from "Dad Rudd, .M.l‘." which enters a second wick of a highly successful season at (he St. James Theatre today. “Dad Rudd, M.P.” continues (lie hilarious adveuTenturi's of Had and Dave, two ol tlie most popular of Auslralian characters. Comedy predominates, but a note of Australian national importance is struck by tlie introduction of tlie problem of water conservation for (he man on the land. The finale will thrill tin' heart of every Britisher. In this sequence, Dad Rudd, M.l'., real Australian, one of the pioneer stock, pays a sincere tribute to file valuable contribution this young nation is making to tlie Empire’s war effort. The bewhiskered Bert. Bailey again portrays Dad admirably, and Fred McDonald, as Dads dull-witted son, Dave, is thoroughly convincing. Yvonne East is charming as Dad’s daughter.

Regent Theatre. —Deftly directed for I’arainount. by Andrew D. Stone, that musical drama nt extraordinary merit, “Tlie Great Victor Herbert,” is now in the second week of a season at the Regent Tlieatre. “Tlie Great Victor Herbert” is not so much a biography of Victor Herbert as a highly successful endeavour to recall his widespread influence over the glamorous show world of his day. As Herbert, the late Walter Connolly has erownod a brilliant career with a masterly portrayal. Allan Jones, Mary Martin, and the 14-year-old Susanna Foster are iu excellent voice, and are heard in many of Herbert’s most popular works, including “Ah I Sweet Mystery of Life,” “Thine Alone,” “A Kiss in Hie Dark,” and “I’m Falling in Love 'With Someone.” Other popular players in the carefully-chosen east are Lee Bowman, Judith Barrett and Jerome Cowan.

Plaza Theatre.— Sandy Powells latest eomedy hit, “AH at Sea” will be shown at the Plaza Theatre from today. Sandy gives a most praiseworthy performance as Sandy Skipton, aud has associated with him such capable and experienced players as Kay Walsh, John Warwick, Gus McNaughton, Leslie Perrins, and George Meritt. Sandy Skiptou wages a loue fight against a pair of enemy ageuts who are trying to steal a secret new high explosive. Sandy takes the explosive away with him when he is sacked from the chemical factory where lie is employed as a messenger, joins the Navy, and is sent to the Mediterranean. The agents chase after him, and then ensues a series of hilarious thrills. Written by Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Carr, who wrote “South of the Border and “We’re Going to Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line,” “Ain’t it Grand to be in the Navy,” snug by Sandy, is a feature of the production. ‘‘All at Sea” was produced with the full cooperation of the Admiralty, who granted special facilities, and thus many new and magnificent scenes of the Fleet have been incorporated.

Majestic Theatre.—Norman Taurog, pre-eminent director of childhood stories, has done a brilliant piece of work tn “Young Tom Edison,” which will be launched on a season at the Majestic Tlieatre today. The storj' of “Young Tom Edison” is simple. It is that of a nonconformist youth who misunderstood in his home town, ultimately triumphs to show them that the brain ho has is that of a progressive youth and not that of an “addled” person. Yet, in the telling of this story, there is comedy, pathos, thrills, adventure, and a great love between a boy and bis mother, a boy and his sister and the development of love and understanding between a boy and his father. As Tom Edison. Mickey Rooney shows his right to the claim of being an actor. He is ideally cast, and has never been made more lovable, not even as Andy Hardy. Teamed with Mickey is clever Virginia Weidler, as Tom’s sister. Fay Bainter and George Bancroft are fine as Edison’s parents, and an excellent supporting cast includes Eugene Pallette, Victor Kilian. Bobbie Jordan, J. M, Kerrigan, Lloyd Corrigan, John Kellog, Clem Bevans, Eily Malyon. and Harry Shannon. Bobby Jordan, one of the original “Dead End” Kids,, plays Joe Dingle. Joe and Tom engage in two fights during the course of the story, Joe winning the first and Tom the second.

King’s Theatre.—A toymaker who wants a son to love, a cricket that wants a gold badge, and a puppet that wants to be a real live hero are the principal figures of the enchanting "Pinocchio, which today enters the second week of a most popular season at the King’s Theatre. Made under the direction of Walt Disney, "Pinocchio” is in colour. Pinocchio is the puppet who, in response to a toymaker’s wish to have a son, is turned into a live boy. But he does not become a real boy till he learns, by the trial and error method, to distinguish between right and wrong. Of course, as all little boys (and little girls, too) have found out since the world began, the wrong things are far more fun than the right things, but they get them into heaps of trouble, as is proven by tlie adventures of Pinocchio. This Walt Disney version of “Pinocchio” is basen on the story by C. Lollodi. It is much loved by children aud adults, aud has been translated into more, than 200 languages and dialects. R.K.O. Radio is distributing this second feature-length Disney production, for which Ned Washington and Leigh Harline composed a musical background of six songs.

Do Luxe Theatre.— With a complete reversal of technique on the part of the "Dead End" Kids, "Ou Dress Parade," a fast-stepping cadet picture, will be the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre from today. WTtereas the success of the "Dead Enders” has been founded on gutter-grown wisecracks, juvenile rowdyism depicting in graphic style America s forgotten boys—the tenement tough—"On Dress Parade” is a light, S a .y P IC " ture showing the "Dead Enders ’ enjoying life as u model group of American youths at a military academy. However, that is not to mean that the "Dead Enders have abandoned their slapping of one another around, for in this picture, there is just as much action as in any of their former successes, which include Dead End." "Angels With Dirty Faces,” "Crime School,” and "Hell’s Kitchen.” The associate feature-length film, also worth more than cursory inspection, will be Alan From Montreal.” Richard Arlen admirably portrays a young trapper in the great, northwoods country of Canada, and has Anne Gwynne associated with him in the romantic interludes. The trapper is unqustly accused of robbery and murder and thrown into jail, but foruuately for him a "Mountie" (Andy Devine) comes to liis aid ami helps to bring the actual criminals to justice. Others prominently cast include Reed Hadley, Addison Richards, Joseph Hawyer. Kay Sutton, Jerry Marlowe, Tommy Whitten, Eddy C. Waller, and Lane Chandler. Chapter 12 of that intriguing serial, "The Green Hornet.” will also be shown.

State Theatre. —The efforts of a crooked politician to sell worthless prairie land io settlers ami at the same time to force out the ranchers who control it, by using the law to reclaim their water springs from them, rivets attention to "Prairie Law.” file main feature at the State Theatre this week. The virile George O'Brien is ideally east as the rancher who seeks to expose the treacherous land shark. The wedding plans of the characters admirably portrayed by Dennis O'Keefe and Adele I'earee are the cause of all the hilarious trouble in "Fop Always Pays." the other feature on the particularly attractive double-feature programme. The complications that, ensue when the girl’s father (Leon Errol) tries to raise 1600 dollars as part of the marriage contract, are as uproarious as they are engrossing.

Opera House.— Eighth and latest of the much appreciated Hardy Family series, "Judge Hardy and Son” will be the principal attraction at the Opera House from today. “Judge Hardy and Son” secs the mercurial Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) engage in detective work to aid his father (Lewis Slone) in a law case, it sees him with ihree pretty girls, and lliereby getting into trouble with bis sweetheart. (Ann Rutherford), ami it. gives him the opportunitv to play hero when he pilots this sista- (CecElit Jhirker). pgross a £s£B