ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 82, 31 December 1940, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

■State Theatre. An expert, blend of romance and adventure, "Men Against the Sky," will conclude at. the State tonight.. Though the film is nor set against a background of war, thrills in plenty are provided by the story of civil aviation anil the perfecting of a highspeed pursuit aeroplane. An exciting western, “Triple Justice,” starring George O’Brien, is the associate feature, and the programme also includes "Siege." a dramatic document of the tearful tale that overlook Warsaw. Opening with a special session at. It o'clock tonight, the screen’s latest singing cowboy. Jack Randall, will be seen al the Stale in "Riders of the Dawn." Randall plays the part, of a State marshal, who poses as a notorious gunman to clean up a Western town. He gets into the inner circle of the bandits, but comes into direct conflict with the real gun man. ami there is a stirring shoot-up. Peggy Keys is the heroine. A second Western feature is "King of the Sierras,” a thrilling story of wild horse life in which horses and not men provide the thrills and the fight for leadership brings into action two of the wonder horses of the world, with a round-up of the wild mustangs of Arizona.

St,. James Theatre.—Deanna Durbin proves that she has graduated to firstclass adult roles in her latest appearance as an Austrian peasant tiu the gay musical film, “Spring Parade,” which is still proving a popular holiday attraction at the St. James Theatre. Vienna in the 1890’s forms an excellent background of lilting tunes and picturesque costuming for the delightful romance which forms the theme of the film. Miss Durbin appears for the first time in period costume, and the role is also her first romantic part. Opposite her appears Robert Cummings. and Mischa Auer and S. Z. Sakall head the supporting cast.

King's Theatre.—"Tom Brown's School Days,” a stirring drama of school life, with Jimmy Lydon in the title role, is at the King’s. The film has been adapted from the classic novel of the same name, the greatest story ever written about school life. The film shows the experiences and development of young Tom Brown at Rugby School, at the time when the headmaster, Dr. Arnold, was instituting the changes that laid the foundation for modern day school life. Jimmy Lyden plays the part of Tom Brown, with Sir’ Cedric Hardwicke as Dr. Arnold.' Freddie Bartholomew, Billy Halop, Josephine Hutchinson, and Gale Storm are in the featured east. A girl engaged to a successful insurance salesman embarks on a platonic prenuptial honeymoon with a poor but handsome artist—this unique situation is embodied in the riotous new Ronald ColmanGinger Rogers film, "Lucky Partners, which will begin at the King’s on Friday. What happens during and after the synthetic honeymoon is said to make for sparkling entertainment. The novel premise hinges on an impulse agreement made between a pretty bookshop girl and a Greenwich village artist who jointly purchase a winning sweepstakes ticket. Determined that the young lady shall at least have a honeymoon trip that her future husband frowns on, the gay artist uses his share of the winnings to show her the country. At Niagara Falls, however, the platonic phase, of their unusual agreement slowly molts away under the spell of a romantic moon —and then the complications develop.

Regent Theatre—Timely and exciting entertainment, “Convoy” continues its season at the Regent, The acting is splendid. Clive Brook, as Captain Armitage, John Clements, as the young officer who ran away with the other's wife and join’s Armitage's ship, and Edward Chapman, as an obstinate skipper of a merchant ship, all are finely contrasted. Judy Campbell, a newcomer, is Armitage’s wife. The story leads up to a dramatic climax in which the captain of a convoy is forced to ignore the S.O.S. of a refugee ship lest he imperii the rest of ins charges, knowing meanwhile that his. wife is on board the vessel in distress. Seldom has atmosphere been more powerfully created on the screen.

Majestic Theatre. —Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy add to their prestige as 1 the screen’s favourite romantic team in “New Moon,” which is at the Majestic. Set against the colourful background of 1780 New Orleans, the plot sketches the story of a woman of noble French birth and a man who, masquerading as a bondsman, manages to elude the guillotine ‘by dropping his official title as the Due de Villiers. His dream of a republican form of government is realized when, cast on the shores'of an island remote from shipping lanes, he sets up a community with the members of his shipwrecked crew and the passengers of the boat, New Moon, which he and his men seized on the high sea.

Plaza Theatre. —“The Blue Bird.” now showing at the Plaza, brings to life on the screen a world-renowned play that has been presented on the stages of 45 nations and has been translated into 32 languages. A brilliant cast includes Shirley Temple, Spring Byington. Nigel Bruce. Gale Sondergaard, Eddie Collins, Sybil Jason, Jessie Ralph. Helen Ericson, Johnny Russell. Laura Hope Crews, Russell Hicks. Cecilia Loftus, Al Shean and Gene Reynolds. ‘‘The Blue Bird” was filmed iu a gorgeous new Technicolour process. It. is one of the first pictures to be made using this new development.

Opera House. —In ‘‘Andy Hardy Meets Debutante,” now at the Opera House, Mickey Rooney as Andy is teamed again with Judy Garland and the usual support of Eewis Stone. Cecilia Parker, Fay Holden, Sara Haden, Ann Rutherford and George Breakston. all now well established in their characterizations. The story is laid this time in New York, where Andy sets out to prove to his friends that the leading debutante falls just as easily for his charms as the girls way back home. De Luxe Theatre. —“The Man Who Dared," now showing at. the De Luxe, tells how a middle-class American family throws off a yoke of the underworld. “Flight Angels” is the associate feature. Tudor Theatre. —Jon Hall is excellently cast as the great border scout in “Kit Carson” at the Tudor Theatre. The associate feature, “Slightly Honourable,” is a film coupling a strong dramatic plot with a smart comedy theme. SUBURBAN THEATRES Ascot (Newtown). —"Brown on Resolution” anti "High School.” Empire (Island Bay).—“Saps at Sea,” Laurel and IJardv; “Crime Takes a Holiday.” Jack Holt. Tivoli (Tliorndotik —"My Son is Guilty,” Bruce Cabot: “Music in My Heart.” Tony Martin, Rita Hayworth. Kinenia (Kilbirnio). —“Young Tom Edison,” Mickey Rooney, George Bancroft; “Mutiny in the Big' House.” Rivoli (Newtown). —“Isle of Destiny, William Gargan. Wallace Ford; “Our Neighbours, the Carters,” Edmund Lowe. Vogue (Brooklyn).—"The House Across the Bay,” Joan Bennett and George Raft: “You Can't Fool Your Wife,” Lucille Ball and James Ellison.,, Capitol (Miramar). —“Four Wives, tin- I.ane sisters, Claude Rains; “Ghost Breakers.” . . „ Regal (Karori). —“Private Affairs, Boland Young. Napcy Kelly and Robert Cummings; “The Saint Takes Over, George Sanders. , King George (Lower Hutt). — , dare’s Strange Caso.” Lew Ayres. Lionel Barrymore. , Do Luxe (Lower Hutt).—‘U-Boat 29.” Conrad Veidt. Valerie Hobson; “Two 'l’ltorotighbreds.” Prime Edward (Woburn).— Frozen Limits,” the Crazy Gang; “Talking Feet.