ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 124, 19 February 1941, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

Sf. James Theatre— Basil Rathbone portrays one of tlie most, callous killers of fiction in lhe mystery drama. "A Date with Destinv." Murder pictures are not ■ill of the mystery type. Sometimes tlie audience knows at lhe start who did it. Such a picture is "A Date \\ ith Destiny, in which Rathbone plays the rue ot a psychopathic murderer. This is lhe type of picture which holds the interest o lhe audience from start Jo finish "I Want a Divorce," a comedy ol domestic life, will liegin a season at the S-. James Theatre on !• rida.v. Mr. ami Mrs. Dick Powell (Joan Blondell) are lhe stars.

Regent Theatre. — In ”1 Take This Woman " which will conclude tonight. lledv Lamarr plays a society 'beautv who. alter a troubled romance, finds her lite at the side of an earnest doctor, ill a tenement district. Spencer Tracv plays Ibis doctor, a sincere, lovable man who loves his gorgeous wife am! nearly wrecks his career to bring her happiness. siim-e it was first published i u the autumn of 1938, Rachel Field's bio--raphieal novel, "All This, and Heaven Too," lias had innumerable printings, am! still is enjoying a ready sale in several nations. Now it lias been brought to the ' screen by Warner Brothers in a film which stars Bette Davis as Mademoiselle Henriette Deluzy-Desportes. and Charles Boyer as 'Theobald. Due de I‘raslin, protagonists in one ot the most sensational murder trials of all times, a scandal that held the interest of two continents ami helped a French king from his throne. 'l'he film will open at the Regent tomorrow. 'The novel was the story ol Rachel Field's great-aunt from the time she, a young girl with.a past somewhat shrouded in mystery, left temporary refuge in England to return to France, tier birthplace, there to become governess in the household of the Due de Praslin. royalist close to King Louis Phillipe. in those years before the Due's' suicidal death in 1847. lhe death that ended but did not completely solve the 1.-imoiis Praslin murder mystery. In Hint murder the Due's wife, lhe neurotic, wildly passionate Cofsiean wife, wits the victim.

State Theatre.—Joe E. Brown's first comedy since a serious automobile accident which put him into a hospital bed for four mouths, will open today al file Stale Theatre. "So You Won't Talk?” is said to leave no doubt that Brown is fully recovered, that his high comedy talents are unmarred, and his extraordinary ability as an athlete unimpaired. He plays the dual role of a timid book reviewer and a gang baron for whom he is mistaken because they look alike. Frances Robinsou plays opposite him iu her most important role to dale. A rapid-paced picture, "Fugitive From A Prison (.'amp,” will be the associate feature. Jack Holt has the starring role of a two-fisted sheriff who believes in giving first offenders of the law the opportunity of rectifying their error. Blonde' .Marian Marsh, staging a valiant fight to regain her Hollywood popularity, heads the east of supporting players which includes such popular players as Robert Barral. Phillip Terry and Jack Laßue.

Plaza Theatre. — The story of ■ The Mark of Zorro" is the famous and exciting talc of the night-riding masked avenger who flourished in the most exciting days of Old California, leaving behind the jagged sword mark that struck terror to every heart, but one, that, of the beautiful and gentle senorita who gave him her love. Tyrone Power's role is crammed with hard-riding, furious fighting, ardent romance, and climaxed by a realistic duel with Basil Rathbone. M'ith title and basic situation taken from American newspaper headlines of recent tittle, "The Great Profile.” to be seen on Friday at the Plaza Theatre affords John Barrymore a chance to play a part a* familiar as it appeared satisfying to him—that of himself. The title derives from newspaper accounts of the actor's travels and exploils with anil on behalf of "My Dear Children." the stage play. And tiie main theme if the film is taken from accounts of that same piny, made a commercial success primarily byMr. Barrymore's antics ami nd libbing on stage. Here he appears as an actor facing the eml of the rond because of a disappearance of several days while supposedly acting in a film. Success comes again through a play written by a theatrecrazed young woman, for which the backing is guaranteed by the girl's fiance. King's Theatre. — Overshadowing all else in "Twenty-one Days Together," is the fact dial it stars two romantic personalities very much to the fore in film news today—Vivien Leigh, the "Scarlett O'Hara" of "Gone With the Wind.'’ and Laurence Olivier, the "Max de Winter” of "Rebecca." The film, made before either star reached their present popularity. is typically British as regards speech ami static tempo. There is a magnetic quality in the picture which places- it in the category of first-grade entertainment. Majestic Theatre. — "Forty Thousand Horsemen." in which tlie dashing deeds of the Australian Light Horse in tlie Middle East during the Great War are vividly revived, is in tlie last two days of its season. Critics anil audiences agree that it is the finest Australian film yet. "Bride ami Prejudice," the screen adaptation of Jane Austin’s novel, will open its Wellington season at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. The stars are Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson, and the supporting cast is headed'by Mary Boland. Edna May Oliver. Maureen O'Sullivan. Ann Rutherford and Frieda Inescourt. De Luxe Theatre.— Something new and unusual in screen entertainment is afforded in "Saloon Bar.” Suspense and comedy are admirably blended as Gordon Harker and his bar friends set out lo catch a mui'dei-er, little knowing that he is in their midst. "Saloon Bar" includes a host of interesting personalities bro light to vivid life by a typically sound car-1 of English actors. "They Asked For It" is the associate film. Tudor Theatre.— The first full-length March of Time production. "The Ramparts We Watch.” includes tlie Nazi propaganda film "Baptism of Fire." designed to strike terror into the hearts of neuI r.-lls anil enemies.