ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre’s New Programme The trouble into which a meek book reviewer gets by the mere net of shaving bis whiskers is told in hilarious lasitioii in the latest Joe E. Brown comedy, "So You Won’t Talk." which begun yesterday at. the State Theatre. Brown plays a book reviewer who has led a iairly uneventful life. and who suddenly changes the whole of his existence by striking bis employer, who Ims become unpleasantly attentive to Joe's leading lady (Francis Robinson). Out of a job. he is urged on by his fiancee to write a novel, lint the first thing he does is suave off his whiskers, which have been lite butt of many jokes. Almost immediately strange things happen to him —people run away from him in fear, ami two gangsters address him as "Brute." He does not. realize that, without iiis whiskers, he beat's a striking resemblance to a notorious gangster who lias just been released from prison. 'Die gangsters, force hnn to go to the apartment of "Brute's” sweetheart (Vivienne Osborne), ami he is unable to convince them that they hate made a mistake. They think that prison has made him a mental case. Finally he escapes, and when he and his fiancee realize what has happened they decide that in order to collect material for his novel the best thing for him to do is to carry on the impersonation. Complications arise, of course, when the real "Brute" arrives, but in the long run the tangle is straightened out to the satisfaction of the big-mouthed comedian and his leading lady, who manage to trap "Brute," who is again wanted by the police. Brown's well-known personality will again be welcomed by his admirers in this film, which is a happy blend of laughter and excitement. The second feature. "Fugitive from a Prison Camp.” has a good .cast headed bv Jack Holt and including Robert Barriit. Marian Marsh ami Phillip Terrv. Holt take- the part of a sympathetic c'ountrv sheriff interested in the ease ol a young man. falsely imprisoned, wlm declares his innocence, but can get no one to testifv in his defence. Desperate lit the legth of time it is taking to get lus case re-tried, lhe young prisoner escapes from n prison camp with three others. These three are caught after an exciting chase, during which one is shot. lhe voungster. however, is still at large ami Holt has a busy lime before he finds him. But in the meantime his name is cleared ami the future which looked so black beemios full of promise.

Regent Theatre.— -"All Thi ,?’,, A , u< i Heaven 'Too." screen version ot Rachel Field's widely-read novel, will have its first local showing at tin- Regent 1 heat re todav. Bette Davis ami Charles Loyer ar,, i-o-starred for the first time in their brilliantly successful careers. Brough to the screen by AVarner Brothers. All This And Heaven Too” is the story ol a demure little French governess—seeminMv destined for spinsterhood—whose verv existence is threatened by a I arisiiin murder scandal. involving one ot France’s greatest noblemen. But sm survives the ordeal to find peace, se<:ii ritv and happiness in America. M itu Be’tte Davis as the governess and I Hartes Boyer ns the Due de Praslin. who murders his jealous wife because. of her treatment of the governess, the film has been hailed bv critics who have previewed it as one of the most brilliantly T' motion pictures of the decade. Rachel Field wrote, after seeing the film: 1 feel that in all essentials the screen version u not onlv the book as I wrote it but a projection of the characters themselves heightened by the art. of Aliss Davis and Mr. Boyer and an extraordinary fine supporting cast.

King's Theatre.—A powerful love story, mixed with excitement, is told in "Twenty-one Days Together. The leading players are A’ivien Leigh ami Laurence Olivier. ''Twenty-one Days iogelher is an absorbing story of a boy and o-irl whose love for each other . is stronger than the destiny which awaits them both. Sought by the police tor murder, they find in their marriage three weeks of ecstatic happiness and ot desperate, dark despair, before surrendering themselves.

St. James Theatre.—“A Date With Destiny,” which will coticluue tonight, shows how a brilliant brain, warped bv the shock of sorrow in youth, can wreak terrible vengeance on society for wrongs suffered, either real <>; ' Basil Rathbone is excellent as the am maniac who, toward the end, gets ■ glimpse of what life might have meant to him. , . „ f “I AVant a Divorce,’ a comedy of domestic life, will begin a season at the St Janies Theatre tomorrow. AH. and Airs. Dick Powell (Joan Biondell) aie the stars, assisted by Gloria B IXOI . I, Conrad Nagel. Frank Fay, Jessie Ralph and Harrv Davenport. The supporting programme will include scenes iron r-iid-batterecl Coventry, newsreels, a cartoon and a Grantland Rice Spotlight.

Plaza Theatre— The story of “The Mark of Zorro," whicli is m its last day, is the famous and excitin’’- tale of the night-riding masked avenger’who flourished in tlie most exciting days of Old California, leaving behind a lagged sword mark. One of the most talented comedians on the screen, John Barrymore, is featured in the satire, "The Great Profile, which will begin a season at the 1 laza Theatit. tomorrow. He is cast as a great act'.'r who is given the lend hi a piny tnat jS about to become a failure. Despairing, he plays the role in his own manner, "gagging” throughout, and to everyone» surprise the play is a huge success. Alary lit th Hughes, recently seen in "lour Sons.” heads tlie featured cast as the actor's nagging wife, and other prominent players are Gregory iwitotl. John Payne. Anne Baxter and Lionel Atwiil.

Alajestie Theatre. — "Forty Thousand Horsemen,” in which the dashing deeds of tlie Australian Light Horse in the Middle East during the Great AVar are vividly revived, is in the lust day ot its season. Critics and audiences agree that if is the finest Australian film yet. "Pride and Prejudice." tlie screen adaptation of Jane Austin's novel, will open its Wellington season at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. The stars are Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson and the supporting cast, is headed by Alarx Boland. Edna Alay Oliver. Maureen O'Sullivan. Ann Rutherford and I-neiia Inescourt.

De Luxe Theatre. —Suspense and comedy are admirably blended in -Saloon Bar” as Gordon Harker and his bar friends set out to catch a murderer, little knowing, that he is in their midst. “Saloon bard includes a host of interesting personalities brought to vivid life by a typically sound cart of English actors. "They Asked 1- or It” is the associate film. Tudor Theatre. —The first full-length .March of Time production, “The Ramparts We 'Watch.” includes the, Nazi propaganda film “Baptism of Fire, designed to strike terror into the hearts ot neutrals and enemies. SUBURBAN THEATRES Ascot (Newtown).— "The Ghost Comes Home,'’ Frank Morgan and Billie .Burke; -There Ain't No Justice.” Gus McNaughton and Jimmy Hanley- „ Empire (Island Bay).— Balalaika, Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey; Scatterbrain," Judy Canova. Tivoli (Thorndon I. — "Mothering Heights," Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier; "South of Samoa,” Dorothy Lamoni- and Robert Preston, Kinema (Kilbirnie). —"lhe Roaring Twenties," James Cagney and Priscilla Lane: "Angels Wash Their Faces,” Ann Sheridan and the “Dead End” Kids, Rivoli (Newtown). —"The Hunchback el Notre Dante." Charles Laughton and Maureen (I Hara; "Blondie Brings tip ' Raby.” Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. I Vogue (Brooklyn). "Anne of Windy ' Poplars." Anne Shirley and James El’.i--j son ; "Giri in 313." Florence Rice am! ■ Kent Taylor.

Capitol (Miramar).— “Fop Always Pays," .Dennis O'Keefe and Adele Pearce

••Parents on Trial." Johnny Downs and Jean Parker. . Regal (Karori).— “Another -thin Man," William Powell and Myrna Loy King George (Lower Hutt)- —"we Nr< Not Alone,” Paul Muni. De Luxe (Lower Hutt). --"Nick (ar ier. Detective.” Walter Pidgeon and Rita Johnson; "Goldmine in the Sky.’ Gem Autry and Smiley Burnette. Prince Edward t Woburn I.— 1 ride • lhe Blue Grass." Edith Fellows al.;l James McCallum; "Gangs of Chicago, Lloyd Nolan and Lola Lane.