ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

St. James Theatre. —Though Joan Blondell and Dick Powell have been cast together many times in pictures, there is scarcely doubt that they have ever had a chance to cavort as they do in ”1 Want a Divorce,” the comedy-drama which will open today. As a young couple who are laced with the usual problems such as finding enough money to get along, they have an opportunity to utilize their abilities along comic and dramatic lines. \\ ith a supporting cast numbering such capable performers as Gloria Dickson, Frank Fay, Jessie Ralph, and Conrad Nagel, Joan and Dick launch the story in a divorce court, where Joan’s sister —Gloria Dickson —is getting a divorce. Joan helps things along with her testimony, and tells Dick how she hates to do it, convinced as she is that divorce breeds unhappiness. In a natural course of events Joan and Dick are thrown together again, and, as man and maid will, they marry. Then comes fun—the disputes faced by every couple, sister-in-law arriving to chase hubby out of the oilier twin bed, and lots of things along those lines.

King’s Theatre. —Two of the most publicized stars in all Hollywood history— Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier; — have been co-starred by Columbia in its new romantic drama, “Twenty-one Days Together,” which is to continue for a second week. ■’Twenty-one Days Together is an absorbing story of a boy and girl whose love for each other is stronger than the destiny which awaits them both. Sought by the police for murder, they find in their marriage three weeks of ecstatic happiness and of desperate, dark despair before surrendering themselves. The brooding, magnetic quality of "Twenty-one Days Together” has been responsible for the acclaim it has alreadywon, splendid tribute to its stars. The film is based on a John Galsworthy novel,

"The First and the Last.” In the cast, in addition to the three stars, are Francis Sullivan, Hay Petrie and Esme Percy. The supporting programme includes vivid scenes of the fall of Tobruk.

Regent Theatre. —Sound entertainment for those who can enjoy and appreciate a well-produced and excellently-acted tragedy is provided by “All This and Heaven Too,’’ screen version of Rachel Field's famous novel, which opened its season yesterday. Bette Davis’ portrayal of the pprt of a French governess who finds nothing but unhappiness from the time she joins the household of a member of King Louis-Philippe’s peerage and takes charge of his four children is, as usual, almost perfect. In fact it seems that her performance entitles her to consideration for yet another Academy award. In a difficult part Charles Boyer is responsible for as fine a piece of acting as he has ever turned in, and Barbara O'Neil and Jeffrey Lynn offer very sound support. The plot of the film faithfully follows that of the famous book, which is vouched for by Miss Fields as an authentic account of incidents in the life of her great-aunt in Paris in 1847, and the powerful climax in which the nobleman refuses to save his own life because it would compromise a woman’s name, is as fine acting as the screen has produced for a very long time.

Majestic Theatre.—“Pride and Prejudice,” the screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel, will open its .Wellington season at the Majestic Theatre today. 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.

State Theatre.—Joe E. Brown’s first comedy since a serious automobile accident which put him into a hospital bed for four months, “So You Won’t Talk?” leaves 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. A rapid-paced picture, “Fugitive From a Prison Camp,” is the associate feature. Jack Holt fins the starring role of a two-fisted sheriff who believes in giving first offenders of the_ law the opportunity of rectifying their error.

_ Plaza Theatre.—With title and basicsituation taken from American newspaper headlines of recent date, “The Great Profile,” which will begin today, affords John Barrymore a chance to play a part as familiar as it appeared satisfying to him ■ —that of himself. The title derives from newspaper accounts of the actor’s travels and exploits with and on behalf of “My Dear Children,” the stage play. The main theme of the film Is taken from accounts of that same play, made a commercial success primarily by Mr. Barrymore’s antics and ad libbing on stage. He appears as an actor facing the end of the road because of a disappearance of several days while supposedly acting in a film. Success comes again through a play writen by a theatre-crazed young woman, for which the backing is guaranteed by the girl’s fiance.

De Ituxe Theatre.—Based on authentic incidents during the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, with the subsequent lawlessness and disorder which followed in the wake of the rush to the diggings, “Diamond Frontier” will open today. The discovery of a large rough diamond in the hands of a group of children is followed by a violent rush for claims. A boxing story starring Andy Devine and Richard Arlen, "The LeatherPushers,” will be the associate film.

Paramount Theatre.—When the Australian picture-making industry tackled the task of making a great, military picture of Light Horse desert tactics, it tackled a great, nation-making effort which it has bravely carried out. If "Forty Thousand Horsemen,” now transferred to the Paramount, had appeared two years ago, it could have been described as an outstanding military spectacle, blending romance with history. But today, thanks to Hitler, the picture is very much more, for it links past with present. Today, as in 11)11-18, we have the desert fighting, now bequeathed from sire to son, ami becoming still more imperishably an Anzae tradition. Now, as then, Australian and New Zealand soldiers stand on guard in Asia (Palestine) and in Africa. Ami once again, their war is a war of rapid movement. and whether the movement is mechanical or bv horse, the conquering spirit remains the same as it was a generation ago. “Forty Thousand Horsemen," iu visualizing war to a people at war, does not display its grimmer horrors. ’There are tremendous feats of horsemanship. There arc Australian soldiers who combine war with something of the spirit of Dumas Three Musketeers. And there is romance in the form of a beautiful French girl (Betty Bryant). Comedy and suspense compete lor attention iu the hilarious mystery drama, “Meet the Wildcat, ’ which will be the associate film. _ A ith Ralph Bellamy und Margaret Lindsay sharing romantic honours as a pair ol reckless young Americans seeking to round up a band of art thieves preying on Mexico City museums, the mood of the story shifts from romance and laughter to action and suspense. Joseph Schildkraut: is a mysterious art expert whose activities baffle local ptdice and Allen Jenkins contributes many gay moments as a bewildered taxi-driver who trips to help Bellamy and Miss Lindsay unravel a mass of tangled clues. The slory follows the efforts of Miss Lindsay, a girl photographer for a large picture magazine, to capture the art thieves and score a scoop for her publication. She tangles things up for Bellamy, a famous New York detective, and finally falls in love with the man after knocking him out.

Tudor Theatre.—Exciting entertainment is provided for patrons of the Tudor Theatre in “The Mark of Zorro,” starring Tyrone Bower iu the famous and colourful role with lovely Linda Darnell, featured opposite him. After a long and successful season at the Plaza Theatre, it will open at the Tudor today. The story of “The Mark of Zorro” revolves round the adventures of a masked night-raiding bandit whose sword mark—a jagged "Z”—struck terror into every heart in old California’s most exciting days, but whose daring won him the loveliest senorita in the land. Action is the keynote, and a duel to the death climaxes the adventures of the masked marauder. Basil Rathbone has another role of magnificent villainy, and Gale Sondergaard, Eugene Pallette, J. Edward Bromberg, and Montagu Love are also in the cast. The associate feature, “The Spider,” is a crime thriller, the story of a clever criminal who is caught in a plot of his own weaving. Derrick de Marney and Diana Churchill play the leading roles. ■ Rex Theatre.—“Sweethearts,” starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, and “Huckleberry Finn,” will be shown tonight, tomorrow, and on Monday. SUBURBAN IHEATRES Ascot (Newtown). — “Men With ’Wings,” Fred Mac Murray and Ray Milland ; “Laugh It Off,” Johnny Downs and Edgar Kennedy. Empire (Island Bay). — “Charlie’s (Big-Hearted) Aunt.” Arthur Askey; “Honeymoon Deferred,” Edmund Lowe. Tivoli (Thorndou). — "Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Freddie Bartholomew; “Green Hell,” Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Joan Bennett. Kinema (Kilbirnie). —‘‘Convoy,” Clive Brook and John Clements; “Scatterbrain,” Judy Canova. Rivoli (Newtown). — “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Freddie Bartholomew ; "The Way of All Flesh.” Akim Tamiroff and Gladys George. Vogue (Brooklyn).—"Anne of Windy Poplars,” Anne Shirley and James Ellison ; “Girl in 313,” Florence Rice and Kent Taylor, Capitol (Miramar). — “The Mortal Storm,” Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart; “My Favourite Wife,” Irene D’unne and Cary Grant. Regal (Karori). — “Virginia City,” Errol Flynn and Miriam Hopkins; “The Boys from Syracuse,” Allan Jones and Martha Raye. King George (Lower Hutt). —"Irene,’ Anna Neagle and Ray Milland. De Luxe (Lower Hutt). —“Nick Carter, Detective,” Walter Pidgeon and Rita Johnson; “Goldmine in the Sky,” Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette. Prince Edward (Woburn). —“Pride of the Blue Grass,” Edith Fellows and James McCallum; “Gangs of Chicago,” Lloyd Nolan and Lola Lane.