ROUND THE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 179, 26 April 1941, Page 7

ROUND THE THEATRES

Films Showing In Wellington

Films in Wellington this week, together with the names of the theatres at which they are being shown, are:

“Brigham „ Plaz “My Love Came Back” Regent Theatre “Dr. Cyclops” s ‘- |„ hea re “Contraband” Majestic Theatre “The Great Dictator” ■•••. Kings flheatie “Murder in the Air” and “The Bank Dick De Luxe lheatre “They Knew What They Wanted” and “Dreaming Out Loud" ■• • Tudor Theatre “The Devil Bat” and “The Door With Seven Locks" Paramount Theatre “Girl from Avenue A” and “For Beauty’s Sake” ' Thea re “Union Pacific” and “Quick Millions” Rex lheatre

PLAZA THEATRE “Brigham Young—Frontiersman,” now screening at the Plaza Theatre, is a finely acted and full-of-action film which shows liow. one man’s faith can conquer adversity. Dean Jagger,- who takes the part of the famous leader of the Mormon sect, has a job which calls for the display ot many emotions, and he does so With little effort and great effect. The story is simple and has little plot, the conflict which is, we are told, so essential to good drama being provided- nqt so much by man as by danger, hunger, thirst, and worst ot all, loss of faitu. Many . of Brigham Young’s flock, though at first willing to follow him, like Moses of old, into the wilderness, are made faint-hearted by the storms that beat against them. How Brigham Young, supported by a tew faithful friends, with a sublime faith m himself . and in the workings ot providence, brings jnany - hundreds of men and women from persecution and poverty into a land which finally gives promise of .milk and honey, is told Jn a series of exciting and dramatic situations without which no good picture is complete. Tyrone Power, who plays tlie part of young Jonathan Kent, the hero-wor-shipping follower of Brigham Young, has a part very much to his liking, and the feminine lead is in the capable hands of Linda Darnell. Linda plays Zina Webb • —a girl whoni Jonathan and his mother (Jaua Darwell of "Grapes of . Wrath” fameto befriend when her father-is wantonly killed by raiders. Zina is not a Mormon. She cannot accept their faith, but she is nevertheless in love with Jonathan, and follows- his fortunes as the ■wagon train fords the. frozen river which leads away from Carthage, scene of so much destructioh, into jowa and right across the vast continent in search of a place in the sun which the Mormons can call home, and where they can follow their faith in peace. Brian Donlevy has the part of Angus Donald, a man whose business instincts promise to conquer his faith; and John Carradine,' long-haired and not so pious that he doesn’t regret his gun jamming at critical moments, Mary Astor as Brigham’s chief helpmeet, and many others help to make the film interesting and entertaining. Vincent Price as Joseph Smith, the maji who influenced Brigham Young in the first njace,’makes a short but memorable appearance. The supports include a newsreel, “England Under the Blitz,” a traveltalk, “Beautiful Florida,” a cartoon and a good showing of the race for the Doncaster Gup. ■ PARAMOUNT THEATRE The Paramount Theatre, following their policy of giving the public something “different,” has this time presented a “horror" week which, for those people who have no nerves and can stand plenty of shocks, should prove entertaining. The feature is “The Devil Bat,” and' the main character in this film is Bela Lugosi who is mainly Boris Karloff’s rival for villainous portrayals on the screen. Lugosi in this instance takes the part of the local doctor of a small hamlet where he is respected and beloved by all the inhabitants. Unknown to anyone tlie doctor has a warped mind which harbours a grievance .against society and has, after years of research, perfected a way of revenge for bjs fancied wrongs. He has experimented in “glandular stimulations through electric vibrations” and has sue ceeded in more or less manufacturing a giant bat which is distinctly allergic to some kind of chemical compound, the formula of which is known only to th® gentle doctor himself. When he has the bat to the size necessary tor his purpose he proceeds with his diabolical design and the result is death, swift and mysterious, which visits the village and causes horror and dismay. Just how far the doctor carries out hi? plan -and how in the end he meets his just deserts is told in an exciting film. Bela Lugosi is, of course, in his element, and lie is supported bv Johnny Taylor, Dave O’Brien, Suzanne Kaaren, and many others. . Th second attraction is of a different type but one which still contains every; thing necessary for a good “thriller.’ “The Door With Seven Locks’ is an Edgar Wallace story, and is one worthy of this famous author’s pen. , The semisupernatural element which is present in the former film is absent in this one, and the; whole is a story of (Crime and detection, with the sinister Dr. Manetta (played by Leslie Banks), ancient family vaults, mysterious disappearances, plus blackmail, forgery, murder, a haudsomt young detective aud a slightly moronic older one, piling thrills on humour in an ingenious manner, Lord John Seller is semi-parhlysed and ha? to go abroad tor his health, He is left handed, yet letters written by a right handed person and signed with his name kegp on arriving. This, together with the mystery of the seven keys, takes a great deal of unravelling, and is done ultimately to the satisfaction of all concerned. STATE THEATRE

Jane Withers, vivacious ami irrepressible, has a part well suited to her talents in the main feature at the Stare Theatre, “Girl from Avenue A.” Jane plays a little waif of the New York streets who is taken in by some of the leading New York society women. The period is 1900. The supporting cast is good, and the background, clothes and furniture, give the production an authentic atmosphere. The other - feature, “For Beauty's Sake,” tells how an earnest young man who has no time for girls and a lot for science, is left a beauty parlour and a fortune on condition that he personally supervise the business for two yearsjHe does so because he wants money for scientific apparatus and gets into lots of trouble —plenty of girls, an energetic though mournful advertising agent and a spot of murder, to say nothing of blackmail. TUDOR THEATRE As good a film as the names of itfi star players would suggest, for Carole Lombard and Charles Laughton are a particularlv strong combination, "They Knew What Thev 'Wanted.” is beginning a season at the Tudor Theatre. Carole Lombard is a waitress, Amy; Charles Laughton plays Tony, prosperous and amiable grape-rancher; and William Gargan plays Joe, foreman on lony s ranch. These three work out the theme among themselves, friendly souls, pulled every way by fate and their desires. The story tells how shy, good-humour-ed, bumble-footed Tony sees and falls m love with Amy while on holiday. Too diffident to speak his mind, he goes home and persuades Joe to start a correspondence with Amy on his behalf. The tone of the letters warms as the days go by, and when a photograph is asked for, Joe s is sent, since Tony's might not appeal. Tony proposes at third hand, by letter written again by Joe, and accepted by Amy. To tell what happens might spoil the fiavouV with a foretaste, but it is sufficient to say that the end does not let down the excellent beginning. , The supporting film, “Dreaming Orit Loud,” features Frances Langford, weLknown radio singer. REX THEATRE An outdoor film. "Union Pacific.” and a comedy, “Quick Millions,” comprise the double-feature programme showing at the Rex Theatre.

REGENT THEATRE “My Love Came Back” is the amusing, light-hearted and' tuneful show now screening at the Regent Theatre. Olivia de Havilland and Jeffrey Lynn provide the excuse for the. romance, and Charles Winninger,'Eddie Albeit and Jane Wyman give excellent support to the leading players. The story opens in a musical academy, with the first violin (Olivia de Havilland) missing from her seat at a directors’ concert. She conies in just in time for the final, and wt-ll in time for a real ticking off from the director, who insists that his scholarship holders in particular should be punctual. Down in the small audience is the head of a music publishing firm (Charles Winninger), who has been refusing to become president of the academy because that office would interfere with his business. But one look at the first violin and his mind is changed. Though he is happily married and has a grown-up family, he still has an eye tor a pretty girl, and. it is not long before he is giving this one presents and behaving with more ardour than becomes a fatherly interest. He is reminded of his position when the twenty-fifth anniversary of. his wedding falls on the night that he is supposed to take his new friend to the Beaux. Certs ball, and he calls on his first assistant, Tony (Jeffrey Lynn) to look after her. That begins the romance on which the story centres, and it also begins a thost comical series of misunderstandings which give rise to thoroughly laughable situations. It all comes right in the end, as .one would expect; with a pleasant ’mingling of “swing” and Mendelssohn., Everyone in the cast is good, but the real life of the story is provided by Charles Winninger, whose portrayal of a man, thoroughly happy at home, who yet feels that life lacks some of the gaiety it used to is excellent. Whether he is getting more excited than is seemly tor a man of his age or dignity, or looking very forlorn while playing the base fiddle nt the slightly lugubrious celebration of his wedding anniversary, he does an excellent job, Eddie Albert, too, as a learner musician with a passion tor swing, has n jovial clumsiness of gesture that adds a good deal to the fun. All told, it is a thoroughly pleasant show with a great deal of humour, and enough but not too much excellent music. DE LUXE THEATRE “Murder in the Air” and “The Bank Dick” are the two main items in the programme at the De Luxe Theatre. “Murder in the Air” has Ronald Reagan, James Stephenson, Lya Lys and Eddie Foy, jun., in a story concerned with sabotage and espionage in the United States. When the story opens the activities of Joe Garvey (James Stepheson.) are being officially- investigated, but tor the moment he has been too clever for the investigators. An unexpected accident, however, opens a crack in his armour of pretended innocence. . The key to the general action of the film lies in an “inertia projector” capable of stopping a plane at a distance ot tom. miles, and the hero of the story ( Ron < l l d Reagan as Brass Bancroft) takes the audience through an exciting senes ot adventures in a dirigible before the end C °This is the fast-moving and thoroughly interesting story, made more so by its bearing on matters of topical importanceW O Fields, who needs no introduction to film audiences is, after a Jong absence from-the screen, once more in our imust. He takes the leading role in The Bank Dick” and ae most of the picture is taken by W. C. Fields, the film has many ■things to recommend, it. Fields takes the part of Egbert Sow (pronounced “Soosay”), the town down-and-out, wJio finds solace from a nagging wite and the contempt of -his townsfolk, -bv takintoo many, “snifters at the Black russy Cat Cafe.” Before the film is ended Egbert becomes engaged in the production of a moving picture, is persuaded tojake shares in the apparently worthless Beetsteak mine, almost wrecks the career ot his future son-in-law, and captures, more or less accidentally, two lots of crook . The film is full ot typical M . C- J le lds humour (“I’ll break every bone in his head”), while some of his scenes with Franklin Pangborn (Pinkerton bnpbpington, .the bank inspector) are highly enAnotlier item of note is the playing and ginging“ of ' Finlay Robb at thereat Wurlitzer organ, and J ll ." 101 ’ episode seven, provides thrills and enter tainment. KING’S THEATRE Not only does Charlie Chaplin talk for the first time in his brilliant B . cree " j n “The Great Dictator, which sets out on its third week at the King s today, but he also plays a dual role. 1 n » comes about through a series of Manon incidents in which Charlie, an “ nsus P in«- little barber, is mistaken for a gtea and powerful dictator and-is pressed into service to his country. He has a rival dictator in one Napalonv played by Jack Oakie, and others in this part ot the picture are Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Billy Gilbert, Grace Hoyle, and Car ter de Hayen. The leading lady is Paulette 3 Goddard, , and others in the. Ghetto scenes are Maurice Moscovitch, Emma Dunn. Bernard Gorccy, and Pa Chaplin^s l aim with “The Great Dictator” was to bring home the ridiculous: ness of pomp and the emptiness of personal ego, and this he does with one of the greatest weapons known to man laughter. ST. JAMES THEATRE Reduced to a size where a house cat is a ravening monster, and a needle a spear to do it battle, the five main characters m “Dr Cvclops,' which begins a t the bt. James Theatre today, undergo horrifying experiences before the end of the him. ’ In his laboratory high in the Peruvian Dides, Dr. Cyclops (Albert Dekker) perfected a machine that will reduce human beings to midgets °nly 14 inches in height, yet preserving all the faculties they had when normal size. To his laboratory come five travellers, Logan, Thomas Coley, Charles Halton, Victor Kilian, and Frank Yaconelli. Dr. Cyclops, brilliant but unbalanced, chooses them as victims for his diabolical experiment, and places them before his machine. All five become midgets and they seek flight to the jungle after the mad doctor has murdered one of their number. Here I heir experiences are even more horrible I han before, as can be imagined. Their final destiny provides a refreshingly unexpected ending to the show. ’’Dr.'-Cyclops” is filmed in technicolour. and there are some very unusual shots as the midgets encounter normal-sized Objects, STATE THEATRE, PETONE The effect of marriage on the sales of the books of a spinster author is the basis of the story of “The Doctor Takes a Wife,” now showing at the State Theatre, Petone. Loretta Young is the author, and Ray Milland is the doctor she marries at the instigation of her publisher. That the doctor is already engaged does not worry the publisher, and the story unravels in charming nonsense and bright pleasantry. S

MAJESTIC THEATRE '■ “Contraband," now showing at .the Majestic Theatre, is a first-class spy melodrama. It is an English film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. “Contraband was produced with the co-operation of the British Admiralty, and in the early part of the picture the methods of the Royal Navy in contraband control and detection are carefully shown'in scenes which are notably for the excellence of their photography. Later, . the scene moves to London, and here again in scenes depicting the- blackout the photography is of the highest order There are actual shots of London in the blackout. Conrad Veidt as ‘a dashing Danish skipper, and Valerie Hobson as a charming and plucky girl in the British Secret Service are the stars, and the story concerns their adventures in a clash with n. gang of Nazi agents. ' The two stars each turns in a fine performance, and good direction has made the swift action and suspense of the plot as thrilling as could be wished. SUBURBAN THEATRES Tivoli (Thorndon).—“l Was An Adventuress,” Richard Greene, Zorina “Margie,” Mischa Auer, Nan Grey. Kinenia (Kilbirnie).—“Night Train to Munich,” Margaret Lockwood. Rex Harrison; “Pop Always Pays,” Leon Errol, Dennis O’Keefe. Rivoli (Newtown) .—'’Texas Rangers Ride Again," John Howard, Ellen Drew; “King of the Lumberjacks,” John Payne, Gloria Dixon. > Regal (Karori).— “They Drive By Night,” Emlyn Williams; “Blondie Has Servant Trouble,” Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake. Capitol (Miramar).—“All This and Heaven Too,” Charles Boyer, Bette Davis. Ascot (Newtown). —“New Moon, Jeanette MacDonald, Nelson Eddy; "Babies For Sale,” Rochelle Hudson, Glenn Ford. King George (Lower Hutt).—“The Lion Has Wings,” Ralph Richardson, ,Merle Oberon. Prince Edward (Woburn).“l Love You Again,” William Powell, Myrna Loy; "The House of the Seven Gables,” George Sanders; Nan Grey. De Luxe (Lower Hutt).—“lt All Came True,” Ann Sheridan, Jeffery Lynn; “Sandy Gets Her Man.” Empire (Island Bay).—“Spring Parade,” Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings; “Tom Brown's Schooldays,” Sir Cedric Hardwickc, Freddie Bartholomew. Vogue (Brooklyn),—"The Sea Hawk." Erro Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp,