ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 195, 15 May 1941, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

State Theatre.— "Let's Make Music, now screening at the State Theatre, stars Bob Crosby with his well-known baud. Bob, whose likeness to his famous brother is very striking, shows himself to be a screen artist of no mean ability whose singing (he doesn't croon) and acting are well above the standard we have come to expect from band leaders turned screen actors.

The story, as is usual with this type of film, is slight, the main interest centring round the players and their various "turns” rather than a stereotyped plot. The story concerns one Alalvina Adams, an elderly music teacher in a country high school. Her pupils scorn her preoccupation with the works of Chopin and want something with more "swing in it.” Malvina has a pretty niece (Jean Rogers), who is the athletic coach at the school. Alalvina writes a school song which is not at. all in favour witli the school, but which Alalvina feels sure is good. To prove that she is right she sends it at random to a music publisher. AA’hile the manager is looking over the new songs he finds Malvina's, ami is about to discard it when Bob Crosby, who is visiting him with his agent, happens to see it and feels that, with a little bit of doctoring, it might do as a new number for his band. He buys the song and goes down to meet Alalvina, intending to ask her to write a few more lyrics for him. AA’heu he meets her he thinks it would be a good idea if Alalvina herself came to New York and sang in front of the microphone. Alalvina, who at sixty wants to see the inside of a night club, is willing, even eager, but her niece thinks she will only make herself ridiculous and refuses to allow it. However, Alalvina gets her own way in the long run, and under the influence of "bubbly” and caviar nuts on an act which, in the words of the band leader, ‘'knocks them cold.” She becomes a sensation overnight and loves it. The good times do not last, however, as audiences become so tired of hearing the one song that Malvina, unable to repeat a success, has to leave the stage and go back to the high school, which in the long run she feels is her proper metier. In the meantime Bob Crosby ami the pretty niece have made a match of it and set off for California with the band in a very blissful state of mind. Twenty-five years ago one of the leading AA’estern actors was Jack Holt. _ Now it seems that his son is following in his father's footsteps. Tim Holt appears in the second feature, “The Fargo Kid,” and is a worthy successor to his father. He takes the part of a youthful and attractive cowhoy who manages to substitute for a “killer” whose arrest is desired by the whole countryside. He is given five thousand dollars in payment for killing a man, and when this unexpected present is handed over to him he makes it his business to find out just why it was made. His investigations meet with success, the real villains are captured, and the Fargo Kid with his two faithful assistants ride on in search of new adventures.

Majestic Theatre. — “Go West,” the Marx Brothers’ most hilarious comedy, will be screened finally today ‘at the Alajestic Theatre. Hollywood's great creation and crowning achievement, "Gone AA’ith the Wind,” will open at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. David Selznick and M.G.M. put all they had into the creation of “Gone AA’ith the AA’ind,” and found it good. Did they then rest from their labours? No, they set about telling the world about it, even to tile uttermost ends of the earth. And so, in due course, it is coining to this far corner, to a palpitant AA’ellington. One of those rare productions in which mechanicians, cast and producing coterie are caught at their peak to fit like a glove, even in the finest 'details, into the whole magnificent scheme, it is that freak of technical perfection—the producer's dream. As it unfolds its spell of glorious technicolour and glamorous scene, of moving story, tender romance, tragedy and splashes of comedy, it has held audiences everywhere thrilled and entertained —and they are incredulous that four hours should seem so short. •'Gone AA’ith the AA’ind” follows Alargaret Alitehell's famous book almost to literal translation. For those who have not read the book it may be mentioned that it is a human, throbbing history of a man and a maid in the adventurous days of the American Civil War. Clark Gable Ims the man’s role as Rhett Butler. Yes. the Clark Gable whose reckless eye in earlier restrained roles lias titillated so many maiden hearts. Here he is let loose as a conquering male with caveman instincts in pursuit of his soul-mate. And A'ivien Leigh, as Scarlett O’Hara, his quarry, fights back with a woman’s weapons. She is the artistic embodiment of the poet's eternal female—in our hours of ease, uncertain, coy and hard to please, but in times of stress a ministering angel. The prosperity, war, poverty and resurgence of Hie South is a thrilling story of itself, but it is dominated by Hie human, pulsing tale of Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara.

I>e Luxe Theatre. — "Gallant Sons,” at Hie De Luxe Theatre, foils of two youths, one tlie son of a gambler and the other the son of a newspaperman who conducts a campaign to rid the town of the other lad's father, a noted gambler. In spite of this the sons remain firm friends and the picture makes a stirring climax. lan Hunter, Gail Patrick, Jackie Cooper and Bonita Granville are the principals. The associate attraction, “The Midas Touch.” contains a brilliant performance by Barry K. Barnes.

St. James Theatre. —George Formliy is an expert in his own inimitable type of humorous nonsense, and in “Call a Cop,” now showing at the St. James Theatre, he gets into any number of laughable situations as a newly-appointed policeman sent to guard a new British warship from damage, by saboteurs. Excitement rises high as George is mistaken for a sabateur, and lie has many adventures before the misunderstandings are smoothed out. Dorothy Hyson is the leading lady, and a very attractive one she makes, too. The whole thing is just what is expected from a Forniby film —something with no sense in it but a lot of laughs and plenty of antics bv the star.

Plaza Theatre. — “Young People.” with Shirley Temple. Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood, will be shown at the Plaza Theatre finally today. It is a lively and amusing comedy with a number ol dramatie situations.

Weaving its story round the exciting efforts of The Saint to help a maiden m distress as a personal favour to Inspector Fernaek. and his resultant clashes witli r. ruthless group of criminals. "The Sain l in Palm Springs,” which opens at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow, is said to present one of tlie most exciting themes m tlie popular film series. Husky George Sanders again plays the title role of the audacious gunman who goes outside the law lo war on outlaws. Wendy Barrie Ims the romantic lead as a tennis teaehei whose sudden inheritance of three valuable foreign stamps from tier deceased father starts a train of dangerous tlirillp.teked events. Jonathan Halo plays bis familiar role of Inspector Fernack. friendlv-eneinv of Hie modern kobm Hood, 'who unofficially invites The Saint to see that tlie voting lady receives tlie unusual legacy before rival international forces succeed in their desperate efforts to thwart, the delivery. Guilfoyle as a reformed fhug and iniidti Hayes as a beautiful foreign agent fighting against the debonair gunman's mission, are also featured in the stirring new offering directed by Jack Hively and produced for ItKtl It.idio from a story by Leslie Clmrh ris.

King's Theatre.—i'harlie Chaplin, the world's leading apostle of laughter in spent picture days, comes again to bis adoring politic in all the fuu-paimpl.v so essentially his ow.t in “The Great Dictator" as th” Kirg's Theatre. ft is Hl” Chaplin they bad known and beard about that patrons applaud in tlie early stages .>■ the comedy: only to find themselves thrilled as well as enfertaiued as their koi suddenly switches from his pniqiet role to come nlive in a speaking character of scathing mimicry of Publie Enemy No. 1.

Kegent Theatre.— Translated into almost every civilized language Fannie Hurst's famous novel. "Back Street," enjoyed an immense popularity, and in the earlier days of motion pieliires a screen version was made of it. Now Eniversal has made a new film of ibis great novel, •■Hid it. is showing at the Regent Theatre. Tfca-med uxgeUiax Glxirlcs Jacrrex ■uui

Margaret Sullavan in the roles of Walter Saxel and Ray Smith. These fine actors have it is said, lost none of the original tense drama of emotional climaxes whien characterized the novel. It is a pictu-S not only full of strongly emotional scenes but also those of more delicate and light- ”” nature. With poignant skill Margaret SrJHvan plavs Hie part of a splf-sacn-fieing girl who lives in the back street of a famed man's life.

Tudor Thcatrt— -"Tall. Dark and Handsome." with Cesar Romero in the role of •i soft-hearted gangster, is showing at the Tudor Theatre. "Girl From Avenue A, with Jane Withers, is the associate feature. SUBURBAN THEATRES Tivoli (Thorndon). —“It All Came True” Ann Sheridan. Humphrey Bogart'; ■■Th”' Aliddle Watch." .lack Buchanan Kinema (Kilbirnie).— "My L’-tie Chieakadee.” Mae West. VV ._ C. Fields, “Triple Justice.” George O'Brien. Rivoli (Newtown). —"Convoy,’ Olive Brook; “Margie,” Mischa Auer, Nan ' Regal (Karori).— "The Sea Hawk,” Errol Flynn. Capitol (Miramar).—- Rhythm on the River.' Bing Crosby; " AVe Young.” Lana Turner. John Shelton. Aseot (Newtown).— “I Was an Ad'enturess," Zorina, Richard Greene; Tne Bride Wore Crutches, Lynne Bober... Edgar Kennedy. "Over King George I Lower HuttL— Ker the Moon," Merle (H eron. Lex bl.irri.son Prince Edward ( Wolmrn ).— M a.,oi s ?X‘- St "The' Se*-ret S Seven." 1 Florence Rice. 1 ‘ne Liixe 1 t'l'.ower Hutt). —“The House „f nJ "'row"; and "Men Against, the S 'Empire 'lsland Bay). "Tin Pan Al e " Alice Faye. John Payne; “King of the Cndefwnrld," Hninphrey Bngart, K Vogne U '< r ßrooklyn).-“Those Were the Dav J’ William Holden; '1 Married Adventure.” Osa Johnson.