ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

“Thousands Cheer,” A Show To Fit The 1944 Mood

No technicelour musical to arrive in Wellington for months has had the verve and spsu-kle of “Thousands Cheer jestic). If Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had takon a Gallup poll ot wartime filmgoere preference* and translated the popular vote to the screen, they could not have produced a show which more happily fits the mood the story is wrapped round doIngs Tn a Doughboys’ camp, blatant propaganda takes a very back seat. Thes emphasis la on musio of astontahing v “Hety, from Liszt and Verdi to those swing?, nostalgic tunes reminiscent of the early days of the American ’’lnvasion of Wellington. Mickey Booney plays master or ceremonies In a camp chow in which the stars dance, sipg and play the fool under their own names. Eleanor Powell dances superbly, and Frank Morgan, Lucille Ball. -Marsha Hunt, and Ann Sothern appear in a little sketch which might have been written for any soldiers camp, New Zealand or American. Judy Garland sings as only Judy can. and Mickey Booney does a brilliant impersonation of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore. Lena Horne, the negress who has yet to be seen here in tho all-negro show. 'Cabin in the Sky, appears in a finely-staged number, and Red Skelton plays a comedy scene with little Margaret O’Brien. But these are just part of a ebow vhicli fits logically and neatly into the story or a colonel's daughter who accompanies her father as a Wae entertainer to a training camp. There she meets, naturally enough, a young, disgruntled soldier who turns out to be an ace aerial acrobat. The Idea of his daughter marrying a circus swing artist doesn’t appeal overmuch to the colonel, but this is a democratic war and the prlvate-cum-trapeze artist wins out in the end. even if he does have to wait till the final leave train is pulling out Kathryn Grayson is the girl who is introduced to her audience at a concert Whore she sings magnificently to the equal, ly Stirring music of Jose Iturbl. conductor and pianist of world fame (and no mean actor to boot). John Bole*, attempting no songs and a trifle nortly today, is the colonel. and Mary Astor, poised and exquisitely dressed, is his wife- Oeue Kelly, heading rapidly toward tho dancing niche once occupied by Fred Astaire, is the private of many accomplishments. ’ Thousands Cheer" is entertainment of the type that sends one out into a murky winters night with a warm and pleasant glow.— T.L.

“Forever And A Day” (Blaza).—A galaxy of stars presenting the story of one family and one nation. The list of stars reads like a Hollywood Who’s Who, and it would be unfair to mention anv one as ’lie oDneipal. Tomorrow: "First Comes Courage.’ “Phantom or the Opera" (Kegetiu.— Music, song and romance combine to produce a masterpiece of the screen. Starring Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster and Claude Rains. In technlcolour. “China” (St. James).—A thrilling story In which three Americans demonstrate to the Chinese how to kill the greatest number of Japanese without suffering any real personal discomfort. Alan Ladd and Loretta Young star. . “Lady From Chungking” (De Luxe).— The saga of Chinese guerrilla fighters. Anna May Wong stars. The associate film Is “The Remarkable Andrew," starring William Holden and Ellen Drew. Tomorrow: “Tiie Iron Claw.” “Sahara” (Kings).—Humphrey Bogart stars as an American sergeant who excels in desert* warfare He kills innumerable Germans. Tomorrow: “The Moon is “Hello Beautiful” (State).—A bright musical featuring Benny Goodman and his band, and starring George Murphy. Anne Shirley ami Carole Landis. Tomorrow: “I Thank You.” “Hers to Hold” (Paramountl.-Deanna Durbin, Joseph Cotten, aud an aircraft factory. The hilarious comedy “Hit The Ice,” starring Budd Abbott and Lon Costello also screens. Tomorrow: “Salute to the Marines" and “The Affairs ot Martha. “Belilnd the Rising Sun” I L’udor).— A film record ot Japanese brutality, starring Tom Neal and Margo. Ladies Day, with Eddie Albert and Lune Yelez al<o shows. Tomorrow: "A Tornado in the Saddle” and "Frontier E"r.v. “Babes in Arms” (Tivoli).— Starring Mickey Rooney aud Judy Garland. Also showing “Bahama Passage," with Madeleine Carroll and Stirling Hayden. “The Iron Claw” (De Luxe). —A tliril l!n- gangster film packed with action and exeiteiucul. The stars are Charles Quiglev, Joyce Bryant and Walter Saude. Also oii the' programme are two other full leugtli features, “Tornado and lhe Purple V.”

SUBURBAN THEATRES ▼•Hue (Brooklyn).—“Something To Shout About” and "Harrigan’s Kid.’ Capitol (Miramar).— “hlorlan and “Wutherlug Heights.” Tntler (Lyall Bay).—‘Lady of Burlesque” and "The Great Impersonation.’ Prince Edward (Woburn).—“Hl ia Sailor” and “Lady From Lisbon ” Klug George (Lower Hutt),— Nine M De Luxe (Lower Hutt).—"Moscow Strikes Baek” and "The Pay Off.” Empire (Island Bay) —/'The Day the Bookies Wept" and “They Raid by Night. Regal (Karori). — The Man at the Gate and “Mail Train." Ascot (Nowtowtii — 11ns Above All aud "Sailor’s l.'idy.” ’ Kinema t Kilblrnle)— "Immortal bergcant’ ’and "The Man who Returned to L Rivoli (Newtown).— “Strange Death of Adolf Hitler” and “Mr. Wise Gut.’