CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 22, 25 July 1935, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

In the Vcreen presentation of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," the producer, Alexander Korda, has captured all the romance and glory from the pages ol Baroness Orczy's well-loved story of the London society fop, whose special pleasure is to deny the guillotine its intended victims., Alexander Korda has'achieved success with other historical films and his latest production certainly enhances his reputation, iJX" is \', a •■.': picture well worth while and: is to be retained at the ' .Kegent for another week. Although due credit must be given to the producer.'Leslie Howard in the title role has scored a real triumph. From the drawing-rooms and clubs .of London, where he is greatly admirea by the ladies, the background changes to the troublous times in Paris in 1792 There the guillotine is at work cutting short the lives of many an aristocrat. Sir Percy Blakeney and his helpers make these unhappy people the main object of their attention, and with audacity and cunning cheat thejguillo tine. Merle Oberon plays opposite Leslie Howard, as his pretty Frencn wife. "The ■ Scarlet Pimpernel" is a film which can be recommended as one of the best of its kind. There is a good supporting programme, including another of the immensely-popular Walt Disney Silly Symphonies, "Goddess of Spring." DE LUXE THEATRE. "Radio Pirates" will conclude tonight at the De Luxe Theatre. "West Point of the Air" will be screened: tomorrow. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "The Man With Two Faces" and "The Church Mouse" will be shown finally tonight at the Paramount Thesitre. - '.''■..■■ •■ ■ "Chinatown Squad" opens tomorrow at they Paramount Theatre.' The story deals with a mysterious murder committed in San Francisco's ■ Chinatown, and the efforts of a bumptious busdriver arid a white girl masquerading as an Oriental to unravel the crime. The direction of Murray Roth has maintained the story on a swiftlymoving • plane, with comedy and tense drama nicely balanced throughout the picture. Lyle Talbot, Valeric Hobson, Hugh O'Cpnnell, and Andy Devine are the principal players. The second feature is "Alias Mary Dow," starring Sally Eilers. KING'S THEATRE. Vienna with all its old Imperial glamour is set in an enticing new frame of music and theme in the blend o:E music, drama, comedy, and romance, "The Night is Young," which concludes tonight at the King's Theatre. Evelyn Laye,"for her blonde beauty, rich voice and clear-cut acting powers, handsome Ramon Navarro, for his characteristically positive acting and romantic singing, Charles 'Butterworth, Edward Everett Horton, and Una Merkel, for their comedy, and Oscar Hammerstein II and Sigmund Romberg for their haunting new music, have together made a fine film. As from tomorrow the King's Theatre will be under the management ol; Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., whose policy will be to screen only A grade, first release, outdoor and action pictures. Unfolding a colourful story set in a rough construction camp in the rugged West, "Awakening of Jim Burke," Jack Holt's latest starring production for Columbia, will be the main feature on the new bill. Florence Rice and Kathleen Burke enact the important feminine roles. "Awakening,of Jim Burke" concerns itself with the misunderstanding that arises between a father and son when the boy, instead of being the tough young ruffian his father expects, turns out to be a gentle, talented violinist. Holt is starred in the father role, with young Jimmy Butler cast as his son.' Lambert Hillyer directed from Michael Simmons's story and screen play. Ralph Remley, Wyrleyv Birch, Robert Middlemass, George McKay, and Rolf Ernest comprise the supporting cast. The second feature will be "Cowboy Millionaire," a new type of action picture in which the story ranges from London to the deserts of Arizona. George O'Brien, one of the most popular of Western film stars, is said to give a first-class performance in an unusual role. Evalyn Bostock, talented English film-actress, plays the female leading role, and Edgar Kennedy, Alden Chase, and Maude Allen make up the supporting cast. ARTCRAFT THEATRE. ' Joe E Brown, the famous comedian, in his latest First National comedy, "The Circus Clown," will conclude at the Artcraft Theatre this evening. Joe is now back to his first love,' for he started his career at the age of nine with a circus and travelled with it for several years before he gave it up to become a baseball player and later a theatrical and screen performer. The circus is used throughout as a background for the hilarious stunts of the picture, which, however, has its own well-defined plot and romance. There are good supporting subjects. ; Tomorrow "The Private Life of 1 Henry VIII" will commence its season. ] SHORTT'S THEATRE. '■ "Let's Live Tonight," and "Attorney ; for the Defence" will be shown final- , ly at Shortt's Theatre tonight. i What happens when a timid little ] clerk is mistaken for a desperate criminal is depicted in "Passport to Fame," : \ the fast-moving, exciting Columbia I comedy-drama which opens at Shortt's; ■ Theatre tomorrow. Edward G. Robin- i \ son is cast in the starring role of' J Arthur Jones, the harassed bookkeeper .; whose life is transformed by his re- ' semblance to Killer Mannion. Also c affected by this resemblance is Jean Arthur, the blonde Columbia, player who supplies the romantic interest in "Passport to Fame." Thatcher Colt, \ the literary creation of Anthony Ab- j bott, is brought to the motion picture z screen by the debonair Adolphe Men- j jou, in a Columbia picture, "The Night j Club Lady," which will be the second j attraction. Lola Carewe, the night i club lady, is played by Mayo Methot, c a glamorous blond newcomer from c the Broadway stage. t KOXY THEATRE. "Murder on a Honeymoon" and "Ro- ; mance in Manhattan" will be shown i finally at the Roxy Theatre tonight. ? Most of the action thrills in "Red i Morning," showing at the Roxy Theatre i tomorrow, are provided by a daunt- . less sea girl, portrayed by Steffi Duna, • singing star of the colour sensation j "La Cucaracha." Miss Duna's role re- -, presents her as the second mate on her -. father's freighter. She matches man's i heroism as she battles savages and villainous white men in the South Seas. Heroism in the picture is shared by Regis Toomey in the male lead. The .. film is authenticated by material ; filmed in New Guinea and the Fiji ] Islands by two explorers who lived for • almost a year in these far-off sections t of civilisation. An absorbing romance « experienced by a society debutante, £ who drifts entirely out of her element £ into a cheap night club, is depicted in j "Gigolette," which will be the support- ( ing picture, with Adrienne Ames, Ralph Bellamy, Donald Cook, and Robert Armstrong. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. A double-feature programme of out- I standing merit is showing tonight at c Our Theatre. Anne Grey and John r Stuart have the principal roles in the c B.D.F. production, "The House of s Trent." The destiny of a simple, human I family is revealed in this intensely real r drama. Music, romance, and the g glamouE of court life are the ingredi- t ents of "The Regimental Lady." / Tamara Desni has the leading role, and c is ably supported by Harold French r< and Morton Selton. h EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Broadway Bill," Columbia's special production, heads the midweek pro- c gramme at the Empire Theatre this t evening. Warner Baxter and Myrna t Loy play the principal roles, and the t supporting cast includes Walter Con- S nolly, Helen Vinsen, and Clarence ( Muse. An excellent programme of s short subjects precedes the main attract tion. On Friday and Saturday "Society I SDoctor" is to be screened.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

MAJESTIC THEATRE,

"Mr. Dynamite" concludes tonight at the Majestic Theatre.

i- Will Hay, the popular music-hall / comedian, who has already made two f films for 8.1.P. ("Those Were the 1 Days" and "Radio Parade of 1935"), s is to appear in his third, "Dandy Dick," a at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. This i- is a screen version of the play by Sir 1 Arthur Pinero, in which Mr. Hay api. pears as the vicar of a small country 2 village. It is a highly amusing affair a with Will Hay providing endless, l laughs as the simple vicar who, in his i- earnest endeavours to raise funds for ■i the restoration of the village'church l steeple, becomes involved in a series f of adventures which eventually land a him in gaol. Made under the direction 3 of William Beaudine. who was specially ! brought from Hollywood for the proj duction, "Dandy Dick" is an ideal . vehicle for the particular type of 5 humour which Will Hay has made faml ous. Filmgoers who have seen either l of his previous pictures will not need the assurance that he is just as funny ■> on the screen as the stage. Supporting ) the star is a cast of comedians that i guarantees a laughter riot. These in--3 elude Davy Burnaby, Wally Patch, 3 Robert Nainby, Syd Crossley, Hal Gor- - don, and Jimmy Godden, while the ror mantic side is well catered for by - Nancy Burne and Esmond Knight and other leading roles are played by Mignon O'Doherty and John Singer. t ST. JAMES THEATRE. Now screening for a further week :at the St. Jame's Theatre is the musical romance "Naughty Marietta," which fully justifies the claims of its producers as the most striking presentation 'of its kind yet released. The ' singing of the two principals, Nelson Eddy, the young operatic baritone who , makes his debut in this picture, and - Jeanette Mac Donald alone commends it . The story is briefly that of the lovely princess Marie de la Bonfain (Jeanette Mac Donald) who is being forced by her uncle (Douglas Dumbrille) to marry the odious Don Carlos .de Braganza. To escape this marriage, ' which is sponsored by King Louis ', XV. she exchanges identities with her ! servant, Marietta, and, armed with the ' latter's credentials, leaves France r»s ; one of forty "casquette" girls bound ' for the French settlement of Louisiana :to find husbands. The ship is cao- ' tured by pirates, who land with their fair captives in the Everglades, but are routed by a band of woodsmen under Captain Richard Warrington (Ne!----l son Eddy), who commences a quaint i courtship of Marietta. The supports '■ include newsreels, a travel-talk, and ' a new and amusing Laurel and Hardy : comedy. STATE THEATRE. : "Star of Midnight" will be shown finally tonight at the State Theatre. A new character, a new locale, and . three new song numbers are introduced to the screen in "Under the Pampas Moon," which comes to the State Theatre tomorrow. Advance reports hail Warner Baxter in a role more romantic than his "Cisco" Kid" that of an Argentine gaucho, the picturesque cowboy of South America, in whose veins flows a mixture of Spanish and Indian blood, and whose habits are crossed between those of a raiding bandit and a plainsman. Ketti Gallian, the French stage and screen star, who was greatly acclaimed for her recent American screen debut in "Marie Galante," co-stars with Baxter. The background is the Argentine pampas, where the gauchos live a colourful life, Lew Pollock and Paul Webster, whose "Two Cigarettes in the Dark" swept the country last year, prepared the song numbers, for the production, some of which are sung by.Warner Baxter and Ketti Gallian. Veloz and Yolanda dance | their new sensational "Cobra Tango." KILBIRNIE KINEMA. . The main attraction at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight is the hilarious Australian comedy "Grandad Rudd," founded on the famous series of Steel Rudd stories. The Rudd family <ye presented as prosperous citizens, with one of the biggest farms in the country, a palatial homestead and cottages for each individual family. Mum, Dave, and Lil, Joe and his wife, Dan, and all the others appear and sterling comedy is provided. Bert Bailey appears as Grandad Rudd. while the supporting cast includes Fred McDonald, George Lloyd, Elaine Hamill, and John D'Arcy. The supporting attraction is Paramount's unusual comedy-drama hold My Wife," starring Sylvia Sidney, Gene Raymond, and H. B. Warner. PRINCESS THEATRE. "Father ■ Brown, Detective," and "Happiness Ahead," will conclude this evening at the Princess Theatre. Pauline Lord, celebrated' American stage star, makes her screen debut in "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," Paramount's adaptation of the worldfamous book, which will be the main ; feature tomorrow at the Princess The- ■ atre. The film, which has /preserved ,' all the homely, lovable philosophy of the novel and play, also has W. C. Fields, Zasu Pitts, Evelyn Venable, ] and Kent Taylor in the principal roles. 1 The parts of the famous "Wiggs' '< brood" are played by capable Holly- n wood child-players. One of the most l hilarious and entertaining screen at- ] tractions offered for a long time is the ] 8.1.P. production "Girls will be Boys," < the supporting feature. The star is j I Dolly Haas, a delightfully captivating ! Continental artist, while a splendid ' ! cast comprises Cyril Maude, Irene Van- ' ! brugh, and Edward Chapman. The ] short subjects include a cartoon in J technicolour, entitled "Poor Cinder- ] ella." ' NEW EMPIRE THEATRE, PETONE. \ "Thirty-Day Princess." which comes \ tonight to the New Empire Theatre, i marks the second time that Sylvia Sid- c ney has had Cary Grant as her lead- c ing man, since he rose to screen prom- f inence. "Thirty-Day Princess;" reveals Miss Sidney as a young girl who is t hired to impersonate a European princess, whom illness overcomes on the eve of a good-will tour. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. One of the most wholesome and enjoyable plays ever screened will be shown at the Palace Theatre tonight, "There's Always Tomorrow." In addi- I tion to featuring Frank Morgan and c Binnie Barnes, the picture deserves f particular- commendation because of its y wholesomeness and light comedy, i Louise Latimer, Elizabeth Young, Dick I Winslow, Helen Parrish, Alan Hale, c Maurice Murphy, and Margaret Hamil- t ton are others in the cast. c _____ j GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. | Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard, Burns and Allen, Ethel Merman, and Leon f Errol are the principal players* in (- "We're Not Dressing," which comes to c the Grand Theatre tonight. The six , stars combine their talents to create £ a swift-moving sixty minutes of song r and action in a new South Sea Island j. musical attraction which has unique c charms. ■ f SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. j At the Seaside Pictures tonight only i at 8 o'clock Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's s "After Office Hours" will be screened. s It is a fast-moving story of adventur- \ ous romance and deals with a society ( murder mystery against a background c of modern-day newspaper life. The £ stars are Clark Gable and Constancn j Bennett. Gable plays a hard-boiled c newspaper editor who is determined to E get his story even though it requires f the tactics of the North-west Mounteds. j A coloured musical revue will be in-] j eluded in the supporting programmel. ! £ The theatre has been electrically j heated. j CAPITOL THEATRE. r Janet Gaynor-apd Warner Baxter, f established favourites with audiences i c the world over, are co-starred in a pic- j ture that gives them attractive oppor- i tunities for their talents, "One More ' i Spring,'1 which will be shown at the j y Capitol Theatre tonight, commencing j T at 7.45. It is a delightful human story \ that makes a universal appeal. The sup-1 * ports include Laurel and Hardy in I * "Oliver the Eighth." 1 1

RIVOLI THEATRE. An all-slar cast with the speed and sparkle of "The Thin Man" mark "Forsaking All Others," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's new special, now playing at the Rivoli Theatre. Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery, together for the first time, head the cast, which includes Billie Burke, Charles Butterworth, Frances Drake, I and Ted Healy. Each star seems to | have forgotten his or her stardom, and I at Van Dyke's magical touch, concentrated on outdoing the other at giving 1 the best performance of the year. Joan 3 Crawford is at her best as the society 3 girl pursued by two men, but with a great sense of humour about it, while ' Gable and Montgomery vie with one s another for her smiles. That there are i- plenty of laughs in "The Night is - Young," the second feature, is ensured f by the presence in its imposing cast of l- not one but four comedy headliners. 3 With Ramon Npvarro and the lovely s' English star, Evelyn Laye, filling the r romantic leads, the supporting coni tingent is enlivened by such well--3 known laugh producers as the stony--1 laced Charles Butterworth, the rollicki ing Una Merkel, the inimitable Edr ward Everett Horton, and the amusing - Herman Bing. [ PLAZA THEATRE. "The Dictator" will conclude toitfght 1 at the Plaza Thtatre. ' Another merry farce, "Fighting ! Stock," is coming to the Plaza tot morrow. It is Ben Travers's tale of mis- ■ adventure in his best vein, with the , customary trio disentangling the com- • plications. Under Tom Walls's astute ■ and experienced direction no single ■ p^int of mirth-making, no single "spot 1 of bother" has been overlooked. Briga- ■ dier-General Sir Donald Rowley, a "fruity" baronet, rents a country cottage with Sydney, his asinine nephew, but falls foul of Rivers, a neighbour, over the fishing rights, while Sydney '■ adds to the trouble by making a play '< first for Mrs. Rivers, and then for ' Rivers's step-daughter. There are fur- ■ ther complications when Rivers's niece 1 Diana arrives on the scene chased by a blackmailer. The two families soon get ; into a hopeless tangle, in which Duck, 1 Rowley's timid secretary, plays an im- | portant part. i REX THEATRE. "The Girl from Missouri" and "Flesh" ■ will be finally shown tonight at the ■ Rex Theatre. '< The workings of Scotland Yard, a , favourite background for authors of > murder and detective stories, are ex- ' ploited in "Mystery of Mr. X," Robert ; Montgomery's starring vehicle which ' will head the double-feature proI gramme beginning tomorrow at the • Rex Theatre. The story deals with • the alarm caused in London over the ' fatal stabbing of six policemen, in as : many nights, by a homicidal maniac. • Prominent roles are filled by Elizabeth • Allan, Lewis Stone, Ralph Forbes, and Henry Stephenson. Wall Street, high finance, romance, and mother-love all blend in "You Can't Buy Everything," which brings May Robson to the talking screen in one of the most amazing vehicles ever provided for her and which forms the additional attraction. The cast includes Jean Parker, Lewis 1 Stone, Mary Forbes, Reginald Mason, William Bakewell, Tad Alexander, Walter Walker, and Reginald Barlow. \ DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. ; At the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, tonight the main feature will be "Mala the Magnificent," an epic of the Arctic wastes, staged in remarkable settings and telling a story of courage in the face of tremendous, odds. Mala, in : the title role, gives an amazing performance. The picture is unique in many respects. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Mr. George Arliss, the screen's most famous dramatic actor, will be seen this evening in "The Iron Duke" at the Regal Theatre. It is a story of the victor of Waterloo, and reveals the tremendous part Wellington played in the councils of Europe. A special film of the celebrations of the King's Jubilee will also be shown. :'V '■ "THE GEISHA." . ;:i : The Wellington Operatic Society's production of "The Geisha" will commence its season on August 3at the New Opera House, in the presence of their Excellencies the Governor-Gen-eral and the Viscountess Galway. . The play, which is' to be staged with all its Eastern splendour, is one which lends1 itself to the art of stagecraft,-arid the colourful scenery and lighting effects are a feature. The story is written around the "Tea House of Ten Thousand Joys," owned and "operated by one Wun Hi. The ballet of the fans is a most beautiful number, with the solo toe dance by Dorothy. Parlette. The frocks in this ballet, which are of the kimono type, are of white faced with pink, and look very fascinating in the Japanese settings of chrysanthemums and cherry blossom. A free children's matinee is being held on August 3, and each child will receive a memento. JUBILEE CHOIR CHARITY CONCERT. A charity concert is to be given tor night in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall by the Jubilee Choir, under the conductorship of Mr. Frank J. Oakes. It is hardly necessary, to remind concert lovers .that this choir performs solely for charity, and that the proceeds of the concert tonight are in aid of the orphanage at Upper Hutt, which is in urgent need of financial assistance to enable it to deal efficiently with the various calls made upon it in its care for a large number of children. The programme will contain part songs, including Gauls's setting of "Daybreak," Dr. Ormes's "Lass with the Delicate Air," Elgar's "It's Oh! To Be a Wild Wind," and' an "Eriskay Love Lilt" from the "Songs of the Hebrides," a setting by Sir Hugh Roberton. The solo artists will be Miss Teresa McEnroe, who has not appeared before a Wellington audience for some time, Mrs. Wilfred Andrews (contralto), and Mr. Stanley Rodger (baritone), all of whom have' most generously given their services in the cause of charity. It is hoped that the effort will result in a substantial sum for the orphanage funds. Mr. Maxwell Fernie will be the accompanist for the various numbers.