CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 23, 28 January 1936, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

"Without Regret," now showing at the Regent Theatre, is an unusual picture. The story begins in China, where a young girl trayelling alone (Elissa Landi), becomes infatuated with a daredevil airman in the pay of one of the contending armies (Paul Cavanagh). They marry, to the mortification of the airman's former sweetheart (Frances Drake). Later, after the young wife suffers disillusionment as to the real' character of her husband, he crashes into the sea on an ocean flight, and is ' presumed lost. Six years later, however, when his supposed widow is happily married to a famous young doctor (Kent Taylor), he is seen and recognised by his first sweetheart, who determines to make some money out of the discovery. The situation becomes steadily tenser until the final scene, in which all ends happily enough. There is a good supporting programme. "More pictures like 'I Give My Heart" will enhance the prestige of British productions," is how a reliable English : critic concluded his review on this 8.1.P. film which will have its New Zealand premiere at the Regent Theatre on Friday. "I Give My Heart" is the magnificently-acted and lavishlymounted version of the celebrated stage success "The Dubarry," and the highlight of the film is the superb singing of Gitta Alpar, the famous Hungarian soprano, for whom the orginal operetta was specially written. Her unexcelled voice has the vehicle it deserves in the lovely musical score by Millocker and Mackeben. The direction reveals a subtle bletading of showmanship and good taste, while the supporting performances are marked by the same intriguing delicacy of touch. For those who can enjoy good singing the .film offers, in the vocal triumphs of the star, unalloyed, enjoyment; and for others it has, in its intriguing story and delicious by-play, entertainment calculated to give eminent satisfaction. Gitta Alpar's' acting is more than equal to the demands of the story. It is her singing, however, that makes the picture. Vocally, it is claimed, she has no equal, and her handling of the many tuneful numbers is unforgettable.

NEW OPERA HOUSE,

The silver-voiced Richard Tauber, in his second English picture, "Heart's Desire," is to be heard at the New Opera House. As a musical romance it is outstanding, and the outstanding personality in it is Tauber himself, whose qualities of dramatic acting are revealed in a surprising manner. They are second only to the quality of his voice, which is heard in a series of numbers, including two Schumann gems and the unforgettable waltz song, "Vienna, City of Dreams." Artistically, the picture is irreproachable, and there are some really splendid scenes. Included in the cast is Diana Napier, to whom the tenor is engaged. A first-class selection of "shorts" supplements the main feature.

DE LUXE THEATRE.

A gay and inconsequential picture, "Three on a Honeymoon," featuring Stanley Lupino, Jack Melford, and Aileen Marson is the principal feature on the De Luxe Theatre's bill this week. It begins with the quite innocent visit of an intoxicated young man to the flat of a lady he does not know and finishes in gaiety on the deck of an ocean liner. The absurdities, musical moments, and adventures which follow make up a bright film in which Stanley Lupino reveals his many talents to the full. The supporting programme includes some good 'things, and delightful musical numbers are played by the De Luxe Concert Orchestra. ■

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

The London Film Production "Moscow Nights," which commences screening at the De Luxe Theatre on Friday is one of the most exciting stories of: espionage and romance ever produced. Enthusiastic notices in the London Press emphasise the outstanding quality of the picture. The setting of the picture is Moscow in pre-revolutionary days. Natacha, a hospital nurse, is engaged to Brioukow, a Russian peasant and a war-time profiteer, but the marriage is interrupted when Ignatofl begins a love affair with Natacha, his nurse in a hospital. Ignatofl later becomes trapped in the meshes of a war-time espionage organisation and is court-martialled. His fate depends upon a single word from Brioukow, a hostile witness. This scene provides a stirring climax to strong drama m which Harry Baur gives a remarkable display of the dramatic ability that has made him famous on the Continent. The treatment of the story is strikingly original. A spectacular background of great depth and beauty, and a delightful musical accompaniment, vocal and instrumental, is provided with brilliant effect. A special Russian musical-programme will be presented by the De Luxe Concert Orchestra. An excellent supporting programme ,will include a Walt Disney coloured silly symphony, "Music Land."

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

"Mills of the Gods," a Columbia production, is the chief attraction of the excellent programme now being presented at the Paramount Theatre. May Robson is seen in the principal role, and is ably supported by a number of prominent picture artists, including Victor Jory, Raymond Walburn, James Blakely, Albert Conti, Fay Ray, and Josephine Whitell. Ample scope for the display of dramatic power is given to May Robson in the part of_ the founder of a steel industry. Death Flies East," the second feature or the programme, concerns a dramatic happening in an aeroplane. A romance in which Conrad Nagel ana Florence Rice are chiefly concerned forms part of the story, which includes the unravelling of the cause of the mysterious death of one of the airliner passengers and the narrow escape of another. The other passengers apprehend the murderer before the aeroplane reaches the nearest city, where police are waiting to investigate.

STATE THEATRE,

KING'S THEATRE.

In "The Rainmakers," which is at the King's Theatre, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey shift the gears ot I their new fun vehicle into top. It is an hilarious satire saturated with rain storms, snow storms, dust storms, love storms, and brain hurricanes. Presenting something altogether new in screen humour, the rollicking comedy is based on the "weal and woe of life in a parched farming community "Roscoe. the Rainmaker" (Woolsey) comes to the aid of the discouraged farmers. And ever at his right hand is the faithful Wheeler, playing the role of assistant "scientist" and making a greater play for the heart of the local banker's daughter. The supporting picture is "Hot Tip," a racy story, which also contains many amusing situations. In "Hot Tip" James Gleason and Zasu Pitts are seen as a scrappily married couple, with Miss Pitts holding the family purse-strings and refusing to permit her husband to engage in his favourite sport of betting on- horse races.

PLAZA THEATRE.

REX THEATRE.

There is enough thrilling action, suspense, laughter, and romance in "The White Cockatoo," which is the principal picture at the Rex Theatre,- to supply the plots for half a dozen ordinary film melodramas. There is an all-star cast with Jean Muir and Ricardo Cortez in the romantic roles, and around whom the plot centres. Others include Ruth Donnelly. Walter Kingsford, John Eldredge, Gordon Westcott, Addison Richards, and Pauline Garon. Dick Powell with his inimitable singing voice, heads a cast of unusually talented players in the additional feature "Happiness Ahead." In the cast are a number of well-known players, including John Halliday, Frank McHugh, Marjorie Gateson, Ruth Donnelly, Dorothy Dare, Allen Jenkins, and Gavin Gordon. Some outstanding featurcltcs arc included in the programme.

SHORTT'S THEATRE.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

ST. JAMES THEATRE

WHITE HORSE INN."

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.

Shirley Temple in "Curly Top" is being shown at the Regal Theatre, Karori. It is a splendid story, well told, with "the world's little sweetheart" better, brighter, and happier than ever before. The supporting cast is headed by John Boles.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

The current attraction at the Empire Theatre is "Orchids to You," starring John Boles. The story deals with the financial and romantic troubles of a pretty florist, who, after building up a highly-successful business of her own, finds herself In difficulties when her professional ethics prevent her from revealing (he identity of a customer. Jean Muir and Charles Buttorworth play the leading supporting roles. Two comedies and two Fox Movietone Newsreels complete the programme. Tomorrow and Thursday "The Three Musketeers" will head the programme.

"Escapade," the American film adaptation of a German story, now showing at the Majestic Theatre, introduces Luise Rainer, a genuine Viennese. Unlike the great majority of Viennese pictures, "Escapade" lias a coherent plot, and the producers have shown remarkable restraint in inflicting upon long-suffer-ing audiences only one biergarten scene. The escapade referred to is performed' by a lady of fashion who slips away from a grand ball to pose for a picture that becomes the rage of Vienna and directs public attention upon the masked model. At least two husbands suspect their wives, and to avert trouble the painter invents a name for the model, and, of course, the name belongs to a living person, in this case the heroine. It is an ingenious and amusing story in which both Luise Rainer and William Powell, as the painter, acquit themselves well. The supporting programme includes a Laurel and Hardy comedy, a Pete Smith, miniature on water sports, and a newsreel.

A fast-moving drama with plenty of excitement and suspense is unfolded in "Woman' Wanted," which is at the St. James Theatre. The two principals, Maureen O'Sullivan and Joel McCrea, both give excellent performances, the former as a frightened girl who has escaped after being convicted of murder, and the latter .as a young lawyer who shelters her and tries to keep her out ::of the clutches of a gang of murderous crooks. The picture commences with the death sentence being pronounced on Ann (Maureen O'Sullivan), and she is being taken from th 2 courthouse to the gaol in a car when there is a terrific crash, engineered by the gang of crooks, and in the ensuing commotion she succeeds in escaping with the aid of Tony (Joel McCrea). She convinces him of her innocence, and the main action depicts their struggle to evade the clutches of the law and the unwelcome attentions of the gangsters. The supporting subjects are excellent, ana include newsreels, a coloured revue, an. "Our Gang" comedy, "Little Sinner, ; and "Alibi Racket," an .American feature intended to demonstrate to, the members of the community that prime does not pay. . ■"■

"Top Hat," .starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, is in its second week at the State Theatre. The musical score was written by Irving Berlin. Among his new dances, Fred Astaire gives two versions of "The Strings" _and also does a solo specialty, Top Hat, in which, a'chorus of top-hatted young men perform some clever and intricate steps. With Ginger- Rogers, Astaire sings "Isn't This a Lovely Day?" and "Cheek to Cheek," while the final number, "The Piccolino," with a chorus of sixty, is a fitting finale. Edward Everett Horton plays humorously as Horace Hardwicke, the mistaken husband, Helen Broderick making a definite success as his matchmaking wife. One of the gems of the piece is the performance of Eric Blore as Bates, Hardwicke's resourceful man servant, who is responsible for much mirth. Erik Rhodes is the dress designer.

A tale which has always proved successful in America, whether on stage or screen, forms the theme of "Way Down East," now showing at the Plaza Theatre. The picture portrays New England life during the nineties and is a story of a young girl (Rochelle Hudson), who, to escape from the past, flees to the countryside, where she seeks forgetfulness in hard work on the farm of Russell Simpson, stern, bigoted, and self-righteous. Complications arise when the son (Henry Fonda) falls in love with her, and she discovers that the owner of the adjacent farm is the man responsible for her downfall. She refuses to disclose her reason for not accepting the son and then the story of her former life comes to the ears of the local gossip, who immediately informs Simpson of the supposed type of girl he is harbouring. Simpson, with a sense of righteous indignation, denounces her and orders her to leave his house. She flees in a snowstorm and the tale then moves to a swift, exciting, but happy climax.

The spectacular musical play, "White Horse Inn," which sets a high standard in stage entertainment, opens at the New Opera House on Saturday night. "It was remarkable," wrote a critic, "how ingeniously Mr. Locke, as producer of 'White Horse Inn,' and Miss Morris, as arranger of the ballets, had marshalled their forces so that the stage never seemed overcrowded. At times there were so many people on the scene that every Square inch of space seemed to be occupied, yet there was no feeling of jostling and the movement of the stage pictures remained easy and fluent." ;

TIVOLI THEATRE,

PRINCESS THEATRE.

ROXY THEATRE.

Starring Warner Baxter, "Hell in the Heavens," at Shortt's Theatre, presents a thrilling and spectacular story of desperate War in the air. The picture offers "one of the most absorbing and romantic war dramas yet produced in Hollywood. It tells a story of daring men —not afraid of death but afraid of fear; desperate for life, yet each day braving destruction in the skies. In support of Warner Baxter are Conchita Montenegro, Russell Hardie, Herbert Mundin, and Ralph Morgan. The additional picture is "Helldorado," which is the story of a group of eleven stranded strangers, cut off from the world by cloudburst and flood, who find adventure and romance in an abandoned Californian ghost town. In the cast are Richard Arlen, Madge Evans, Ralph Bellamy, James Gleason, Henry B. Walthall, and the negro Stepin Fetchit.

The current attractions at the Kilbirnie Kinema are Shirley Temple in "The Little Colonel" and "Bright Lights," the splendid Joe E. Brown comedy. Commencing tomorrow, at the evening session, the gay musical "Paris in Spring," with Mary Ellis and Tullio Carminati, will be shown with "Calm Yourself," a comedy starring Robert Young and Madge Evans. As the school holidays are nearly over, special matinees are to be held tomorrow and Thursday, when Jackie Cooper will appear, in "Dinky." The rest of the programme is to be made up of comedies, cartoons, a Mickey Mouse, "Castle of Dreams," and pictures guaranteed to delight the heart of every youngster. The matinees commence at 2 o'clock and the evening session at 7.45.

RIVOLI THEATRE . Mac West in "Now I'm a Lady" and Joe E. Brown in "Bright Lights" are at the Riyoli Theatre. "Now I'm a Lady" brings Mac West back to the screen to win new laurels us a modern belle with ultra-modern ideas. Her adventures open in a western mining town, range over the Western Hemisphere, and reach their climax in the strongholds of society at Southampton. A cattle baron's widow with money to burn and warm affections, she picks Paul Cavanagh, a handsome Englishman, as the object of her affections. But Cavanagh mistrusts' his feelings and runs ofE to Buenos Aires. Bringing her horse to the Buenos Aires races as an excuse Mac West continues her campaign, still without affect. Then she decides that she must change to win his love, and with characteristic directness, marries an impoverished socialite, Monroe Owsley, in order to get into society. But this does not turn out as well as she expected. Her rival, Marjorie Gateson, plots against Miss West, fortune hunters scheme against her, and her husband proves to be a waster. How this go-getting lady beats society at its game, and gets out of the romantic tangle and into Cavanagh's arms furnishes a grand climax to the picture. Mac West sings a number of new songs. "Bright Lights" is a musical in the sense that it is a backstage story in which the songs are part of the action. It is a hilarious Joe E. Brown comedy based on a story by Lois Leeson and adapted by Ben Markson and Benny Rubin. Joe Brown does some unusual acrobatic work in his role as a burlesque show "hoofer" and crooner who makes good. The picture, apart from the comedy, introduces some tuneful songs. The cast includes Ann Dvorak, Patricia Ellis, William Gargan, Joseph Cawthorn, Henry O'Neill, and The Maxellos.

"Sanders of the River" and "Babyface Harrington" are to -be screened finally at the Tivoli Theatre tonight.

Tomorrow and on Thursday another double-feature bill will be presented. Anna Sten and Fredric March will be seen in "We Live Again," which tells in vivid and dramatic fashion the powerful and beautiful love story of the little Russian peasant girl, Katusha, who loved and was betrayed by a prince. Years later they meet again, Prince Dmitri as a member of the jury trying Katusha, who has become a girl of the streets, for poisoning and' robbing a man. When, through a misunderstanding, she is sentenced to five years in Siberia, despite her innocence, the remorseful nobleman gives up his life of ease to make amends for the great wrong he has done her. Jane Baxter, the lovely English actress,' plays the aristocratic fiancee whom Dmitri leaves to follow Katusha to Siberia, and C. Aubrey Smith is importantly cast as her father, Prince Kortchagin, Sam Jaffe, Ethel Grimes, Gwendolyn Logan, and Jessie Ralph are also prominent in the cast. The other feature film, "Car 99," is a story of the radio patrol, who cram their reckless lives with action, drama, peril, and romance. Sir Guy Standing, eminent English actor, who was seen in Paramount's "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer," plays one of the leading roles in "Car 99." Based on true information obtained from the secret files of one of the most efficient police organisations in America, the picture features Standing with Fred MacMurray, Ann Sheridan, and William Frawley.

George Raft in "The Glass Key," an enthralling murder mystery by Dashiell Hammett, the author of "The Thin Man," is at the Princess Theatre. It presents the popular star as a hard-fisted battler who defies the lordlings of the underworld to aid his Mends. In the supporting cast are Edward Arnold and Claire Dodd. Undoubtedly one of the most ambitious productions ever presented on the screen is British International Pictures' "Drake of England," which is the second feature. It is a momentous subject, tracing the colourful career of one of England's greatest and most daring sons of the sea. The cast includes Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler, and Jane Baxter. Among the short subjects are two delightfully amusing cartoons in technicolour.

The principal attraction at the Roxy Theatve is Paul Muni in "Bordertown," a Warner Bros.' production. The picture is set for the most part in a resort town on the United States border, a picturesque community, wild and lawless, the rendezvous of rogues, gamblers, outcasts, adventuresses, and also the trysting place of American millionaires and bored society women. The plot is crammed with thrilling action, intense dramatic situations, tremendous suspense, and a most unusual triangular romance. "A Night at the Ritz," will be the supporting feature. The story by Albert J. Cohen and Robert T. Shannon is a hilarious comedy with fast action and scintillating dialogue. The plot is unique and carries a delightful underlying romance with a little gold digging thrown in to add to the laughs. The featured players are William Gargan, Patricia Ellis, and Allen Jenkins.

DELUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT-

"The Thundering Herd" and "You're Telling Me" are being screened at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt. Randolph Scott and Judith Allen have the leading romantic roles in "The Thundering Herd," and they are supported by such able Hollywood players as Buster Crabbe, Noah Beery, Raymond Hatton, Blanche Friderici, Harry Carey, and Mont? Blue. It is a Paramount picturisatioa of Zane Grey's romance of the great outdoors. In the second picture W. .C. Fields gives a fine performance as a small-town optician with a flair for inventing which has never brought him success. His inventions include a murder-chair for tired burglars, a machine for blowing out burning matches, a keyhole-finder for inebriated gentlemen, and a puncture-proof tire.

STATE THEATRE, PETONE,

Songs, laughs, and romance are happily blended in "Thanks a Million," which is the current attraction at the State Theatre, Petone. The picture features Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak. with Fred Allen, Patsy Kelly, Paul Whiteman and his band, with Ramons, Rubinoff, and the Yacht Club Boys.

Commencing tomorrow with a special matinee at 2.15 p.m. will be "First World War," which, to judge from advance accounts, provides notable entertainment. It includes secret films from the archives of every nationmost of them never before revealed to the public. Among the more notable sequences depicting royalty are intimate views of Rasputin with the Russian Royal Family; the marriage of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose subsequent death precipitated the war; and many unique glimpses of the Kaiser in the years when he was building up his mammoth war machine. The second feature will be "Three on a Honeymoon," featuring Zasu Pitts and Sally Eilers. It is packed with real comedy and the spice of romance.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN,

One of the most unusual and most powerful creations conceived in the mind of a film producer is "Dante's Inferno," which heads the double-feature bill showing at Our Theatre. It is a film of a modern character linked and threaded with Dante Alighieri's epic poem, "Divine Comedy." Spencer Tracy and Claire Trevor head a big cast. In the associate feature Tom Walls and Cicely Courtneidge are seen together for the first time in the hilarious comedy, "Where's My Man."

SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY.

At the Seaside Pictures tonight Peter Lorre, the man whose face may assume almost inhuman expression at will, will be seen in "The Hands of Orlac" picturised as "Mad Love." The story is of a clever surgeon who performs miraculous feals of grafting with weird and terrible results. Colin Clive and Francis Drake are the supporting players. A Charlie Chase comedy, coloured cartoon, two M.G.M newsreels, and a revue .will, also be screened.

GLADIOLI DISPLAY.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," is to bo shown finally at the Capital Theatre tonight. It features Conrad Veidt in an unusual role, together with Rene Ray and Anna Lee, and is another Gaumont-British triumph. .Laid in the novel setting of the drab everyday boarding-house, it tells oi a mysterious stranger who conies quietly to live amongst the quarrelsome ' residents. Gradually his influence exerts itself and changes their entire lives. "That's Gratitude," the supporting feature, is a hilarious farce of family life with Frank Craven, Mary Carlisle, and Arthur Byron in the principal roles. "Charlie Chan in Shanghai" will be screened at a matinee tomorrow.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE.

"The Irish In Us," starring James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, will be shown finally tonight at the Grand Theatre, Petone.

The next change will be the unique musical comedy, "Dance Band," featuring Buddy Rogers and June Clyde. It is a happy film sparkling with music and laughter from beginning to end. This is Buddy Rogers's first appearance in a British film. He is seen as the leader of a dance band, a role that he has actually played with considerable success in real life. The central theme of the story is the big band contest which forms the climax of the film. Pat Shelley, who has high hopes of carrying off the first prize, did not know until the eve of the contest who Buddy was. Her connections, resolving that she could beat Buddy, decided on foul means, and hired a gang of ruffians to seize Buddy's instruments and hold them until after the contest. But Pat commandeers Buddy's van, and so the instruments taken are not Buddy's, but hers. Everything comes out all right in the end, but only after a great deal of excitement and an hour and a half of sparkling entertainment.

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE.

Screening finally tonight at the Palace Theatre, Petone, is Jack London's drama of pioneer days in the Yukon, "Call of the Wild," starring Clark Gable and Loretta Young.

Commencing a three-night season tomorrow night is "The Melody Lingers On," one of the most appealing love stories ever filmed. This outstanding United Artists' release comes direct to Petone after a most successful two weeks' season in Wellington. Josephine Hutchinson, George Houston, Wm. Harrigan, and Mpna Barrie are featured. The picture is human, down-to-earth, and believable in its sincere drama of a mother fighting, sacrificing, going through times of torment to help her son achieve the fame his glorious voice deserved. The supporting programme includes "Camera Thrills," a highly exciting and entertaining featurette.

At the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society's midsummer show, to be held in the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, tomorrow there will be a charming display of gladioli, begonias, dahlia's, hydrangeas, sweet peas, decorative, and cooking exhibits. This is the most colourful show of the season, and will be open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. continuously for the one day only. Visitors from Wellington may take any Hutt bus. ■