CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 82, 6 April 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "In "The Milky Way," now showing at the Regent Theatre, Harold Lloyd is at his funniest as the simple, innocent milk roundsman, Burleigh Sullivan, who has greatness thrust upon him through the agency of a young sister and a street brawl. The two other men who figure in the brawl are discovered by the Press to be "Speed" McFarland, middleweight champion of the world, and his henchman. Sullivan, whose specialty learnt in childhood from bitter experience is the ability to duck a blow, fecrts the credit for knocking out the champion, though the blow was really struck by McFariand's heavyweight sparring pajtner. Sloan (Adolphe Menjou), the champion's manager, does his best to offset the consequences of the wave of publicity, but the subsequent happenings send the volatile little man into p. state of collapse which is not helped by the further triumphs of the milkman over the two fighters.. At last, he conceives the idea of training Sullivan up. as a contender for the championship. The training and fighting scenes that ■ follow are among the funniest ,ever seen on the screen. The feminine side of the cast is well portrayed by Helen Mack and Veree Teasdale. Iviewsreels, special featurettes, and a fine musical novelty complete a programme well worth seeing. NEW OrERA HOUSE. , In "The Ghost Goes West," which is now screening at the New Opera House, Robert Donat plays the principal part, or rather parts, as he plays both the ghost and the descendant of the ghost's originator in the amazing adventures they have together. Two hundred years ago (according to the story of the picture) a scion of the noble house of Glourie, who has failec. to wipe out the insults of a clan MacLaggan heaped upon the Glounes, departed life in a gunpowder explosion, and as a.punishment for his failure to wipe out the insults, his ghost was condemned to haunt the. house of Glouri& In modern times the surviving ' representative of the Glounes is forced to sell Glourie Castle to an American chain-store merchant who has it removed stone by stone to be re-erected in Florida. The bewildered ghost, having been forced to follow his abode to the West, starts the real story, which is ludicrous in the extreme. Jean Parker has the leading feminine • role. The supporting features are good and include a Walt Disney Silly Symphony in colour, "Who Killed Cock Robin?" - -MAJESTIC THEATRE. After an absence from the screen for isome months Myrna Loy makes a welcome reappearance in Wmpsaw, the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romantic comedy-drama now showing at the Majestic Theatre. Spencer Tracy appears as a Federal agent who ,is tracing a gang of jewel thieves, for whom Vivian Palmer (Myrna Loy) is working. These two, in turn, are being. dogged by a rival gang who are anxious to possess the Koronoft pearls, believed to be in the libssession of Vivian. Tracy, posing as a fellow-crook, travels with Vivian-by air half-way "across the continent all the time being blissfully unaware that she knows of his identity. He fal.s in love with the "attractive fugitive from justice, but has actually' arrested her when the 'rival gang burst into the farmhouse where they are staying ana demand the pearls. Included among the supports arc a Laureland Hardy comedy, a Pete Smith sports item.on Towing, -newsreels, and other items of interest. •-■ PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The success of "Dancing Lady" when it was first produced two years ago was wonderful, but its reproduction, now at the .Paramount Theatre, bids fair to-exceed the triumph of the original version.-- The dancing and music as rendered": by a specially-selected company-of experts led by several film stars is of a high and entertaining order, and. the concluding scenes are marvellous examples o£ photographic and constructive skill. Joan Crawford, Fred Astaire, Clark Gable, and Franchot Tone in this Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer masterpiece are ably supported by May Robson, Winnie Lightner, and a host of clever dancers. Nelson Eddy,' who achieved such a success iri' :l "Naiighty Marietta," is included in ithe; grand finale of "Dancing Lady,"'and sings with striking effect, with topical picture accompaniment, the .song'"Rhythm of the Day." The first half of the programme comprises several.;entertaining■newsreels and.a beautiful:,travel picture of scenes in ihe Mediterranean.' .■ •■ . ■_ :'" y. The Easter attraction for the Paramount Theatre will be "Big Broadcast of 1936,"" which brings a wealth of variety in star names ■■; to the screen in a host of entertaining scenes and sketches. Among the most prominent are Richard Tauber,- the Viennese Boys' Choir. Charles Euegles, Mary Boland. Bill Robinson (the coloured dancer), Amos and Andy,. Burns and Allen, Jack Oakie, and Bing Crosby. V '■'"■'.■ - •. -' ;"-.; KING'S THEATRE. Motion pictures are at last revealSng the true John Boles—the gay.romantic Boles, and Fox Film's musical spectacle "Redheads on Parade," which is now showing at the Kings Theatre, stars him-in his lightesthearted, gayest role. Boles starred ■with Dixie Lee acts the male lead, in the tender inspired love story about which the plot of this-picture is woven. He sings bothwith ensembles and'his co-star the three'hit tunes -written'for; the picture. And thereto-top his performance he reveals himself as a dancer of the first rank. Something unique, in film subjects is the British Dominions' release "Scrooge" based on Dickens's immortal tale "A Christmas Carol," which is the second feature. England's famous actor Seymour Hicks plays "Scrooge," and has never been seen to such advantage. PRINCESS THEATRE. Fast-moving and novel, and packed with' laughter, "The Rainmakers," which is the principal attraction at the Princess * Theatre, deserves rating among the best comedy features given to the screen by Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. Placing Wheeler and Woolsey in the roles of scientific "rainmakers," "The Rainmakers" races swiftly to an uproarious climax. Combining romance, mystery, and stark drama, Faramount's "Without Regret," a gripping drama of sophisticated love, which is the additional feature, has a notable cast, headed by Elissa Landi, Paul Cavanagh, Kent Taylor, Frances Drake, and Colin Tapley. ROXX THEATRE. A colourful outdoor drama, "Wanderer of the Wasteland," outstanding because of its originality ot plot, humaneness of characterisation, and rjc-roaring action that marks the ageliss popularity of Zane Grey Westerns, is the main attraction offering at £c Roxy Theatre. Laid against the «Jnturesque desert country of the West in the days when bands of out■Jiws roamed the desert wastes preying on gold prospectors, "Wanderer of the Wasteland" stars Dean Jagger and Gail Patrick. "The People's Enemy." a powerful racketeer story featuring Preston Foster, Lila Lee, and Melvyn Douglas, is the supporting feature. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "China Seas," the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, with Clark GabJe, Jean Harlow, and Wallace Beery m the principal roles, deals with the adventures of a group of white people on a storm-wracked ship off the south-eastern coast of Asia. The supporting picture is "Mr. What's His Name," with Sir Seymour Hicks in the starring role. REGAL THEATRE, KAKORX. Tonight at the Regal Theatre a programme- that sets a new standard of gay entertainment will be screened when "If You Could Only Cook will head the bill. Herbert Marshall and Jean Arthur are assisted by Leo CarilJo. -Interesting short subjects include k cartoon, screen snaps, and variety.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. ; Tom Walls is at his best in "Foreign '< Affaires," which is now in its second • week at the Plaza Theatre, as a drinker • of rare wines and judge of women, ana ■ Ralph Lynn is as amusing as ever as ■ a vacuous fool who lends all his money •to Tom Walls. Robertson Hare is not '■ as prominent in the picture as he usual- ■ ly is but the glimpses that one gets • of this sorry little man, still harassed ! unrepentantly by his wife, are as funny 'as ever. Tom Walls gives, a fine per- ■ formance as Captain the Hon. Archi- ' bald Gore, an aristocratic old gentle- ■ man who has no assets except his self- : confidence and his charming manner. '• When this blue-blooded waster joins ' another penniless impovtor in the per--1 son of Ralph Lynn, and both adjourn - to the Casino at Nice to find some easy ■ money, the comedy gets going with a 1 will ■ The supporting programme is 1 excellent and includes newsreels and a ■ fine short subject dealing with life 1 in the Royal Air Force, showing the 1 cadet training colleges, foreign stations • aircraft on duty with the Navy, ana ' some wonderful formation flying by ; the crack fighting squadrons of the : force. STATE THEATRE. Jane Withers the gifted child actress, jigs. her way through "Paddy O'Day at the State Theatre, causing, as Irish folk usually do, a riot of mirth and a few tears. Paddy is first met on board the ship which takes her from Ireland to America, where she is to meet her mother, with her Russian friends, fascinating Rita Cansino and other members of the Petrovitch family who are going to America as a troupe of entertainers, Paddy wins all hearts on the ship with her Irish songs, chief among which is "Keep the Twinkle m Your Eye." When the ship arrives at.Ellis Island news of the death of Paddy's mother is brought, and the immigration authorities decide to send the child back to Ireland, but Paddy and her dog escape in a novel manner. Pinkie Tomlin, who is a studious young man, much repressed by two maiden aunts, becomes attached _to Paddy and through her meets the Petrovitch family and falls in love with the beautiful Rita. He finances their entertainment cafe and surprisingly finds himself to be a composer of songs which he sings during the piece. HART-O'BRIAN FAREWELL WEEK. The final revue of the Hart-o'Brian Company, which is now being, presented at the St. James Theatre, is a bright, varied, -and. ingenious bill. There are twenty-seven numbers on. the programme, which concludes with a cocktail party in which the girls descend into the audience with shakers and cups and their men companions offer cigarettes. Miss Janice Hart is heard in a number of appealing songs, and finally appears in a Ballet of Bells in which the girls, each with a harness. of bells tuned to one note, play melodies by means of dance steps. Frank O'Brian is at his best in his "Didnt It?" and in the number where he finally unfolds to the audience what it was ' that Eve really said to Adam. Reinforcing the many sketches are the songs of Eric Kelleway, Marie Doran, : and Max Reddy. Dave James, a clever magician, does some baffling ; work with cigarettes and matches; Paul Velesco olays the violin with excellent tone; Vie ; Sanderson re- : veals himself to be one of the best : jugglers seen here in a long time, and the three Rumanian Velescos do some ■ clever work in acrobatics. Tne dancing is a feature of the show. The Orlandos are also seen in some whirlwind acrobatic dancing, and Desiree and Montingue prove a dramatic and accomplished pair. SHORTT'S THEATRE: Comedy combines with. mystery in Fox Film's "The Great Hotel Murder," which is now showing at Shortts Theatre, with Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen co-featured. Both men, one as a house detective, the other a mystery yarn concocter, plunge • into a maze of-clues and engage in a , spirited race to reach the solution. In ■ the supporting' cast are Rosemary • Ames, Mary Carlisle. Henry O'Neill, ■C. Henry Gordon, William Janney, ■ Charles C. Wilson,' John Wray, and - others. "Ladies Love Danger," Fox • Film's mystery comedy, which is the : other, main film, tears to tatters the, . theory of circumstantial evidence. . Mona Barrie and Gilbert Roland are ! the principals. 1 KILBIRNIE KINEMA. ■ So packed- with entertainment is ■ "Broadway Melody of 1936," which Eis now screening at the Kilbirnie 1 Kinema, that it at once registers' its 1 right to acclaim as the greatest extravaganza yet to be made by Hollywood. ' For players the cast has as one of its " top personalities, the gifted Jack ' Benny, outstanding genius of radio 1 broadcasting, who has the most ample ' and able support from noted. perform-. ; ers like.Una, Merkel, Robert Taylor, a grand romantic male lead, and Eleanor Powell, the "world's greatest feminine, tap dancer:"/ Ida Lupino, Gail Patrick, : and Kent Taylor • are the leads of i ■ "Smart, Girl," the second feature, a bright, sophisticated romance drama or a modern.girl. ■ v '■h STATE THEATRE, PETONE. , With triumphs. in the field^of opera ; and radio already, his, youthful,: hand- , some Nino- Martini makes' his longi anticipated motion; picture debut in ; 1 "Here's to-Romance," which, is now ■ showing at the State Theatre, Petone. ' Assisted by Genevieve Tobin and Anita Louise; Martini enacts the leading role in this picture, which describes 1 the tragedy,': the comedy, and the romance in the life of a.manwith a golden voice. Good supporting featurettes will be screened. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Prominent among the many things that recommend Samuel Goldwyns latest offering, "The Dark Angel, which is showing again tonight and tomorrow at the Palace Theatre, Petone, is an opportunity to see the ever-lovely Merle Oberon co-starred with Frednc March and Herbert Marshall. Apart from this "The Dark Angel" is the most powerful and gripping drama to reach the screen for a long time, belected supports include a Mickey Mouse cartoon. "Mickey's Garden, and a musical revue, "Gipsy Sweetheart, both in colour. ' GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. A colourful outdoor drama, "Wanderer of the Wasteland," outstanding because of its originality of plot .and rip-roaring action that marks the ageless popularity of Zanc Grey Westerns, is now showing at the Giand Theatre. Dean Jagger, Gail Patrick, Edward Ellis, Monte Blue, Trixie Friganza, and Raymond Hatton. have mam roles. "Here Comes Cookie, starring George Burns and Gracie Allen, in a first-rate comedy entertainment, is tne second attraction. ! our theatreTnewtown. : Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers . dance, sing, and romance their way ■ through a'gay, colourful story in Top Hat," their new RKO Radio musical comedy, which heads the double-feature bill showing at Our Theatre. Top Hat" traces a romance, which gets on to a flying love-at-first-sight start in ' London, and meets complications against the colourful background of the Lido. Dancing to Berlin's latest 1 tunes, the stars introduce a number 1 of sensational new routines, climaxed ■by the featured "Piccolino." The as--1 sociate feature is the hilarious comedy, • "Honeymoon for Three," starring Stan- ;. ley Lupino. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND DAY. Jack London's roaring drama of the Klondike "Call of the Wild," starring Clark Gable, heads the programme to ;be screened at the Empire Theatre this evening. Loretta YoungA Jack Oakie, and Reginald Owen play the leading supporting roles. A Mickey Mouse cartoon, "Mickey's Kangaroo." ■ a Medbury Travelaugh. and the lal- ■ est screen snapshots complete the programme.

' TIVOLI THEATRE. "Anne of Green Gables" will be screened finally tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. Anne Shirley, O. P. Heggie, and Helen ■ Westley play the leads in this film version of the celebrated book. Also on the programme is "Brewster's Millions," starring Jack Buchanan and Lili Damita, in a musical comedy based on the famous stage' production. For almost two months, Clark Gable, Loretta Young, and Jack Oakie braved snowslides, starvation, and death in sub-zero Mount Baker, Washington, filming Darryl Zanuck's 20th Century production "Call of the Wild," which comes to the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow. The screen play is an adaptation of Jack London's immortal story of love and treachery during the Yukon Gold Rush and all the colour of those feverish times has been transferred to the screen. Alaskan pioneers from as far north as the Arctic Circle came south to take part in the picture, in which Frank Conroy, Reginald Owen, Sidney Toler, and Katherine de Mille carry prominent supporting roles. The film also introduces a new dog star in the role of "Buck," perhaps the best-known and best-loved canine hero in all fiction. May Robson plays an outstanding role in the supporting feature, "Age of Indiscretion," a gripping drama of the legal battle of a millionaire mother-in-law to obtain the custody of a child of divorce. Her contest with the father, enacted by Paul Lukas, forms the. dominant note in a romance of today and its divorce problems. Helen Vinson plays • the frivolous wife, who figures in a divorce and remarriage with Ralph Forbes, and precipitates the child custody contest, and Madge Evans is the feminine lead opposite Lukas as the faithful secretary who really loves her employer and who aids him in his fight for the child. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Grand Exit," showing finally tonight at ' the Rivoli Theatre, concerns itself primarily with the gripping adventures of Edmund Lowe, cast as a super-detective whose work consists of deciding in what manner a number of sensational fires started, and in tracking down the criminal firebug. Ann Sothern, lovely blonde star, is seen as an alluring and provocative young woman, who has a strange habit of turning up at mysterious fires. Coupled with the tracking down of the incendiary is the romance which develops between Lowe and Miss Sothern. "She Couldn't Take It," the George Raft-Joan Bennett romantic-comedy of an ex-gangster who inherits the guardianship of a family or madcap bluebloods, is the associate feature. Raft is seen as the reformed beer baron, Ricardi, whose major problem in his pledged duty to tame'the "mad Van Dykes" is the spitfire daughter, Carol, played by Joan Bennett. Five pairs of motion picture players were reunited on the RKO lot during the production of "Professional Sweetheart," the burlesque on life in a broadcasting studio, which opens tomorrow at the Rivoli Theatre. Ginger Rogers, who made her screen debut in "Young Man of Manhattan" opposite Norman Foster, has the same leading man in "Professional Sweetheart. Miss Rogers also appears in the film with Gregory Ratoff, under whom she starred in his tabloid version of "Girl Crazy." Allen Jenlcins and Frank McHugh provide the comedy relief, and Zasu Pitts and Lucient Littlefield are seen in the roles of sob sister and radio announcer.. Also cast in "Professional Sweetheart" are Edgar Kennedy and Franklin Pangbom, who have appeared in a number of two-reel comedies. In the RKO-Radio comedydrama "This Man Is Mine," which wnl be the associate feature, Irene. Dunne will be seen as a resourceful wife who not. only manoeuvres to risk her husband to the tentacles of a siren, but also fights to recover him when he becomes a victim. How the wife teaches her errant mate an unforgettable lesson is said to give a new and unusual twist to the story as well as to afford the star an opportunity to display her dramatic talents to the very best advantage. Ralph Bellamy will be seen as the unfaithful husband and beautiful Constance Cummings as the woman who tempts him to leave the straight and narrow path. Others n the cast are Sidney Blackmer. Kay Johnson, Charles Starrett. Louis Mason, and Vivian Tobin. REX THEATRE. Incidental music which forms the rhythmic background for Faramount's latest Hopalong Cassidy drama of the Old West, "Bar 20 Rides Again," is furnished by Chill Wills and his Avalon Boys. The picture, featuring William Boyd and Jimmy Ellison as hardriding cowboys from the Bar 20 ranch* is now at the Rex Theatre. Will Rogers in "Life Begins at 40" is the second big attraction. The Rex Theatre will present a new policy.as from Easter Saturday, April 11. Fred Argyle's International Vaudeville Revue < Company will appear on the stage in sixty minutes of clean, clever vaudeville and revue. This merry and bright company of twenty performers, which has just concluded a 14-week season at the Majestic Theatre, Christchurch, is headed by Fred Argyle, "the king of comedians,' Rae Williams, who comes from the Prince Edward Theatre, Sydney, possesses a beautiful soprano voice, and there is a lilt in every note she sings: There will also be the Rex Beauty Ballet ' and supporting artists of the highest standard. On the screen Barbara Stanwyck/and Roland Young will be seen in "The Red Salute." The plans are now/open at the D.I.C. and theatre. WRESTLING TONIGHT. Exceptional interest lias been aroused in the wrestling match which, is .to take place at the Town xlall tonight when the 1936 professional season will be • opened. The contestants will be Earli McCready, the Canadian who proved so -popular and successful last season, and Harry Kent, a newcomer from the United States who opened his New Zealand tour auspiciously with a win over "Lofty" Blomfield at Auckland a week ago. An entertaining programme of amateur bouts will commence at 8 o'clock. Particulars are advertised. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo," featuring Ronald Colman, Joan Bennett, Colin Clive, and Nigel Bruce, is screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight. It deals with the adventures of a Russian prince, impoverished by the revolution, who runs a few francs into surprisingly big winnings and then uses the money to pursue a girl hired by the gambling syndicate to lure him back to the tables. ______________