CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 84, 8 April 1936, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

In "The Miiy 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, gets the credit for knocking out the champion, though the blow was really struck by. McFarland's heavyweight sparring partner. 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 a state of collapse which is not helped fay 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. Newsreels, special featurettes, and a fine musical novelty complete a programme well worth seeing. "Queen of Hearts" opens at the Regent Theatre with a midnight preview screening commencing at 10.20 tomorrow night. NEW OPERA HOUSE. In "The Ghost Goes West," which is now screening at the. New Opera House, Robert Donat plays the principal part, or1 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 failed to wipe out the insults of a clan MacLaggan heaped upon the Glouries, 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 liouse of Glourie. In modern times the surviving representative of the Glouries is forced to sell Glourie Castle to an American chain-store merchant whe 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 JKilled Cock Robin?" MAJESTIC THEATRE. After an absence from the screen for fcQme months Myrna Loy makes a Welcome reappearance in "Whipsaw, the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romantic comedy-drama now showing at the Majestic Theatre. Spencer Tracy appears as a Federal agent who. js uacing a gang of jewel thieves, tor whom" Vivian Palmer (Myrna Loy) is. working/ These . two, in. turn, are being dogged by a rival gang who are anxious to possess tine Koronoff pearls, believed to be in the possession of Vivian. Tracy, posing as 3 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 faLs 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 and demand the pearls. Included among the supports are a Laurel and Hardy comedy, a Pete Smith sports item on rowing, newsreels, and other items of interest. Deep-eyed secrets o£ the famous "Black Chamber" of World War fame are unfolded under the analytical genius of William, Powell in his new Metro-Gbldwyn-Mayer picture, ' Rendezvous," opening on Easter Saturday at-the Majestic Theatre. "Rendezvous presents Powell in the most unusual characterisation of his career as a newspaper puzzle editor who graduates to the outstanding trapper of international spies.' Through the. web of counter-espionage; is interwoven ; a three-cornered romance involving Powell, Rosalind Russell, and Binnie games. ■ PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Dancing Lady," which concludes tomorrow night at the Paramount Theatre, is certainly a popular revival of file film,- which, proved so successful When shown here previously. Fred Astaire ;is Joan Crawford's dancing bartner, and appears in a number of particularly fine numbers. Another player in "Dancing Lady," who has Since found stardom, is Nelson Eddy. Seldom does one picture have suificient variety to satisfy all tastes, but such a one is due for release at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday for the Easter holiday attraction. A Bombing >of all the screen, radio, Bri'd stage 'talent-has arrayed in •The Big Broadcast of 1936" a group fef stars that it would be practically impossible to equal. Jack Oakie end Henry Wadsworth, air entertainfers.'plan to enter an international broadcasting contest to save their radio Btation from bankruptcy. George Burns arid his wife,' Gracie Allen, bring the boys their ■ television invention, the Radio Eye, and naturally complications jet in. Prominent among the specialty presentations are Richard Tauber, who sings "Melody of Rubensteiri" and "Invocation ;to the Storm," the Vienna Boys' Choir, which sings "Holy Night," comedy sketches by Amos 'n' Andy, and Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland;; Bill Robinson, the coloured tapdancer; Ethel Merman,: who sings "Its the Animal'in. Me"; the Nicholas brothers, negro lads who present a surprisingly fine eccentric dancing turn; Bing -Crosby; who sings "I Wished on the Moon"; s Ray Noble and his Band, a chorus of 100 girls, an elephant ballet, and many novel and amusing back T grounds." '.'.'■' KING'S THEATRE. Motion pictures are at last revealing the true John Boles—the gay romantic Boles,,and Fox Film's musical spectacle "Redheads on Parade," which is now showing at the King's Theatre, stars , him in his lightest^ hearted, 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 both with ensembles and his Co-star the three hit tunes written for the picture. And then to 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. ~ ' , "Steamboat Round the Bend, based on Ben" Lucien Burman's widely-read novel about steamboat life on the Mississippi, and starring Will Host"--comes to the King's Theatre on Easter Saturday. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo," featuring Ronald Colman, Joan'Bennett. .Colm. Clive, and Nigel Bruce, is screening at the Capitol Theatre- tonight.- If deals with the adventures' •of a: Russian pnnce, im-poverished-.by the revolution, who runs a few francs into 'suVprismgly big winnings and: then uses .the money to pursue a girl hired by the gambling syndicate .to lure him back to the tables. . ' OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Two of the screen's outstanding popular stars, Madeleine Carroll and Robert Donat, are teamed in tbo Gau-mont-British version of John Buchan s thrilling story of adventure and mystery, "The Thirty-nine Steps," which is showing for a return season at Our Theatre. In the associate feature, "Wings in the Dark," Myrna Loy and Cary Grant are co-starred. The story deals with a.young girl flyer who risks her life to help her lover when fate IPfrevents him from caring for himself.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DE LUXE THEATRE.

Told in all its sensational detail, "1 Found Stella Parish," which will conclude at the De ■ Luxe Theatre tomorrow ■' Thursday night, tells the story of the glamorous beauty who swept London off its feet and then vanished into obscurity on the very night she scored her greatest success on the stage. Thousands of De Luxe patrons have been moved and thrilled by "I Found Stella Parish" during the film's successful season. The gorgeous Kay Francis surrenders flesh and heart to recreate the front-page beauty who became the idol of London—and then met the man who alone knew her secret. Kay Francis proves once again that she is not only one of the most beautiful women on the screen, but one of the most accomplished actresses as well. The supporting entertainment' is of a high standard in keeping with the feature attraction. "A Midsummer Night's Dream." If the opinion of notable and able critics has any bearing on the subject "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Professor Max Reinhardfs film version of the comedy gem, which will have its Wellington premiere at the De Luxe Theatre on Easter Saturday next, is the film sensation of all time. Those who have had the privilege of seeing "The Dream" and are intellectually in a position to sing either its anthems or Us anathema, are unanimous in their praise of the general excellence and the happy assignment of the leading roles. To define the many features of this sensational film separately would require a whole newspaper, but the more notable, perhaps, are the comedy, sequences in which such old favourites as Joe E. Brown, James Cagney. Hugh Herbert, and Frank McHugh cavort. " The spectacles of the forest scenes together with those within the gorgeous palace of the "Duke of. Athens," is staggering, while the technical accomplishments of the enure film are amazing. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" has set a new standard in the picture world, and the picture's triumphs in London, New York. Sydney, and many others of the world's greatest cities are expected to be added to by its performance in Wellington. 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, and Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare are as amusing as ever. Tom Walls gives a fine performance as Captain the Hon. Archibald Gore, an aristocratic old gentleman who has no assets except his self-confidence and his charming manner. When this blue-blooded waster joins another penniless impostor in the person of Ralph Lynn, and both adjourn to the Casino at Nice to find some easy money, the comedy gets going with a will. -The supporting programme is excellent and includes newsreels and a fine short .subject dealing with life in the Royal Air Force, showing the cadet training colleges, foreign stations, aircraft on duty with the.Navy, and some wonderful formation flying by the crack fighting squadrons of the force. "Metropolitan" commences a season at the Plaza Theatre on Easter Saturday. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Tonight Wellington theatregoers will bid farewell to the Hart-O'Brian International Vaudeville Company, which has enjoyed a remarkably successful season at the St. James Theatre. The reason for the company's popularity is not far to seek. Every item on the programme is up-to-the-minute and the performers immediately establish themselves as favourites with successive audiences. The offerings are diversified and beautifully staged and the entertainment as a whole goes with;.a;swingfrom start to finish. Tonightsia^iehuirie' cocktail party will be staged, which ■ promises to be a highly popular feature of the farewell production. Teaming two of the greatest figures on the screen today in a story that is literally a great drama and a crosssection of average life 'in a■. nation, "Ah! Wilderness!" Eugene , O'Neill's great drama of family life, adolescent love, and the march of the years comes to the St. James Theatre tomorrow evening. Wallace Beery, fresh from triumphs in "China Seas," "O'Shaughnessy's Boy," and other hits, stars as Uncle Sid, the lovable, ineffectual inebriate, one of O'Neill's most human characters, with Lionel Barrymore as the father, Nat: Miller, the role played on the stage by George M. Cohan and the late Will Rogers. 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 in Your Eye." Her adventures in escaping from the immigration authorities, and the part taken by Pinkie Tomlin, who falls in love with the beautiful Rita, make a-.delightful picture. ' The nimble feet-1 and lusty lungs of Fred Astaire • are given a thorough work-out in. RKO-Radio's musical, "Follow ■ the Fleet," in ■■ which he is again: co-starred; With Ginger Rogers. The.picture will be the next attraction at the State Theatre commencing on Easter Saturday. Astaire sings four brand-hew■» Irving : Berlin melodies, one with Ginger Rogers, and dances four times, three times with Miss Rogers, and one solo dance, along with engaging comedy performances. For his solo dance, Astaire does a sensational seven-minute tap routine to "I'd Rather Lead a Band." Twenty-four sailors accompany him in this novelty drill ■ dance which is the rhythmic highlight of the picture. Astaire and Miss Rogers are supported by a brilliant cast, including the lovely Harriet Hilliard and Randolph Scott m featured roles. ROXX THEATRE. A. colourful outdoor drama, "Wanderer of the Wasteland," outstanding because of its originality of plot, humaneness of characterisation, and rip-roaring action that marks the ageless popularity of Zane Grey .Westerns, is the main attraction offering at the Roxy Theatre. Laid against the picturesque desert country of the West in the days when bands of outlaws roamed the desert wastes preying on gold prospectors, "Wanderer or 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. "Naughty Marietta" 'zr.d ""Here Comes the Bm4" will open at the Roxy Theatre on Easter Saturday. BROOKLYN THEATRE. The special attraction at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight will be George Arliss in "The Iron "Duke," one of his best pictures. ;;'.'Heat-Wave," a bright musical comedy, and excellent short subjects will alsd be shown. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. One of the most thrilling and tense of all jungle productions is Uriiversal's "East of Java," starring Charles Bickford, which is now at the State Theatre, Petone. ' Blckford, cast as an American gangster fleeing from East Africa with "G" men on his trail, champions seven cowering human beings, including a beautiful woman, against seven lions, when a tramp schooner is wrecked on the reefs of a jungle isle a hundred miles from the nearest civilisation. In the cast are Elizabeth Young, Frank Albertson, Leslie Fenlon, Clarence Muse, and many other noted players of stage and screen. A first-class supporting programme will be screened,

TIVOLI THEATRE. Clark Gable, Loretta Young, and Jack Oakie are the main players in Darryl Zanuck's 20th Century production "Call of the Wild," which is now showing at the Tivoli Theatre. 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. The film 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. Ginger Rogers, who scored notable successes in "Top Hat," "Roberta," and in "Young Man of Manhattan" opposite Norman Foster, has the same leading man in "Professional Sweetheart," now showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Miss Rogers also appears in the film with Gregory Ratorf, under whom she starred in his tabloid yersion of "Girl Crazy." Allen Jenkins 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 Pangborn, who have appeared in a number of two-reel comedies. In the RKO-Radio comedydrama "This Man Is Mine," which is the associate feature, Irene Dunne is 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. Ralph Bellamy is seen as the unfaithful 'husband and beautiful Constance Cummings as the woman who tempts him to leave the straight and narrow path. REX THEATRE. "Bar 20 Rides Again," featuring William Boyd and Jimmy Ellison, and "Life Begins at 40," starring Will Rogers, are the current features at the Rex Theatre. Vaudeville Attraction. A new policy at the Rex Theatre will commence on Easter Saturday at the matinee and thereafter every evening at 8 o'clock, when the management will present a unique stage show, Fred. Argyle's International Vaudeville Revue Company from Australia in "Footlight Frolics," headed by Fred Argyle, "the king of comedians." Rae Williams, a soprano from the Prince Edward Theatre, Sydney, has a golden lilt in every note she sings. The supporting company includes Roy's Rhythm Band, Joy Oliver, a dainty comedienne, Esma Chalk, "the personality girl," in snappy tap dancing, Roy Baker and his piano-accordian, and the Rex Beauty Ballet, who dance and sing in attractive song scenas. There will be a host of comedy sketches. The opening' production has many tuneful numbers and much clean, clever comedy. The plans are at the D.I.C. and theatre, telephone 52-334. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. From every standpoint "Nell Gwyn," the British picture which is now at the Kilbirnie Kinema, can claim parity with Hollywood's best. Anna Neagle makes Nell Gwyn a character full of outspoken bawdy effrontery and devilment, holding the attention of Charles II by giving full rein to her brazen high spirits and unlimited vitality. Sir Cedric Hardwicke plays the part of the "Merry Monarch" and there is a huge supporting cast. . Combining romance, mystery, and.stark drama. Paramount's "Without Regret," a gripping drama of sophisticated love, will also be shown. Superior performances are given by Elissa Landi,- Paul Cavanagh, Kent Taylor, and FrancesJDrake in the leading roles. " "'!"-'. i SHORTT'S THEATRE. Comedy combines with mystery in Fox Film's "The Great Hotel Murder," which is now showing at Shortt's 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 Finn'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. "The Battle," said to be a sensational naval picture, and "Judge Priest," starring the famous Will Rogers, will be the new features commencing at Shortt's Theatre1 on Saturday. 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 Wdolsey in the roles of scientific "rainmakers," "The Rainmakers" races swiftly to an uproarious climax. Combining romance, mystery, and stark drama, Paramount'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. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "The Dark-Angel," which opens tonight at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt. gives an opportunity to see the ever-lovely Merle Oberon co-starred with Fredric 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./ Selected supports include a Mickey Mouse cartoon, "Mickey's Garden," and a musical revue, "Gipsy Sweetheart," both in colour. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Tonight at the Regal Theatre "Way Down. East" will be screened. The cast is headed by Rochelle Hudson, Henry Fonda, and "Slim" Summerville in a tender love story with stirring spectacles and a great climax. Special featurettes will also be shown. On Saturday "Under Pressure" will be shown at 2.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Chinatown Squad" heads an excellent programme at the Empire Theatre this evening. Lyle Talbot, Valarie Hobson, Andy Devine, and Leslie Fenton head a large cast. The story deals with a mysterious murder committed .in.San Francisco's Chinatown. Two two-reel comedies and a Universal newsreel complete the programme. On Saturday "Your Uncle Dudley," starring Edward Everett Horton, will be screened. SEASIDE PICTURES, LYALL BAY. The most popular detective on the screen, Charlie Chan, as played by Warner Oland, will be seen in "Charlie Chan in Paris" at the Seaside Pictures tonight and on Thursday at 7.30 in ♦ conjunction- with "Honeymoon for Three." The first picture is the most baffling of this series. The second is a comedy featuring Stanley Lupino as the.husband whose wife brought her boy friend on their honeymoon with hilarious, results. A. comedy, traveltalk, and variety will also be shown. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. ■ Commencing a two-night season at the Palace1 ' Theatre, Petone, tonight is the magnificently produced screen version of the "Dubarrv," "I Give My Heart," which presents a new star, Gitta Alpar, the Hungarian nightingale, possessor of that rarest of entertainment combinations, beauty, charm, and a delightful voice. Humorous situations, royal love-making, spectacular settings, inspired direction, perfect photography, and glorious singing all combine to make "I Give My Heart" a future that will delight all lovers of good music,