CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

" REGENT THEATRE.

A gay and debonair comedy which moves with a swing from start to finish, "One Rainy Afternoon," now showing at the Regent Theatre, is certain to appeal to Wellington audiences. It is a musical picture of a refreshingly new type, the music being integral with the plot and not, ds is so often the case, apparently thrown in as a sort of additional ornament. The cast is an excellent one, bringing out to the full the humour of the situations. Based on a French play and having ail its scenes in Paris, the picture deals with a Continental triangle of an unusual kind showing what happens ,when a young actor, Philippe Martin (Francis Lederer), who is conducting a mild affair with the wife of a prominent Judge (Countess Liev do MaigreO, takes her to a picture show on a rainy afternoon, and, through an usher's mistake, kisses a complete stranger (Ida Lupino), daughter of a prominent newspaper owner. The wild adventures of the hero, accompanied by,-the .publicity. of the entire Paris Press,- result in his increased popularity, and -success as a star, but" before he can enjoy the success in peace he passes through adventures even more laughable. There is an excellent supporting programme, including newsreels, a travelogue, a •musical comedy, and a fine Silly Symphony. ■ ■ ,

CTIY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"Trail of the Lonesome Pine," now in its.second week at the Majestic Theatre, is entirely in natural' colour and has its setting: in the Virginian mountains. Sylvia Sidney, enacts the vole of June Tolliver. daughter of .a -family who have been engaged in ' mountain warfare for years witjji the Falin family, while Henry Fonda1 plays the part of Dave Tolliver. June's cousin. Into.these backblocks comes' a; railway construction gang headed by Fred Mac Murray, endeavour 'to push a railroad tnrough the mountains. A powerfully dramatic story ensues with a background of unparalleled scenic beauty. A good supporting programme is also screened.

Gary Cooper,. as Mr. Deeds on a £4,000,000 spending spree, and Jean Arthur, as Babe Bennett the girl reporter who is ready to help him, are featured in Columbia's "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," Frank Capra's latest, which is, coming on Friday next to the Majestic Theatre. It has been heralded as Capra's first romantic comedy to top his own "It Happened One Night." Appearing in important supr porting roles are George Bancroft, Lionel Stander, Douglass Dumbrille, H.B. Warner, and Mine. Matzenauer. Th;e screenplay by Robert Riskin, who was responsible with Frank Capra for "It Happened One Night," was adapted from a story by Clarence Budington Kelland. ......

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

A light-hearted comedy-drama th it provides plenty of laughter, thrills, and romance is "Thirteen Hours by Air." which is now screening at the St. James Theatre. . As is suggested by. the title, the action takes ■ place aboard a- trans-continental passenger airliner travelling' between New York and - San "< Francisco; Fred Mac-Murray-has the role of the pilot, who is attracted-by a lovely young passenSer<,(Joan\Bennett), who he considers is ir^danger jand is anxious, to nrotect. When the machine takes off from New' Yorfc: there :is a very .'motley collection \of' passengers aboard, including ■a desperate '■ murderer.; and a doctor whose actions are very suspicious. Zasu Pitts has. the role' of .'euardiaato a spoilt child-heir to a fortune, and the young hopeful himself sets out to annoy'Jho passengers right from the start. Rfeinarkable action takes ;place when a, storm forces the great machine down finjto1 a: snow-covered fiield; among the mountains. The supporting subjects ' are-interesting and a Betty Bopp cartoon; . .newsrecls.-'&nd a musical. ■iXtimber.±><^-^--^3^>;<> »•/

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.' - Sixraccomplished artists collaborate m "Design, for Living," the comedydrama at the Paramount Theatre. They are Frederic March; Gary Cooper, Miriam Hopkins, Edward Everett Hortpn, Ernst Lubitsch, and Noel Coward, the playwright... On a , Paris-bound train, Miriam Hopkins, a vivacious young artist, meets George.Curtis, also an ar,tist,, and Tom ? Chambers, playwright, played by Cooper and .March respectively. Torn" and George "fall madly in love with her. To'complicate matters further, Miss Hopkins falls in love, too; only she is too foiid of TOm to -tell-him ■ she loves-George,. and.she loves George too much to tell him about Tom. After lengthy discussions, the, problem is solved. She ris to live with them, but she will be a mother of the arts. The subsequent developments are most amusing. The supporting programme is particularly interesting. ■■•■■■ .

KING'S THEATRE.

Having the distinction of feeing the first film in screen history to feature a dos^and a horse. "Two in Revolt" is the main feature at the King's Theatre. The-unique team is composed of Lightning, a descendant of the silent screen canine favourite Strongheart, and Warrior, a pedigreed stallion. The adventures of the two animals, who grow up together on a Montana ranch, furnish what are said to be some of the most amazing scenes ever filmed, a battle.with, a wolf pack being one of the many dramatic highlights of. .the film. • Swift • action, in a splendid story, enacted by experienced, and: talented- performers, make Surjer-speed." the second feature on the programme, thoroughly entertaining -film fare. Norman Foster. Florence Rice, and Mary Carlisle head the fine. cast; , ...

SHORTT'S THEATRE,

Paramount's "Wings in the Dark," starring Cary Grant with Myrna Loy,- is now screening at Shortt's Theatre. Although ""The Eagle and the' Hawk was a picture of war aviation, "Wings in the Dark" is- devoted to' depicting the thrills and romance in the development of peace-time aviation. An engrossing murder-mystery which takes place at fictitious Rudyard College provides the theme for Paramount's "The Clock Strikes 8," which is also on the programme. Kent Taylor, Arline Judge. Eddie Nugent, and Wendy Barrie play the principal roles in the picture.

ROXX THEATRE.

A' new romantic team appears in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Exclusive Story," with Franchot Tone and Madge Evans heading the cast, now screening |at the Roxy "Theatre. The story itself is a .dramatisation of, the realJife activities of a New York newspaperman. With the shrill scream of zooming aeroplanes as a blood-stir-ring background. Wallace Beery is featured in the startling aviation spectacle, "West Point of the Air," the supporting feature. Beery in his role of "Big Mike" gives a! dramatic portrayal.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

Captain January," screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight, stars Shirley Temple with Guy Kibbee, Slim Sumjmerville, and Budy Ebsen. In a delightful mixture of song, dance, and -omedy the picture follows the adventures of Shirley and Guy Kibbee, the grizzled old lighthouse keeper who had'rescued her from the sea and who was determined to keep her for himself. Her other friend, Slim Summerville, constantly bickers with Guy, but when the authorities threaten to take Shirley away the two old sailors present a united front. The associate feature, "Falling in Love," is a pleasing comedy-romance with a fine star cast. - . '

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY,

"Look Up and Laugh," Gracie Field's latest production, heads the programme at the Empire Theatre this evening. Harry Tate. .Billy Nelson, and Douglas Wakefield head a large cast. An excellent supporting programme has been arranged.

DE LUXE THEATRE.

"The Walking Dead," a Warner Bros, picture, and one of the strangest and most unusual mystery thrillers ever screened, is the current attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. Boris Karloff has tha stellar role, while the brilliant cast includes Ricardo Cortez, Edmund Gwenn, Marguerite Churchill, Warren Hull, Barton Mac Lane, and Henry O'Neill. The picture has as its central theme the bringing back to life of a man who has been electrocuted for murder, but whose innocence of the crime is proved immediately after his execution. The victim of a band of racketeers, who have framed him, the man who was dead walks as in a dream among the living, but with au uncanny . instinct, seemingly supernatural, of ferreting out the men who had caused his death. There are excellent supporting items and a delightful musical presentation by the Orchestra De Luxe and organ.

PLAZA THEATRE.

A gem of mirth-provoking satire is "Professional Soldier" at the Plaza Theatre. Victor McLaglen, that old film favourite, returns to the screen as Colonel Michael Donovon, whose own accounts of his youthful exploits , grow more heroic as ins retirement from active service grows longer. At last he finds a listener and a believer in the boy king Peter (Freddie Bartholomew), whom the colonel is bribed to kidnap in order to aid political moves within the kingdom. There is an exciting clash between revolutionists and royalists and the colonel is obliged to prove the truth of his own tales, which he does by holding up the enemy at the point of a macliine-gun, Thus saving me king and becoming a hero in reality. Michael Whalen and Gloria Stuart are featured players. • There is an entertaining supporting programme, including, pastoral scenes in technicolour.

\ STATE THEATRE,

The true story of one of the most tragic figures in American history is told with dramatic power and intensity in "The Prisoner of Shark Island." which is showing for a second week at the State Theatre. Amid the rejoicing at the close of the Civil War, the great President Lincoln is assassinated by. the actor John Wilkes Booth. The assassin flees to Maryland, and without knowing his identity, a country physician. Dr. Mudd (Warner Baxter) set his broken leg. Mudd then becomes " one of the innocent victims, of the hysteria of a nation mourning its leader, and is. condemned by court-martial Ho imprisonment for life on America's "Qevil Island." Mudd fights against theydegredation ,ot his position, attempts to escape, is brought back, and finally wins a .'pardon for his heroic work in assisting to quell an epidemic of yellow fever on the island. Gloria Stuart has the leading feminine role. There is an' excellent supporting programme.

NEW OPERA HOUSE,

A merry musical show is '.'Cheer Up," in:which'Stanley Lupino.has the leading ..role. It heads a. generous programme. :ojE. entertainment at the New Opera..House, and deals with the adventures of a young man who has many ambitions, ■ ope of them being to pro-duce'-a- play.- The opportunities for Stanley Lupino are limitless, and he makes the fullest possible use of them, :w.ith7:tb'e .'result that there is an abun-daitce-qf; comedy. Interspersed are some-tuneful musical numbers and spectacular dancing, which round off the,picture arid make it thoroughly enjoyable. : A Zane Grey Western. "Drift. iFerice," is thjs second attraction. In this: there are plenty of action and thrills, the story" centring around the conflict'between big and small ranch owners, whien all land was considered common property for grazing purposes. Itiis a story of the great outdoors of which Zane.Grey has made a specialty. Another of the\p,opular and exceedingly "Irilgijesting "MairchTof Time" films- is thfe:fthird r _unit orrHlie programme.

REX/THEATRE,

The/present programme is one of the finest ever:presented at the Rex Theatre. "Song.- of' the Saddle,"' which concludes tonight, is- the second of •Warner 'Bros:' new type of Western dramas, with music. Dick.Foran, the flaming-haired singing cowboy, has the part of a youth who has grown to* manhood obsessed by the idea of avenging the murder and robbery of his father by the leader of a band of Western crooks and his two henchmen. A baffling new mystery melodrama. "The Murder of Dr. Harrigan," is also on the programmer In -addition,- there -is a stage presentation.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN.

Those who remember the silent version of "McFadden'S: Flats" and its uproarious . cprriedy will revel in the "talkie" of this-rifcntickling epic of the fighting friendship between the canny Scot and, the. impulsive son of Erin, portrayed bY Andy Clyde and Walter Kelly. Richard Cromwell. Jaiic Darwell, and a capable cast help to make this. a- memorable occasion for Newtpwii patrons. Secondly, Richard Dix and Margot Graham are starred, in "The Arizonian," an exciting, deeply stirring, episode of the. early pioneer days of the West. On Wednesday and Thursday a special programme will be screened, at reduced prices, when adults will be admitted .for 6d to stalls and Is to the circle; children, accompanied by-adults, 6d to all parts. The new heating plant ensures comfortable w.armth on the coldest night.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA.

Oack Buchanan's latest picture, "When Knights Were Bold," is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema with the popular comedian in a role that fits him like a glove. His adventures as a young army officer, who suddenly inherits a title, an estate, and a "family" are hilarious in the extreme. A gay and charming romantic comedy, starring Ronald Colman, the screen's ablest player of suave, debonair roles, "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo," is also on'the programme. In support of Colman are beautiful Joan Bennett, whose excellent playing in "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" proves her right to stardom: Colin Chve. Nigel Bruce, and Montagu Love.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE.

. "Give Us This Night," a musical romance starring Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout, will be the main attraction on tonight's doublefeature bill at the Grand Theatre. Petpne. The second feature will be "One-way Ticket," Columbia's dramatic picturisation of the reallife story of a prison guard's daughter. Featured in the large cast are Lloyd Nolan. Peggy Conklin, and Walter Connolly, and little Edith Fellows.

STATE THEATRE. PETONE,

"The Tunnel," starring Richard Dix, Leslie Banks. Madge Evans Helen yinson, and C. Aubrey Smith, is starring at the State Theatre, Petone, tonight. ■ The story has for its central \ character McAllan, idealistic engineer, who conceives and carries out, in the face of tremendous odds, the plan of a ttiant sub-Atlantic funnel, linking Britain and America. Universal's funny and thrilling "His Night Out," starring Edward Everett Horton, will also be shown. A specially-selected group of supporting featurettes will be screened from 7.30 p.m.

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE.

/Now showing nightly, ■• with a matinee next Wednesday, at 2 p.m:, at the Pajace Theatre, Petohe, is the greatest of all sea drr.mas, "Mutiny on the Bounty," tells of the tyranny of a brutal captain who drove his crew to mutiny, of the life and lives of the sailors in a tropical paradise, and the dogged pursuit by Captain Bligh for the men who had fed him to the wrath of the sea by casting him adrift in an open boat. The cast is headed by Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, and Franchot Tone.

TTVOLI THEATRE. I "T.he Big Broadcast of 1936" and Red Salute" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre.

"First a Girl," which is to be offered as the main attraction at the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow, is musical comedy at its best and brightest. It is a sprightly story of a girl's masquerade as a female impersonator, and the subsequent complications. A scintillating performance by Jessie Matthews embraces piquant romance, saucy innuendo, and merry masquerade, in addition to a rich feast of song, dance, and spectacle, in which she, the central figure, is finely supported by Sonnie Hale in light-hearted quip and zest ending in riotous impersonation of impersonator. Each incident is delightful entertainment, the finished whole a film that "goes over" with a slick story, merry comedy, extravagant spectacle, and lilting tunes. "The Great Impersonation," the greatest of all the romantic mysteries ever writ' ten by E. Phillips Oppenheim, will also be screened. Edmund Lowe, the star, plays a dual role in this exciting story of international intrigue and love, and opposite him are beautiful Valeric Hobson and seductive Wera Engels, the lovely women in his life who finally pierce through the secret of "The Great Impersonation"' and bring it to a grand conclusion.

RIVOLI THEATRE.

"Top Hat," featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, is the main attraction at the Rivoli Theatre. This' brilliant pair are seen in the spectacular number, "Isn't This a Lovely Day," which is danced in a band rotunda in a- rainswept park. The chorus number, "Top Hat," is a most striking feature with entirely modern settings and very smart dancing by a line of dapper young men in top hats and "tails." Humour, of which there is an' abundance, is provided by Helen Broderick. Ruby Keeler at last has a dancing partner who is up.to her level in "Colleen," the supporting feature. The young man" is Paul Draper, the new dancing star, of a brilliance and elan which match the high-speed work of Miss Keeler and the great ballets in which they perform together certainly provide some of the finest tap dancing that anyone is likely to see. "Colleen" is the latest musical in which Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler pursue their humorous understandings and unhappy misunderstandings to a satisfactory end.

PRINCESS THEATRE.

"Colleen," Warner Bros.' latest musical film, is the leadin.g ' attraction at the . Princess Theatre, with an all-star cast, including Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Jack Oakie, Joan Blondell, Hugh Herbert, Louise Fazenda, and a score of other principals as well as a couple of hundred chorus beauties and dancing youths. UniyersaTs thrilling South American war and aviation drama, "Storm Over the Andes," is offered as the additional feature, with Jack Holt, Antonio Moreno, Gene Lockhart, Mona Barrie, and Grant Withers heading the cast. Among the short subjects is an amusing coloured cartoon entitled "Flowers for Madame."

SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY.

"The Little Colonel." starring Shirley Temple and Lionel Barrymore,. will be: screened finally tonight. On the same programme is featured "Millions in ;the ■ Air," a first-class musical romance. Tomorrow and Wednesday two outstanding productions will be presented, '-'The Gay Deception" and "Hardrock Harrigan."

TONIGHT'S WRESTLING.

Two. wrestlers who are unbeaten in New Zealand will be brought together in the Town Hall ring tonight. They are Earl McCready (Canada), the British Empire champion, and Bob Kruse, of Portland, and the match between them is regarded as being one of the most important engagements of the current seasoji. ■ Kruse has won all his matches so fai- very convincingly; and has displayed a high standard of wrestling, so that he is considered to have excellent prospects of checking Me-: Cready's match-winning way. The latter iswrestling in.'.his customary highclass : s.tyle at the present time and it will .not be. without a great battle if he.;isto"have his.first taste of defeat There >walk be -anaateuur.-preliminaries'. from 8 o'clock. Particulars are advertised. ■

CHEAP RAIL TRIP TO AUCKLAND.

Return fares from 30s 6d downward should enable many sport-lovers of Wellington and district to see the third Australian '/football Test, Australia V. New Zealand, at Auckland next Saturday. As the train-will leave Thorndoh Station at 7.28 p.m. on Friday and will arrive -back at 6.45 a.m. on Monday, the trip will require only half a day of -ordinary, working tune. Folk wi>.o may not be keenly interested in the football match are offered an easy opportunity to see relatives and friends in Auckland. As bookings are usually heavy "for"these low-far^ weekend trips intending excursionists are advised to make freereservation of their seats as soon as possible. ' Details of fares and time-table are advertised in this issue.