CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Issue 17, 20 July 1936, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

REGENT THEATRE.

An. old favourite returns to the screen with no waning in its popularity at • the Regent Theatre this week. "Show Boat." one of the most colourful and tuneful romances of the stage, starring Irene Dunn and Paul Robeson, is a wistful romance of a girl's struggle for success, her unhappy marriage, and the final achievement of happiness. Beginning with the arrival of the show boat at a small settlement on the banks of the Mississippi, the story follows the fortunes of the owner, his wife, and daughter, and a roaming ne'er do well who joins the company as an actor. Irene Dunne has the role of Magnolia Hawks, the proprietor's daughter, who falls in love with the attractive waster, Gaylord Ravenal, and finally marries him despite vigorous opposition from her mother. Their flight to the city and their struggle for existence, culminating in Gaylord deserting his wife and child, are poignantly portrayed. How the daughter grows up and wins her way to stardom forms ithe concluding phases of the picture. Robeson is heard at his best in the famous song "Ol' Man River," and also sings several other attractive numbers. Allan Jones and Irene Dunne are also heard in attractive duets' and solos, and Helen Morgan gives a fine portrayal of Julie, singing several popular songs. Supports include newsreels and a coloured cartoon.

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

Comedy, romance, anct k goodhumoured but at ttimes rather bitter renunciation of the ethics and practices of modern life in a big city characterise the picture "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," now showing at the Maiestia Theatre. Gary Cooper, in the title role, as the young and rusticated poet who suddenly finds himself the heir to- a. vast fortune, gives one of his best performances to date. He is well supported

by Jean Arthur, who plays the part of the star woman reporter of a prominent New York paper. When Deeds arrives in New York from the country/village in which he has spent h|s whole life he is "discovered" as front-page news by the papers. At the same time various organisations, including an opera society and two firms of lawyers, make strenuous endeavours to part the country bumpkin from his legacy. His native shrewdness gets him out'of many awkward situations/however, .but cannot save 'him from being

taken before the Court on an insanity charged There is a most striking j denouement which brings the picture; to a happy ending. The supports are excellent. ..■.*..

,NEW OPERA HOoSE.

"The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," now screening at the New Opera House marks '■ a milestone in the. history of the movies,, and proves ,the tremendous possibilities of natural colour photography in beautifur scenic country. The film was produced by Walter Wanger for Paramount, based on the famous novel by John Fox, jun. Sylvia Sidney, Fred Mac Murray, and Henry Fonda are in the starring :roles. The rivalries of the Tolliver and Falin clans are interrupted by their first contact with the outside world; when MacMurray, a young" engineer, arrives to exploit a seam of coal. Miss Sidney, a daughter of the soil, is immediately fascinated by the stranger, and Fonda, who has always loved her, is aroused to a high pitch of jealousy against him, but the Falin clan intervenes. The battles between the two hill folks are" portrayed in a stirring fashion that brings the story to a very moving climax. The supporting programme includes newsreels, a coloured fealufette, and a "Popeye the Sailor" cartoon. ' ; ■

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

The delightful blending of comedy and drama that made "The Thin Man" so, popular when the production* was first released is drawing, large audiences at the Paramount "Theatre. William ' Powell, ' retired; detective, takes a case under pressure from, his wife (Myrna Loy), and revives memories of the films in which he took the part of the: famous Philo Vance. But his detecting is only a small part of the film, for his polish and-poise are used mainly for excellent comedy. The dialogue is brilliant and the action fast. An inventor disappears and three murders -are laid at his door, but 'William Powell has a "hunch" that he was: not responsible,, and in hifc. investigations stirs up enough crookedness and excitement to fill another two productions. Heading the supporting programme is a Laurel and Hardly comedy, "Then Thar Hills," which tells of their health, trip to the mountains. Among the other short items is a coloured .film; of .the Coconut ' Grove, which introduces many stars.

KING'S THEATRE.

Criminal master - minds plot, his death, deadly cobras strike out with poisonous fangs, and foaming goi-illas rage at his back, but Warner Oland as the famous Chinese detective calmly and silently ■unravels one of the most baffling mysteries:of his entire/career. in the-Fox-picture "Charlie Chanat the Circus," which is showing at the King's Theatre. It is Chan's task in the new picture to track down a mysterious killer, who after haying committed one -murder,-- returns time and again to the scene of'the crime to" silence those who might know his identity. "Everybody'ss Old. Man," which i also on the programme, introduces Irvin S. Cobb in his first starring role, and gives full scope to the'radiant humour ,the genial, kindly wit that has long made him America's favourite story-teller. Lovely Rochelle' Hudson, Johnny Downs, and Norman Foster head the splendid supporting cast.

SHOKTT'S THEATRE.

"The Good Fairy," a delightful comedy romance which gives Margaret Sullavan one of her finest roles, is now at Shortt's Theatre. Herbert Marshall, as a good-looking but penurious lawyer, and Frank Morgan as a wealthy business man smitten with the charms of the little orphan, give fine performances. "Three Kids and a Queen,"; the Universal comedy-drama which will .also be shown, is May Robson at her best. As the- wealthy - old maid, .eccentric, crabbed, and yet filled with an acid humour, this bright star registers a subtle and sure' transition i'rom lonely defiance to a blustery sort of contentment, only to . have, this happiest period of her life interrupted

STATE THEATRE, PETONE

The fascinating adventm-es of a little waif and her two grizzled old. sea-salt friends furnishes the story, basis for "Captain January," the tuneCul, colourful Shirley Temple picture now showing at the. State Theatre, Petone. Somewhere on the rockbound coast of Maine, the action of this most delightful of Shirley's pictures is sot. She is a nimble-toed little lady of a lighthouse adored and jealously guarded by old Guy Kibbee, the lighthouse keeper who had fished her from i the sea years ago. Her other old salt friend,* Slim Summerville, .constantly bickers with Kibbee, but when authorities threaten to take the little girl away, the two old sailors present a united front. A special selection of supporting featurettes will be screened from 7.30 till 9 p.m. Of. particular interest also will be the appearance on the stage of the recent Shirley Temple Double Contest winner, little Miss Larsen, who will sing a selection of Shirley Temple songs.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE.

"Thoroughbred," produced Hay Cinesound as Australia's first "World Production," and now shbwing at the Grand Theatre, Petone, packs ail the glamour, excitement, suspense, and comedy of the Sport of Kings into one unforgettable entertainment. Helen Twelvetrees, Frank Leighton, John Longden, and Nellie Barnes are the principals. Gripping and thrilling "Guard That Girl" 4s the second feature. Robert Allen, Arthur Hahl, Ward Bond Elizabeth Risdon, Florence Rice, Barbara Kent, and.Bert Roach make up the cast.

STATE THEATRE.

The ice-bound country of Northern Canada, with its majestic trees, and its snow-plain and ridge, is the setting of "The "Country Beyond," that thrilling adventure'story by James Oliver. Curwood, which has been most suc- | cessfully adapted for the screen, and is now showing at the State Theatre. Rophelle Hudson plays the lead as Jean Allison, the daughter of a fur trader, and the principal-honours are also shared by Paul Kelly and Alan Hale, handsome specimens of the Canadian Mounteds," who are detailed to hunt down fur thieves. Missing skins are discovered in Allison's cabin, and he is arrested. Believing that her father is but an'innocent party to the crime, Jean,, who has-already won Kelly's affections,; tricks him into letting her father- escape, hoping that he will be : -able to prove his innocence. Hale follows-not on his trail and Kelly tracks : the; girl, who has made off in another direction. Exciting chaseS; over, the show,' -\vith dogteams, a race : against ah ayalariche, and a stranding1 in.a deserted cabin and a terrible dog fight are ■'■ '■ : some ;of the thrilling features of this film.

DE LUXE THEATRE.

The legitimate stage is . still the cradle of most of today's motion picture stars. Such a statement is proved by the. fact that-every one" of the featured members of! the; castiof "Snowed Under," the"; First National^ production, now showingl at the DaXuxe Theatre, got their screen start'toy. the way of the footlights. These actors 'and actresses include George Brent, Gerievieve Tobin, Glenda- Farrell, Patricia Ellis, Frank McHugh; John Eldredge, Porter Hall, and Helen Lowell; All were on the stage for years before they began screen careers which led to subsequent cinema fame. The action of "Snowed Under" takes place in a New England farmhouse where a young playwright,' who is madly trying to finish anew drama, is snowbound with two ex-wives, a new sweetheart, the lawyer for the, second wife, and 'a sheriff who is,seeking to land the author in gaol for failure to pay his alimony. ■ There ensues- a series of love entanglements. . Included in the associate:, entertainment is the Orchestra De Luke, under the direction of Mr. L. D. Austin.: '■ .

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

In the bright musical comedy, "Public Nuisance No. 1," now showing at the St. James Theatre, Arthur Risco'e lives up to that classification. After an extraordinarily merry party he commandeers his friend's car and subsequently drives into the front window of a fashionable drapery shop. Thrown out by the shock, he is found next morning reclining peacefully in deep slumber on the bed'in the show window. Here he is found by one of the shop girls, Frances Trevons (Frances Day). Arthur immediately succumbs to the charms of this vivacious creature, and is not long in planning a holiday for both of them on the French Riviera. His uncle has a large hotel there, and, spurred on by Frances to-get a job,.he determines to learn the business from the bottom, and starts as a waiter. Here he soon becomes . a .veritable public , nuisance, upsetting.the management with hilari-ous-practical jokes. As Feather, Arthur's man, Claude Dampicr is delightful, and causes many laughs. The-supporting programme is an excellent one.

PRINCESS THEATRE

Two features offering a complete contrast in entertainment are now showing at the Princess Theatre. In the- main- attraction, "Queen j of Hearts," a new and different Gracie Fields js seen. Under . the directorship of that "ace" of comedy directors, Monty / Banks, she reaches the -pinnacle of her'career' in 'a role which gives full scope to both her glorious voice arid amazing entertainment talents.* John Loder has the principal male role. The additional feature, "The Petrified Forest," is a dynamic, drama ,of love and heroic sacrifice adapted from the Broadway stage success, with Leslie Howard and Bette Davis in the stellar roles.

KXLBIRNIE tUNEMA. ..,'.'.*' ;{"Strike.>Me Pink," Eddie -Cantor's sixth annual musical extravaganza for Samuel .Goldwyn, is showing at. the Kilbirme,, Kinema. Featuring Ethel Merman;* Sally Eilers, Parkyakarkus,.. and' William Frawley, and a glorious new array of Goldwyn girls it casts cEddie as a - timid little college tailor who takes a correspondence course in personal magnetism, entitled. Man or Mouse,' What Are You?" "Woman Wanted," the second feature, launches a new romance team in Maureen O'Sullivan and Joel McCrea. Louis Stone, Adrienne Ames, Louis Calhern, ' Edgar Kennedy, Robert Grieg, Noel Madison, and Granville Bates are others in the CaSt. ...■■■..■.,:.:;. . ..... . • .--. -.. :.- ..... * ;.-•,,

REX THEATRE*

-'Miss^Faciflc Fleet" is""now in port at the Rex Theatre, with that famous quartet of'film comedians,.Joan BlondelL. Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert,, and Allen Jenkins heading the cast.?=■ The picture-is based on the roliicking comedy by Frederick Hazlitt Brennanj:and is said not only to'be hilariously funny* but to carry a hu- ™, orous,love triangle between Miss Blondell, Jenkins, and Warren Hull, the radio star, who has the romantic role in the production. Following the success of "Bright Eyes" and "Thl Little Colonel," Shirley Temple ha~s been given a picture that,appeals to young and old. It is "Our Little Girl," which forms the" second "attraction. Here Shirley is revealed as a dramatic . artist, a real child beloved by millions. Devoted to her parents, she brings them together when -a 1 rift separates v? em"v «osemary Ames and Joel McCrea head the fine supporting cast.

BOXY THEATRE.

A mystery story replete with suspense, loaded: with laughs and S kl ™ «W9?-A delightful'romance marks Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's comedy drama, "One New .York., .Night," now screening- at the Roxy Theatre. Franchot Tone, romantic leading man and: light comic,' and ■ Una Merkel, P"\ e"y comedienne, are. Co-featured uv this film. ■ "Age of Indiscretion," an amazing drama of children of separation, and the Law Courts, is the supporting .feature. Paul Lukas, Madge Evans, > May- Rpbson, and little David Jack Holt are the leading players in this gripping piece of human interest entertainment touched with high drama.

SEASIDE THEATRE. LYALL BAY.

Saturday's outstanding programme will be presented finally tonight when Jessie Matthews and Sonnie Hale will be seen in '.'First a Girl,'? and Maureen O'Sullivan and Joel McCrea in "Woman Wanted." The programme will commence at 7.15 tonight. The main feature tomorrow night and Wednesday will be "Dancing Lady," which features such outstanding artists as Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, Joan Crawford, and Fred Astaire. The story is exceptionally good. The second feature will be "Baby Face Harrigan," aptly described as a laugh riot of a timid soul. The picture stars Charles Butterworth and Una Merkle.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.

Tonight at the Regal Theatre, Karori, the ever-popular star Jessie Matthews, assisted by Sonnie Hale, will appear in "First a Girl," a brilliant story of a stage-struck girl who impersonated a man in a startling stage act. Special supports will be screened.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

The programme at the Empire Theatre this evening comprises "Music Is Magic," featuring lAlice Faye, Ray Walker, and the comedy team Mitchell and Durant, and "Navy Wife," with Claire I Trevor, Ralph Bellamy, and Ben J.ydn. A newsrecl will also bo screened;. .

ITVOLI THEATRE.

Beginning on a battleship, shifting to a San Francisco waterfront dance hall, and then to a society function on Nob Hill, "Follow the Fleet," now screening at the Tivoli Theatre, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, reaches a finale that elaborately features the Irving Berlin number, "Face the. Music,".,which is, sung by Fred Astaire and provides the accompaniment for ■an interpretative dance by Fred and Ginger. - The sequence surrounds a play given on board a freighter, the Connie Martin, to raise funds so Harriet Hilliard can make the final payment on the craft m which she and Randy Scott plan to sail to distant honeymoon ports. The performance is laid in Monte Carlo and 100 glamorous and handsome dress extras provide the atmosphere. The second feature is Personal Maid's Secret. The plot involves a perfectly efficient maid who enters the employ of a struggling . couple, . and through her adroit manipulation and contacts boosts them from a humble apartment to a Long Island estate and to fortune There is an unusually talented, cast, which includes Margaret Lindsay, Warren Hull, radio and musinnr,^ medy A siar> £ nita L°uise, -Ruth Donnelly, Arthur Treacher, Frank AlCosby"' y °'Nemi 3nd Ronn*e

RIVOLI THEATRE:

■■ "Song of the.Saddle" and "The Petri-

. As topical as can well be imagined the^student riots in C&ra Inn .^where.Earamount's "This Day and. Age "the first great spectacle of modern times by the master of specR 3-?1^-0^ 11 ■?••■ de'Mille,-opens "at Pthe Rivoli -Theatre tomorrow. In the large cast are Charles Bickford, Richand Cromwell,; Eddie, Nugent. Ben £ lexander, Harry •:;: Green., Fuzzy Knight Bradley Page, and George Barbier. .Miss Judith Allen is a-new discovery by de ]^ille.;:De Mille has also brought to,the films in "This Day and Age the sons of screen stars of today and. yesterday, including Wallace Reid, nun., Erich yon Stroheim, iun., Bryant Washburn, jun., Neil Hart, jun. frank. Tinney, jun., and Fred Kohler, jun. The story concerns the battle of the youth of an average community against; a city's subversive influences after all efforts of the adult community have failed. When Boys' Week of the city comes.along, students of the high schools are appointed to the town's executive, administrative, and judicial , positions. One of the boys, appointed to the position of district attorney, has seen5 the murder of a merchant by one of the town's criminal identities. Zealously, he comes to the witness stand at the trial only to have the defence attorney take advantage of legal technicalities and win an acquittal for his client. Undaunted, the boys go after more evidence, and in securing that evidence, one of their number is killed by the criminal, and the murder is planted on one of the boys. The story reaches its, height when a mob of five thousand indignant youngsters kidnap the criminal, drag him off to an old abandoned. quarry, where they hold a tribunal and use their own expert methods of forcing a confession from him., Then, with, the criminal riding a rail, the mob march back to town, break into the home of the Judge who originally had acquited their captive on a murder charge, and force the jurist to witness the signed confession. "Miss Pacific Fleet," the Warner Bros, comedy with music which will also, be shown, features Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Warren Hull, Allen Jenkins, and Hugh Herbert.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN.

Tonight and tomorrow only are left to see that great trio, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow,' and Wallace Beery in "China Seas." . Jane Withers brings to the role of "Gentle Julia"'all her impish guile, being supported by a. : great cast of juvenile and adult performers..

ST. ANfiREW BURNS CLUB,

•Tire' monthly meeting' of the St. Andrew Burns Club is to held in the Rechabite Hall, Willis Street, tonight. A talk on "Scots Poets I Have Known" is to be rgiyen by Mr. Robert Hogg.- There will be a musical programme, arid supper is to be provided.

LA MERI THE DANCER.

The repertoire of-dances which La Meri, the famous dancer, will perform at her recitals during her forthcoming tour of New Zealand, commencing at Wellington on Thursday . next, will include her own dance creations to classic and modern music. Just as Pavlova created and immortalised "The Swan" to Saint Saens's-music, so La Meri has created-many of her own dances which- have become world famous. These include "The White Peacock," to music by Griffes, the modern American composer, "Bolero" and the "Empress of the Pagoda" by Ravel, Kreislei-'s "Caprice Viennoise" and "Tambourin Chinois," "Butterfly,"" danced to Chopin's Black Keys Study, "La France," danced to "La Marseillaise," and ■ Debussy's "Minstrels." Her Spanish dances will be danced to music by De Falla, Granados, Turina, and other Spanish composers, as well as to folk music. Dances from India, Japan, and.fthe South American countries will also be' seen for the first time in New Zealand, all accompanied ,by the traditional music .and danced in magnificent authentic costumes. La Meri usually does about sixteen dances -on e"ach programme, necessitating as many changes of costume. No change takes more than three minutes, during which time musical numbers are played by Mario Salerno and his trio. This will. .be.the first time that a concert attraction of;this -lurid*has been seen in New Zealand.

VINOGRADOFF IN CONCERTOS.

A great compliment is being paid by the Wellington Symphony Orchestra to M... Paul 'Vinogradoff, the Russian solo pianist, on' his pendingl departure from New Zealand. At a concert of concertos to be given at the Town Hall Concert Chamber tomorrow the orchestra (under- Mr. de Mauny) will take part in. the splendid Glazounov Concerto for-pianoforte and orchestra,- also in Grieg's, concerto. M. "Vinogradoff will lighten the heavier musical sections of the programme with contrasting short works from Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, Ravel, Scriabin, Cyril Scott, and some short pieces composed by himself. The concert promises to be of outstanding artistic interest

TONIGHT'S BOXING.

;■ Two of New Zealand's . cleverest boxers -will be in .action at the Wellington Town Hall tonight when Billy Aitken (Wellington) and Clarrie Ray-: ncr (Blenheim) will meet in a professional bout .over fifteen three-minute rounds. Both the contestants have held the .Dominion featherweight title during the past year and neither has been beaten in defence -of it, while both have beaten the lightweight champion, Jack Jarvis. They, are colourful boxers who believe in aggression from start to finish and boxing skill has been shown to be of a very high order. Great interest has been aroused by the bout and it is expected that Wellington's largest boxing crowd for years will be on hand to watch it. There is keen rivalry between the boxers and both have many supporters. A particularly interesting Programme of amateur bouts will pr£ cede the professional contest. Particulars are advertised in this issue.

BOXING AX PETONE.

. The Hutt Valley Boxing Association will stage its third professional contest for this season at the Palace ■ineatre, Petone, on Tuesday, July 28 at 8 p m when Henry Dunn, of the Hutt Valley, Will meet Bob Caughlan of Manawatu. Both these boys were brilliant amateur boxers, Henry Dunn having had 36 contests and Bob Caughlan about 57. The contest will be over ten 3-minute rounds, and the public can be assured that both boys will give a very fine display. In addition, six amateur preliminaries have been arranged between the best boys in the Dunn school, Moera, and Herb. Larsen's school in Newtown. Two special amateur bouts will be between Tommy Dunn, of Moera, and H. Caughlan, of Manawatu (both these boys are expected to be contestants in the New Zealand amateur championships), and also H. Hagger (Berhampqre) v. B. Fairbrother (Moera). There will be four 2-minute rounds. The reserves arc at C. E. ("Stump") Claridgc's, Wellington/

PLAZA THEATRE.

Another first-class picture is "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford," the comedy-thriller now at the Plaza Theatre. In it the inimitable William Powell makes a welcome reappearance in his bestknown role,—that of a debonair society detective, matching gun-play with brains and threats of violence with subtle jests. Opposite him is the! blonde and vivacious Jean Arthur, from whom the picture takes its title. Divorced by Powell, a doctor, because the theoretical possibilities* of crime become an obsession with her, she returns to her former husband coincidentally with his implication in a series of baffling murders. Powell is accused of the killing of a man whose corpse he finds leaning against his front door, and it. is to escape indictment that he and- his ex-wife turn sleuths in practice. How they unravel the puzzling mystery of the three deaths provides as good a crime picture as has been here for months. There is an excellent supporting programme. '

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE.

Now showing for two more nights at the Palace Theatre, Petone,. is "The Story.of Louis Pasteur." Not since "Magnificent Obsession" has there been such I a touching and strangely beautiful story as 'The Story of Louis Pasteur" It is . not a. conglomeration of scientific achievements and work in laboratories but the drama of Pasteur's life—a life | that was devoted to humanity in order that countless millions might live

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

Mysteries are the stock in trade of detective films, but rarely are they as baffling or as well concealed as in "Sinister House," screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight, and featuring Preston Foster, Ralph Morgan, Alan Mowbray, and Margaret Callahan "Every Night at Eight," with George Raft, Alice Faye, and Patsy Kelly, is a.musical story of three young girls and a man who use a radio amateur hour as a .stepping-stone to fame.

VARIETY PROGRAMME.

A programme of excellent variety will be presented in the Town Hall Concert -Chamber tonight at .8 o'clock. A delightful dance duo by Master Bryan Ashbridge and Miss Melva Doney will be a feature of the programme. Short humorous sketches, songs, ballets, and dances will also be presented. The proceeds go to the Bryan Ashbridge benefit funds. ,

"THE CIRCASSIANS."

Patrons are reminded that the second subscription concert of "The Circassians" will be given in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Thursday, July 30, at 8 p.m. The:"box plan opens at Messrs. Chas. Begg and Co., "Ltd., tomorrow, at 9 a.m.