CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 31, 5 August 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT. THEATRE. The rewriting of much of- Jerome Kern's musical score and the resetting of. the whole piece have made "Show Boat," which continues to draw large crowds to the Regent Theatre, a film of universal.appeal, and one which is particularly popular to all who appreciate such favourites as "Ol' Man Hiver." Paul Robeson, Irene Dunne, and Allan Jones' head a notable^ cast. •There'is an excellent supporting' programme. "Desire," Paramoimt's special attraction which will- start at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is an amalgamation of chucklesome comedy, piquant and daring romance, and thrilling drama, and in each aspect it is outstanding. But perhaps even more outstanding is -Hie 'acting of the two stars, Marlene 33ietrich and Gary Cooper. "Desire" is easily-their, best picture to'date, ac- ' cording- td .'leading- critics: ■• Expert ■ as T • sistance'is given the two stars.by a cast headed by the suave John Halli- ' dayv and the amusing Alan Mowbray. , MAJESTIC THEATRE. , •' 'A light-hearted whimsical comedy set, itf :a background of Labrador snows is ' brought "to the screen in "Petticoat Fever," starring Myrna Loy and Robert ■ Montgomery, at the Majestic Theatre. . Thd'filmis based on the reactions of a young man, who has been confined in a lonely wireless post without seeing a> beautiful woman for two years, when two aviators, one,of them a charming young lady, descend from the skies and crack up their machine almost at ■his front door. Montgomery immediately becomes infected with "petticoat fever" and schemes to keep the pair at his hut throughout the winter, meanwhile paying attention to the fair aviaIrix under the very eyes of her fiance. The supporting subjects include a coloured traveltalk, a Charlie Chase comedy,'and a newsreel. ST. JAMES THEATRE. 'The return season of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in "Fra Diavolo" at the St. James Theatre is drawing good attendances. Robbed on the road of their life savings by the famous bandit, they try the game themselves, only to fall into his hands. Pressed into Diavolo's service in an attempt to steal Lady Pamela's jewels at the Cucu Inn. Laurel and Hardy- reach fresh heights of imbecility. There,is also much diversion in the courtship of, Lady Pamela by Diavolo, who is after a fabulous sum in paper money sewn into one of her seven petticoats. The'whole of the first part of the programme is taken up by "The .Tough Guy," a wonderful story of a dog;' a gangster, and a millionaire's boy. (Jackie. Cooper). PARAMOUNT THEATRE. ' Superbly acted and hilariously funny in dialogue, "Mr. Deeds Comes - to Town," now screening at the Paramount Theatre, provides, excellent entertainment- Gary •• Cooper as Mr. Deeds, the small town gentleman who inherits a fortune and is plunged headlong^ into .the fast-moving,life of New York, portrays his role with characteristic, ability. Opposite him is Jean Arthur, who as a newspaper reporter first tries to play up to him in order to gain a fron 1- page story concerning the'"Cinderella Baby." but ultimately falls in love with him. .The supporting ■ players include H. B. Warner, George Bancroft, and-Douglass Dumbrille. A-good supporting programme js also screened. • ; KING'S THEATRE. In "Champagne Charlie," now showing at the King's Theatre, Paul Cay. anagh, teamed with lovely. , Helen Wood,-plays the role of a man whose life-is devoted to the. gaming .tables and-: the appreciation" of golden „ wine. Compelled to repay his" backers^he, turns to", courting "American~hexrWte. ; The'picture follows their* strange.Snjadcourtship • through the gay pleasure haunts "of Europe to the United-States. Embellished with new songs, laughs, arid pathos, "Song and Dance\ Man; . ' the ;Fox picture of backstage .hie, is also on the programme. Claire Trevor, Paul Kelly, and Michael Whalen are starred.- • ' PRINCESS THEATRE. In "The Story of Louis Pasteur," the main feature at the Princess Theatre. Paul Muni paints the turbulent life of , Louis .Pasteur, that amazing French . scientist whose battle for humanity against ignorance and prejudice is one of the most astounding chapters in modern history in an amazingly' colourful picture/ Anita Louise and Donald Woods are also in the cast Robert Donat • makes his latest appearance in "The Ghost Goes West" Alexander Korda's gay romantic comedy which - iorms- the additional feature. Jean Parker-and Eugene Pallette head the - supporting cast. The featurettes include aa Irene Bordoni musical-revue. \ STATE-THEATRE, PETONE.. "' A first-class '' 'double-feature. programme is- showing at the,. State Theatre, >Petone.\ , A .gangster,- hunted by the. police, * boldly hides in one of the most brilliant and public' corners - of the world. Yet the chances are two , billion to one-in'his favour-that he wil ' escape detection. . This is the unusual theme of "Another Face," the mam attraction. 'Sharing feature honours with Wallace Ford and Phyllis Brooks, Brian Donlevy portrays the gangster. "Baboona",' Mr. and Mrs." Martin Johnson's latest adventure film, is the associate-feature. -Supporting featurettes will; be screened, from 7.30 p.m:, ' GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. The main feature at'the Grand Theatre, Petone, is "Mary Burns, Fugitive," which stars Sylvia Sidney anc traces the tragic experiences of a girl caught in the web of- the law through an innocent friendship, with a man she did not know'was a-public, enemy. The second ieature is RKO-Kadio's "Alice Adams,", which stars Katharine Hepburn. . "... PALACE THEATRE. PETONE. How thoroughly has civilisation destroyed man or; woman's age-old primitive instinct to battle for love? The answer is given in entertaining form in "The Lady Consents," a comedydrama of .contemporary life, co-starring Ann Harding and Herbert Marshall, which commences a three-night season tonight at the Palace Theatre, Petone. It provides 'a triangle drama, refresh ing in the-novelty, of its serious andi lighter situations. The supporting programme includes a cartoon in colour. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. j "It Had "to Happen," screening at the Capitol Theatre tonight, features a new romantic team in George Raft and Rosalind Russell, supported by Leo Carrillo and' Arline Judge, and is the tale of a man who battled his way to political success inspired by a lovely lady who was alwaysbeyond his reach. "Here Comes ■ Trouble'! is a comedy-1 drama of mad adventures on a luxury; liner and stars Paul Kelly, Arline Judge, and Sammy Cohen. ~•.,' EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. I - "Fang and Claw," the current attraction1 at tHe Empire Theatre this even-1 ing,-is packed with jungle adventures. An excellent supporting programme includes a further number of the Major Bowes amateur radio' series, a travelogue, and two Pathe newsreels. On Friday and Saturday "China Seas" is to, be screened. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Tonight, and tomorrow only a reduced price midweek programme is showing at Our Theatre. "The Bitter Tea of General Yen" is a strong dramatic feature, starring "Walter Connolly an<? Barbara Stanwyck. "White Eagle," feo'oiring Buck Jones, is a fast-action Western, such as this star revels in. " The prices are stalls 6d, circle Is, with • children-6d..t0 all parts. BROOKLYN THEATRE. Shirley Temple and John Boles in•"Curly Top" and "Charlie Chan in Shanghai," featuring Warner Oland, will be screened at the Brooklyn The-atre-tonight.

OIY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DE LUXE THEATRE. Now showing at the De Luxe Theatre is the Warner, Bros, picture "I Mar 7 ried a Doctor," starring Josephine Hut; chinson. The story is based on the greatest of Sinclair Lewis's best-selling , novels of married love. It is filled I with l action, thrills,'- arid drama tempered with considerable comedy. | Bette Davis, who won the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award for .the best performance by any actress in 1935, is coming to the De Luxe Theatre on Friday in "The Golden Arrow." For once this great aelresa departs from the sinister characterisations that made her famous in "Of Human Bondage" and "Dangerous."' She follows her success-in "The Petrified Forest," which was a tragic although sympathetic role, with 'an entirely new portrayal—that of a charming young American girl who yearns for romance. The picture is based on the play by Michael Arlen, noted English playwright," and is a story of love in high society, set in a background of luxurious yachts and resort hotels. The cast includes George Brent, Eugene 'Pallette, Dick.Foran, Carol Hughes, and I Catharine Doucet. . FLAZA THEATRE. Fun and excitement are about equally blended in "Pot Luck," the British picture now at the Plaza Theatre,-and as the story was written by Ben Travers and is acted by the famous-trio,' Tom Walls. Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare, the fun makes the picture the success it is. The "pot" so disrespectfully referred to in the title is an insignificant-looking but priceless Chinese vase, which forms the Centre of attraction in an art exhibition which is under the inefficient supervision of Ralph Lynn. . The. inevitable bad man manages to. lift it, but help.is handy for the luckless Lynn in the person of Tom Walls, as Detec-tive-Inspector Fitzpatrick, just retired from Scotland Yard. Included in the bright supporting programme is a thought-provoking depiction of the fight of modern science and industry to conquer time and space. "Rhodes of Africa" opens at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. STATE THEATRE. Social inequalities and the consequences of a young man's falling In love with his mother'^ personal maid, make the story of "Private Number," now screening at the State Theatre. Robert Taylor and Loretta Young are the stars. Unemployed, but never having, done domestic service, she is J compelled to apply for a position as maid to the wealthy Winfields, where the servants suffer under1 the tyranny of Roxtou, the butler (Basil Rathbbne). and where Patsy Kelly, also of the domestic,staff, becomes the new maid's loyal fripnd. While on a summer holiday at Maine, the maid and tfie son of the house 'fall in love and marry secretly. The subsequent developments make an arresting film. There is an entertaining supporting programme. BEX THEATRE. The^ unique Jand lavish musical spectacle, "Caravan," produced for Fox Film by the celebrated Continental director, Erik Charell, is the main feature at the Rex Theatre. - Outstanding are such song numbers as the "Wine Song," '"Ha-cha-cha," and "Happy, I Am Happy.'' A brilliant cast in this romantic love story pf the Tokay wine harvest includes Charles Boyer, Loretta Young, Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise Fazenda,, ,E.ugpne Pallettc, C. Aubrey.Smith, Charley. Grap'ewin, and NbaH Beery.1/The'second feature, on thetbiH^is VCalllt jAick," a fast-action coinedy-rctaahce i featuring--' Herbert Mundip e>and "^Patf,1 -PatersonV rßpth-' these productions ate being, screened Ht-half-price.;';-:,^,'^,--^' vt>""'-" v ct'i ?'>*''"-p<i.>v«u..; .■ .yvVffctjNEWSpEEICV-HOUSE. . ', »;Two films.th&>have"been very successful individually combine to make a double-feature programme of unusual merit at the New Opera House. The brilliant repartee, the cynicism, and studied cruelty of Noel Coward in his "The Scoundrel." which culminates with strong pathos and drama, are offset by that delightful comedy "Trouble in Paradise," in which have been featured ' several stars. Kay Francis. Herbert Marshall/ Charles Ruggles, Edward ,E. Horton, and others are shown in fast-moving, subtle fun. Marshall is the handsome, whimsical international' thief who wins his way into the secretaryship of Madame Colet, rich widow of the French perfume manufacturer VKay Francis), with his • charming' pickpocket friend, Miriam Hopkins, as the typist. . SHORTT'S THEATRE. Paramount's "Come On Marines!" which features Richard Arlen and Ida Lupino, and "Accent on Youth," starring Sylvia Sidney and Herbert Marshall, are the attractions at Shortt's Theatre.-. ' , Universal's weir.d and . thrilling drama of murders during and after a gay Long Island party in Universal's "Remember Last Night"' comes on Friday to Shortt's Theatre; '> The gay and colourful "King Solomon of Broadway." will also be shown.' Edmund Lowe, Dorothy Page, Edward Pawley, and Pinky Tomlin are the principals. JanKiepura in "My Heart1 is' Calling" will be the attraction. at Shortt's Theatre on Friday week. • ROXY THEATRE. '"Hell-Ship" Morgan," now screening at^he Roxy Theatre,*has as its leading characters Captain "Hell-Ship" Morgan, ' played - by- George -.' Bancroft; a waterfront waif enacted by Ann Sothern; and the handsome Victor Jory, Morgan's' first mate and third member of the emotional romantic triangle that grows out of their fateful meeting aboard the ship. The second attraction, "Unknown Woman," featuring Marian Marsh and Richard Cromwell, is a delightful story of young love with an unusual background.' KILBIRNIE rUNEMA. In 20th Century's spectacular musical film, "Thanks a Million;" now showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema, there are a dozen great stars, recruited ' from screen, stage, and radio. With Dick Powell and Ann Dvorak,,' heading the cast in the.., romantic leads, "Thanks a Million" presents' Fred Allen, Patsy Kelly, Paul Whiteman and his band with Rambna; Rubinbff and-his violin, Raymond Walburn and the Yacht Club Boys. "Stormy Weather," the Gaumont-British comedy based on Ben Travers's play, will also be shown. It features Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, 'Robertson Hare, Yvonne Arnaud, and Andrews Engleman. GIANT WRESTLER'S DEBUT. 'Wellington wrestling enthusiasts will be the first in New Zealand to see in action Wee Willie Davis, the giant matman who arrived from America this week. Jack Forsgren, whose displays in the local ring are unlikely to be forgotten .for a long time, is to be Davis's opponent.' It would be difficult to secure a pair better calculated to satisfy all tastes than Forsgren and Davis. What Forsgren can do is well known, and a more pooular wrestling "villain" it would be difficult to secure. What. Davis'has to'display has yet to be seen, but it can be taken for granted that he,will give Forsgren more than pnough to keep him occupied throughout the whole contest. Davis belies his nickname in that he is about 6it 7in in height- and weighs well over 18 stone. Even in America where many rough'wrestlers have made their mark he is regarded as outstanding in this respect, and he is one of the greatest popular attractions that that country has produced in the way of wrestlers. As a basis', to. work on he has real wrestling skill and this, combined'with his speed and strength, makes him a formidable proposition for any opnonent that could be placed in the ring against him. There will be amateur preliminaries from 8 o'clock.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout are starred in Paramount's "Give Us This Night," a new musical romance now showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Phillip Me'rivale and Benny Baker head the supporting cast. "Give Us This Night", is the story of a young Italian fisherman's rise to fame on the opera stage through the efforts of a beautiful girl star and a middle-aged composer. The tenth Charlie Cnan picture, "Charlie Chan's Secret," which will also be shown, stars Warner Oland as the rotund':detective who uses Oriental-"subtlety to solve a murder mystery. Rosina Lawrence- and Charles Quigley head the supporting cast in I romantic roles. '; Weaving his web in a house of'death, Chan soives San Francisco's ; most baffLng murder mystery in this new picture, while he denes a band of'sinister killers. RIVOLI THEATRE. That proverbial fear of one's mother-in-law and her caustic tongue, which seems to have become a deeplyingrained .part of our national . consciousness, together with the successful attempts of a middle-aged Baobut to overcome it, furnish the theme of Paramount's "Her Master's Voice,"' sparkling new comedy which opens tonight at the Rivoli Theatre, featuring Edward Everett -Hortonl Peggy Conklin, Laura, Hope Crews, and Klizabeth Patterson. The combination of film fare offered in; "Her Master's Voice" makes it 'a picture which will appeal to every type of audience. Paramount's "The Story of Temple Drake," an unusual tale of present day youth, is the associate feature, with Miriam Hopkins in the title role" and Jack La Rue, William-Gargah, William Collier, jun., Irving Pichel, and Sir Guy Standing heading the supporting cast. "THE'NEW MOON." , Under a special arrangement with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., the Wellington Operatic and Theatrical Society will commence a nine-day season of "The New Moon" at the Grand Opera House on Saturday, August 15. The authors specially notify that the basic story of the play is founded on the life of Robert Misson, a French aristocrat, in those fateful years in French history, 1792-1793. The hero, Misson XRussell Laurentson)«with his faithful attendant, Alexander (Ron. Pritchard), have escaped1 from France, where Robert, an ardent Revolutionist, has slain a distinguished courtier, and he and Alexander have become bondsmen to M. Beaunoir (C. K. Wilson), who is the owner of a ship called "The ■ New Moon." In pursuit of Robert there arrives the sinister figure off Vicomte Ribaud ■ (George Power), whose duty it is to transport Robert back to France. In spite of his. inferior position the gallant bearing of Robert has made a distinct appeal to the susceptible heart of JViarianne (Alma Clegg), his master's daughter, and the intricacies of his wooing constitute ' the. main .features .of the love interest, in.which he has for his rival the captain of "The New Moon," Georges Duval (M. Cachemaile), while the subordinate, and comic love . theme :is shared between Alexander 1 and Julie .(Hilda -Welestex) and the shrewish Glbtilde (Ina. Small i. Another t le is that'of Philippe (Alex Bqrr), made prominent by the splendid musical , j numbers which fall to it. The second , j act, notable for its action, melodies, and unusual settings, carries the <story ' along to a delightful climax. REGAL' THEATRE, KARORI. The best picture "that Shirley Temple has produced, "Captain January," heads an entertaining programme at the Regal Theatre' tonight. The midget star . sings and dances, her way to even • greater fame than ever before. Special _ supports will also be shown. | FLOOR SHOW AT NEW MAJESTIC. i Tonight a special attraction at the - New Majestic will be*, a tap ballet of . nine juveniles from the Hazel Martin i School of Dancing, supported by Allan Shand and hfs Crow's r-Nest Orchestra. Patrons, are 'advised to reserve. I SEASIDE THEATRE, LYAIX BAY. i ': At the Seaside Theatre tonight Jack t Hulbert wilkbe seen iri; "Bulldog Jack," v aicpmedy dealing with the adventures I of ."an amateur 'sleuth 'in search of • thrills., Jane, Withers is the star of "Paddy O'Day," a story of a little Irish orphan ;and her adventures in America. An excellent supporting programme .. will be screened.