CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1936, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

"..'..■■REGENT THEATRE. •"The Princess Comes Across," the current .attraction at the Regent The- " atre, - can only be described -as ideal, entertainment. With.1 practically the whole of the action taking - place- • on- a- luxurious liner crossing • from France to . New York, the-story is that of a young American actress (Carole Lombard) who, in an attempt to "crash" Hollywood, is returning to the. States in the guise 01 a Swedish princess. On-the ship' the "princess" discoversJ that, situated in the cabin next to hers, is a handsome and persevering young band leader (Fred Mac Murray), but, although the/pair are interested- in each other, Miss Lombard, because of her "blue blood," is forced to -remain 'indifferent to his attentions'. Trouble arrives in the, form of a.blackmailer who is later murdered. The i murderer's identity remains a' mystery/practically up to the end.' and-the way in which: he fis finally unmasked is both exciting and surprising.- ■ There': is an - outstanding first-half programme, which includes ■ scenes of;. ; the Olympic ..Games, /and 'some .excfelleht: shots of the: civil-war jjdn"S|)3in.■',;";;■■;";:;''. ",>".■ ■*■"■ . .■'"■ ' .;■-.. .' ', i MAJESTIC THEATRE. '■ ;. The atmosphere prevailing in Robert Louis Stevenson's series ■of thrilling stories of "The-Suicide Club" is faultlessly- maintained in the picture of the same name; now showing at the Majestic Theatre. . The debonair Robert Montgomery is splendid as [a wayward European; prince and his acting is ■■ one of the finest things in '-an, ■• always interesting and entertaining pictiirfc As the adventurous princess who prefers to '.■ go- abroad incognito rather than accept the hand of a prince whom she has Inever seen, Rosalind Russell repeats Ithe success she scored in "Under Two Flags.", Thi? part of Colonel Geraldine, the, sturdy henchman and bodyguard of'the prince, is admirably taken by Frank Morgan. An excellent, array of short subjects is screened. ; ' ■■ ', "San Francisco."■-; A'film which has Deen hailed wher-ever-it has been shown as a milestone ■in motion picture history, "San Francisco/ is to commence at the Majestic 'Theatre on Friday. Superb photography marks the scenes which show the earthquake and fire which swept the city in 1906. ■ A marked contrast is drawn between the unthinking, plea-sure-loving folk who inhabited the city ibefore the disaster and the seriousminded people who survived it, Jeanetta Mac Donald appears as a singer and she presents a number of classical and popular selections. Clark Gable has the role of Blackie Norton, dancehall proprietor, and Spencer Tracy that.of his Irish friend. .\ ST. JAMES THEATRE. No more incongruous fellowship could be imagined than that of "The Three Godfathers" at the St. James Theatre. "Doc" (Lewis Stone) cloaks a sometime worthwhile" past in the title of doctor of philosophy. His dry humour, patience, and the polish he has never been able to shed, are a strong, contrast to the selfish, headstrong impetuousness of Bob (Chester Morris) who has gone wrong young, and Gus (Walter Brennan), a whimsical desperado nearly as old as "Doc." They Tide, in to New Jerusalem, the staid and puritanical village where Bob first distinguished himself in I crime, to rob a bank, which.they do ;. alter joining in the Christmas-festivit-ies.Humour abounds in this part: of the story,: but when they are well ; away they_ fun across a baby left in the ~ desert by its dead motherland then the ■ story takes on an ,altog.e.ther.TjoveJ ,'as-. i-pect The film of the Louis-Schmeling ;: fight takes "up the greater part of-.the !,' fire I" half./of, the programme. There ; isv;an 'excellent supporting bill.- X:!'-"--' JPARAaiOUNT THEATRE. """A powerful story, of crime and punishment is graphically unfolded in '•Manhattan Melodrama," which is the main; feature at the' Paramount' Theatre, '.with ■'■■ Clark :Gable; ' "William Powell, and Myrna Loyj three, of, the screen's most versatile stairs, . in'-the-leading roles. Though . .the,. :,main plot !of the story is centred around ,rrecent years, the opening scenes of the ; picture;- depict, the East End in 1904 .at ; thfe-time the vessel General Slocum ,-' caught' fire. As a result of this tragedy i two boys, Blackie Gallagher • and I Jimmy Wade; are left orphans. Blackie I'is a wild," happy-gc-rlucky individual, 1 while Wade is quiet and studious. The.' I picture depicts the lives of .these.twp I as they grow up, and its predominant i feature is the rise in the world "of ■ Wade and the gradual decline' of Gal.- (. 3aghcr. A supporting 'programme of \ merit is,also screened. . ..'.■■■'■■. KING'S THEATRE. Jessie -Matthews, the GaumoritBritish star whose dancing and ksing-' ing and charming personality have won the world's: heart,. has ,scored a •triumph everywhere her latest'film, "It's Love Again," has been shown; and t Wellington'has proved'- no exception; ; "It's Love' Again" is now screeni ing at 'the King's Theatre. The , beauyful film is noteworthy, for its newlmelodies; arid-bright-syncopa-tion, >arid for "■this 'Sam ■ Coslow aiifl Harry Woods are responsible. Robert ' Youngvis; her .ideal romantic, opposite; •with Sonnie Hale playing the fool in his inimitable way. A high-speed story, crowded'with laughs, breezy romance; "thrills^at--the bottom of the sea and ' excitement ashore, is featured in "High Tension," which is the second'film, with Brian Donlevy, -Glenda Farrell, Norman Foster, Helen Wood, and Robert McWade at the head of the cast. ROXT THEATRE. Screen entertainment filled with mystery,. drama, and romance that will appeal to young arid old alike is unfolded , in " Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Unguarded Hour," now screening at the Rbxy Theatre. The picture includes a cast'of notable players, headed by Loretta Young and Franchot Tone. Although it has several dramatic moments, "Vagabond Lady," the- supporting picture, is in reality- a comedy. For despite the seriousness of; many-situations in which the various players are involved as the story unfolds, delightful humour is threaded throughout ■ the production by Sam Taylor. Featured in a large and imposing cast are Robert Young and Evejynv enable. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine." Vnd..r"We're in the Money" conclude tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema. -"First a=Girl," coming to the Kilbirn'ie Kinenia 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, saiicy innuendo, -,and merry masquerade,: in; additibiito. 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. iti an unabashed laughter climax. The British Dominions release "Annie, Leave the Room," which will also be screened, is based on one of the funniest, stories ever adapted for the screen, and concerns a film company that goes on location to .Spenalove Hall, owned by Lord Spendlove; an impecunious peer with film aspirations. Davina Craig plays the title role. Morton Selten, Eva Moore, Richard Cooper, Jane Carr, and BenWeldenare others" in the cast. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. ; . •/Coronado" and "Call of the Prairie" concluded the Palace Theatre, Petone,. tonight..Commencing.tomorrow night, the breakneck pace of the modern generation is., effectively ■ mirrored < in: "Speed," starring -James Stewart and Wendy Barry. Oh the same programme is-the great-adventure-romance, "Java Head," enacted by a magnificent cast, headed -by- John. .Loder, Edmund Gwenn. Elizabeth Allan, -and Anna ■ May Wong.- ■ • ■

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DELUXE THEATRE. ! The last three days of the season of ■ "The White Angel" is.announced,.with i Kay -Francis in, the. role of Florence • Nightingale, The picture is a, thunder- | ing indictment of the ignorance and' 1 prejudice-of doetors-of the last century ' and -of Florence Nightingale's part in • overturning an obsolete hospital system. Besides Miss Francis the cast 1 includes, lan , Hunter, Donald Woods, Nigel Bruce, Donald Crisp, Henry O'Neill, and Billy Mauch. The supi ports are headed by "The Changing of the Guard," a beautiful Technicolor musical starring Sybil Jason. Never has Joe E. Brown been funnier personally than in his latest First. National comedy, "Earthworm Tractors." which is to commence at the De Luxe on Friday. Nor has he ever had a more hilarious vehicle in which to display his .comedy antics than in this picture, which is taken from the series of comedy stories written for the "Saturday Evening Post" by William Hazlett Upson, Joe E. makes Alexander. Botts, one of the comical heroes of fiction, live and breathe on the screen, as Joe has lost none of his vim and pep as the greatest funmaker Of all time. There is a talented supporting cast headed by Guy Kibbee, June Travis, Dick Foran, .Carol Hughes, Gene Lockhart, • and Olin Howland. PLAZA THEATRE. Based on Arnold Ridley's famous story and play, "The Wrecker," the screen version, "Seven Sinners," which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre, is a real thriller, and contains gripping excitement from beginning to end. Edmund Lowe and Constance Cumriiings have the leading roles, and they provide a partnership which is noteworthy for its clever witticisms arid wisecracks. As an American detective, Lowe stumbles on ■ a murder . mystery in a hotel in Nice, and when he finds the same body in the wreck of the train in which he had been travelling he determines to investigate and track down ' the killer. Both he and Miss Cummings, who takes the part of an insurance agent, follow clue after clue across Europe and England, and discover that train-wrecking is a method used by a gang to rid them of undesirable people and cloak their activities in a gun-running racket. There is;, a good supporting programme, including informative newsreels. STATE THEATRE. A modern romance, threaded with humour of* an extremely entertaining quality, is "The Bride Walks Out," the RKO film which is now screening at the State Theatre. The charming Barbara Stanwyck plays the role of a mannequin in a fashionable dress shop who marries a young civil engineer (Gene Raymond), with a definite matrimonial theory—that wives should not have careers. This headstrong young man is arrested four times during his breath-taking courtship and marriage and it is in the court that he meets the gentleman rake (Robert Young) who, as a fellowrriisdoer,- pays Raymond's fine for him and hereafter shows an embarrassing devotion to the young bride. "Swing Time." It is, always good-news to those who enjoy light entertainment when a Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film comes to town, and on Friday, at the State Theatre, Wellington will have its view of "Swing Time," their latest RKO Radio production. As.is usual in all the.' films made by these two favourites, .melody, is a large factor in the entertainment in. addition to the dancing, which,'of course,:is one of the star attractions. In "Swing Time" the dancers, .introduce.' several new and most [original-routines, and,in'the big production number, • "Bojangles of SarTem." Fred Astaire is-seen in blackface and1 does a,most complicated, and entertaining eccentric tap. The' music for ,the.show was composed by none other ■ than' Jerome Kern, who' gave us- "Show Boat" and- "Roberta." It is both tuneful and; at times, novel, all the numbers having a direct bearing on', the-dialogue. ■■• •;■•,. ? - -,-i! vPRj'jfCESS THEATRK :', : Foremost/on'the bill at' the Princess Theatre ■.is:- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's tuneful .musical rpm.ance "The Cat and the' Fiddle," which stars the beautiful and.talented Jeanette McDonald, with Ramon- Novarro. Frank Morgan, Charles Jean i Hersholt, Vivienne Segal, Henry Armetta, ■ and Joseph . -Cawthorn. "Fatal . Lady," a film combining ■murder ' mystery, music, and romance, 'thrills and comedy, forms the additional. feature. It stars Mary Ellis; noted, stage and screen player,, and former • Metropolitan . Opera prima .donna: Supporting her in the cast are Walter . Pidgeon, John ' Halliday, Alan Mowbray,. Norman Foster. Ruth Donnelly, Guy Bates Post, Samuel Hinds,. Edgar ■ Kennedy,' and Irene Franklin. The. featurettes include a "Headliner" musical novelty, a Popeye cartoon, and a Paramount newsreel. OUR ■ THEATRE, NEWTOWN. ; ;"The'Poor'Little Rich Girl." starring Shirley, Temple, and "Music Hath Charms," with Henry Hall, and the famous. 8.8. Ci dance orchestra, will be showing for the last time tonight, at Oiir" Theatre. Commencing tomorrow is "Ah! Eugene O'Neill's great stage drama. It -is' a smashing triumph for both "Wallace Beery, who stars- ; as> the-lovable,- alcoholic Uncle Sid, and Lionel Barrymore, who plays the father role. The story tells of an American family'in an intensely human manner. The- youthful romance is charmingly carried1 out by Eric Linden arid Cecilia Parker. "Two Hearts in Harmony," a delightful musical, starring Bernice Claire,: is the second attraction. ■ .'■■'.-;■ STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Dracula's ' Daughter" and "The Affair' of Susan" conclude tonight at the State Theatre, Petone. Commencing tomorrow at a matinee at 2 p.m., the State Theatre, Petone, will present as the main feature the adaptation of John Buchan's thrilling story "The Thirty-nine Steps," one of the greatest spy mystery tales ever written. The adventures of Richard Hannay, a young Canadian with a taste for adventure, as he follows up the discovery of a ; girl, later found murdered, that vital secrets of Britain's air defences are imperilled by foreign agents make gripping entertainment.. Madeleine Carroll plays the leading feminine role. Equally thrilling in another way is "The Phantom Light," which will be the second feature. Starring Gordon Harker and Binnie Hale, it tells of a haunted lighthouse,,. a lunatic,1 • and a gang of wreckers who plot the destruction of ships. GRAND- THEATRE, PETONE. "Petticoat Fever" and' "Man Hunt" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre, Petone. . ■ ■ : ' Miriarii Hopkins and Joel-McCrea are starred in ~ Samuel Goldwyn's "Splendour,": opening at the Grand Theatre, Petone, tomorrow. It is a dramatic story of a girl who marries into New York's "400," and is ruthlessly sacrificed by her husband's impoverished family to their blind craving for , luxury. ■, An' arresting story is told in "Behind the Evidence," the second feature.' Norman Foster as a society reporter-sportsman unravels a startling skein "of intrigue, with Sheila' Manners as the love interest and prize. SEASIDE' THEATRE," LYALL BAY. In ('The Ex-Mrs.' Bradford," the'exhilarating , mystery comedy, William Powell again displays his gift for gay .romancing, wise-cracking,: and pulling pranks in the face of strange.death— that same-gift that made his film "The Thin- Man"; so outstanding among light murder mysteries.. Instead of Powell frequently saving his' ladylove from grav.e danger,, it. is,the attractive and co-starring Jean Arthur'who has to keep- Powell from being.-addedi to the list of.three killings. The other feature''is the glorious musical romance starring Nino. ■ Martini, Genevieve Tobin, and Anita Louise.' ' j

TIVOLI THEATRE. Truly magnificent in its spectacular sweep, yet 'absorbing in its delightful intimacy, "A Tale of Two Cities," starring Ronald Colman, opens tonight at the Tivoli Theatre.1 It takes its place among the immortal works of the screen, entertainment which cannot be; praised too highly. Ronald Colman is. at his best. He.never has had a role; which gave him such opportunity lor I the quiet humour, the high drama, and; " the poignancy-h(i expresses so well. As: i Sydney.. Carton, w.himsical,. sardonic,' : brilliant-wastrel, he reaches the peaki -of his artistic career. The story of' I' "A Tale of Two' Cities" is intimately • known to millions ■of readers. It i tells of the joys and sorrows, the adven- ■ tures, and the trials of a little group ; of people, English and French, who , are caught in the maelstrom of the ■ French Revolution of 1789. Specifically, •it tells of the strange love of Car- : ton and Lucie Manette, played by 1 Elizabeth Allan—a love that was doomed to frustration in life, yet ■ which transcends death in its sublime majesty. With the star is a cast of 112 stars and featured players, most of them world favourites. . RIVOLI THEATRE. "Payment Deferred," which heads the programme at the Rivoli Theatre, tells the story of a murderer who escapes detection for his own crime only to be convicted later for a crime which he did not commit. A sensational performance is given .by Charles Laughton as the murderer. Maureen O'Sullivan has the part of Winnie, Laughton's daughter, while the difficult role of the murderer's wife is handled by Dorothy Peterson. The cast also includes Verree, Teasdale. Ray Milland, Billy Bevan, Halliwell Hobbs, and William Stack. Among the picture's dramatic highlights are the scene in which the bank clerk poisons his nephew; the tense moment when his wife discovers his secret; his constant terror lest the body of his victim. buried in the garden, be discovered: the suicide of his wife, and the bitterly ironic episode in which the authorities seize the bank clerk for a' murder of ! which he is innocent, but which ho cannot explain without confessing his ' real crime. The associate feature is ] the famous "Naughty Marietta," star- • ring Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy. ' ■ ' '■ REX THEATRE. Hailed as "the laughing low-down on ' the world's dizziest city," the Fox Film , production, "365 Nights in Hollywood," will begin an engagement todays on the , screen at the Rex Theatre. It tells the story of a girl, a boy, and two . adagio ice-men who turn the flicker , city upside down. Alice Faye is seen as a young screen aspirant from Peoria, J while Jimmy Dunn is cast as.a smart- ] cracking picture director. Frank Mit- < chell and Jack Durant are a pair of ] slightly cuckoo ice-men who pick Alice . as a star—and then set but to pave ■ the way for her success. Other members of the cast are' Frank Melton, Grant Mitchell, John Bradford, Frank Conroy, and John Qualen. Will Rogers is uproarious in "Handy Andy," which will also be shown. In the picture his 1 wife, Peggy Wood, wants him to play —and he does! And thereby hang most 1 of the hilarious situations that go to I make this his funniest picture. t NEW OPERA HOUSE. "The Last of the Mohicans," now 1 showing at the New Opera House, con- t tinues to attract large audiences. I Figures familiar to every lover of the < classic story are vividly depicted, and < play their parts faithfully. Hawkeye, 1 the colonial scout, at first distrusted i and later imprisoned by the English- ( man, Major Hey ward, Hawkeye's rival ( for the hand of Alice, the 'colonel's 1 daughter, and the lovabe Indian Uncas ; are roles that have been entrusted t to able actors. Randolph Scott is cast < as the- scout Hawkeye, and has. the ( largest part in the film. Henry Wil- ] coxon, as Major, Duncan Hey ward, i Binnie Barnes as Alice, and Heather t Angel as. Cora, have the other lead- ( ing ■ roles. ■ A "March of Time" ( newsreel and a' fine Walt Disney c cartoon, starring Mickey Mouse and - Donald "Duck, are' also included in the , programmed < SHORTT'S THEATER, j Jack Buchanan is .in splendid form I in the title role of "Brewster's Mil- ( lions," now showing at Shortt's t Theatre, the part being admirably j suited to.his agreeable personality and s his extraordinary'ability to play the ] fool -engagingly. • He is very well i supported.- by a cast which in- c eludes . Lili Damita, Nancy O'Neil, 1 lan ■ McLean, Fred Emney, Allan ' Aynesworth, Lawrence Hanray,' and ) 500 specially-trained auxiliaries. Based i on the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's ] story "The Valley of Fear," the British j Dominions release, "The Triumph of ] Sherlock Holmes," which is also on the ; bill, deals with- Holmes's return • from retirement to triumph over the • arch-criminal Moriarty. Arthur Wont- i ncr plays the leading role. i REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. \ An outstanding attraction will be pre- ' sented at the Regal Theatre, Karori, ( tonight in "The ■• Ex-Mrs. Bradford." 1 William Powell and Jean Arthur, sup- ] ported by a brilliant cast, including .] Ralph Morgan, Eric Blore. and Robert • Armstrong, provide delightful enter- £ tainment. Powell solves a crime riddle r whilei his •ex-wife! obligingly helps him \ and incidentally • wins her husband back. "The Ex-Mrs. Bradford" fully deserves the popularity it achieved in its first run in the city. J CAPITOL: THEATRE, MIRAMAR. J . How, a lad. is. saved from illegal adop- ] tion by a greedy circus acrobat who ( seeks to convert the boy's voice into | a free meal ticket-is an exciting side- j light of "Let's Sing Again," screening t at the Capitol Theatre tonight and \ starring Bobby Breen, the boy wonder ', singer. Henry Armetta, George Hous- ■ ton, and Vivienne Osborne are also iri i the-cast. . . ' , '■ < REPERTORY THEATRE. ! j .The famous play "Hedda Gabler," ' in four acts, by Henrik Ibsen, will be < presented in the Town Hall Concert J Chamber for five performances, com- ' mencing' this evening at 8 o'clock, by < the Wellington Repertory Theatre ( Society under the direction of Leo dv '1 Chateau, with the following cast: ] Hedda Tesman (Gabler), Lynda-Hast- i ings; Jorgen Tesman, W. J. Mountjoy, : jun.;j Miss Juliana Tesman, Mrs. D. J. ] Davies; Mrs. Elvsted, Edwina Vare; < Assessor Brack, Norman Hannah; i Eilert Lovborg, Eaton Hurley; Berta, < Thesy McKinnon. Ibsen himself says 1 of this play: "My intention in giving it f the name of 'Hedda Gabler' was to in : '. dicate that Hedda as a personality is i to be regarded rather as her father's i daughter than as her husband's wife, j It was not really my. desire to deal in , thisplay with so-called problems., What £ I principally wanted to do was to de- i pict human beings, human emotions, I and human destinies upon a ground- j work of the. present day." Hedda Gab- ' ler is the type of woman who drives < men backward and downward, yet she ] excites our interest and our pity/ Her 1 tragedy is not that she fails to achieve ] her mission—but that she has no mis- i sion to achieve. The play has been 1 aptly termed the picture of a condition, not an action, and Ibsen has shown the utter depravity of Hedda by laying bare her distorted soul at i the very moment when woman's in;- i stincts are most sacred—in the face of .} corning motherhood. An authentic setting has been built by Mr. W. J. John- { stone and painted by Mr. J. W.; Conroy. Mr. Evan Harrqwell is the stage j manager. Miss Marjorie Rose and Miss - Tiora Meadows property mistresses. ) and Miss Kirsty Page is in charge of ' the dressing. , HEALTH AND BEAUTY. \ The annual display of health and • beauty exercises by Miss Marion Todd \ and her pupils will take place in St. < Francis Hall, Hijl; Street; tomorrow i liig'ht. Sixty girls have , been, chosen < to-take part and a great variety of ( excises, will .be .demonstrated, in- 1 eluding a group of relaxation exercises ] performed by Miss Todd, which will r be of special interest to older women.; £ . DEFENCE LEAGUE! ; < • •: -r-, —, .♦ .. ' • ' ' ( A general-meeting of the Wellington J branch of the New Zealand Defence ' League"will be held in the conference i hall of the New.Zealamd Sooiety of j Accountants, Johnson Street,' Wellin- j ] ton/ tomorrow, at 8 p.m. . J