CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "Cain and Mabel," the New Year feature at the Regent Theatre, has an irftriguing title and it is just as bright and modern as the title suggests. The picture contains many magnificent features gathered around the theme supplied by Marion Davies, as an Irish waitress, and Clark Gable, as a heavy- , weight boxer fighting his way to world .title. The boxer and the waitress dis- ' agree on almost all matters, but an enterprising theatrical manager announces that they are engagea, with the result that they are compelled to smile upon one another in public although they bicker in private. The observer will probably not be as surprised as they are when they eventually discover that they are in love. The film is noteworthy for the magnificent scenes and ballets that cannot fail to please. A gorgeous scene is provided for "Thousand Love Songs," six different sets of backgrounds being provided. David Carlyle is an undoubted success in the theme song, and Marion Davies, .with Charles Teske. heads 160 chorus girls in a series of delightful dances. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Holiday time demands holiday entertainment and the Majestic Theatre has provided it with "Piccadilly Jim," a film based on the side-splitting novel of P. G. Wodehouse. The picture, which is an M-G-M production, does not follow the book closely, but it has a true Wodehouse flavour and is cosmopolitan enough to appeal to all tastes. The acting is excellent, and the comedy is bright and entertaining at all stages. Robert Montgomery, who plays the part of Piccadilly Jim. is extraordinarily likeable, and gives the impression, that he is the man Wodehouse had in mind when he wrote .the book. Piccadilly Jim, the cartoonist, makes the mistake of picturing the family of the girl he loves as the "Richswitch Family" of his cartoons, and the picture reveals how he faced up to the situation after discovering his mistake. Eric Blore, Frank Morgan, Robert Benchley, Madge Evans, and Billy Burke are others in the cast. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Two of the world's greatest singers, Grace Moore and Lawrence Tibbett, are heard in the entrancing musical comedy, "New Moon," which is now showing at the St. James Theatre. The ship-board romance of Princess Tanya Strogoff and Lieutenant Michael Petroff, of the Russian Imperial Army, comes ,to a full-stop on their arrival at the latter's garrison, where the Princess is discovered to be the fiancee of the Governor, a part played by Adolphe Menjou. For safe removal the lieutenant is transferred to a distant fort, where the men have an unpleasant habit of murdering their officers. Here he is visited by the Princess, who avenges the insult offered by Petroff when he sang a vulgar song on the occasion of the public announcement of her engagement. Her return is prevented by an enemy attack. Facing death, they are unable to conceal their love, and there are dramatic developments. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Broadway Melody of 1936," which is now in a return season at the Paramount Theatre, has as its main features many magnificent sets, original ballet designs, and outstanding acting by prominent players. The theme of the picture is the story of a girl who goes to New York to secure a place before the footlights, the outstanding features of the year on the stage being gathered together to deliffht the beholder. Eleanor Powell, takes pride of place in the galaxy of stars that face the footlights. Robert Wildhack, who plays • many variations on his vocal chords, is something entirely new, and Robert Taylor, Una Merkel, and Jack Benny all provide first-class entertainment. The supporting features are worthy of such a programme, and include popular features. ICING'S THEATRE. The supreme artistry of George Arliss has wide scope in "East Meets West," which is showing for a second week at the King's Theatre. This picture has been lavishly mounted and it is rich in dramatic incidents. Arliss plays the part of a Sultan who successfully wheedles big sums of money out of Britain and Japan, playing against them the life of a renegade Englishman, a rum-runner, whose wife has had an affair with the Sultan's Oxford-educated son. There is action in plenty in this offering from Gau-mont-British. Lucie Mannheim is an attractive and appealing figure as the unfortunate wife. The supporting cast includes Godfrey Tearle; Stella Moya, and Romney Brent. The remainder of the programme is 'in_ keeping with the excellence of the big film. ROXY THEATRE. "Bonnie Scotland" is the main feature at the Roxy Theatre, with Laurel and Hardy providing comedy work which is as bright as anything they have done before. The action opens in Scotland, and then transfers to India, where the comical pair, after mix-ups and trouble galore, eventually emerge as heroes. Sparkling comedy is also the keynote of the supporting picture "Calm Youtself," with Robert Young and Madge Evans teamed at the head of a strong cast. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Cinesound's latest and finest production, "Orphan of the Wilderness," is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight Basically a story of Australia's great outdoors, centring around . the life, of the kangaroo hero Chut, it is also strong in human romance and thrilling action. Brian Abbott and Gwen Munro head the cast. Paramount's "The Preview Murder Mystery," an exciting melodrama, which will also be shown, has a sterling cast, headed by Reginald Denny, Francis Drake, Gail Patrick, Rod La Roque. George Barbier, lan Keith, Conway Tearle, and Jack Mulhall. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. A highly-entertaining double-feature programme is showing at Our Theatre. In "She Married Her Boss," Claudette Colbert is seen as an ultra-competent private secretary who indiscreetly falls in love with her boss. The boss, played by Melvyn Douglas, tries to take advantage of her efficiency and apply it to his demoralised household as well as to the office, and that is where the excitement starts. The second attraction, "A Woman Alone." co-stars Anna Sten and Henry Wilcoxon in a stirring romance of a beautiful peasant girl and a handsome young officer. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "It's Love Again," at the State Theatre, Petone, is a gay, engaging frivolity fashioned neatly to fit the wide talents of that prevocative, fascinating, and tremendously popular British star, Jessie Matthews. The support is firstrate and big in names, and the story is ■ neatly turned. The two in concert throw out the star's versatility in scintillating perspective. Through her the entertainment, presented with marvellous technical polish, radiates great fun. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Warner Bros.' intensely emotional drama, "I Found Stella Parish" is the main feature at the Grand Theatre, Petone. Kay Francis is supported by an exceptionally talented cast, which includes lan Hunter, Paul Lukas, Syb ; l Jason, Jessie Ralph, a,nd Barton MacLane "I Found Stella Parish" is one of the most powerful dramatic productions in which the brilliant star has yet appeared. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Characterised by thrilling air action, intrigue, and a romantic love story, Columbia's new drama, "Air Hawks" shows tonight at the Palace Theatre with Ralph Bellamy, Wiley Post, and Tala Birell in the leading roles. The supporting feature, "Snowed Under," is a rollicking, comedy romance starring George Brent. Glenda Farrell, and Genevieve Tobin.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

TIVOLI THEATRE. "The White Angel" will be shown finally tonight at the Tivoli Theatre, with Kay Francis in the stellar role. Ihe new features commencing at the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow will be "Petticoat Fever." co-starring Robert Montpomsrv and Myrna Loy. and "Shadow of Doubt." with Ricardo Cortex and Virginia Bruce. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Anthony Adverse," Warner Brothers' screen adaotation of the novel by Hervey Allen, continues to atfact large audiences to the De Luxe Theatre. It is a dynamic production filmed on a colossal scale with a story laid in five different countries on four continents. Fredric March, who has an enviable record of a long list ot screen successes without a single fai*lire, has the starring role in a cast of 98 speaking parts and 2550 extra players. He is supported by Olivia de Havilland. Claude Rains. Anita Louise. Edmund Gwenn, Donald Woods, Gale Sondergaard, Akim Tamiroff, Luis Alberni, and Louis Hayward. "Anthony Adverse" is one of the longest pictures Wellington audiences have ever seen, but its interest does not flag even for a moment. There are many colourful scenes as Anthony, child of sorrow, works out his destiny and comes at last after many vicissitudes to happiness and peace. Also on the programme is the latest International Newsreel, and a beautiful technicolour cartoon entitled "Let It Be Me." Box plans are at the D.I.C. and theatre, and as the bookings are still heavy, patrons are advised to make early reservations.

STATE THEATRE. Regarded by many as the greatest actor-singer in the word, Paul Robesor, who stars in "Song of Freedom," screening for a second week at the State Theatre, rises to new > heights in a drama which is said to incorporate actual incidents in his life. It >is a saga of a negro's rise from obscurity to fame, and is the first British picture in which Robeson has appeared since "Sanders of the River," in which he achieved notable fame. He sings magnificently as he works, and in fact makes the picture a festival of lovely melody. "Song of Freedom" tells a thrilling and poignant story of a negro who longs to return to his own country, realising his ambition by the means of his enchanting voice. The other players in the cast are Elizabeth Welch. Esme r'ercy, George Mozart, and Robert Adams, all players of merit. Thare is a splendid supporting programme, RIVOLI THEATRE. Two generations have thrilled to the story of "The Mine With the Iron Boar," one of the most popular of all Harold Bell Wright's popular novels. Now it has been brougW; to' vivid reality on the screen as a'Columbia picture with Richard Arlen in the stellar role, and W to .be shown at the Rivoli Theatre tonight. Adventure, romance, drcma, and mystery are cleverly interwoven in this unusual screen story. The story of a woman condemned by public opinion as a murderess and forced to battle almost unaided for her life and her child is told in "The Case Against Mrs. Ames." which will also be shown. A Walter Wanger-Para-mcunt production based on the novel bv Arthur Somers Roche, the film stars Madeleine Carroll and George Brent. REX THEATRE. 'The Invisible Ray," a Universal drama, is the main feature at the Rex Theatre. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, two of the screen's most sinister individuals, are co-starred in this unusual screen play, and are the focal points of a story in which they are bitter enemies. Both are "scientists, but Karloff has struck out into unexplored fields; an 3 before the camera are seen a number of his advanced experiments which are literally awe-inspiring and startlingly picturesque. Pioneer Pictures' new Technicolour dancing romance, "Dancing Pirate," is the other feature. Charles Collins, the screen's new dancing star, has the title role, with Frank Morgan and Steffi Duna heading the supporting cast. PRINCESS THEATRE. "ifrom its opening scenes to its bombshell courtroom close, "The Case Against Mrs. Ames," which heads the bill at the Princess Theatre sustains a machine-gun pace of drama and suspense. Madeleine Carroll has the main role in a fast-mov-ing story of a woman charged with murder and , later threatened with the loss of her only child. George Brent does fine work as the masculine lead, Marion Davies's new Cosmopolitan production, "Hearts Divided," is the associate feature. The picture combines a glorious romance with hilarious comedy and dynamic drama. Dick Powell heads a talented cast. SHORTT'S THEATRE. With a twinkle in her eye and a saucy Irish brogue in her song, little Jane Withers heads a stellar cast of funmakcrs in her joyous Fox picture, "Faddy O'Day," now showing at Shortt's Theatre. The picture, which fo lows the fascinating adventures of a motherless little girl from Erin to New York, presents Pinky Tomlin, Rita Ccinsino, Jane Darwell, and George Givot in the strong supporting cast. 20 th Century's romantic comedy, "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" will also be shown. Debonair Ronald Colman is starred and Joan B( nnett plays the feminine lead. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. ■ "The King of Burlesque," with its great cast of stars, tantalising song hits, and heart-warming drama, is the main feature on tonight's programme. "The Voice of Bugle Anne," the suppcirting feature, is another unusual film similar to Metro-Goldwyn's "Sequoia." Lionel Barrymore plays the part of Spring Davis, who kills a man to avenge the killing of his dog. The dramatic action is played against ari interesting background. A tender romance runs through this graphic story. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. With Walter Huston in the leading role of Cecil Rhodes, a gallery of famous characters, their names still household words, has been built up round the screen life of the famous Englishman- in "Rhodes of Africa," showing at the Regal Theatre tonight. Huston plays the title role with remarkable insight and a strong sense of accuracy. In "Professional Soldier," the Darryl F. Zanuck 20th Century producIbn, which is also showing, Victor McLaglen is said to have his most important role since he appeared as Captain Fiagg in "What Price Glory." The new picture stars him with little Freddie Bartholomew. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Barbara Stawyck is starred in the rrain feature at the Empire Theatre tonight. "The Bride Walks Out," a gay and breezy romantic comedy, in which she is seen with Gene Raymond and Robert Young, Ned Sparks, and Helen Broderick contribute pungent humour. A mystery yarn displaying screen sleuthing at its cleverest is "Murder on a Bridle Path," latest case of Stuart Palmer's popular fictional detective team, Inspector Oscar Piper and Hildegnrde Withers. James Glcason and Helen Broderick have the main roles. CAPITOL THEATRE. MIRAMAR. Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy have the leading roles in "Riffraff," the sensational waterfront melodrama now showing at the Capitol Theatre. The other feature is "The Three Maxims," with Anna Neagle, Leslie Banks, and Tullio Carminati.