CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1937, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. An abundance of refreshingly different material, comical dialogue, and lavish spectacle combine to maka "Gold Diggers of 1937," showing for an extended season at the Regent Theatre, a highly satisfying entertainment. The story, interwoven with many musical, numbers and gorgeous ballet scenes, features Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, and Glenda Farrell. An added attraction on the supporting programme is the realistic portrayal of Kr.akatoa' in eruption, and with the recently installed "mirraphonic" sound system the effects -are made extraordinarily vivid. There is much foolery and uproarious furi in "College Holiday1," a lighthearted burlesque with music, in which many bright entertainers will appear, at the Regent Theatre on Friday. This is one of those light-hearted pictures which Americans make so well, a film which relies as much on the brilliance of its director as on the buffoonery of its actors. Frank Tuttle has most skilfully alternated farce with romance, and the picture is acted with spontaneity and verve. A spectacular and highly-amusing entry is made 'by Gracie Allen in a;Roman chariot. This nit-wit comedienne drives four horses abreast at a furious pace to the scene' of. action, to the great discomfort of motor and, other traffic. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Gay music, excellent dancing, and gorgeous stage settings combine to make a very attractive show in "Born to Dance," the Eleanor Powell picture now in its second week at the Majestic Theatre. The .huge cast is headed by a dazzling'array of stars, and Eleanor Powell, with her twinkling toes, soon captivates everyone. There is 'generally little or no story in • these ■, large "musicals,", but the plot . here. is decisive and not too .impossible. James-Stewart plays the leading masculine role .as the- "gob" who falls in love. with Eleanor Powell, and Buddy. Ebsen and Sid Silvers are also, prominent. Una' Merkel and ■ Virginia Bruce, as the disillusioned wife and the temperamental' star of Broadway, give excellent performances. The. associate features include a vivid' Fitzpatrick travelfalk on Madagascar and Seychelles, a special newsreel of the OxfordrCambridge boat race,, and the everpopular "March, of Time." "Romeo and Juliet" opens on Friday at the Majestic Theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Theodora Goes. Wild" is in. its third week at the St. James Theatre. Irene Dunne wins a personal triumph in her portrayal of the dual personality of a small-town girl, Theodora Lynn, who, while playing the organ at church and leading a quiet and highly respectable' life, writes under the name of Caroline Adams an almost: indecent novel, "The Sinner,"'that becomes' a best seller and is banned by her own town, literary society. How she achieves notoriety is shown in. a number of screamingly funny scenes. ' j PARAMOUNT THEATRE. William Powell and , Luise Rainer are seen in a return season of "Escapade" at the Paramount Theatre. It is a romantic tale of old Vienna, hinging on a- masked portrait of a lady intended to be for private exhibition only, but which achieves a wide publicity. To avoid trouble, the artist gives a fictitious name to .the model who.wore .the chincilla cloak, but finds that a very real girl has that name. The jealousy of the doctor and the infatuation of the doctor's wife for the artist lead to a stirring .climax before the unknown girl.and the artist settle their own lives happily. Through, the deft handling of the story every entertainment value, from laughs to tears, from drama to music, is packed into a single evening's divertissement. Laurel and Hardy and a unique comedy support the feature. KING'S THEATRE. Marsha Hunt and John Howard, both favourites on Paramount's list of new stars, are featured as a romantic team for the first time in "Easy to Take, which is screening at the Kings Theatre. The- story is set in a broadcasting studio, and a score of popular antertainers are heard during broad:ast sequences. Portraying the lusty, two-fisted battle of a woman newspaper- editor against the forces ol jealousy, conspiracy, and mob madness in a small town, "Laughing a. Trouble," Twentieth Century-Fox's alternately gripping and hilarious new ilm drama, is the other .attraction. Jane Darwell heads a cast which includes Sara Haden, Lois Wilson, Margaret Hamilton. Pert Keltop., and John Carradine. . "Racing Lady," with Ann Dvorak, i smith Ballew, and Harry Carey, and "The Big Game," featuring. Bruce Cabot, will be the next attractions at the King's Theatre. ' ; PRINCESS THEATRE. Ben Travers, that prince of ultramodern comedy authors, wrote "Dishonour Bright." the chief attraction at the Princess Theatre, specially for, Tom Wails. The result is the most scandalously funny film the popular star has made, even eclipsing. ' the .unforgettable ."Rookery N rook." With Jack Benny in the stellar role, "The Big Broadcast of 1937," which is also on the bill, includes 3eorge Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob Burns. Martha Raye, Benny Goodman and his orchestra, Shirley Ross, Ray VTillandj Frank .Forest, Benny Fields, Leopold Stokowski and his symphony orchestra, and a host of others. SHORTT'S THEATER Conrad Veidt, Helen Vinson, and Noah Beery head the cast in "King of the Damned," which is the main feature at Shortt's \ Theatre. , The story, which concerns the tropical penal settlement of Santa Maria, tells of a rebellion organised by the maddened convicts to reverse the outrageous conditions of their existence, and its sensational outcome. George O'Brien temporarily deserts his steed for an iron horse in "Whispering Smith Speaks," the -other attraction. This picture of railroading adventure, adapted from the novel by Frank. H. Spearman, has Irene Ware in the leadins feminine role. "One More River" and'"Night Life of the Gods" will be the attractions at Shortt's Theatre-on Friday. . KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, and Robertson Hare are at their brightest and best in "Foreign Affaires," which shows at the Kilbirnie Kinema tonight, i The picture is so incredibly chaotic, so unbelievably foolish that it draws laughter from the most depressed hearts. The second attraction, "The Return of Sophie Lang," is a tale of the reformation, of a notorious jewel thief who turns the tables on a former associate when she 'is accused of stealing a famous diamond. Gertrude Michael, as Sophie, gives a splendid characterisation, and Sir Guy Standing, as her old associate, impresses as the suave polished crook. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "The Man ■ Who Could Work Miracles," which, comes to the Regal Theatre tonight, is. undoubtedly one of the most outstanding comedies ever devised. It is based on H. G. Wells's most popular short story of. the same title, and the screen play was written by Wells himself. Roland Young takes the main role. The associate feature, presenting Edmund ..Lowe' and Constance Cunimings. in a mystery drama "Seven Sinners." EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Laughter and love ripple and sparkle all through "Two in a Crowd," the lively Universal offering which opens at the Empire Theatre tonight. Joan Bennett and Joel McCrea are ideally starred as a mirth-provoking pair of sweethearts in this rollicking screen drama "Educating Father," the associate feature, tells a happy, hilarious story of how the up-and-coming youngsters of the Jones family bring dad up to date. Jed Prouty plays the title role of "Dad" Jones.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. ''Lloyd's of London," now in its fifth week at the Plaza Theatre, is the story of the obscure coffee house in London which rose to be one of the foremost factors in the Napoleonic wars,' and in maintaining the commerce of the Empire. This long, thrilling film is a true reflection of- the glamour of those troublous times. The tale starts with the friendship of two youngsters of 12, and a pact that lasted until Trafalgar, for one of the boys became Lord Nelson, on whose shoulders rested the responsibility of maintaining control of the seas for England. The other boy, Blake, is the central figure of the story.. He worked his way up into a position of responsibility at Lloyd's, with the ideal, not of making personal profit, but of guaranteeing Britain's commerce on the high seas. Madeleine Carroll, Freddie Bartholomew, and Tyrone Rower are the leading players. The supports are excellent. ... ■. ■ "Winterset," the screen version of the noted Broadway play featuring Burgess Meredith and Margo and Eduardo Cianneli, who scored sensational successes in the original stage cast, will begin a season at the Plaza Theatre on Friday. "Winterset" traces the adventures of a youth in quest of evidence to establish the, innocence of ■.his, father, who died in the electric chair. His,mission brings him crashing into a love affair with a beautiful girl, onlyto Jtarn she is the sister of one of the murderers he is "seeking. How the lovers overcome all obstacles to identify the culprits with the crime leads to a tense climax. IDE LUXE THEATRE. ; "Big Brown Eyes" is not the best title in the world for an amusing detective film, .but that ' is what is to be found under the disguise at the De Luxe Theatre this week. Cary Grant and, Joan Bennett have the leading roles, in this.. amusing and / thrilling hunt for a. murderer which also becomes involved with the recovery of jewels worth a huge sum arid concerning which there is some dangeroqs gangland politicsin the course of being decided. Walter, Pidgeon and Isabel Jewel are in support. Also on the bill is "Toll of ■ the Road." a dramatic film of road recklessness and romance in which the principal parts are filled by Randolph Scott, Tom Brown, and Francis Drake. The. supports include newsreels, a musical comedy, and a Pbpeye the Sailor-man cartoon.. STATE THEATRE. \ Famous characters of the colonising days of America make their appearance in "The Plainsman," an excellent film now showing at the State Theatre; and starring Gary Cooper . and Jean Arthur. The picture is no ordinary Western, it does not gain": its appeal through the flaming of guns and -the battles and massacres of warfare (although these have their proper place in the film), but rather through the, skilful.' portrayal of. the lives of the. main characters, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, and Calamity Jane, the shiftless but lovable woman of the West. The unscrupulous methods, o| arms manufacturers, who dispose of modern. repeating ' rifles to., the Indians, and so stir up a'mighty rebellion against the invasion ot we white, man, are convincingly shown. Supports are'of good quality, including several newsreels and a "Popeye" car- j toon. '' .. . ■ ~ i . - - .( CONNORS AND PAUL REVUE CO. . The Connors and Paul Revue Company will commence a farewell season of six nights in.Wellington on May 1 in a brand-new musical revue full of snappy gags, tuneful musical numbers, and clever novelties, among which, is "Mademoiselle?" who has been specially engaged from Dunedin for the farewell appearances of this high-standard vaudeville company. This artist was a | positive riot in Dunedin and. Invercargill, and it was not'until the final curtain that the audience was let into the secret. It must be difficult for a vaudeville company to maintain a uniformly high standard of'entertainment throughout a tour, but nevertheless the programme to be presented at the Opera House on Saturday bristles with wit and humour, colour, dancing, and song, and novelty that will sprint from beginning to end. This will be George I Wallace's final appearance on the stage prior to sailing from New Zealand for Hollywood in furtherance of his picture career. . REX THEATRE. Randolph Scott, Gail Patrick, Monte Blue, and Raymond Hatton, head the cast of "Wagon Wheels," now screening at the Rex Theatre. It is a dramatic account of the hardships encountered by the' hardy pioneers who took the first wagon trains to Oregon over an unblazed trail. Hatton plays the role of an Indian fighting scout. In "She Loves a Uniform," the second attraction, Patricia Ellis is featured with Cesar Romero, Larry Crabbe, William Frawley, Andy Devine, and Warren Hymer. The picture, adapted from a- story by Damon Runyon, shows what happens when, a group of Broad-way,-gangsters become entangled with a discontented heiress. KOXT THEATKB. "Anthony Adverse," screening at the Roxy Theatre,. is .. a dynamic production, filmed on a colossal scale from the famous novel by- Hervey Allen. Fredric March has the stellar role,- while others in the cast include Olivia de Havilland, Edmund Gwenn, Claude Rains,,Anita.Louise, Louis Hayward. Gale Sondergaard, Billy Mauch. Donald Woods, and Henry O'Neill. Ths oicture follows the romantic adventures of Anthony Adverse through five countries, across the seas, and over three continents. It is a drama of human 'life. its', loves and hates, its hopes and its disappointments; its desires and its passions; its. vain and futile struttinss and its vast achievements. . , OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWXBasil Rathbone is featured with Pauline Lord, Louis Hayward, Billie Burke1, and others in "A Feather in Her Hat," the main attraction showing at Our Theatre at reduced prices:, ■ Rathbone is seen as the cultured but drunken and down-and-out English captain, who is taken in by Miss Lord, so that he may impart to her lower-class son some of his ' gentlemanly polish and tastes. The associate featurej "Unwelcome Stranger," presents the virile Jack Holt as a man who was tough, hard-boiled, scared of nothing,' until a stranger ruined .hi^g luck and shattered his romance. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Beloved Enemy," a vivid drama' of love under fire, is being shown at the State Theatre, Petone. The story casts Brian Aherne and Merle Oberon as a man and woman from two warring worlds who fall madly- in love, and follows their romance, carried on under fire, with both risking their lives to snatch a few hours together. Against shifting backgrounds the story proceeds to a thrilling climax. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. The main picture at the Grand Theatre, "Heart of the West," was adapted from Clarence Mulford's. "Mesquite, Tumbleweed," a thrilling story of the open range, and has William Boyd and .Jimmy Ellison in the leads. Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland are together again in their latest uproarious farce, "Early to Bed," which is also on the bill. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. A fun-filled yarn of the trials and tribulations of a young couple who marry despite family enmities is told in Paramount's comedy picture, "Three Married Men'," now showing at the Palace Theatre. Mary Brian, Lynne Overman, William Frawley. and Roscoe Karns have the main roles. . The second feature .is the dramatic "Hollywood Boulevar4" ■ .

TIVOLI THEATRE. •"It's Love Again;" which shows. tonight at the Tivoli Theatre, is a gay engaging . irivolity fashioned neatly to fit the wide talents of that provocative, fascinating, and tremendously popular British star, Jessie Matthews. Tne support is first rate and big in names, and the story is neatly turned. ; The two in concert throw out the star's versatility in scintillating perspective. Robert Young, the popular Hollywood star, plays opposite Miss Matthews. The film is noteworthy for its new melodies. —"It's Love Again," "I Nearly Let Love Go Slipping Through My. Fingers," "Tony's in Town," and "Got to Dance My, Way to Heaven." Ralph Bellamy and Katherine Locke defy the threats of the underworld and find romance and happiness in their own courage in Paramount's "Straight from the Shoulder,"' which will also' be shown. The supporting cast includes David Holt and Andy Clyde. Another attraction will .be the coloured cartoon, "Popeye the Sailor Meets Sinbad the Sailor." FOVOLI THEATRE. A dozen first-class radio' entertainers, in addition to a strong parade of screen and .stage talent, were assembled by Paramount to make "The Big Broadcast of 1937," which is screening at the Rivoli Theatre, the most lavish production of its kind. With Jack Benny, George Burns and Grade Allen. Bob Burns, Martha Raye,.Benny,Goodman and his swing orchestra, and Leopold Stokowski and his symphony orchestra heading the list of radio headliners, and Shirley Ross, Ray Milland, Frank Forest. Eleanore Whitney representing Hollywood. "The Big Broadcast of 1937" is an all-star attraction whose individual performers have followings running into millions. The character he likes best, that of a lovable old faker who glories in bamboozling the public, but who paves the way for the romance of a young couple, is given W. C. Fields, starring in Paramount's carnival film, "Poppy,", which is also showing. Fields appears as a patentmedicine man and tent show follower. Rochelle Hudson; Richard Cromwell, Lynne Overman, Catharine Doucet, and Rosalind Keith are featured players in the outstanding cast. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. A light, romantic story is deftly and amusingly told in.- "My American Wife," starring Francis Lederer and Ann Sothern. The story concerns a nobleman who sets about to prove himself a better American than an American girl and a better cowboy than his neighbours in Arizona. "Sea Spoilers" traces the efforts of1 a young coastguard officer to track down a gang of smugglers who. have not only- escaped with seal skins in their possession, but have taken his fiancee with them. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Tuneful, brisk-, and gay, "The Big Broadcast" opens at the . Capitol Theatre tonight. It combines a diverting comedy plot with an impressive collection of stars garnered f,rom the top ranks of radio, screen, and stage, and provides the utmost in mirth, melody, and.amusement. Those taking part are Amos 'n' Andy, beloved blackface comics, Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Bill Robinson, world-famed negro tap dancer, the Nicholas Brothers, Ray Noble and his band, "Mary Boland, and Charles Ruggles. BROOKLYN THEATRE. The' attractions at Brooklyn tonight will be "Champagne »Waltz," with Gladys Swarthout, Fred Mac Murray,. and Jack Oakie, and "Six of a Kind," featuring Charlie Ruggles, Mary Boland, and Alison Skipworth. "CAPPICADE." "Cappicade," the University extravaganza for 1937, set a. standard at the' performance last night which has not been surpassed by any extravaganza in the last eight, years at least. The show ran with the smoothness of a professional performance, and the pungent humour and bright satire were very well received by the full house. Of the three numbers, "The Book of Bob" was the cleverest, "Daze Bay Nights" the most humorous, and "The Plutocrats" the'most spectacular.: The excellent original music (particularly that by John Carrad), the bright dancing i!especially the "Rush-in Ballet"), and the. clever dialogue, received wellmerited applause. The hand of Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, jun., was clearly seen in "The Plutocrats," which was the longest and most difficult of the three performances to produce, and which was very ably handled. Patrick MacasKill brought out the full effect of the dialogue1 in his production of tHe "Book of Bob." The acting of principals and supports was , not stilted, and was marked by both enthusiasm and confidence. "Cappicade" will be performed for the last time tonight. SUNDAY PICTURES. . At the De Luxe Theatre on Sunday night the Port Nicholson Band will present Stanley Lupino in his fastest, funniest picture, "Facing the Music," with Jose Collins, world-famous musical comedy star. Miss Collins, whose voice has thrilled audiences the worlu over in. such successes as "Maid of the Mountains" and "The Southern Maid," not only gives a remarkable acting performance as the temperamental prima donna, but sings "The Jewel Song," and in the famous prison scene from "Faust" and the finale of "Tristan and Isolde." An item that should attract much attention will be the personal appearance of little Renais Gage, whose charming personality and glorious voice will capture all hearts in singing "Someone to Care for Me." Mrs; E. Crawford will act as accompanist. Intending patrons are advised to be early in order to .secure a seat. RUMBERG AND BLOMFIELD. ■ Two highly popular wrestlers, "Lofty" Blomfield and Hal' Rumberg, will be brought together in the wrest-ling-contest at the Wellington Town Hall .next Monday night. Rumberg required only one opportunity to convince patrons. that he is, if anything, a more formidable wrestler than when he first visited this country in 1933. The matching of Rumberg and Blomfield at this stage gives Wellington one of the bouts which, in the ordinary course of events, might be expected to be reserved until later in the season. Blomfield has been operating so far in the north, where his form has delighted his supporters. The fact that he was able to wrestle , in Australia during the New Zealand off-season meant that he was able to start.right away at the top of his form, and he opened the season with wins against Mclntyre and Richards. Though Blomfield had to' concede a fall to Sammy Stein at Auckland on Monday night, the circumstances were not altogether satisfactory, and, at the finish, he was going so strongly that it looked as if he would pull the match out of the fire. There will be amateur preliminaries from 8 o'clock.