CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 104, 4 May 1937, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

"College Holiday," a light-hearted burlesque with music, in which many bright entertainers are appearing at the Regent Theatre, is ono of those extraordinary, light-heart-ed pictures which Americans make so well, a film which relies as much on the brilliance of its director as the buffoonery oC its actors. A spectacular and hignly-amusing entry is made by Grade 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 discomfiture of motor and other traffic. "Hey! You're driving on the wrong side!" cries her only passenger, George Burns, hysterical with fear. "I know," says Gracie, and moves to the other side —of the chariot. This comedienne also figures in a delightful burlesque of a minuet, danced to Paderewski's music Prominent in the cast are Jack Benny, Mary Boland, Etienne Cirardot, Leif Erikson, and Martha Raye. Marsha Hunt is an engaging heroine. Ben Blue's eccentric dancing, and Eleanof'e Whitney's tapping are other good features of the show, which includes some highly original settings There is a splendid supporting bill. "Fire Over England" opens on Friday at the Regent Theatre. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Shakespeare's immortal drama, "Romeo and Juliet" is now showing I at the Majestic. Theatre, and the producers have brought into the cast a number of stars of such calibre that the leading paints, and indeed all the parts, are carried out with refinement, and as the master dramatist himself would probably have wished. Juliet, played by Norma Shearer, is a lovable and convincing character, and her Romeo, for which part Leslie Howard has been chosen, is an appealing young man against whom the forces of destiny have pitted themselves. Another actor whose performance is above the usual standard of screen , achievement is John Barrymore in the character of Mercutio. C. Aubrey Smith, Basil Rathbone. and Ralph Forbes also play their parts well. Sup- : porting features include newsreels and a coloured cartoon, "Circus Days." j ST. JAMES THEATRE. , '. "Sinner Takes All," which is.screening at the St. James Theatre, is a : thrilling mystery drama. Many humorj ous situations relieve the tense ' atmosphere which develops as two sons of a threatened- tmllibnaire family die. either by accident, by suicide, or by, a maliciously-administered overdose of a .'., poisonous drug. Finally, although closely guarded, the millionaire father crashes from a 20-storey verandah of his flat. A young reporter1 (Bruce Cabot) makes a number of discoveries which take him deep into the criminal strata of society. His own life is threatened, but he keeps on, and with the publisher's beautiful daughter (Margaret Lindsay) generally helping but sometimes hindering him, finally untangles the skein. Joseph Calleia handles a "menace" role excellently. The excellent supports include a col- ; oured travelogue of South Africa, the Oxford-Cambridge boat race, and the Grand National. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. There are many good reasons why "Theodora Goes Wild," which is now showing at the Paramount Theatre, is such gay entertainment, but above all is the revelation of Irene Dunne as a glamorous, captivating comedienne. For her first feature-length laugh riot, ;• Cojumbia Production chiefs were shrewd in selecting a vehicle which allows the star full rein in displaying talents never before disclosed. "Theodora Goes Wild" has the flavour of "It Happened One Night," plus the non- ; sense of "My Man Godfrey." Its ac- , tion is fast, punctuated with rich direo ',". torial touches by Richard Boleslaw- '■' ski- There is a complete change of i short subjects which include a Univer- ! sal Newsreel, colour cartoon, Screen ;■ Snapshots, and a hilarious Andy Clyde comedy called "Knee Action." KING'S THEATRE. The beautiful Santa Anita track, mecca of thousands of American horsei racing fans during the winter season, • is the iocale of the racing scenes in 1 RKO Radio's stirring Turf drama, "Rac- : ing Lady," with Ann Dvorak, Harry j' Carey, and Smith Bellew, which is i showing at the King's Theatre. The j story concerns a young and wealthy automobile manufacturer, who is the last word in proficiency as a business • man, but who has to take lessons in ' sportsmanship from his girl horse trainer, whom he has learned to love. Marking the debut of a new romantic team on the screen, "The Big Game," RKO Radio's football comedy-drama, which is also on the bill, has Philip Huston and June Travis co-featured with such players as James Gleason, Bruce Cabot, and Andy Devine. KOX* THEATRE. "Fugitive in the Sky," Warn.er Bros.' baffling murder mystery, is the main feature at the Roxy Theatre, with Jean Muir and Warren Hull in the leading roles. A murder is discovered by an air hostess, and thrilling events lead up to a smashing climax, in which a newspaper reporter proves to be the hero. "Here Comes Carterl" the supporting feature, probes behind the scenes of both radio and broadcasting stations and moving-picture studios, with Ross Alexander, Glenda Farrell, and Anne Nagel in the featured roles. The picture is packed with thrills and rollicking humour from start to finish. PRINCESS THEATRE. Nino Martini, world-famous singing star of radio, opera, and films, appears in Pickford-Lasky's sparkling romance, '"The Gay Desperado," the principal attraction at the Princess Theatre. Ida Lupino and Leo Carillo are featured in support of the , handsome tenor. Glorious song numbers, sung as only Richard Tauber can sing them; comedy put over as only Jimmy ("Schnozzle") Durante can put it over; and an enchanting love story . set .to Oscar Strauss's most beautiful melodies, are the highlights of "Land Without Music," the associate picture. The short subjects include an item of the'"March of Time" series. OUR THEATRE. NEWTOWN. "We Went to College" heads the double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre. Charles Butterworth, Walter Abel, Hugh Herbert, and Una Merkel are the principals in an outstanding all-comedy cast. The plot revolves about the efforts of "old grads" to recapture at a large university the idealism and excitement of their school days. Romantic interest is added by the wife of a professor, who endeavours to reawaken the dormant love of her husband's best friend. Stuart Erwin, Paul Kelly, and Florence Rice, have the leading roles in the , comedy-drama "Women Are Trouble," the second attraction. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "The Road to Glory," showing at the Regal Theatre tonight, is hailed as the strangest, strongest drama of love ever brought to the screen. Fredric March, Warner Baxter, and Lionel Barrymore are starred, with the supporting cast headed by June Lang and Lionel Barrymore: "Two in a Crowd," Universal's rollicking, romantic comedy-drama, starring Joan Bennett and Joel McCrea, is the supporting film. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. A fortune in gold secreted at the bottom of San Francisco Bay precipitates a youthful schooner captain and his girl into a series of thrilling adventures in R.K.0.-Radio's photoplay "Night Waitress," showing at the EmDire Theatre tonight. Margot Graharae and Gordon Jones play the leadins roles. "The Man Who Could Work Miracles," which stars Roland Young, is based on H. G. Wells's most popular short story of the same title, and the screen play was written by Wells himself.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE,

"Winterset," now showing at the Plaza Theatre, fully justifies the claim put forward by a leading American magazine that it is the screen's first real classic. Adapted to the screen, complete with cast, from the brilliantly successful stage play of the same name, "Winterset" has suffered little alteration at the hands of the scenario writers. As a result, it is that rarest of all films, one which retains all the merits of both stage and screen mediums. The story is one of the American underworld, and the action takes placs, appropriately enough, in the semi-darkness of a squalid city area, near the x'iver, which is used as a handy means for the disposal of the remains of underworld victims. The cast. Which includes Burgess Meredith, Maurice Moscovitch, Margo, and Henry Kolker, is almost completely unknown, as far as the screen is concerned. The supports, which include the remarkable "Graveyard of Ships," are excellent. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Pennies from Heaven" is now showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Heading a popular cast are Madge Evans, little Edith Fellows, Donald Meek, and Louis Armstrong and his noted swing band. ■ Popular songs such as So Do I," "Pennies from Heaven," "Let s Call a Heart a Heart." "One Two, Button Your Shoe," and "Skeleton in the Closet" are heard. The theme concerns the hilarious escapades of a wandering troubadour, andtthe film is a riot of mirth and melody. The associate feature is "Girl Overboard." Set against the spectacular background of a liner at sea, this film is a complete cycle of thrills and suspense. Gloria Stuart and Walter Pidgeon play the leading roles. Supporting the stars are such favourites as Billy Burrud, Hobart Cavanaugh, Gerald Oliver Smith, Sidney Blackmer. and Jack Smart. STATE THEATRE. As young America expanded, pushing her frontier further and further to the West, the Indians became more and more hostile, resenting every fresh intrusion into their territory. Outstanding among the troops that strove to keep back the Indian hordes were "Buffalo Bill" Cody and "Wild Bill Hickok. Gary Cooper, in the vivid and thrilling Paramount film, "The Plainsman," showing for a second week at the State Theatre, plays the part of Bill Hickok with rare vigour and .virility. His adventures in company with his friend "Buffalo Bui and Calamity Jane (Jean Arthur), a real two--un girl of the West, make some of the most exciting moments in film history. An excellent programme of associate features includes a new "Popeye" cartoon and the latest newsreels. THE MARCUS SHOW. The Marcus Show, which opens at the New Opera House next Saturday, has 80 performers in the entourage, including 22 principals, 16 big acts, a chorus of 25, and a ballet of 30 American beauties who have bee: the rage wherever thoy have appeared. The scenery occupied one-fifth of the space on the Aorangi, which brought the company from the States, and is spectacular beyond description, while the lovely girls in the company display no less than 600 gowns in the first revue, "La Vie Paree." Snappy music is put over in grand style, there are dances galore, and the fact that there are no less than four comedians, ensures that the comedy is both original and ' fast and furious. "La Vie Paree" will be followed by "Fantaisies de l'Orient" and "Revue Continental." Each revue consists of 30 scenes with about 12, special scenes of particular spectacular effect. Although the girls are, naturally, a big feature of the show, at the same time this is not a "girl show" in the generally accepted term, for the entertainment in addition to the beauty provided by the chorus and ballet comprises a rapidlymoving succession of highly-developed and lavishly-produced variety acts. sketches, poses, tableaux, and musical comedy items. REX THEATRE. Mona Barrie and Gilbert Roland head the cast of "Ladies Love Danger." Fox Film's mystery involving a woman's , invasion of a bachelor s apartment, which is screening at the Rex Theatre. Others are Donald Cook, Adrienne Ames, Hardie Albright, Herbert Mundin, Nick Foran. Marion Clayton. Ray Walker, Rita Rozelle, and Snowflake. • Fox Film's "The Gay Deception," a sparkling, light-hearted comedy about two lovable youngsters who were looking for thrills and found them in a glorious romance, is the second feature, with Francis Lederer and Frances Dee heading a great comedy cast. SHORTT'S I'HEAT&r, "One More River," adapted by K. C. Sheriff from John Galsworthy's last hovel, is screening at Shortt's Theatre. It is described as a powerfully tense drama with the cast supporting Diana- Wynyard including Frank Lawton, Mrs. Patrick Campbell, Colin Clive, Reginald Denny, Jane Wyatt, Lionel Atwill, and Alan Mowbray. "Night Life of the Gods," the. second feature,' is from the de^ lightfully crazy novel by . Thome; Smith which tells of an inventor who discovered how to bring statues to life. Alan Mowbray and Florine McKinney head the cast. KILBIRNIE IUNEMA. j "Three Married Men" and "The Big Broadcast of 1937" conclude tonight at the Kilbirnie Klnema. Filmed in the new perfect technicolour, "Ramona," an exciting picturisation of Helen Hunt Jackson's immortal love story/ comes to the Kilbirnie Kinema tomorrow. Loretta Young is featured as Ramona, with Don Ameche as Alessandro, and the splendid Supporting cast includes such players as Kent Taylor, Pauline Frederick, Jane Darwell, Katherine de Mille, and John Carradine. "Public Enemy's Wife," Warner Bros.1 unique thriller of G-men activities, will also be shown. A romance between the ace G-man and the public enemy's wife forms a very definite and strong part of the plot. An exceptionally brilliant cast includes Pat O'Brien and Margaret Lindsay in the featured roles, Robert Armstrong, Cesar Romero, Dick Foran, Joseph King, Richard Purcell, and Addison Richards. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Distinguished by its fine production qualities, a new trend in song and melody, "Banjo On My Knee," which opens at the State Theatre, Petone, tomorrow, combines the locale 'of "Tobacco Road" with the atmosphere of "Steamboat Round the Bend." It has been ideally cast with Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea in the leading roles, and with Helen Westley, Buddy Ebsen, Walter Brennan. Walter Catlett, Anthony Martin, and Katherine de Mille in support. "Breezing Home," a fast-moving, humorous story about night clubs and racehorses, will also be shown, featuring William Gargan, Binnie Barnes, and Wendy Barrie. Supporting featurettes will be screened from 7.45 p.m. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. The Palace Theatre is presenting an attractive double-feature ; programme, consisting of "The Luckiest Girl in the World" and "Barred Windows." On the stage Jack and Robbie'Tapp, eccentric tap dancers, present a novelty act, "The Boy Scout." GRAND THEATRE,, PETONE, v "The Charge of the Light Brigade" will be shown finally tonight at the Grand Theatre, Petone. Co-starring Katherine Hepburn and Herbert Marshall, "A Woman Rebels," a highly dramatic story oil a young girl's battle to preserve a personal secret, exposure of which would wreck her romance with the man she truly loves, will be the main feature at the Grand Theatre, Petono, tomorrow.

RIVOLI THEATRE. "Cain and Mabel," a spectacular Cosmopolitan musical production released by Warner Bros, and starring two o£ the screen's most brilliant celebrities, Marion Davies and Clark Gable, is showing at the Riyoli Theatre in an extended season until tomorrow evenin" The picture is filled with catchy musical airs and gigantic specialty numbers in which 160 beautiful chorus girls take-part, in addition to its hilarious comedy, its glowing romance, and many thrills. The most pretentious of the production numbers, called "Thousand Love Songs," is heralded as one unsurpassed in magnitude and grandeur, "flying Hostess," the associate feature, is an unusually wellwritten and well-directed screen play centring around the turbulent romance of a charming air hostess and an ace transport pilot. The glamour and the adventure of. the huge airliners provide the. background for the play. William Gargan, Judith Barrett, William Hall,1 Astrid Allwyn, Ella Logan, Andy Devine, and Addison Randall are among the leading players. TIVOLI' THEATRE. The star of the immortal "Seventh Heaven," Janet Gaynor, and the sensation of "Magnificent Obsession," Robert' Taylor, Rave joined hands to bring to the screen one of the most stirring modern romances in their latest picture, "Small Town Girl," now showing at the'Tivoli Theatre. Miss Gaynor was never more lovely in her successful career than she is in the new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. For the first' time, she is allowed to dress up—and= in this she reveals a new Janet Gaynor. With the sensation of the scjreen season, the dashing Robert Taylor, as her co-star, a perfect screen team is formed. .Taylor's dramatic work is said to be even finer than that in "Broadway Melody of 1936" and "Magnificent Obsession." "Isle of Furyi" a thrilling melodramatic romance of the South Seas, produced by Warner Bros., is the associate feature. 'The cast includes Humphrey Bogart Margaret Lindsay, and Donald Woods —the three in the triangular romance—Paul Graetz, Gordon Hart, E. E. Clive, George Regas, and others. ■: \ SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. "Under Yolk Spell," featuring Lawrence Tibbert, Wendy Barrie, and Arthur Treacher, is a fast-moving story interspersed .'.with delightful songs by Tibbett and'by excellent comedy provoked by Arthur Treacher. "Nevada," Zane Grey's'] colourful story of the vast cattle country, has been brought to the screen in spectacular and thrilling style. In the featured roles are Larry "Buster" Crabbe and Kathleen Burke. CAPITOI} THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Based on" the brilliant stories written about-."The Suicide Club," by Robert Louis Stevenson, Metrc-Gold-wyn-Mayeffs film version starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell offers' bright and thrilling . entertainment. "My American Wife, a light, romantic story, is brought to the screen in delightful fashion by Francis Lederer and Ann Sothern. Fred Stone, Billie Burke, and Ernest Cossart are notable players in the cast. THE APOLLO SINGERS. The Wellington Apollo Singers, under the conductorship of Mr. H. Temple White, are to give the first subscription concert of the 1937 season in the Town Hall Concert Chamber tomorrow evening. A larger proportion than usual of the items to be provided will/be entirely new numbers, and these include a beautiful part-song by Hugh Robertson, "The Old Woman," "Calm us the Night" (Bohm). "On Wings of Song" (Mendelssohn) and "The Wanderer," a story in song by Elgar iiflapted from "Wit and Drollery. This later number, beautifully written, sttould appeal to all lovers of good music. Foremost among the old favourites are "Rhapsody" (Brahms) and "Maureen" (Roberton). An appropriate number will be Elgar's"Land of Hope and Glory," especially arranged for male voices by Arthur Fagga. The assisting artists will be Mrs. iFreida Meier, a well-known Wellington musician, who will give viola solos, and Miss Molly Atkinson, mezzosoprano, who will be heard in a number jpf solo items. The accompanists will be Mrs. R. G. Caigou and Miss Ormi Reid.. Further particulars are advertised in this issue.