CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

,'-" r REGENT THEATRE., ._ > ; ■ '■■ 'Tire- Over England," which is in its second week at the Regent Theatre, opens ;at a.time when the 'feeling between Philip of Spain and Queen Elizabeth of England is istrained, when the wealthy, Spanish • -monarch is proclaiming new lands, when; Sir Francis Drake and his merry meh;,are /pipping,.the heels of. the '", haughty andr.aU-powerful , It: moves in dramatic and often thrilliing fashion to. the- spectacular climax, 'the 'defeat of -the... Armada, which I ends'>•■"'Spain's'",'■'.ambititms ;■ in";, the ChanheL The main picture;is supplemented by •■ a Silly Symphony in colour,' and,.by, a series *of entertaining topical and travel features. .': A' combination of murder, melodrama, romance, and comedy makes ■the story .-of- "History, is Made:, at Night,?' the United Artists' attraction ■which -will start on Friday at the Regent Theatre,-a, most unusual one. The audience is in .suspense to the end and .its attention' held by intriguing developments-which follow each other in quick succession. It is on the whole a-sophisticated drama, but at the same time possesses a strong appeal in the reality of situation in the sound acting, iand in the good story. Jean Arthur, ICdlin Clive, Charles Boyer, and Leo Carrillo head the cast. MAJESTIC THEATRE. In all the splendour of . well-re-membered songs, and with the added scenic beauty which only the screen can give, "Rose Marie" is showing at the Majestic Theatre. The tale of •Marie de Flor and Sergeant Bruce, of the Royal Canadian North-west Mounted Police, is told with a clarity and conviction which was rather lacking in the stage presentation.- In the. title role, Jeannette Mac Donald excels even her performance in* "Naughty Marietta." Her singing is superb, especially "The Indian Love Call," sung in a typical Canadian setting of surpassing beauty, end in the final scene of "Tosca," in which some splendid acting, is seen. Nelson Eddy gives a fine performance as Sergeant Bruce, and his splendid voice does full justice to the melodious "Rose Marie" and to the rollicking "Song of the Mounted." The supporting programme includes newsreels and a technicolour feature en- , titled "Cinema. Circus." ,-''... / ST. JAMES THEATRE. ,- "It Isn't Done," the Australian pro- • duction which is showing for a second week at the St. James Theatre, is about an Australian squatter (played by Cecil Kellaway) who unexpectedly comes into the title of a lord. * So he and his family pack up and go to England to claim the- title and the family estate. But they are like fish out of water in social life, and many and varied are the humorous situations in which they find themselves. The squatter who becomes Lord Blaydon has a daughter (a part admirably played-by. Shirley Arm Richards) w-ho ] . falls in love with the next heir to the title. and estate, and these two provide the romantic side of the humorous story: The supporting programme; includes a cartoon, interesting tbpi-, cal and gazette pictures, k and' "The March of Time," the latter containing glimpses of Coronation preparations. , _: ;.• '/' . / . ■'■ . PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Magnificent Obsession," which is in a return season at the Paramount Theatre, ,is the very fine film version of Lloyd C- Douglas's best-sell-ing novel. Irene Dunne plays outstandingly well the role of the young wife of a famous philanthropic surgeon, with a "magnificent obsession," wh» -prematurely loses his life.' She proves her amazing acting iversality, achieving reality with, equal success in "humorous as in tragic situations. Robert Taylor's acting "grows on one" as the picture progresses, and particularly in the •final scenes, where life or death depends uponf the steadiness of his hand, .he achieves a convincing and stirring reality. ' Charles Butterworth, by his comic manner, relieves the tension in some of the more emotional • scenes. .Betty Furness and Sara.Haden also have prominent roles/ There is an excellent supporting programme., /.-: , KING'S .' v ..'.- : Bobbie' Breen's. magnificent sing-^ ing -is heard •■ in its full beauty in "Rainbow on -the River," at present showing at the King's Theatre. When the story opens the boy is living happily \ in :a .little township in South America 'Under the care of an old negress, who succoured: him . during the Civil War. The 'local • ■ priest ■ however,; discovers' that the lairs"rich' 'grandmother (May: Robson) : is; 'still;, auye, ■ ;and. Bobbie,; much.to his foster-mother's regret,-is. sent to; New* York, to ;join his kin.; He wins; the "old; lady's' heart,: despite; the opposition 'of Other ./relatives,' and- a. surprising and,happy,ending is; reached. Vipie second.attraction, "We're; oh the Jury," r -is anr excellent' story! of a womanIwho refuses to' believe, that -a 1 young-girl. is Va /murderess, and; who 'eventually-iproyes'. iherTinnocents Helen'Bro'derick and Victor Moore.are! ttie.-.stars.----:-.:.'■>•.!•■"••■'.■."■"'■'^ ■.:;."'. :-\;;/":raiNipESS'T^ATttE; //'•/ Perhaps.the- most.ambitious■ . and costly spectacle !that/Hollywood I has ever^ attempted; /'Paramount's "The Lives of a-Bengal .Lancer," is the chief attraction. at.'.the- Princess Theatre.' Featuring-Gary ■ Cooper^ Franchot Tone, RichardCromwell,'acid-Sir Guy Standing in thevprinqlpal roles, "The Lives of.a' Bengal Lancer'- is a stirring, colourful* and action-crammed story of the exploits and adventures-of'England's • colonial soldiers /in India./ Randolph Scott/and Frances'Dfake have. leading romantic roles-in;the production of drama .on the' -highways, "Toll of the Road," the associate feature. The supp6rtifig:;cast includes Tom-Brown, Billy Lee, jattd- Fuzzy Knight. : '-..- v '■■■-'.-.■ ■['■■■;- GRAND THEATRE; PETONE. :A stirring drama' of small-town bigotry and the Warner Bros, production "I Married a Doctor," open's at the Grand Theatre, Petone, tonight. The picture is based on a novel by Sinclair Lewis which caused , a furore, and is filled with pathos and tragedy and dynamic scenes, enlivened ' by romance, sparkling dialogue, and comedy. Pat O'Brien and Josephine Hutchinson have the romantic leads. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Sally of the Regiment," a spectacular and amusing comedy-drama of army life, produced for GaumontBritish by- Raoul Walsh, opens at the State Theatre, Petone, tonight. This film has everything that makes entertainment—comedy, drama, singing, dancing, and a cast of popular English playersN headed by Anna Lee, - John Mills, Grace Bradley, and Frank Cellier. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Described as a "musical extrayaganza," "Public Nuisance No. l/'whjch opens at the Palace Theatre, Petone, tonight, reaches heights in entertainment value seldom before realised. Its two world-famous co-stars, Arthur Riscoe and Frances Day, delight with their never-ending string of wisecracks. "Back to Nature/1 another of the hilarious Jones Family productions, will also be shown. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAT. Hailed as the great story cf love and romance of' today, "To Mary—With Love," .a Twentieth; Century-Fox production, with Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy 'co-starred, is showing at the Empire Theatre. Lan Hunter, Claire Trevor, and Jean Cixon :are featured in the supporting cast. ' The second feature on tonight's'programme ' will be "The Plot Thickens," with James Gleason and Zasu Pitts. BROOKLYN THEATRE. The General Died at Dawn," with Gary Copper and Madeleine Carroll, ' and "Six of a Kind," featuring Chas. , Ruggles, Alison Skipworth, and Mary > Bofand, will be,, screened at Brooklyn f tonight

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. Cicely' Courtneidge, popular English comedienne, returns to .the Wellington screen in a refreshing comedy of errors "Everybody Dance," which is now showing at 'the Plaza Theatre. Cast qs a notorious night-club queen Miss Courtneidge: has plenty of scope for humour in her-role.- The story deals with the fortunes of two young Americans, a boy and a girl, who are forced/ on the death of their mother, to, migrate to England to., live with their ,; aunt, whom they imagine to be the owner of a farm, but who in reality is the queen of a night club with a particularly lurid history. The: efforts ■ of the aunt (Cicely Courtneidge) to keep hidden from the young people the double life she is leading lead to many embarrassments. An excellent composite picture "Crown and Glory,' depicting the main events of the world since the birth of King George VI, ' and containing many striking historical photographs, is included in the supports. . DE LUXE THEATRE; Tense scenes abound in the doublefeature programme screened at the De Luxe 'Theatre, "Breezing Home" and ;"Sensation," which will be screened finally; tomorrow night. _ . Commencing on Friday two special features will be shown. Richard Dix, Dolores Del Rio, and Chester : Morris share the starring roles in Columbia's "Devil's . Playground," a , dynamic comedy-drama based on the, exploits of the brave lads in-the United States submarine fleet. The "something different" in mysteries which film audiences have long been clamouring for is provided in "Mad Holiday," one of the most novel and intriguing mystery dramas for a long time. Here is a picture which represents a decided departure from the ordinary in the fact that its principals, Edmund Lowe and Elissa Landi, practically, "play themselves," ZasU' Pitts and Ted Healy, the popular comedians, aiso have leading roles in "Mad Holiday." - - STATE THEATRE. "The Great Barrier," wnich is showing at the State Theatre, is the stirring ■ dramatisation of a thrilling achievement in Canadian history, the piercing of the Canadian Rockies by the Canadian Pacific Railways. The mountain sequences are particularly beautiful, having been taken actually on the spot where the line was finally constructed. Vistas of peak and pass, of valley and glacier, form an inspiring background to what was an inspiring achievement, the overcoming of some of the greatest obstacles pi ■Nature by man's courage and ingenuity. The drama has as its central figure a gambler'who is forced to work on the line and who plays a leading part in the discovery of Kicking JHorse Pass. The stars are Richard Arlen, Barry Mackay, Antoinnette Cellier, Lilli Palmer, and J. • Farrell McDonald. There is ( an excellent.; supporting pro-" gramme, including the special Coronation attraction. "Crown and Glory." Surprise follows.surprise in the.emotionally rich and -real /screeni play - written by Sam ; Hellman, Gladys Lehman, and Sonya Levien for the Dionne quintuplets' second 20th Cen-tury-Fox picture, "Hearts •in -Reunion"—the dramatic home-coming of the Country Doctor's 3000 grown-up "babies"—opening on Friday at the State Theatre. Jean Hersholt; who played thebackwpodsdpetor in the quintuplets' first film, is featured in the new picture together with Rpchelle Hudson, Helen Vinson.Slim Summerville; Robert Kent; John -Qualen^and-; :Dprothy-.Petersort> ; <i-;,.,'::;''i;;- ..-.■;>>■"_;.■ '-. S? > ;i/-f ■|^ : ';?;^E^*ftiEATßE^v^;' "fe ,/V; v' James Dunn,; Lillian Roth, Cliff. Edwards,' June Knight; Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Lilian Bond, Dorothy Lee,:and ; Lpna Andre" constitute the : y/brilliant cast of, "Take a Chance," the Paramount musical extravaganza which is showing at the Rex Theatre. The picture runs the gamut from a carnival sideshow, through a swanky New York gambling ; club, out to the homes of Long Island's millionaire society folk and back. "Girl Without a Room," the second feature, tells the story of a gay, hilarious artists' model who falls in love with a backward youth from-the Tennessee mountains. Marguerite Churchill plays the girl, while Charles Farrell is the other romantic lead with Charlie Ruggles, Gregory Ratoff, and Walter Woolf in support. ROXT THEATRE. "Three Men on a Horse," featuring Frank McHugh, Joan Blondell, and ' Guy Kibbee, is showing at the Roxy .Theatre. This is a side-splitting. story iof Erwin (pronounced Oi-win), a meek ! Jittle..writer of greeting card verses— i who has the weird-gift of picking .win- ; hers in horse races. He keeps that secret .to' himself until-his nagging : wife'finds■ the book in which he J9ts '■ down/his fancies, and denounces.him as a philanderer. "Alibi for Murder," ; Columbia's new murder-mystery, is the '• supporting /feature, with William Gari gan- Marguerite Churchill, ■ and Gene Morgan in the leading roles. ' ■■■."■ ( /.SHORTT'S THEATRE. . • High' adventure, glamorous nights of romance in the tropics, and roystering, boisterous' comedy 'are the elements ; from which the action of "A Message -, to Garcia," 20th Century's/ fascinating ■'■ adventure romance, now showing at Shortt's Theatre, were:woven. . Bringing together Wallace Beery. John Boles, an£ Barbara Stanwyck m their •first roles/together, the new picture is an. engrossing story? of the adventure that changed the destinies of three nations. ; Warner • Oland • plays his eleventh Charlie Chan role; in the Fox mystery, "Charlie Chan at the Circus," which; is' the supporting feature. "Rangle. River" and "Roaming Lady" will be the new features at Shortt's Theatre on Friday. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Jean Hersholt contributes another immoijiar characterisation, worthy to stand beside his famous portrayal Of "The Country Doctor," in "Sins of Man," which comes to the Regal The-atre-tonight. Vibrant with drama, the picture/is a stirring story of a father's struggles and temptations, his sorrows and triumphs. The supporting cast is headed by .Don Ameche. Another outstanding weekend programme, headed by Rafael Sabatini's "Captain1 Blood" will commence on Friday. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Genevieve Tobin, Donald Cook, and Hardie Albright enact the three most important roles in the thrilling drama, "The Ninth Guest," which is showing tonight at Our Theatre at reduced prices. All the action hinges on a penthouse party attended by eight persons who dislike each other intensely. What happens when they, meet in close quarters, with a - mysterious "ninth guest" in attendance constitutes the plot of the thrilling drama. The pow-' erful drama, "Once To Every Woman," starring Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray, is the second attraction. ■ SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. How the unjust execution of an innocent man for a crime he did not commit draws its grim net about a water-' front clique is strikingly,; revealed in "Winterset," the screen drama from Maxwell Anderson's famous play, which is showing at the Seaside Theatre. Fast-moving comedy is furnished in Paramount's film farce, -"Three Married Men," the associate film, which has Lynne Overman, William Frawley, 1 Roscoe Karns, and Mary Brian in the top roles. '. CAPITOL THEATRE. Song hits stud the mirthful action of "Anything Goes," which is screening at the Capitol Theatre. Ethel Merman sings "Anything Goes" and "I Get a Kick Out of You." With Bing Crosby "she sings "You're the Top." Lee Tracy and Margot Grahame are co-featured in "Criminal Lawyer," in wjiich an eventful romance is played against its often tense legal Background. J

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Sweet Aloes," the Cosmopolitan production released by "Warner Bros., which . is screening. vat/.the Theatre, is. notable for its.beauty and the sheer power1 of its dynamic drama. The picture, based on. the smashing stage hit by Jay Mallory, was made for Kay Francis. The intensely emotional situations of the play offer her the finest dramatic opportunity of her career, and she rises to them with all the brilliant artistry for which she is famous. There is a remarkably brilliant supporting cast which includes such "famous players 'of stage and screen as George Brent, Roland Young, Patric Knowles, Henry •, Stephenson, Frieda Inescort, Helen Flint, Halliwell Hobb.es,. Zeffle Tulb.ury. and Elspeth Duge'on. The play is ultra-modern with a startlingly daring plot,. which is-handled .with, the, utmost sincerity and delicacy. Ben Travers, that prince of ultra-modern comedy authors, wrote ■"Dishonour Bright," which will, also be shown, specially for Tom Walls, and the result .is .the most scandalously funny film the popular star has made even eclipsing the unforgettable "Rookery Nook." RIVOLI THEATRE. A hard-boiled managing., -editor crosses swords and. purposes with, a society girl who inherits the newspaper he supervises in Universal s "The Girl on the Front Page," which is now showing at the Rivoli Theatre. They battle each other hammer and tongs until a blackmail ring tries to victimise the heiress. ' Edmund- Lowe is the crisp, amusing editor, and Gloria Stuart is the owner of the paper who tries to write features.. Reginald Owen portrays the blackmailing butler, Spring Byingtpn plays the role of Gloria's mother, David Oliver is seen as ,the office boy, and Gilbert Emery has the part of the family lawyer. A new screen team, Joan Bennett and Joel McCrea, refreshing in their new comedy and delightful in their_ romantic moments, is starred in Universal s "Two in a Crowd," the associate feature. When the story opens, the two halves of a torn thousand-dollar bill bring the pair together. Their escapades on New Year's Eve lead to further* hilarious developments that plumb the depths of humour; The stars are supported by an exceptional cast ■ which includes such popular comedians as Henry Armetta, Alison Skipworth, Nat Pendleton, Reginald Denny, Andy Clyde, and Elisha Cook, jun. ■ KILBIRNIE KINEMA. ■ Fire and water mix in a judicious concoction of gay sophistication and uproarious romance in Columbia's "And So They Were Married," the main attraction showing at the Kubirnie- Kinema. The , water in the case is Mary Astor and Edith Fellows, a mother-and-daughter combination surpassed only by each other in their aversion to men. The fire-eaters are Melvyn Douglas and his woman-hat-ing 11-year-old son, Jackie Moran. Intensely dramatic entertainment, characterised by some of the finest acting seen for some time, is presented in "Forgotten Faces," the associate attraction. The polished English actor, Herbert, Marshall, has the leading role. .MONDAY'S WRESTLING. Jack Forsgren will make his second appearance in Wellington this season next Monday night, when he will be opposed by Sammy Stein in the Town Hall ring. The occasion will be an important one for Forsgren, as he will be up-against opposition measuring weE up to the best that he has encountered in the course of his career. The Canadian champion, whose mat work follows lines different from those of most wrestlers' performances, has a large following because of his ability to provide thrills and;there is never any lack of •.excitement while, he Is in the ring. 'It may be that Stein ; will force him to confine himself more to : orthodox wrestling than usual' but, even so, the Jewish champion will find Fors-. gren a tough proposition. Forsgren is .in thf pin It of condition^ and. -the reports' of his recent performances have been highly favourable. Stem's display against Rumberg this week was as good as anything that has been seen in the local ring, and the fact that he was unfortunate enough to meet With a mishap that cost him the match did not cause him to fall in the esteem of his public. Stein is always prepared to take the chances which mean thrills, even though they may be attended by risks.