CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 144, 19 June 1937, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE.

The narrow-minded, superstitious, and harsh outlook of Puritan settlers , in the New World is graphically captured in "Maid -of Saiem," which is now showing at the Regent Theatre. The village in which most of the action takes place is, as suggested by the title, Salem, in Massachusetts, and in this small community, cut off from the more broadminded citizens of Boston and New York, the harsh and tyrannical conditions imposed upon the com- ' munity are looked upon as an aid to godliness. Claudette Colbert has the role of Barbara Clarke, a young girl Df the village, who possesses a livelier outlook and considerably more spirit than most of the sombre maidens of her circle. It is when a rebel fugitive from Virginia, Roger Coverman (Fred Mac Murray), seeks a hiding-place in the village that trouble begins to brew. His tall, cloaked figure is seen lurking in the wood, mistaken for the. Devil, and, like lightning, the whole community is swept with a hysterical fear of witchcraft, many innocent people being draged to the gallows tree, often because one of their enemies has "informed" on them. Through unfortunate circumstances Barbara herself is dragged before the judges, her lover at this time being in prison, powerless to aid her. The final trial scenes and the climax are well brought out, and the film, though set to a cruel background, carries conviction throughout. The scenery and costuming are flawless, the village, and its occupants presenting a complete picture of Puritan life. Supports include newsreels and a "Popeye" cartoon. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The outstanding success achieved by the screening at the Majestic Theatre of "Camille" made a prolongation of the season inevitable, and this glamorous portrayal of gay Parisian life of the nineteenth century entered upon its second triumphant week yesterday. The story is based on that by Alexandre Dumas, jun., and deals with the fate of Marguerite Gautier, a favourite in the gay city. Greta Garbo has a difficult role as the frail beauty, but she rises to superlative heights and gives one of the. best portrayals of her career. Then, too, Robert Taylor achieves a histrionic triumph as Armand Duval, the young and inexperienced gentleman who plays such a large part in Marguerite's fate. Lionel Barrymore is outstanding in the supporting cast as the young man's aged father. Intrigue and passion, relieved with genuine comedy, bristle throughout the story, and the film is remarkable for the startling realism with which the gay life of that period is depicted. Magnificent acting deserves' a magnificent background, and it gets it in "Camille," which shows the filmmaker's art as its zenith. The supporting programme is one which holds interest for all tastes. In a Cinesound special the Springboks are seen giving the Western Australian team a taste of what they intend to mete out to the All Blacks. "Nrf Place Like Rome" is a superbly photographed and delightfully humorous potted musical comedy featuring lions and lovers, as amusing as it is clever. ST. JAMES THEATRE. An entirely new and decidedly interesting twist-is given to the usual murder mystery in "Under Cover of NigHt," the exciting drama now showing at the St. James Theatre. Edmund Lowe is the star and as the scientific detective he has a busy time in solving a number of killings and hounding down the fiendish murderer. The audience, however, instead of being . left in a bewildered state, is soon made aware of the slayer's identity, and it is extremely interesting to witness the thrilling .and logical manner in which the crimes are brought home. When the story opens the faculty members of a university are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the name of the new head, each hoping that he (or she) has been chosen, and nerves are on edge. When the wife of a prominent scientist dies the cause of her death is regarded as heart failure, but the witnesses in the theatre know otherwise. Then two members of the staff are killed and the evidence points strongly to one man whom the audience know to be innocent. Lowe is not found waiting in deductive powers, however, and the audience has, after much suspense, the pleasure of seeing, the murderer brought to book. The supports include -two newsreels, a colour cartoon, an "Our Gang" comedy, and an . excellent musical revue. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Thrills that create breath-taking suspense in one picture and hilarious comedy situations in the other provide entertaining fare in the new double-fea-ture programme at the Paramount Theatre, "Love From a Stranger," starring Ann Harding and Basil Rathbone, is the thriller, the story, the way it is handled, and the cast being such as to capture the interest of those who see it and fully sustain that interest through an exciting series of events to a powerful, dramatic, and somewhat unusual climax. Ann Harding is an office girl who wins a fortune in a French lottery. This leads to estrangement between her and her steady, though stodgy, fiance and to a romance with and her ultimate marriage to a polished debonair stranger with pretty manners. But under the surface the stranger turns out to be a far from pleasant gentleman. He is really a murderer named Fletcher, who has killed three young women for their money, but whose cleverness has enabled him to avoid detection. He meets his.match, hoy/ever, in the girl he selects as his fourth victim, and how he is outwitted and dies makes a gripping finale. "Let's- Make a Million," the second feature, is in direct contrast as a comedy with the inimitable, fidgety, wry-faced Edward Everett Horton in the role of a country storekeeper, who breaks away from the domination of two aunts and makes a fortune out of oil. It is not quite as easy as all that, and the pitfalls he discovers along the road and the consequences provide him with ample scope for his brand of acting. A Walt Disney short "Donald and Pluto," in technicolour, completes the programme. KING'S THEATRE. A beautiful girl from "outside" pits her love against the pitiless code of the wild in Jack London's "White Fang," a Darryl F. Zanuck Twentieth Century production now showing at the King's Theatre with Michael Whalen and Jean Muir in the leading roles. Miss Muir is seen as the courageous heroine' who dares all the perils ot the north-country to help the man she loves. Michael Whalen has the leading role, with the cast also including Slim Summerville, Charles Winninger, John Carradine, Jane Darwell, and Thomas Beck. "White Fang" is a sequel to London's "Call of the Wild." Also ■ showing will be the Twentieth Century-Fox musical film, "Pigskin Parade," which deals with the lighter side of American football. The picture features Stuart Erwin, Johnny Downs, Arline Judge, Betty Grable. Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, the Yacht Club Boys, Dixie Dunbar, Anthony Martin, and .Judy Garland. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. j "Our Relations," which heads the double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre, presents the famous laugh-making team of Laurel and Hardy in a feature comedy, rated as more elaborate and funnier than their ma..v successes of the past ten years. For the first time portraying dual roles in a full-length feature —each a twin brother—Laurel and Hardy have double the opportunity to display the-r screen talents. Laughter-lovers and mystery-lovers alike will appreciate "We're On the Jury." the second attraction, with Helen Broderick and Victor Moore in the principal roles. BROOKLYN THEATRE. The main feature at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight will be "Florida Special," featuring Jack Oakie and- Sally Eilers. "Girl of the Ozarks." starring Virginia Weidler and Leif Erikson, will also be screened, and there will be four excellent supporting attractions.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES *

PLAZA THEATRE,

"Girl in a Million" entered its second month at the Plaza Theatre last night. IThe famous ice-skating champion, the ' radiant Sonja Henie, scores a unique J triumph in her first moving picture, combining the art and grace of a ballet dancer with the speed and control of the ski jumper. The plot opens in a Swiss railway carriage with a peripatetic band of American players, led by Adolph Menjou They arrive to fulfil a contract and find their hotel has been burned down in mysterious circumstances. Taking refuge in an inn, they discover the daughter of the innkeeper practising for the Olympic Games. A reporter arrives at the inn to "cover" the hotel fire and falls into an intrigue with the beautiful young figure skater. She gives an exhibition at a casino to please Menjou and her amateur status is immediately imperilled. The plot moves to a spectacular climax. Many of the settings are very beautiful and the group skating is of a particularly high quality. The Ritz brothers make their debut in several hilarious episodes, one of the best being a burlesque of a Spanish bullfight on skates and there are some excellent musical numbers. The supporting programme includes the Westminster Abbey film of the Coronation. STATE THEATRE. Undoubtedly one of the most entertaining of musical comedy films, "On the Avenue," a Twentieth CenturyFox production, commenced screening at the State Theatre yesterday. With Irving Berlin's new lilting melodies, Dick Powell's gay personality, and Madeleine Carroll to complete the romance, the film has an interest for every type of theatre-goer. Romance and entertainment begin simultaneously when Powell, leading man of a show "On the Avenue." plays in- a burlesque sketch, ridiculing the richest girl in America, and her important parent. The girl (Madeleine Carroll) happens to be present at the performance. She is furious' and begin immediately to plan revenge, which is disastrous to Powell's stage career. Alice Faye, as a stage star, also plays a part in complicating matters. The sets are lavishly mounted, ballets are strikingly frocked, and the entire production is made on a most luxurious scale. Dick Powell sings the musical hits. "This Year's Kisses," "I've Got Love to Keep Me Warm," "You're Laughing at Me," and "The Girl on the Police Gazette." The Ritz Brothers present a clever act, while others who appear include George Barber, Alan Mowbray, and Stepin Fetchit. An excellent supporting programme is also shown. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Set in the colourful background of New Orleans in the gay 70's, "Rainbow on the River," Bobby Breen's new singing vehicle for Radio Pictures is now showing at the New Princess Theatre as a lavish musical drama, boasting a strong plot, a fine cast, elaborate settings, and a group of songs by the talented nine-year-old .star. May Robson heads the supporting cast, while Charles Butterworth, Louise Beaver, and Alan Mowbray essay important roles. The associate attraction is "The Students' Romance," introducing lovely, vivacious Grete Natzler, idol of the Continent, in the most beautiful and spectacular musical romance of the year. Patric Knowles and Carol Goodner head the supporting cast. ROXY THEATRE. "Calling the Tune," now showing at the Roxy Theatre,- stars Clifford Evans, Sally. Grey, Sam Livesey, and Adele Dixon, the story being concerned with the development of- the gramophone record industry. Many celebrities are introduced in the course of the story, including Sir Henry Wood and the Queen's Hall Orchestra. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, George Robey, the English Singers' Quartet, Charles Penrose, and the Philharmonic String Quartet. An interesting highlight in the film is the introduction of the vision 1 record, which is played in the usual way, but which throws an image of the personality recording on to a small screen at the back of the gramophone. The supporting feature, "Revenge Rider," is a thrilling outdoor romance, starring Tim McCoy. r.ILBIKNIE RINSMA. "His Brother's Wife" is the title of the daring picture which opens at the Kilbirnie Stadium today with the attractive co-starring team of Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor. The play of human emotions under tremendous strain has seldom been more powerfully drawn on the screen. The daring theme is presented delicately, yet without once weakening the complicated structure of the story. Jean Hersholt, as the hardened explorer, is superb. Excellent light entertainment is provided in "Polo Joe," Joe E. Brown's latest comedy, which will also be shown. Carol Hughes is the charming lady in the piece, and Skeets Gallagher is a very paragon among butlers. REX THEATRE. With Richard Dix, Dolores Del Rio, and Chester Morris sharing the starring roles, Columbia's "Devil's Playground," a dynamic comedy-drama based on the exploits of the United States submarine fleet, is screening at the Rex Theatre. The picture has a sensational climax to a spectacular crash between a huge derelict ocean liner and a fully-manned submarine. Ann Dvorak, Smith Bellew, and Harry Carey 'play the principal roles in the other feature, "Racing Lady," which deals with a wealthy automobile manufacturer who delves into horse racing. He is able to buy whatever he wants except the love of his girl trainer, whose ideas of sportsmanship differ from his. Many of the racing scenes were filmed at the famous Santa Anita racing plant on the outskirts of Los Angeles. SEASIDE THEATRE. "His Brother's Wife" brings Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor to the screen at the Seaside Theatre in a spectacular romance. Jean Hersholt is featured as a veteran explorer and adventurer in the far and dangerous places of the tropical jungle. Joseph Calleia: scores in another of his suave bad-man roles. The daring story of a young scientist who ventures into the jungle to find, the cure for a dreaded malady and returns to the realisation that the woman he loves is his brother's wife, provides a dramatic vehicle for these distinguished stars. A madman's vengeance strikes two young lovers and Charlie Chan faces the most baffling mystery of his career in "Charlie Chan at the Opera," the second film. Warner Oland plays the crafty Chinese detective, with Boris Karloff co-starred as his implacable foe. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. "Sweet Aloes," a dynamic drama revealing the human emotions of love, passion, hate, and sacrifice, is showing at the Regal Theatre, Karori, tonight with Kay Francis in the stellar role. The picture is based on the stage hit, "Sweet Aloes," by Jay Mallory. The plc» of the play is ultramodern and startlingly daring, and although frank in treatment, is handled with the utmost good taste. Others in the cast include George Brent, Roland Young, Patrick Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Frieda Inescort, Helen Flint, Halliwell Hobbes, Zeffie Tilbury, and Elspeth Dudgeon. "Marry the Girl." a sterling comedy, with Winifred Shotter, Sonnie Hale, Hugh Wakefield, and Judy Gunn. is also on the bill. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. A new and different Mac West parades her way through "Go West Young Man." her latest comedy which opens tonight at the Grand Theatre. She has a novel story in a modern setting, and three leading men, Randolph Scott, Warren William, and Lyle Talbot. "Ladies Should Listen," the second picture features Cary Grant and Frances Drake, and is a bubbling ■ Continental comedy.

TIVOLI THEATRE. f Samuel Goldwyn's production of Edna Ferber's greatest novel. "Come and Get It," which brings Edward Arnold, Joel McCrea and Frances Farmer to the Tivoli Theatre, also features Mady Christians, versatile Viennese actress, Walter Brennan, lhe "Old Atrocity" of "Barbary Coast," Mary Nash, famous stage star, lovely Andrea Leeds, dark-eyed Goldwyn "find," and Frank Shields, handsome tennis star. The colourful story of the great lumber camps of the north woods casts Edward Arnold in his greatest .role as the great lumber baron who gives up love to win power, but in later years finds his victory an empty one when he falls hopelessly in love with the daughter of the woman he once cared for. Robert Cummings and Eleanore Whitney dance and sing their way through one of the gayest musicals of film history in "Three Cheers for Love." the Paramount "swing opera," which is also being shown. Grace Bradley, Billy Lee, Olympe Bradna, Roscoe Karns, Louis DaPr'on, and Veda Ann Borg are featured in the outstanding cast. RIVOU THEATRE. Kay Francis comes to the screen at the Rivoli Theatre tonight in "Stolen Holiday," a First National film. "Stolen Holiday" is a thrilling, romantic story of the rise of a lovely but humble mannequin to the position of queen of fashion in Paris, dictating to the whole world what women shall wear.-Others in the cast include Claude Rains, Alison Skipworth, Betty Lawford, Walter Kingsford, and Frank Reicher. The second attraction is "Men in Exile," an intriguing and romantic adventure story of an island paradise'in the Caribbean Sea. The picture, which is backed with action and thrills, has a strong cast, including Dick Purcell, June Travis, Alan Baxter, and Margaret Irving. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Starring an exciting love team, handsome Robert Taylor and lovely Loretta Young, "Private Number," a Fox picture, which is screening at Shortt's Theatre, Is acclaimed a; one pf the year's outstanding romantic hits. Taylor's debonair manner and youthful banter complement Miss Young's beauty and wide-eyed appeal perfectly. "Come Out of the Pantry," the other feature, is rich comedy, with Jack Buchanan in the role of a penniless peer who, finding himself stranded in New York, is obliged to take a job as a footman in a Fifth Avenue household. There he falls in love with his employer's pretty niece (Fay Wray) and after sundry adventures persuades her to share his title. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. ' Charlie Chan battles for his life in the most thrilling and exciting of the Twentieth Century-Fox adventures of the wily Chinese detective, "Charlie Chan at the Opera," now showing at the Capitol Theatre. Warner Oland portrays the arch-enemy of crime, with Boris Karloff co-starred as the king of terror in the most chilling and thrilling mystery Chan has ever encountered. The Jones Family are seen 1 again in the other attraction, "Educating Father." Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, Dixie Dunbar, Spring Byington, Kenneth Howell, June Carlson, George. Ernest, Florence Roberts, and William Mahan are featured. The supports include George Wallace, the popular comedian, who supplies ten minutes of humour. There is also a comedy and a newsreel. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Against the turbulent canvas of adventure and intrigue which forms the background of "Lloyds of London." which opens tonight at the State. Theatre, Petone, stands out as one of the great love stories of all time, when fierce courage and vengeful fury fought to the death for a love that flamed while the fate of an empire hung in the balance. Freddie Bartholomew, Madeleine Carroll, Tyrone Power, Sir Guy Standing, and Douglas Scott head the cast. The Fox Movietone Coronation newsreel will also be shown. - GLADYS MONCRIEFF SEASON. .. Considerable interest is being taken by playgoers over the reappearance at the Opera House on Saturday night next of the brilliant soprano. Miss Gladys Moncrieff, and J. C. Williamson, Ltd's, Comic Opera Company, numbering over 100 people, who will appear in a magnificent revival of Franz Lehar's tuneful, picturesque humorous, and immortal operetta, "The Merry Widow." "Notable casts," wrote a Sydney critic, "have been the happy fortune of '-The Merry Widow,' yet it would be hard to; surpass the vocal lusci'ousness and lovely qualities of Gladys Moncrieff's Sonia, the romantic appeal of Eric Bush's Prince Danilo, or the drollery of Cecil Kellaway as Baron Popoff, and Don Nicol as Nisch, at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday night. A typical Gladys Moncrieff audience crammed the theatre, reciprocating by every ardept sigh the sentiment expressed by the most popular of comic opera artists in her curtain speech, when she declared that all her recent singing to radio audiences in Australia and New Zealand gave her nothing like the thrill of coming before flesh-and-blood people again. Three times she had to respond after her exceedingly lovely voicing of the haunting song ~'Villia,' while every note of her other contributions rang with opulent ease and expressive appeal." Another big favourite with New Zealand playgoers is Cecil Kellaway, who will take the amusing part of Baron Popoff, and Don Nicol, the hero of "White Horse Inn." will make his reappearance as Nisch. Only a limited number of performances of "The Merry Widow" can be staged, and it will be followed by "The Maid of the Mountains" and "A Southern Maid.' The box plans for "The Merry Widow" will be opened at the D.I.C. on Wednesday morning next at 9 o'clock. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m. CHRISTCHURCH HARMONIC SOCIETY. Lovers of choral music in Wellington are shortly to have an opportunity of hearing the Christchurch Harmonic Society, which is arranging to give a performance in the Town Hall on Saturday, July 31. The Christchurch Harmonic Society is an amateur society of about 120 voices, and has for some years specialised in the introduction of new and modern choral works, and in the adoption of new methods in the presentation of its work to the public in which it has had the leadership of Mr. Victor C. Peters, A.R.C.M., L.R.A.M., a pupil of Dr. Malcolm Sargent, as its conductor. Two years ago the society decided to enlarge its scope by undertaking a visit to Dunedin, with the result that both in 1935 and 1936 the whole choir travelled to Dunedin and gave concerts there in the Town Hall, both of which were highly successful. The concert to be heldl in the Wellington Town Hall will be no ordinary one. In the first instance the society has a vital and well-disci-j plined choir of 120 voices; in the! second place, it will introduce choral numbers new to Wellington; and it will have the assistance of the 2YA orchestra under the leadership of Mr. Leon de Mauny. The wholehearted support of all Wellington musical societies, other organisations, and of the public is confidently anticipated so as to make the visit of the Christchurch Harmonic Society as successful as their visit to Dunedin last year when they were greeted with an audience of 3000 in the Town Hall. The executive council of the Wellington Competitions Society Js taking the initiative in calling a public meeting of representatives of the various choral societies in Wellington, church choirs, and others interested for Monday evening next, in No. 1 committee-room at the Town Hall, with the object of forming a strong committee to make arrangements for the visiting choir and ensure a successful performance. SKATING. The Golden Gate Skating Rink, Winter Show Buildings, is holding its grand opening tonight at 7.30. On account of numerous requests, the management has installed a new wooden floor of the type Used in the best rinks in America and on the Continent. Skaters, therefore, will ha\'e the best possible conditions. In addition, a special band will be in attendance. Next Wednesday a special skating night will be held.

De luxe theatrb. Joseph Calleia, who has won fame [for his portraits of numerous "bad ! men," turns into a new sphere in "Man of the People," in which he plays opposite the new beauty! Florence Hice, and which came to the De Luxe Theatre yesterday. The story is a revelation of American politics, the ward system, with the local political "boss," intimately concerned for the well-being and the freedom of the I people of his district, wielding a power out of all proportion to the obscure position which he appears to fill in the district. Grady, the founder of asocial club which is really a branch of a national party, from his little back room off a billiard saloon, makes and breaks men, aids investments, "arranges" court cases so that they come out on the right side, and generally rules like a little king. He wants the young lawyer, Jack Moreno, in his organisation, and gets him, but Moreno is too honest for the work he is given to do, and there comes a clash. In the fight between Moreno and Grady, the resource and ingenuity of the young lawyer, and his romance with a rich girl that fate throws his way, are the dramatic interest of this unusual film. Ted Healy is one of the big cast. Also on the bill is "We Have Our Moments." in which Sally Eilers and James Dunn deceive one another during an Atlantic crossing, and in which there is a contest between a woman, a detective, and a batch of criminals for a fortune in stolen notes, a film which is played on a gay note throughout and is full of unexpected turns. David Niven. Mischa Aver, Warren Hymer, and Thurston Hall are in the competent cast. Besides the supporting films Mr. Gordon Paris demonstrates his skill on an electric guitar. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Suzy," an outstanding attraction, screening tonight at the Empire Theatre, tells an electrifying story of an American chorus girl stranded in London at the outbreak of the Would War and caught in the web of wartime espionage. Jean Harlow is starred in the new production and has two of the screen's most popular leading men in Franchot Tone and Cary Grant. "The Magnificent' Brute," starring Victor McLaglen, winner of the last Academy award for the outstanding screen performance, is also showing. Part of the story takes place in a steel- mill, with Victor McLaglen turning out glowing molten metal in the daytime and pursuing glittering blondes at other times. Binnie Barnes and Jean Dixori are the blonde ladies concerned, PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. A thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy. "The Man I Marry." opens at the Palace Theatre, Petone, tonight. Doris Nolan, a brilliant new screen personality, is the capable star, and her leac'xig man is Michael Whalen. Exciting chases, dramatic clashes, dashes of comedy, and a piquant love story are the ingredients of "Counterfeit Lady." the second attraction. Ralph Bellamy and Joan Perry are the stars. DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS SOCIETY. » The Dunedin Competitions Society's thirty-sixth annual festival will be held in His Majesty's Theatre, Concert Chamber, and Town Hall, Dunedin, from August 16 to September 4, inclusive. A comprehensive syllabus has been arranged for the forthcoming festival, including the following special features: Elocution champion of champions, prizes £10 10s and £5 ss; elocution scholarships for boys, girls, and adults; chief piano solo, prizes £10 10s and £3 3s, and winner holds the Moller trophy, a silver miniature grand piano valued £100; grand opera aria contest, first prize £50. second £20, and third £10; Gilbert and Sullivan and light or comic opera contest, prizes £30, £15, and £5; ladies' and gentlemen's vocal scholarships; firms' choir, contest; church choir contests for choirs, of under 25 voices and 25 voices and over; secondary school girls' choir, and Bible class choir contests; half-hour entertainments, and 20 to 30 minute plays; grand ballet prizes £10 and £4; national ballet prizes £10 and £4; ballets under 13 and any age, prizes £5 5s and £2 2s. The grand opera and Gilbert and Sullivan and light or comic opera, contests will be held between August 26 and September 2. Intending competitors will find there is plenty of scope for them to exercise their talents. Entries close on June 23. The following judges have been appointed for this year's festival:—Elocution: Mrs. Zoe Bartley Baxter (Auckland). Instrumental music: Mr. Ernest Jenner, A.R.M. (Christchurch). Vocal music: Mr. Anderson Tyrer, F.R.M.C.M. (Trinity College of Music, London). Dancing: Miss Peggy Holmes (Christchurch). Information and syllabus can be obtained from Messrs. Chas. Begg and Co., or will be sent on application to the secretary.