CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1937, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A real gala Hollywood premiere, corr plete with pressing throngs, search lights, radio announcer, and celebritie is one of the many highlights of "i Star is Born," David O. Selznick's tech nicolour production, co-starring Jane Gaynor and Fredric March, which wil begin its Wellington season at Ut Regent Theatre today. William A Wellman directed this glamorous stor; of Hollywood's "inside," which . cast Miss Gaynor ■'as a-little country gir who came to; Hollywood in search o fame, faced the crushing odds o 100,000 to one, and.made.good. Adolphi Menjou, May RobsonV Andy Devine and Lionel .Stander are prominentlj - featured "in this, the first up-to-the minute story to be' filmed in techni colour, and "others .playing importan roles are Owen Moore.- Peggy Wood Elizabeth jenns, Edgar Kennedy, J. C Nugent, and Guinn Williams. Sucr world-famous Hollywood landmarks a; the Trocadero, Granman's Chinese Theatre, the Brown ■ Derby, ■ and the Biltmore Bowl' as it looks during the annual banquet of the Academy o, Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, are shown in natural colour for the flrsl time Prominent, on the supporting programme will be Walt Disney s newest coloured cartoon,; "Mickey■;■; Lircus." . ■ - MAJESTIC THEATRE. Jean Harlow will be seen in the last film she completed before death put an untimely end to her career, Man in- Possession,", in .which -she is costarred with Robert Taylor, at. the Majestic .Theatre today. • Reginald Owen, one-of Hollywood's most distinguished character players, has the important role of Taylor's elder brother who, in the course of the amusing plot,:becomes a rival for the affections of Miss Harlow. Miss Harlow plays the role of Crystal Wetherby, an American harassed by debts. In an endeavour" to keep, up a "front she runs herself even more deeply in debt, with the result that her creditors make use ci the English custom of assigning a sheriff's assistant to lake up his post in her house, and to. watch her personal property to make certain that she does not sell anything. In desperation, : Crystal" resolves to marry Claude Dabney.' an elderly, pompous Englishman "whom she does not love but-whom- she believes tb be rich. It is Taylor who plays the part of Raymond Dabney, the sheriff's assistant assigned-tto .watch . over ; Crystal's belongings, .arid .when .she implores him not to: "give"";her a\yay."- before the man she wants to-marry 'he agrees to pose as heir butler..; The: fun begins when iCrystal's -fiance turns out to be Raymond .Dabney's" brother. i.ST. JAMES THEATRE. Singing is riot 'only Phil Regan's artistic vocation,, but. his hobby as well. He began-it when he was a boy. He was the leading tenor of his high school Glee Club. .'When ■•■. hardly- out of his teens his. public, singing-in New York City launche&:him on a national broadcasting career, ; ;; which made his voice known and! loved, by He was still a.; young. ..man" when Hollywood snatched him1 from the' air channels to put his voice .into singing screen roles. "Laughing Irish .Eyes," starring Regan with a new hit Irish comedian, Walter C. Kelly,;.: vaudeville : veteran, and Evelyn Knapp;: will ■ present goldenvoiced Phil in,the.-first of his enlarged singing screen roles at the St. James Theatre commencing today. In the idyllic setting' of Ireland's green hills and lovely country lanes, Regan is presented as an athletic young blacksmith who vocalises as-he pounds his anvil. • Kelly,' American prize-fight promoter, and his daughter, pick Regan for thair choice^ —but both for different reasons. .Suclvold Irish favourites, seldom heard on the screen, asi "Londondery Air," "Bless You ' Darlin' Mother," and "All My Life," not forgetting the theme song, "Laughing, Irish Eyes" are sung by -Regan, and! poured into the heart of the spirited and adorable Irish lass.: KING'S THEATRE. Blazing gun .duels in the most turbulent era of the California gold fields, when every man wore his own law at his hip, a romance blossoming on the pine-clad slopes of the Sierras, a woman's jealousy that wrecked two lives, the birth of the "Vigilante movement to-.bring law and order into the "diggings,"' :a man's' sacrifice for the happiiess of the woman He loved— these are among the features of R.K.O, Radio's dramatic romance, "The OutCasts of Poker Flat," which- opens tonight at the King's Theatre. Based on the world-famous story by Bret Harte, the film has its setting in the Mother ' Lode region from 1850 to 1860, at the period when: news'■ of the ■vast riches -in California . brought swarms •of adventurers • _._from / every country- on -the'globe.--!- AVild and,unchecked in their earlier.. .days, the mining cajnps turned into civilised communities as.militant clergymen; fearless teachers, and the more far-seeing element in the camps -combined to eradicate lawlessness and hang the desperadoes or drive them- ■ into exile. "Border Cafe,", with John Beal and Harry. Carey, the associate, feature, tells the story of a ne'er-do-well son of a senator who goes: out of New York'''under- a cloud and makes good on' the ranches in Mexico, PARAMOUNT THEATRE. ' The Criterion ■ Films production "When -Thief -Meets Thief"- commences at the Paramount Theatre tonight. The outstanding faeture of the film is the dramatic performance of. Douglas Fairbanks, jun.,"who is cast as a rum-runner in America in thr; days of Prohibition. He quarrels with a confederate and in a fight the other man is killed. The leader of the gang, portrayed by Alan Hale, is the only one who knows that the criminal was. killed by falling on a broken ■bottle, and' this' -he keeps a secret, blackmailing Ricky, as Fairbanks's character is named,; td force" him to remain in the gang. The crisis of the film conies when both men compete for the affections of one woman, played by Valarie Hobson. In the .part of a heartless young society girl whose extravagance has driven a. procession of financiers to ruin and suicide, Miss Hobson gives a performance that js at all times convincing. When she meets Ricky her whole life is changed, and she is prepared to refuse the advances of the older "gangster," who is now a rich financier, in order to marry Ricky, who is poverty stricken. The sudden death of the elder man in suspicious circumstances brings the story to a climax of unusual Intensity. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. One of the most amusing and .exciting productions yet to be filmed, "Men Are Not Gods," starring Miriam Hopkins, is now showing at the New Princess Theatre. Comedy and drama ha\*e been ncaiiy blended in a wellknit story, and there is a fine example cf all the virtuosity that has made Miriam Hopkins one of the screen's leading actresses. An excellent supporting cast in this United Artists release is .headed by Gertrude Lawrence, Sebastian Shaw, and Rex Harrison. Three of the best-known mirthmakers on the screen today head the cast of "Don't Tell the Wife," R.K.O. Radio's new hilarity hit," which is the associate attraction. Guy Kibbee.-Una Merkel, and Lynne Overman are teamed for the first time, in this high-speed offering. There are some excellent short' features^ SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Pursuing its policy of screening outstanding attractions. the Seaside Theatre' tonight offers Wallace Beery in one of the most colourful roles of his successful screen career, . "Viva Villa." .The story is a fictional version of the life- and loves of Pancho Villa, the great Mexican war lord, who was the world's outstanding figure in the decade preceding the World War. The associate attraction shows Robert Young, Madge Evans, Nat Pendleton, Jed Healy in "Death on the j Diamond." " The story deals with mys-J teriouV-crlmeSSdurJng.- a. pennant race.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. a- Jessie Matthews's greatest, gayest i- and most glittering picture, "Heac ;s Over Heels," commences at the Plaza A. Theatre today. Jeanne, a cabaret-l-l singer (.Jessie Matthews) meets a young 2tj sound engineer, Pierre (Robert U I'Flemyng) at a bi-oadcastlng station. ' c To'the worry of Pierre, who has taken *■• a fond liking to her, she falls head } r over heels for Marcal, . Pierre's roomcs mate, Who, however, has become in"l fatuated by an American film star, 'I Norma Langtry (Whitney Bourne). "-. This leads to a quarrel in which c Jeanne, in a fit of.jealousy, causes such -' a .scandal that the French Actors' Asso- >' elation bars her from further cabaret ■" appearances. To add to her troubles, '"Marcel leaves for Hollywood with ■ Norma, and Pierre, whom. Jeanne now !' realises to be the better and more like- '■ able of the two, she has lost touch with. " When Pierre, finally, locates Jeanne, he _ persuades the Actors' Association to c allow her to. broadcast in a special c series; but unfortunately Norma, who £ has returned from America, happens „ to be there when Jeanne is broadcastI ing and she once again spoils her , chances by quarrelling; Jeanne dis- * I appears again, and it is not until . j Pierre finds her selling cigarettes at ; her old cabaret that matters seem to be any better., Then Marcel, repentent, puts in another: appearance and manages to persuade Jeanne that he really does care for her and she for him. "' .: DE LUXE THEATRE. Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans are the leading players in "Espionage," a new and unusually intriguing film which commences at the.De Luxe Theatre today. The story combines the blend of international intrigue and romance that is making headlines throughout the world' today. A munitions maker vanishes and two opposition reporters are assigned to find him. One, a girl, the other a man. they meet on a train speeding away from Paris, each unaware that the other is a rival for the story. The millionaire is aboard and the story awaits the better of the two .reporters.: Before they close down on the news of the case, the pair are in love, drawn together in the rush of gay and dangerous adventure. "Anniei Leave the- Room" is-, the associate feature. The theme concerns a film company' that goes :on location to Spendlove Hall—owned by Lord Spendloye, an impecunious peer with film aspirations. While th^y are there, Lord Spendlove and the maid, Annie Ramsbottom (also a would-be film star) receive a film test. Thi noble peer.is a. "flop" but Annie is a success and receives a-film contract. Davina Craig plays- the role of Annie. Morton Selten plays the. lead, and strong in support are Eva Moore, Richard Cooper, Jane Can*, and Ben Welden. Besides excellent supports. Mr. Reg. Maddams will appear, nightly at the Wurlitzer. . _ STATE; THEATRE. :'■ There-was a time when the .film studio, in..making a comedy, built.all the funny situations' around one personality,., or, at most, one team, of comedians. A Charlie Chaplin, a Harold Lloyd, or a Buster Keaton would supply the major portion of a fun show, while the rest of the cast .behaved in a more.or lesj sane manner. ;Tpday that;is no longer true. This is especially noticeable in the productions of Darryl Zanuck, production head of Twentieth Century-Fox, whose "Wake Up and Live," featuring Walter Winchell, Ben- Bernie, and Alice Faye, opens at the State Theatre today. Zanuck does not believe that one comedian takes away from the laughprovoking qualities of another funster when both are cast in the same picture. Instead, he feels that a cast full of comedians keeps each one on the alert and brings out the individual technique of all the players. In "Wake'Up and Live," for instance, the players are cast "against" each other. To illustrate by example, Waiter Winchell's fast-clipped, wise-cracking voice and high-tension mannerisms have twice the value when placed against the slow, easy : going witticisms of Ben JBernie. The shy, soft-spoken Jack Haley plays most of his comedy scenes in the film with the loud and hoydenish Patsy Kelly, while dead-pan Ned Sparks does n-.any of his scenes with the irrepressible Walter Catlett. The drag-out antics of Joan Davis follow closely upon the gently insane drolleries of little : Etienne Girardot. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Song and Dance Man" is now showing at Shortt's Theatre. The story revolves around a pair of youngsters. The lad is confident he is a mlliant artist, ' while all the world but himself knows he is hopeless The girl, whose beauty and talent gain her successes, sticks by him because of his. aid when she was down and out. Finally, when the girl gets an opportunity in a Broadway stage play, the boy realises that he is holding.her back. He puts on the laugh-clown-laugh act splits, up the partnership, and gives the girl no.other alternative but to accept the chance offered her. .In the cast are, Claire Trevor, Paul Kelly, and Michael Whalen. "Seven Sinners," starring Edmund Lowe and Constance Cummings,. the second attraction, is a comedy-thriller dealing with the adventures of an American detective employed to hunt down a gun-run-ning organisation. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.. - Man proposes and woman disposes of him with swift dispatch, especially :£ he is a millionaire, susceptible to the wiles of an international beauty who has her eyes oh his bank . roll. That, with amusing embroidery, is the theme of Universal's comedy drama "Three Smart Girls." which is now showing at the Regal Theatre. Three sisters-hear, that their wealthy father divorced for ten years, is paying ardent attentions to a renowned lady of diverting charm. Knowing that their mother still loves him. they rush to yew York to save daddy from entangmg himself. Deanna Du'rbin makes her screen debut in "Three Smart Girls. She has the role of the vouneest sister. The other two girls are portrayed by N,an Grey and Barbara Read Alice Brady and Ray Milland are also in the cast. Thrills and chills abound Plentifully •in Columbia's "The \Man Who Lived Twice," featuring Ralph Bellamy, Marian Marsh, and Isabel rewell,-which is the associate feature The t film tells of the transformation on the operating table of a dangerous, implacable killer into a gentle honest citizen, who then uses his talents and genius to study and succeed in the practice of medicine. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Crime -Over London" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. "Top of the Town," starring Doris Nolan and George Murphy, commences tomorrow with a matinee at 2 p.m. 'Top of the Town" is an original story by Lou Brock. The action is supposed to take plrce in an ultra-modern NewYork night club, the Moonbeam Room, 100 storeys in the air This particular setting is the largest ever built in Hollywood, covering over an acre of space and costing ]00,000 dollars. U required ten sound stages in Universal City to house this and other elaborate sets. Seven song hits are featured. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Maid of Salem" will be shown for I the last time at the Grand Theatre tonight, A stirring drama of an industrial conflict between railroad and trucking lines, Universal's "California Straight Ahead" opens tomorrow. Louise Latimer plays the leading feminine role opposite John Wayne. "California Straight Ahead" is the tale of a man who pits his brains and strength against other men, seeking to prevent him from reaching'his goal. The picture culminates in a thrilling crosscountry race with a million dollars contract and a beautiful girl at stake. The associate feature is "A Cavalcade of the Music Hall," which traces the hife and changingjfortunes of a famous family of showmen.

TIVOLI THEATRE. . "It Isn't Done," a modern corned; romance which transports audiences 01 the magic wings of entertainment fror Australia to England, is now screenin at the Tivoli Theatre. "It Isn't Done is the first Australian picture with genuine all-star cast, including sue! sterling favourites of stage and screei as Cecil Kellaway, John Longdei Frank Harvey, Nellie Ferguson, Harve; Adams, Campbell Copelin, and Sylvi Kellaway, together with Cinesound' new lovely star "find," Shirley Am Richards. Kellaway plays the part o an Australian squatter who inherits ai earldom. He meets the best peopli with a breezy, free-from-all style tha makes social London gasp. "It Isn' Done," they said—but h ; did it just th. same .. . and while the blu< bloods freeze with horror, the audiena bubbles over with laughter. It is al priceless fun, with a liberal dash o charming, youthful romance for goot measure. A fast-stepping tale of i millionaire twenty-three times over who had to squander his fortune be fore he found the right girl, is told it Paramount's "Spendthrift." the associ ate feature. The picture boasts a cas of featured players headed by Henrj Fonda, Pat Paterson. Mary Brian, anc George Barbier. KEX THEATRE. Some people crave publicity. Others shrink from it. "The Girl on the Froni Page", gets more than her share when a blackmailing butler spreads scandal about her in the Universal picture which is now showing at the Rex Theatre. Gloria Stuart, as "The Girl on the Front Page," is a society debutante who inherits a newspaper from her father. Her managing editor is portrayed by Edmund Lowe, who proves himself a comedian of exceptional skill. . The associate feature is "Mind Your Own Business," starring Charlie Ruggles. Ruggles is editor of a birds-and-bees columns. His wife, played by Alice Brady, thinks he's capable of bigger things. She writes the column for him and things start off at a merry pace. v Ruggles becomes the most famous reporter in town. He accidentally finds the solution to a shooting and gangland goes into action. ROXY THEATRE. The Great Barrier Reef, Hayman Island, -Nature's beauty spot and playground, have been selected from all the South Sea Islands to provide a background for Australia's first romantic comedy-drama, Zane Grey's "White Death," which' is the main attraction at the Roxy Theatre. It is the story of a man's fight against the devils of ths deep, revenge' against the giant "White Death," ruthless killer and most deadly of all sharks. A big motor-cycle race —the famous Isle of Man T.T. contest —is the high light of the supporting feature, "No featuring George Formby and Florence Desmond. The hero, George, is a proper fool with, however, a determination to win tho laurels of the big race. He goes Jhrough all kinds of misadventures, and it is only through the aid of a girl who has befriended him that he gets to the start. KILBIRNIE KINKMA. ''Dark Journey" and "Once a Doctor" conclude tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Uncle Tom's cabin is a cabaret now and Old Man River's truckin'-'along in Jane Withers's- new picture "Can This Be Dixie?" which opens tomorrow. The fun really :shines all the time in this new Twentieth, Century-Fox song hit as "Ginger" Jane starts dancing, with lovers romancing and all the "darkies prancing ' to dance hits. Especially notable, is the expert cast which supports the star. The "laziest man in the world" finds £25,000 in stolen notes and he can't find a way.to spend it. That is the predicament in which Wallace Beery finds himself in Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer's "Old Hutch," the second attraction. Eric Linden and Cecilia Parker, the lovable romantic team of "Ah Wilderness!" supply the romantic interest for the production. ~ (empire theatre, island bay. One of those intensely Vman and atlogether believable stories is contained in "The Great O'Malley," with Pat O'Brien and Humphrey Bogart in the stellar roles, which is now showing at the Empire Theatre.,ln the supporting cast are Ann Sheridan, Frieda Inescort, Donald Crisp, little Sybil Jason, Henry O'Neill, and others. "The Great O'Malley" is a tale of conflict between Pat O'Brien, a hard-boiled policeman, and Bogart,, the toughest bad man of the screen. The story presents Pat O'Brien as Officer James Aloysius O'Malley, who lives by his rule-book and does not let his heart sway him towards sympathy with offenders against the rules, no matter how slight then- offences may be. "Our Relations," which is the associate feature, presents the famous laugh-mak-ing team of Laurel and Hardy in a feature comedy, classed as more elaborate and funnier than their many successes of the past ten years. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. _ "Stowaway," starring Shirley Temple,, is the main attraction showing at Our Theatre. Cast in the role of the. daughter of American missionaries in China orphaned by a bandit raid, Shirley somehow gets to Shanghai, where she meets Robert Young, a rich young playboy, who loses his heart to her Ihe manner in which Shirley helps her handsome benefactor-win the hand of Alice Faye, who was promised to another provides outstanding entertainment. Jean Arthur and Joel McLrae romp gaily through the diverting comedy-romance, "Adventure in Manhattan, which is the associate feature. CAriTOL THEATRE. The screen adaptation of P G Wodehouse's comedy, ■ "Piccadilly Jim" is now showing at the Capitol Theatre Robert Montgomery is excellent in the title role. Madge Evans is a lovely lady opposite him, and Frank Morgan appears as his father, an actor in love with a woman Of high social station in H»r2!?iV i B, illie Burk- plays a truly delightful role. The locale shifts from London to New York via a transatJantic luxury liner, with Wodehouse comedy and romance evident at every i n," x, Jean A^thur and Joel McCrea head the cast in "Adventure in Man- £• £'• a delightful comedy-mystery which is the associate attraction. Tim McCoy in "Law Beyond the Range" will be screened at the children's matinee at 2 p.m.-tomorrow. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Park Avenue Logger," starring George O Brien, commences at the Palace Theatre tomorrow with a matinee at 2 p.m. O'Brien is sent to a lumber camp by his father, who hpoes lo make him a he-man. It- is m the big timber belt of the great Northwest that most of" the thrilling action transpires. Laughs and exciting events follow in quick succession as O'Brien, who is looked upon as a helpless city dude by the hardy loggers, comes into his own and crack= down on a gang of ruthless lumbermen plotting against the girl he loves. The latest Edgar Wallace thriller, "The Crimson Circle," is the second attraction. BOXING ON THURSDAY. On Thursday night at the Town Hall patrons will have the opportunity of seeing the best lightweight match offering in New Zealand today. The Wellington Boxing Association will present a fifteen-round contest between Jack Jarvis, of Eltham (Dominion champion), and "Young" Giklo, of Manila. That Jarvis is a worthy champion may be judged from the fact that he has successfully defended his title against oil official challengers for two years.- The New Zealander has modelled his style along Jem Mace lines — a boxer-fighter with an agile fighting mental equipment. Gildo stands on high in the estimation of boxing enthusiasts throughout the Dominion, for wherever he has appeared his delightful exhibitions have been greatly appreciated. Gildo has won many contests in the Philippines, the United States, Honolulu, and Australia. Gildo has already shown Wellington patrons a taste of his wares when he disposed of Clarrie Rayner in fourteen rounds in spectacular fashion last month. There will be amateur- preliminaries.

DON COSSACK CHOIR. Platoff's Don Cossack Choir, which opens a season at the. Grand Opera House tomorrow evening, brings with it a reputation for artistry which \it has built up in the most musical countries of the world. These thirty Russian singers possess the robust, virile voices peculiar to their people, and the choir has a vigour and strength that makes it unique in the world of entertainment. Their repertoire of songs is all-embracing, including as it does I characteristic Slav melodies and beautiful folk-songs. Not only do the voices blend exquisitely in the choir, but the basses, baritones, tenors, and falsettos of the individual members are heard to I great advantage in solo work. Added to their vocal gifts, these Russians perform the most virile and stirring dances of their people, The Don Cossack Choir is being brought to New Zealand by J. and N. Tait, in association with M, Alexander Levitoff, the well-known European impresario.