ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

' REGENT THEATRE. f- "Storm in a Teacup," a famous stage wplay- that has been enormously popular K'ioi several years throughout Europe ''and Great Britain, was originally written by Bruno Frank, an animal-lover, ••in German. The author intended the '''play to be an exposure of the fact Tdhat the excessive clog tax in his country compelled many poor people to i.send their pets to the lethal chamber. *lt is also incidentally a humorous ex-S-'posure of civic pomposity and polili''cal humbug. The Anglo-Scottish veri'sion of ,the play, written by James ißridie has now been filmed by Alex lander Korda, and it is showing at the Theatre. Bridie has drawn a •I rich ranee of types and a vivid picifture of Bfe in a small Scottish com-i-inunity. Many of the scenes are filled "■with riotous comedy. One shows the :'provost, or Mayor, a Parliamentary ■candidate, shouted down, or rather li'barked down, at a political meeting at ■'Which hostile animal-lovers are prein great force. Another shows :\him still more seriously disconcerted :-by an invasion of hundreds of dogs i'tiuring a dinner at which he is entertaining the party leader. All through, the picture is rich in humorous charVacter and episode. The stars are Viv- ', ■ien Leigh and Rex Harrison, and they *are supported by a strong cast. » MAJESTIC THEATRE. V' "Love on the Run," which is now -showing at the Majestic Theatre, cele'•'•brates the reunion of that most de■'•lightful of love teams—Joan Crawford Hand Clark Gable—in their first picuture together since "Forsaking All •Xothers." "Love on the Run" deals with ;;;an American heiress in Europe on a •pleasure trip, whose millions are "^cordially desired in exchange for a ■'■Shoddy title. When she discovers the ':>iacts in the case the wedding is called 'Coff. At that point Gable enters the 'Vscene as a newspaper correspondent f'on the trail of a ■ cable dispatch. To 'i-ivoid complications the girl agrees, to her almost in-laws by joining if-Gable iiy a stolen plane. He is not a Ssood pilot, but they get off, and in ? doing so Joan receives a huge bouquet ,-M flowers thrust into her hand'at the ■Tairport, In the air, they discover a Vriote in the roses and from it. learn '/ithat.the owners of the plane are spies. ■'The gift of roses was a case^of mistaken identity, but it gives Gable a :,Story to cable to his home paper. From f-"that point on the story gathers speed ;:and is never without action. A rival "reporter enters the case and the trio !!<is phased all over Europe by spies i^until the proper exigencies enable -them to turn the tables. The support.'ring cast includes Franchot Tone. < ' " ST. JAMES THEATRE. ' > With every new production Ausmakes another stride towards as one of tlie foremost '.•film-producing countries. "Tall Tim--•■bcrs," now showing at St. James 'Theatre, makes use of resources hitherto Vuntapped by the screen, and makes *use of them in: a telling way. Australia's giant forests are used in striking ,ifashion as a background for; the thrill■dng romance of rival lumber camps. ■i-The photography is excellent, and ■ ! catches the full beauty of scenes '■which would be hard to better anyThe felling of the huge trees ■'is shown from close range, and there Ssa spectacular scene where a whole ;*jnountainside is swept from top to ■"■bottom of its standing timber.. The '-operation is 1 carried out by the partiail through of the lower trees, -and as the top ones are felled..they "take with them the lower trees, until ■"every one. is levelled. The filming ;"6f this section,,;and of that showing !v1 hree people trapped among 'the fall--ing giants, is amongst the most spectacular and .convincing film work seen 'in Wellington. Those in the cast include Shirley Ann Richards, Franx , Leighton, and Campbell. Copelin. |v PARAMOUNT THEATRE. !,:' "Draegerman Courage" and "Life Begins at Twenty" conclude tonight at the Paramount Theatre. : "Melody ?or Two," screening at the Paramount Theatre tomorrow, • ; is.:, a musical comedy based on rather a^ new angle. Its theme is the stiff competition that exists between musical organ*>isations and individual performers ;r»whose works are heard on the radio. ■'.'Patricia Ellis is the lovely girl who Whelps, Melton and his organisation rto victory. Patricia reveals for the first time :on the screes that she can sing as well as act. Winifred Shaw's husky contralto /voice is familiar to all picturegoers as the one that made tamous such .numbers as "Lullaby of Broadway" '.'.'and "The Lady in Red." Another of ;Erle Stanley Gardner's baffling murder mystery thrillers, "The Case of the Claws," will be the supporting .-..■ feature, with Warren William again in ■the role of Perry Mason, the lawyer,',",detective made famous by the noted -writer. Eight persons are suspected !'.'6f the killing of a rich and eccentric •;blackmailer who secretly publishes a ■scandal sheet. These include his wife, his nephew, the detective working oh ,;ihe case, and members of the wealthy -►man's household. Several motivesi are :.rt>rought to light as the possible cause 1 lot the crime, including a plot to cover "■-up a love scandal and greed for the man's riches and vengeance. ; KING'S THEATRE. Irrepressible, roguish. Jane Withers ,js in her element in the many laugh'■^provoking situations of "The Holy !"Terror," which is the main attraction -Lttn the King's Theatre programme. She ■iris ably supported by a versatile cast, .-headed by Anthony Martin, Leah Ray, ■|Joan Davis, El Brendel, and Joe Lewis. the young daughter; of an ofßcer 'gt a naval.air base and the pet of all Concerned,, Jane gets into such mischief 'that.she has to'be given a sailor escort. vThe sailor in question (Anthony MarI.tin) is the one who needs looking after, <;howevet. He is in love with Leah -Ray, the pretty proprietress of "The 'Golden Anchor," a sailors' rendezvous, and there are all sorts of complications before the romance ends.happily. !;Spies come into the story, and Jane •plays a prominent part in bringing "about their undoing. The second feature film is "The Girl from Scotland '.Sard," a swift-moving drama of spy ,i*ntrigue. with Karen Morley and Robert Baldwin as the principals. Miss 'Morley has the role of a girl who ;;matches her wits and beauty against -.the machinations of a gang seeking to ;i;lestroy her country's armaments with ■nx t death-ray invention. "/"' REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. fr "With a largo and magnificent cast, All Others" is showing at -fthe Regal Theatre. The cast is headed ;,by three outstanding stars, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, and Robert Montgomery,, who, while they have played ?n teams, have never before appeared together. The picture h:is a verve .and pace not the slightest bit weighted '•or slowed down by the enormity of Tits cast. This is due to the brilliant direction of W., S. Van Dyke. As aSight comedienne, Joan Crawford repeals a new side to her many admirers. ,She is par excellence as Mary, Park 'Avenue-ite, who is left standing at the altar one minute and is pursued by ;iwo of New York's most dashing males s :,the next. "jEMPIBE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY, ■*„■> "Crimson Romance," a gripping air ;drama, showing at the Empire 'JTheatre, contains all the elements of entertainment necessary for enjoyment. The story is a simple one pf two American boys who, at the /.'start of the World War, find themselves as flyers in the German air forces. A pretty German ambulance '.Hriver endangers the strong friend■ship of the flyers, and the advent of 'the U.S.A. into the general conflict ;«uts an entirely new complexion on the situation. The stars are Eric yon 'Stroheim and Ben Lyon. The tragic aftermath of war is vividly reflected :In the lives of the characters appearing in Bobby Breen's starring picture, [ifßainbow on the River," which is the associate feature.

; CITY AND. SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. In "Cafe Metropole," the Fox Films release with the bright trio of Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, and Adolphe Menjou, which is to be -seen at the Plaza Theatre, no one is quite what ne pretends to be. Victor, the suave, mspired, rapid-thinking,-ruthlessly-acting head of a restaurant, is in reality an embezzler; the "Prince Alexis," of an, old Russian family, has the homely name of Alexander Brown; the heiress he vfoos, and (as Victor intends) weds, is not taken in for a moment by his air of mystery and collegiate Kussian; the head waiter is a prince in disguise. In substance the ftlm is the soundly familiar p}ot of the man who meets .love under false colours, ' the American in prince s clothing. But it is rescued from mediocrity by the. novel twjsts which give it point and zest, the approach of Miss Young to her role, and the superb villainy of Menjou. The latter has a role, of 4he kind which he handled so well in "Girl in a Million," the. conscienceless, resourceful schemer who wins through-to his goal by an infinite variety of ruses, but in this later film more sleek, more daring, playing for higher stakes." He is already an embezzler when, staking more money which does not belong to him, he wras 400,000 francs and gains, too, the worthless cheque of a young man who stakes much and loses it, and then finds himself condemned to act out the role that Victor assigns to him. DE LiTDXB THEATRE. Warren William,- Karen- Morley, and Lewis /Stone «have .the chief roles # m "Outcast," the unusual film which heads the latest, programme at the pc Luxe Theatre. The picture, which reveals the persecution of a man who has been acquitted for murder and tells of a woman who. came to obtain revenge and remained: to love, is rapidpaced, colourful, and. with strong motives' impelling even the smallest characters. It shows the mind 6f_a country community at work, with Dr. Philip' Weridel Jones convicted by that mind even though a jury found him innocent and wiUi community vengeance ready to be inflicted without regard for facts. The second feature, "Hideaway Girl," tells of crime, police, playboys, yachts, and young women withtstrange motives and.mixed iden* tities, even bursting into song here antf thdfee. The story is acted by Shirty Ross, Robert Cummings, Elizabeth Russell, and Ray Walker, a band of young people who behave brightly, with Ed. Brophy providing the comedy and Monroe Owsley the menace. There are some interesting supporting films and at the organ Mr. Reg. Maddains played favourite melodies with his usual finished manner. STATE THEATRE. - The musical appeal of "Waikiki Wedding" at the State Theatre is undeniable. Not only are Bing Crosby and Shirley Ross delightful in their vocal offerings, but there .are a number of new tunes which will be appreciated, As publicity agent and a contest winner, the two stars join in presenting the fun. Shirley finds Hawaii a bit tame,' and Bing undertakes to supply glamour and thrills. What a publicity agent can do for a girl he is interested in is simply amazing, but it is all in the interests of business, arid the story becomes really interesting when she discovers that his s'.unts and sighs have aU^een professional. To keep his role he has to go at it in dead earnest. A subsidiary romance between Burns and Martha Raye helps to supply the relief. It.all starts with a pineapple cannery, of which Bing is the; agent. He is too lazy to live but occasional brilliant mspirations flash across- his agile mind, and when, he starts to give Shirley a good time the queer imagination- works overtime. While on a cruise they are kidnapped by natives, and eventually becomeTthe.tmwiljin&guests of a tribe which lieatsth^a,with; elaborate ceremoniftl dancing, from which they escape through the genius of Bing. As a spectacle of colourful island life "WaSiki Wedding1' is excellent. There s an excellent supporting programme., : . "■■ NEW.1 PBINCESS THEATRE. .; i George Formby's latest musical; comedy, "Feather Your: ■.■ Nest." ;is now showing >at the Princess Theatre. GeofWs latest film has all the merry swing of, its predecessors and the\song numbers are both catchy, and Trie fun oscillates between Georges work as a gramophone recordist, and his mishaps in, his "yery jerry-built nest." "She's Dangerous/: the associate feature, is high-pitched drama played by convincing performers who portray their roles in a vibrant key. lala Birell, both attractive and emotional, is seen in the character of an insurance detective who traps a gang leader after he steals a half-million dollars' worth of bonds. The; mobster, interpreted by Cesar Romero, becomes wildly infatuated with Tala Birell and later is madly jealous of her love affair with a doctor, enacted, by Walter Pidgeon. •. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. The camaraderie of a French air squadron during the World War, born from staring into the jaws of death together, is appealingly picturised in R.K.O. Radio's "The Woman I Love," co-starring Paul Muni and Miriam Hopkins, which is now showing at the Seaside Theatre. Both Muni and Hayward are cast as members of a crack French air squadron. ■ A bond closer than that of brothers, between the pilot and his observer, is shattered when Hayward discovers-that the girl with whom he has fallen in love is the wife of Muni. Miriam Hopkins plays the role of the wife. In "Millions,"the associate feature the inimitable comedian, Gordon Harker, has the leading role. The hilarious comedy follows the adventures of Otto, a newly-rich, with rather a shady past, and his aspirations to the rank of gentleman. , STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Through the fog and the mystery of night, Ronald Colman stumbles into the living image of himself arid so starts off the stirring story of "The Masquerader" at the State Theatre. The thrills and the heart-throbs of the famous' stage melodrama are brilliantly revised by Colman in a smooth and polished production by Samuel Goldwyn. Howard Estabrook and Moss Hart adapted the screen play from John Hunter Booth's dramatisation of the Catherine Cecil Thurston novel. Playing with Colman in the dual roles are the patrician Elissa Landi and the dark, stately beauty of Juliette Compton, the'one as wife, the other as mistress. ■ . • "■■ .'■' ' ' ":•'■' ' ■ ■ ... GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. A sprightly romantic comedy, Uniyer; sal's "When Love Is Young," featuring Virginia Bruce, Kent Taylor, and Walter Brennan, is showing at the Grand Theatre. The picture, based on a McCall Magazine story, "Class Prophecy." deals with an obscure country girl who, snubbed by classmates and ignored by the school hero she admires, accompanies her .uncle to New York to study singing. There she meets a theatrical Press agent whose exploits, for all their hilarity, land her in gaol, but eventually help her to musical comedy stardom. Riding hard, with guns blazing and hoofs beating a mad tattoo oh the open trail, Tom Tyler gallops straight into the hearts of all action-lovers in his latest and greatest Western, "Silent Valley," which is the second feature. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. ' In "The Firebird," the star has the rolb of the wife of an Austrian diplomat who tries to sacrifice her own life to save the reputation of her daughter. The pictuse is one of the most unusual as well as one of the most dramatic to come to the screen. There is a talented , all-star cast which includes besides Miss Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel Atwill, and Anita Louise. The second attraction, "The Payoff," is a dramatic story of the newspaper world, centring around the exciting }ite of-a sports writer. -

tivoli theatre! In' "The Great Ziegfeld," which >is now shOwing: at the • Tivoli Theatre,, motion pictures have picked up the torch where the late Florenz Ziegfeld laid it down, and'have succeeded ;in out-Ziegfelding the great Ziegfeld himself. "The Great Ziegfeld" has everything that a great musical picture should have. It has, in the life of Ziegfeld, a most gripping and perfect dramatic story. In its musical nu.m-; bers, never before produced on such' a scale of grandeur, it has many ,of the, most dazzling scenes ever seen in pictures. In entertainment alone it rates high. First, there are William Powell as Ziegfeld, Myrna Loy as Billie Burke; and Luise Rainer as Anna Held. Then there are Virginia Bruce as Ziegf eld's greatest'glorified Modern Girl, Frank Morgan as his rival producer, Nat - Pendleton as Sandow, Reginald Owen as. Ziggy's manager, Fannie Brice as herself, Ray Bolger and his amazing dancing feet, Harriet Hoctor, and scores of the most beautiful girls. The story opens in Ziegfeld's youth in the dazzling Chicago World* Fair of 1893.' It progresses, as Ziegfeld himself progressed,, massing fortunes, to lose them and build other fortunes. A selected supporting programme will be shown every evening from 7 to 7.45. ; ■ • RIVOLI THEATRE. "God's Country and the ■ Woman," Warner/Bros.' brilliant picturisation ot the James Oliver Curwood, novel of the same name— dealing with a; feud between lumber companies in the deep forests of the Great North-west—is now showing at the Rivoli Theatre, with George Brent and Beverly Roberts in the leading roles. The thrilling dramatic romance of the story is heightened by the fact that the scenes—almost all of which are in the open—were photographed wholly in natural colours. Brent and Miss Roberts have an excellent supporting cast, including sucii outstanding favourites as Barton MacLane, Robert Barrat, Allen Hale. El Brendel, Billy Bevan, and Joseph King. Hundreds of real lumberjacks appear in the exciting scenes. Night club life in torrid Panama and glamorous New York is the background for Paramount's "Swing High, Swing Low,' the romance with music co-starring Carole Lombard and Fred Mac Murray, whicn is the second feature. The cast also includes Dorothy Lamour, the sensation of "The Jungle Princess"; Charles Butterworth, Jean. Dixon, and Harvey Stephens. f r. SHORTT'S THEATRE. With a laugh,a lilt, a thrill, and, a heart-pang, interspersed with severe* new musical hits, .''Star for a Night," Twentieth Century-Fox picture, is showing at Shortt's Theatre . Featuring Claire Trevor, Jane DarweU, and ■ Arline Judge, the film tells an entrancing story of how madcap chorus girls turn a musical show topsy-turvy arid Broadway exerts all its make-believe to make a mother's dreams come true. "Champagne Charlie," the effervescent love story of a dollar princess and a playboy, prince, is the newest Fox picture produced under the supervision of Edward !T. Lowe. It is the second attraction. Paul Cavanagli and Helen Wood, lovely young :screen newcomer, are cast 'in the leading roles. Also in the cast is Herbert Mundin, the popular comedian. .... .■. .. ■ ■ j...,■ . . REX THEATRE. "Romance in Manhattan," starring Francis Lederer and Ginger Rogers, is now showing at the Rex Theatr'eJ Karel Novak (Lederer), an ambitious immigrant, arrives at Ellis Island to find that tie is barred from.entry because he has only 50 dollars, instead of the? 200.required.< He is sheltered by a chorus girl and gradually makes good despite the many complications that arise. Supporting the stars is' a strong cast. The stage,success, 'Dangerous Corner," on whicn the RKORadio. picture, which is the .associate feature, is'based,''was'1 written by J.B. Priestleyrauthor of a" number of bestsellers. .The play, had^lottg-run ments inilkmdojT,' New York i; Chi.cagOi and other American and Canadian cities. Phil Rosen directed, with Arthur Sircom director of the dialogue. The imposing cast carries the featured names of Virginia Bruce, Uelvyn Douglas, and Conrad Nagel, with Erin O'Brien-Moore, Henry Wadsworth.lan Keith, and Betty Furness in' support. ROXY THEATRE. "Green Light" is showing at the Roxy Theatre. Errol Flynn adds^stature to his dramatic reputation with his handling of the role of Newell Paige, the young surgeon, who, sacrifices his own professional integrity to cover the mistake of an older doctor. In shouldering the blame he incurs the hatred of Phyllis'Dexter (played by the lovely Anita Louise), whose mother's death was caused by the fatal mistake. "TwoFisted Gentleman," the supporting picture, is the story of Mickey Blake, played by Jimmy Dunn, who rises from bar-room bouts to the position as chief contender for the middleweight crown' KILBIRNIE KINEMA. The brilliant.Hollywood star Edward G. Robinson appears in "Thunder in the" City," showing at the Kilbinne Kinema. 'The first scene; is laid in a sumptuous New -.' York office, where Robinson, in the role of an important sales executive,, bids farewell to his colleagues and leaves for England. The rest of the action in the''-fllpi takes "place in and around London and brings a. typical American business man into close contact with English society. "Snowed Under," the First National picture which is the second attraction, is one of the year's most hilarious comedy romances. There is a brilliant cast which is headed by George Brent, and three talented and beautiful leading ladies; Genevieve -Tobin, Glenda Farrell, and Patricia Ellis. CAPITOL THEATRE. A brilliant new personality has come to the screen. She is Doris Nolan, and her first motion picture is "The Man I Marry," which is now showing at the Capitol Theatre. The film relates the adventures ,of a girl who runs away on the eve of her wedding to escape marrying a society snob. She meets an aspiring young playwright typing'a play in a country house, where a fierce rainstorm maroons them for twenty-four hours. The girl succeeds in getting her uncle, a theatrical producer, to stage <,he play. The author resents her interference and attempts to prove his masculine superiority. Two of the world's loveliest voices are to be heard in "Give Us This Night," the associate feature. .They belong, respectively, to Jan Kiepura, famous European tenor, and Gladys Swarthout, Metropqlitan Opera star. CELEBRITY CONCERT. Reginald Morphew, who will be the associate vocalist with Miss Essie Ackland in tomorrow night's celebrity concert at the Town Hall, is also an Australian. Mr. Morphew left-Sydney about twelve years ago to further his singing studies abroad. He went directly tp Italy and became a pupil of Mandolini, in Milan. At the end of a year's tuition he went to London and studied with Spencer Clay, one of the finest teachers in the world. Actually, his singing career commenced as a boy soprano. His first public appearance was with Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, in "As You Like It." Having completed his studies in London he toured the provinces in revue under the name of Joseph Rignell. Later he entered the concert field as Reginald Morphew, and has sung at the Albert Hall, Queen's Hall, Palladium,, Alhambra, and from the 8.8.C. He and Miss Ackland have sung frequently together at concerts in London, often their managers being unaware that they were married. In conjunction with Miss Ackland and Mr. Morphew, two brilliant artists— Vincent Aspey (violin) and Noel Newson (piano)—will contribute to a programme of wide copular appeal. Mr. Leo Whittaker will act as accompanist. This fine concert is being given in aid of the Mayor's Metropolitan Fund for the Relief of Distress, byarrangement with the National Broadcasting Service. Seats at popular prices mSv be reserved at the D.I.C. I

'FRANK NEIL REVUE, The success of the Frank Neil Revue Company at the New Opera House was continued last evening when another large audience showed warm enthusiasm. Irene Vermillion, with her dance-acrobatic turns, Bob Parrish, the singer, Con Colleano on the tight wire, and Charles Norman in lighter vein, played a prominent part in the success of the show, and they were ably assisted by others members of the company. A change in programme is being made today, and those who have had a chance to see the rehearsals say that it is as good as the other two put together; the success of the remainder of the, season is consequently certain. EVERGREEN FAIR. The Evergreen Fair will be opened at- the Town Hall next Saturday . at 2.30 p.m. by the Right Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, M.A., Bishop of Wellington, and will be continued for a whole week. It is confidently expected that this fair will equal and in many ways surpass fairs held., in previous years by the Wellington City Mission. Programme arrangements have been completed, and very bright non-stop programmes will be featured each evening by some of the best of Wellington's local talent. Dance and song will be interspersed with lively band music, physical culture displays, wrestling, etc: The' afternoons will be fully occupied by the baby show, cooking competition, bridge, children's fancy dress party, and other interesting and novel events. The entire programme will vary from day to day, and the public will have a wonderful opportunity to join in the fun of the fair, and at the same time assist that very worthy institution, the Wellington City Mission. Season tickets at 2s 6d each are available at the Mission Hall, Taranaki- Street. Admission in, the afternoons is free and in the evenings Is for adults and 6d for children. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. The strenuous excitement of a Long Island fox hunt is a part of "Lady Tubbs," the hilarious comedy which heads the double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre at reduced prices. Alice Brady has the title role in this rollicking : comedy which tells the story of a cook in a railroad construction camp who falls heir to a fortune and a title and.is received in a fashionable Long Island home. How she helps along a romance and unearths some disturbing skeletons in the cupboards of a couple who direct constant ' attention to . ths high-hattedness ot their respective' families, is screamingly ifunny.' One of the most unusual stories ever filmed is the associate feature,. "AJias.Mary Dow," starring Sally Eilers. BROOKLYN THEATRE. June Lang and Warner Baxter are the stars in the dramatic sensation, "White Hunter;" the main feature at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight. "Pigskin Parade." a fast-moving comedy, will also be screened. The cast includes Stuart Erwin, Arline Judge, Johnny Downs, Betty Grable, and Patsy Kelly.