CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1937, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. The stirring days of the Russian revolution are faithfully depicted in "Knight Without Armour," starring Robert Donat and Marlene Dietrich, now in its second week at the Regent Theatre. The film, which must rank as one of the most successful to come from a British studio, is outstanding for the faithfulness of the background, the actual scenery carrying an-air of authenticity which lends to the picture the atmosphere of the Russian locale. Whethej it is a mansion of the aristocracy, a Volga barge, Siberian prison camp, or Russian railway station that is depicted, no. fault can be found with the background. Marlene Dietrich is cast as a Russian countess, whose home is destroyed by the revolutionaries. Donat. is a British agent who has joined the Reds in order to gain valuable information. When he is given orders to escort the countess to the capital, where she is to be taken before a court, their adventures. begin, andj they encounter 'many breath-taking j thrills and hardships before they finally win through to happiness. The supports include riewsreels showing the bombing of Shanghai, and a Walt Disney masterpiece, ''Little Hiawatha." MAJESTIC THEATRE. A gripping romance, comedy, some of the finest character portrayals in years, and thrills of a thundering racetrack are high lights in "Saratoga," featuring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, which is the current attraction at the Majestic Theatre. Never was Jean Harlow lovelier. Never has the virile Gable been given a greater op-, portunity than as the "square" gambler and bookmaker in the new, racetrack story, penned by the authors of "San Francisco," Anita Loos and Robert Hopkins. Jack Conway's deft direction is apparent at every moment. "Saratoga" tells the story of the spoiled daughter of a wealthy horse-owner, and a gambler and bookmaker whom she first hates, fights, then loves. The background of the swift action ranges from penthouses and a London hotel to a Kentucky horse farm, the Saratoga racetrack, and famous races on tracks in various points of the United States. The final racing climax, photographed by special; equipment, provides a genuine thrill. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave the picture an elaborate cast. Frank Morgan and Una Merkel are seen together as a comedy team for the first time, and more laughs as well as a song are contributed by Cliff Edwards and his ukulele. ST JAMES THEATRE. Those who remember the picturisation of Erich Remarque's "All Quiat .On the Western Front" will find his -'The Road Back," now in-its second •week at the St. James Theatre, equally thought provoking. "The Road Back" is a sequel. It commences where Remarque's earlier book left oft". It is a tale of the closing stages of the war, and its immediate aftermath. Soldiers return to find a chaotic postwar Germany—a Germany split by internal faction and strife. The Kaiser has fled, and there is an effort to rid the country of those military despots who the average citizen believes were responsible for the war.,. The soldiers find it impossible to pick -up the threads of their civilian life where , they had, laid them dowri four years before. They are twisted mentally. The process adjustment is difficult. They find fickle sweethearts and sweethearts who cannot understand. Life is still cheap. Food riote see men, who bad stood shoulder to 6noulder in the trenches, shot down by their loroier superior officers. The picture is - Well treated -and it is. well acted. John 1 King; Richard Cromwell, "Slim" Summerville,. and Andy Devine 1 . portray the chief, characters. There is an excellent suppbrting programme.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE; As a sleek gambler and an ardent lover Clark Gable is very much in his element in "No Man of Her Own,' the main attraction at the Paramount Theatre. He appears in the story as Jerry, who makes a good living by fleecing wealthy card acquaintances, and in this he is assisted by Kay Everly, played by Dorothy Mackaill. But- he grows tired of Kay, and the unwelcome attentions .of a detective make it expedient for him to seek fresh pastures. In a country town he falls to the charms of the local library girl, Connie, a part well suited to Carole Lombard. But Connie is not too easily to be caught, but finally marries Jerry and returns to New York with him. Totally unaware .of Jerry's methods of making, money, she acts as a decoy for his dupes. Meanwhile the discarded Kay returns from a South: Seas' jaunt and, finding Jerry married, plans a venge by giving him . away 1 to the police. Jerry, however, realises what is up, and realises too that he really loves Connie, so he himself goes to the district attorney, lays all his cards on the table, and gets off with a Ught sentence of a few months. Thesup-i porting programme is one of exceptional variety. No golfer should mitt "Swiss Stan," one of the most interesting of slow-motion golfing pictures ever shown. Incidentally, it includes ajgJmpM <xf the manufacture of golf W ' i. i KING'S THEATRE. "Parole!" heads the programme' at the King's Theatre. The romantic Interest of the story revolves about the fact that the central character, under the strict terms of the parole which has freed him from prison, is prohibited from marrying until his full term has ended. He falls deeply in love with a girl and they strive to find a solution to their problem. The picture reveals the abuses of a faulty parole system. It shows what happens when the wrong men are set free to commit new crimes. This question has become so important that President Roosevelt has taken an active interest in it to correct ai critical situation. How serious it has become is shown in the film. The Louii-Farr fight is the associate feature, and this provides patrons with an opportunity of seeing every movement in the fight, in which Tommy Farr stood up to Joe Louis for fifteen hard rounds. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Whom thg Gods Love," one of the most human" dramas ever written to reveal the genius and life story of a giant among men, will be presented at Our Theatre tonight at reduced prices. From the brilliant pen of Margaret Kennedy, authoress of ''Escape Me Never," this delightful story of Mozart and his charming wife Constance is set against a background of Court Intrigue and professional •ealoiisy. ' The associate feature, "Be•xiiifi Bengal," is the greatest jungle driller ever filmed. I. is absolutely authentic, every sequence being photographed and every sound recorded in the wilds of the Malayan Peninsula.

CAPITOL THEATRE. All the world loves a hero with grit, personality, and an adventuroui eoiil. Therein lies the secret of the popularity of Sapper's famous Bulldog Drummond novels. "Bulldog Drummond at Bay," which is now at the Capitol Theatre, is the thrilling screen ' version of Sapper's newest adventure story and tells of "Bulldog's" latest daring exploits. This time he falls into adventure while holiday-making ■■ in his isolated moorland cottage. He becomes involved with a dangerous gang of international crooks—headed l by a villainous financier—Kalinsky— which is after the plans of- a robot aeroplane designed by .a-young Scots inventor whom it has kidnapped. Gaiety, Vbng.' atid dance are' the "Keynotes of the associate feature. "Southern Hoses.", with George Robey, Neil Hamilton, and Gina Malo.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. "Wings of the Morning" is now in its fifth week at the Plaza Theatre. , With her beauty and charm, the French ' star Annabella makes an instant ap--1 peal to all, and the. manner in which ■ she interprets two entirely different ; roles, first as a gipsy and then as a i society girl, is superb. Henry Fonda, ; playing opposite Annabella, enacts the , role of Kerry, and the two team admirably. Among the notabilities in the , film are John McCormack, famous tenor, and jSteve Donoghue, the wellknown English jockey. The story opens with the infatuation of a sporting peer for a gipsy girl, their marriage, 1 and the peer's death. The next scene opens in Spain, in the throes of its 1 civil war. Several generations have ! passed and Annabella appears as the ■ great-granddaughter of the widowed ; gipsy who has been .moving in the high society of Spain. Both decide to return to Destiny Bay, and it is about their arrival there that the picture mainly centres. She is engaged to a Spanish nobleman, but on her arrival at Destiny Bay she falls in love with a young horse trainer Kerry. There are good supports. DE LUXE THEATRE. A dramatic story of a young doctor's strange bargain with'a dying man, of his receipt of testimony which would create an immense scandal, and of his fight against a political organisation which runs a great city is told m Let Them Live," which heads the double bill at the De Luxe Theatre. John Howard, who made such an impression in "Lost Horizon," has the principal role, and with him are Nan Grey, Robert Wilcox, and the reliable ' Edward Ellis, who gives an outstanding performance in the role of the political boss. The doctor soon finds that he has 1 undertaken a fight against forces immense in their strength and ruthless in their determination to defend their position, and after a begin-: ning in which he is over-persuaded by the subtle political chieftain he declares outright war. The whole of the, social forces are mobilised against him. John Howard is excellent in the leading role and Nan Grey plays the part of the daughter of one of the political boss's victims well. Judith Howard, in a supporting role, is also splendidly'cast, Also on, the programme is "Roaring Timber," a Jack Holt adventure story of the lumber camps. ■ ■ •STATE THEATRE. That popular screen team Anne Sothern and? Gene Raymond are together again in "There Goes My Girl," a merry romance of the news world, now screening at the State Theatre. Halfway through their wedding ceremony these two, who are rival report-' ers; are interrupted by a shotting, tragedy in the cnurch. Urged by the news editor. Whalen, Anne's news instincts get the better of her and she shelves the rest of the wedding for another day. Irked by this desertion at the altar, her would-be bridegroom leaves for the scene of a murder mystery, determined to win a scoop for his paper. Anne, discovering that the shooting was only an "act" put on by the news editor as a plot to trick her out of marriage, follows Raymond but he will not listen to her and she . too is drawn to, the trail of the murderer. Humour is closely interminglted with an absorbing story, as the mystery is unravelled. The resource and zest of the headline hunters makes an interesting story, its. tenseness relieved, by the fun-makirjg; of Frank Jenks and Bradley Page. The cast includes also Gordon: Jones, Richard Lane,'. Joan Woodbury,/Maria Shelton, and: .Alec Craig. The supporting features include interesting news pictures.

N$W PRINCESS THEATRE. The camaraderie of a French air squadron during'the 'World War, bora from staring intothejaws of .death together, is appealingly pictured in R.K.0.-Radio's throbbing screen: drama, i "The Woman I Love," which is the main attraction at the New Princess Theatre. It stars Paul Muni and Miriam Hopkins with Louis Hayward .in support. Both Muni and Hayward are cast as memb«r« of a crack Freneh alrsquadron. A bond closer than that of brothers, between .tjie 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. The associate v feature is the B.E.F. release, "Tall Timbers," starring Shirley Ann Richards, Frank Leighton, Frank Harvey, and Joe Valli. ROXY THEATRE. Fcrnand Gravet, famous continental film star, is featured in "Romance in Paris»' a, delightfully humorous romance, which js being screened at the Roxy Theatre. M. Gravet plays the role of a wealthy, profligate ex-mon. arch who becomes a Paris playboy. His titled aunt and; uncle try to put his royal feet on the straight and narI row-path but "King Alfred" loves"tW bnght .lights, Then he; meets Joan: Blondell, m the role of an American chorusjfirL She is independent, highimpudent, and cares not a ...whit' for royalty; Humorous complications follow fast and furious ly,. aided by Edward Everett Norton. Melody For Two," the supporting feature, is a musical comedy based upon, a new angle—the competition "between a neirangle. "■

BEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. ~ "College Holiday;" now showing at the Seaside Theatre, deal? with a bankrupt hotel and the efforts of Benny, its Press agent, to save it. When he runs into Miss Boland and Girardot, a couple of scatterbrains who believe in scientific mating, his troubles are solved. He .igets them to take it over, ostensibly to try out their theories. Benny brings a nufnber of college boys and girls to the place and the fun begins. Thrills and chills abound plentifully in Columbia's "The, Man Who Lived Twice," the second at-l traction, featuring Ralph Bellamy,; Marian Marsh, and Isabel Jewell.

< STATE THEATRE,. I'ETONE. ■ "The" Holy Three" concludes; tonight l at the State Theatre. Lionel Barrymore and a capable cast.appear in the new Metro-Gold toriiMayer picture, "A Family Affair," winch.opens at the State Theatre tomorrow. This is a strong story of'-lifq in arty average smair town In America; An old family, long respected in th|s community, comes to grief! when ;iafri older married daughter indiscreetly gets involved . with another man. [At the same time the father, a courageous old county Judge, returns a decision, jbn a public project which is bitterly opposed by his townspeople; 41 GRAND THEATRE, PETONE./ "Wheo's Your Birthday" and "ST6u Can't Buy Luck" will be shown filially tonight at the Grand Theatre. { "Soft Lights and Sweet Mpsic," which commences'tomorrow, is one of the most tuneful films ever made. /From the first movement to the final s fadebut, there is bright, lilting melody, sung and played and used as Accompaniment to the action. In all, Over a dozen numbers are featured 'In this revue. Ambrose and bis Orchestra top the biH, and the original numbers they execute are the gayest ever. "When Day Is Done" is their introductory number, followed by "We're Tops on Saturday Night'" the voice being supplied by Jack Cooper. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Described 'as a thrill-tceirtbig tale of ia two-flsted rancher who/went, on a rampage when racketeers invaded his. range to hunt down a runjaway bride, Harold Bell Wright's new story of the New West, "Secret Valley," is being 'shown at the Palace Thcaiye. Richard Arlen combines blazing action with capable acting in his portrayal of the stellar role, heading a oast that includes Virginia Grey, Jack Mulhall, Norman Willis, Sid Sarj/lor, Russell Hicks, and others. "Windbag the Sailor," featuring Will Hay, is the associate picture.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Many of the situations in Queen Elizabeth's time have a startling parallel in the problems of presentday politics. In' the late sixteenth century Spain was enormously powerful and determined upon the conquest of Protestant England. Under the tolerant rule of Elizabeth, England had become rich but quite unprepared for war. Proof that history repeats itself is colourfully pi-esented in Erich Pommer's production of A. E. Mason's "Fire Over England," which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Depicting that romantic period of history preceding the defeat of the Spanish Armada, "Fire Over England" tells a gripping stor; of youthful valour, seafaring adventure, and Court intrigue. Queen Elizabeth, brilliantly portrayed by that famous London stage actress. Flora Robson, is shown at the height of her long reign. Her Court is full of spies, friends are mistaken for enemies and enemies for friends. The prosperous England which her wise rule had built up is threatened. But Elizabeth is every inch a queen. Supporting Miss Robson in this magnificent production' are Leslie Banks, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, and Raymond Massey. together with a cast of thousands. RIVOLI THEATRE. Paramount's "Outcast," a dramatic story of mob fury with Warren William and Karen Morley, is now showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Taken from the noval "Happiness Preferred," by Frank R. Adams, "Outcast" is the story of a physician, who is ruined by Miss who believes him guilty of 11 murder. Not satisfied with wrecking his career in the city in which he had been established, she trails him to a small village, where he has taken refuge Lewis Stone, a lawyer who had befriended the physician, persuades Miss Morley to delay her vengeance until she is sure of the physician's guilt She agrees and soon falls in love with the man she swore to destroy. A newspaper learns of Williams's past and exposes him and he becomes an outcast again. He is called upon to perform an emergency operation on a child. Through the meddlang of a townswoman the child dies. All the world loves a hero with grit, personality, and an adventurous soul. Therein lies the secret of the popularity of Sapper's famous Bulldog Drummond novels. "Bulldog Drummond at Bay" will be the associate feature. This time he falls into adventure while holi-day-making in his isolated moorland cottage. He becomes involved with a dangerous gang of international crooks, headed by a villainous financier (Kalinsky), which is after the plans of a robot aeroplane designed by a young Scots inventor .whom it has kidnapped. . . j REX THEATRE. | Jack Holt, stalwart Columbia star, enacts his favourite role to date in i "The Unwelcome Stranger," the colourful Columbia comedy-drama now screening at the Rex Theatre. Holt, who is regarded as one of the be3t authorities on horses in Hollywood, is cast as the owner of! a stock farm where racehorses are bred and trained. Beautiful Australian 'Mona Barrie is featured as Holt's wife. The moderti talking screen is proving itself definitely as the greatest entertainer in world history. Take, for instance, the "Buddy" Rogers film "Dance Band," which is the associate feature. There are artists appearing in this picture which normally one would have very little or no chance of seeing in New Zealand.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

Blending romance, melody, dancing, and lauehter, "Shall We Dance," the new Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical film, now at the Empire Theatre, sets a. high standard in screen entertainment. Made on. a scale that surpasses all the noted duo's previous vehicles and offering brilliant novelties; in Its dances, songs, and settings, "Shall We Danfce'! if toiled as the finest and most entertainlng picture of the tvyoi stars' careers. The story deals with the hectic love affair between Astaire as ' ah outstanding ballet dancer and Miss Rogers as a noted revue favourite. Astaire's interest in the slender tap-dancer leads to a series of incidents which in turn give rise to popular belief that the two . are married; Despite Miss Rogers's denials, the rumo,urs; grow and, unable to escape the resulting publicity, the two decide that the only way to obtain their freedom is actually to get jnarried. This ingenious plot is played against a glittering background of modern life, with spectacular dances and tuneful song numbers woven into the action', and with even more romance and comedy than any of the previous Astaire-Rogejrs vehicles. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Marked Woman" and "Hills of Old ' yoming" conclude tonight at the Kilbirnie Kin em a. Robert Emmet Sherwood's stage hit, "The Petrified Forest," commences tomorrow. Leslie Howard and Bette Davis, who gave such sterling performances, in "Of Human Bondage," are again playing;., the stellar roles in this picture. They are supported ' by a brilliant cast' which includes Genevieve Tobin, Dick Foran, Humphney Bogart, Joseph Sawyer, and others. The story is set in the pictures, quo an(& colourful background of the Arizona desert, the-scenes taking place in, and; about a wayside petrol station and eating house a few milfes from the real Petrified Forest. _ The widely; praisad George Raft-Joan .Boinett comedy-fomance "She Couldn't Take It,", isithe associate feature. Raft, ,whoi first won tile heart of film fans in a *erie» of gangster ia 'gcm face,"f mish Money, and 'Quick Millions," reverts to this type of characterisation in "She Couldn t Take It." % REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Accenting the story plot and the menriment to. a greater degree than in any of the Astaire-Rogers former hits, "Shall We Dance" now showing at the Regal Theatre, offers a wealth of novelties. The story deals with a tempestuous love affair between a famous ballet dancer (Astaire) and a celebrated revue artist (Miss Rogers). (Just as the romance reaches a satisfactory point, rumours hint that the two are secretly married, and a series of mirthful complications follows. Woven into the talc are six brilliant song numbers composed by the noted musician, George Gershwin, with lyrics by Jra Gershwin, and eight dances, performed by Astaire, Miss Rogers,, and Harriet Hoctor as solo arid duet numbers. These dances include a unique roller-skating dance and a remarkable Astaire. solo in the eneinc-roorp of an ocean liner, in which lie" performs his terpsichorean feats in time to the' beat of the ship's machinery. COMMUNITY SINGING. The outstanding attraction at this week's community sing will be the appearance of Dave Howard,, noted English humorist and saxophonist. Mr. Howard .has , done a considerable amount of broadcasting throughout England and Australia, and more recently with the National Broadcasting Service. He also assisted at a community sing in' Dunedin, where his "mirth and melody" turn proved very popular. The sing will be held in the Town Hall tomorrow, commencing at noon. The song leader will be Will Mason, with Frank Crowther at the piano and Iris Mason at the grand organ. , The proceeds of the sing will be in aid of the Mayor's Fund. "HELLO BLIGHTY." War-time experiences and comradeship will be revived tomorrow evening at the R.S.A. rooms, Victoria Street, when ex-members of the Imperial Forces will produce the programme for this month's tattoo of the Tin Hat Club. The programme takes the form of a non-stop bombardment in eighteen volleys, and each volley is expected to be a direct hit. With the title of "Hello Blighty," it will consist of songs, sketches, comedy, drama, and orchestral items. It is anticipated thai there will be an exceptionally large attendance, and members are urged to take their seats early. The Grand Marshall of the Tattoo will be Captain W. Olphert, D.5.0., D.S.C., R.D., R.N.V.R., and he will give a short address during ttie evening.

MONTAGUE SHOW. "Pc. Pourri," the last and in many opinions the best offering of the Montague Show in its Wellington season, again drew a vqry appreciative audience at the Opera House last night. Bright costuming, rhythmic dancing, and singing of a high order made the r ost of nearly three hours of nonstop entertainment. The Wellington public -vill have its last chance to see this fine variety programme tonight. George Doonan, the comedy star of the show, has earned a reputation well above the ordinary. Quick-changing from spectacle to spectacle is a feature which is always appreciated in this type of show, and the Montague Show certainly wastes no time in the rapidity with which one item follows another Brilliant tableaux with a taknted and well-costumed ballet strike a new note. Some of these, notably "Carnival of Chess," and the royal set at the finish, are really outstanding. The show comprises an assembly of acts of very high merit, and it is difficult to single out any especial act for praise. The Dawn Sisters, the Darmora troupe, the Two Rogues, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warris, and the Four Blenders all give acts of a distinctive nature. One of the most pleasing stage settings shows a scene on a New York roof garden, and introduces a number of very -convincing screen stars. Altogether the show is one that should not be missed. SHORTT'S THEATRE. "Secret Agent." Gaumont-British offering, starring Madeleine Carroll, Peter Lorre, John Gielgud, and Robert Young, is being screened at the head of the currerfc programme at Shortt's Theatre. This is a grand successor to the famous Hitchcock thriller, "The 39 Steps," and outshines even that. "Secret Agent" is a gripping adaptation of Somerset Maugham's "Ashenden," and is the story of a secret serviceman who sets out to thwart a German spy during the Great War. Fluent staging swings the action from London to the Swiss Alps, thence to mid-Europe, where suspenseful events culminate in a realistic train smash, following bombing by British aeroplanes. A piquant romantic slant and deft comedy touches relieve the engrossing canvas of espionage. The second attraction is "Bad Boy," which is marked by the same human qualities, the same sprightly humour, and the same heart tug which brought such widespread popularity to "Bad Girl." It features James Dunn. FESTIVAL OF CHILDHOOD. Tonight and tomorrow night children from over twenty of Wellington's primary schools will present a delightful entertainment in the Town Hall, when over a thousand children will revel in choral singing, verse-speak-ing, one-act plays, ana folk dancing. Those who were fortunate euough to attend last year's festival know the surprise that awaited them In the general excellence of the children's entertainment. The degree of efficiency that the teachers' had been able to achieve with so many little ones was truly astonishing. Last year's versespeaking alone was something to be remembered. The surging and sighing] of the wind in the trees, together with other effects achieved by the children, in their verse-speaking, was truly remarkable, and many realised for the first time, and in some cases with considerabl Astonishment, the striking effects that it is possible to produce by verse-speaking. Bright young voices blended together have a strong appeal for both old and young, and it is hoper 1 that tonight the children of Wellington and suburban schools will receive the support that their enthusiastic effort so well deserves. The children will devote the proceeds of both concerts to improving the health of their fellows in the Otaki Health Camp. A FAIRY OPERETTA. There will be a very unusual entertainment at the Grand Opera House tomorrow night when. Miss Ruby MacDonald, the violinist' conductor,. will present and direct "Goldilocks,'- x the fairy operetta. In it the old nursery story of "The Three Bears" is briefly embodied, but so enriched with up-to-date matter that it takes on a new interest. The story is by Gladys Davidson and the melodious music by F. Maker. There will be a full operatic orchestra. The ages of the performers range from five to 13 years. Miss MacDonald has designed all the costumes of the fairies, butterflies, and brownies herself, concentrating on harmonious colouring- and paying special attention to lighting effects. There will be three charming scenes. Of particular interest is the opening scene, the settings, words, and music being by Miss MacDonald. Instead of the usual overture, Miss Mac Donald will open the performance by playing a violin concerto with orchestral accompaniment.