CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 17, 21 January 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

! REGENT THEATRE. (■All the beauty, colour, and swash-buckling-adventure of the famous Anthony Hope romance comes to tho screen of the. Regent Theatre today, When David O. Selznick's magnificent film production of "The Pristraer of Zenda" will be shown there, with Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., playing the leading rolesg^ Colman plays the dual role of King Rudolf V and the adventurous Rassendyll in. this tale of love .and intrigue among the courts of ■Europe, which John, Cromwell direct- ' ed from a screen play which John L. Balderston and Wells Root based on Edward Rose's dramatisation of the iAnthony Hope novel. Miss Carroll plays the beautiful Princess Flavia and yourig'Fairbanks is seen as the'dashing Rupert of Hentzau. Also prominently featured in the cast are Mary Astor, C. ■Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, and David Niven. Sixty-two sets, ranging in size from a sentry-box no larger than a telephone booth, to a huge cathedral and "two castles, were constructed for the picture. . -,< ' MAJESTIC THEATRE. '..Eclipsing even their triumphs in f'Naughty Marietta" and "Rose Marie, Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy, the favourite singing stars, are now at the Majestic Theatre in ' "Maytime," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's lavish adaptation of the Rida Johnson Young operetta, which was one of the memorable hits of the New York stage. Directed by Robert Z. Leonard, the man who gave filmgoers "The Great Ziegfeld, ■ With a-wide variety of songs by Sigmund 'Romberg and Herbert Stotharij and with a brilliant supporting cast headed by John Barrymore, the new M.G.M. musical opens as one of the outstanding sensations of the new movie season. The famous song hit ot tho- original play, "Sweetheart, Will You Remember?" was retained for the film version, with the remainder of the music divided between the sentimental and operatic. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Ready, Willing, and Able," a comedy with music made by Warner Bros, from the Richard Macauley story of the same name is showing at the Rivoii Theatre. Co-starred are the twink-ling-toed Ruby Keeler and the famous young eccentric dancer Lee. Dixon. The songs are by Johnny Mercer and Richard Whiting, and one especially— "Too Marvellous for Words"—promises to be a hit. The delightful Louise Fazenda has an eccentric role well fitted to her talents as a comedienne and torch. singer, and Winifred Shaw is cast as a British musical comedy star. Other notables in the cast are Allen Jenkins, Carol Hughes, Hugh O'Connell, Teddy Hart Shaw and Lee, the "piano-movers from vaudeville, E. E. Clive, and Jane Wyman. Something altogether new in the way of a "number" is a typewriter 30ft high, on the keys of which dancing girls spell out a love letter dictated to them by Alexander. The girls were directed by Bobby Connelly. The story part of the picture was guided by Ray Enright. NEW PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Deanna Durbin, who rose to screen fame in "Three Smart Girls," is starred in 'her second picture, Universal's. "One Hundred Men and: a Girl," a comedydrama with music, which opens today at the New Paramount Theatre. Featured with Deanna Durbin is Leopold Stokowski, famous conductor of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. An unusual cast surrounds Deanna Durbin. Adolphe Menjou is seen as her father, ~a--musician -who, with -100 -fel-low-artists, seeks recognition of talent and a chance for a livelihood. Alice Brady portrays a. society matron who promises Deanna to sponsor the orchestra. Then the rich woman goes off to Europe and leaves Menjou and Deannain the lurch. Eugene Pallette, as Alice Brady's -has the situation placed squarely before him on his shiny, mahogany desk by Deanna Durbin. Her eloquent statement of the 100 men's.dilemma causes' him to agree to sponsor the orchestra, providing Stokowski will conduct it. ' Nothing daunted, Deanna goes to Stokowski. She charms him first with her singing. He agrees'to hear the orchestra; :ahd finds they are excellent musicians. Then the story sweeps to its climax, carrying human drama, delightful comedy, and memorable music to a rhythmic crest. KING'S THEATRE. The charm and unspoiled sweetness of^Shirley- Temple is .adequately demonstrated in her latest film, "Heidi of the Alps," which is now showing at the King's Theatre. Shirley is depicted as an orphan, and the story treats of the' deep attachment between her and her" grandfather," an embittered old man who is living the life of a hermit in the lonely mountains. Jean Hersholt, who gives a splendid supporting characterisation, of the grandfather, is implicated in many complex situations, including one which involves breaking prison before he finally saves his granddaughter from being handed over to a band of gipsies. Arthur Treacher is a very humorous butler, and Mary Nash, Helen Westley, and Sidney Blackmer are others who lend good support to a fine attraction. Thrilling action against. the . colourful background' of old California is the high light of Harold Bell Weight's fastimoying screen play, "The Californian," which is the second attraction, with Ricardo Cortez in the starring role. The dramatic, thrill-packed story of a famed and feared hero of old California's scarlet days, it presents Cortez as a phantom bandit who leaves behind: a daunting laugh as token of his daring raids, • ■ ■ REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck have been teamed by Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox'ln "His Affair," now at'the Regal Theatre. The story ot [a love supremely courageous and unashamed, endangering the' nation's highest places and 'gambling life itself for a greater stake, "His Affair" provides both Taylor and; Miss Stanwyck with the most important story either of these great stars has ever had, and affords Victor McLaglen, who heads the strong supporting cast, the finest opportunity he has had since his powerful characterisation in "The Informer." Bette Davis is the star in a gripping story taken from headlines that have flashed across the front pages- of America's newspapers for months. This picture, declared by Miss Davis to give her the most powerful role she has ever portrayed, is "Marked Woman," which is the second feature. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Arresting and spectacular melodrama adds particular vividness to Paramount's colourful production, "High, Wide, and Handsome" now at the Empire Theatre. This film shows capable Irene Dunne from still another refreshing angle, and reveals Randolph Scott in a performance permeated with strength and virility. The jpicture has been frankly developed as entertainment in the broad and picturesque sense. Combining the speed and thrills of aviation with a modern mystery plot, "Reported Missing," with William Gargan and Jean Rogers in the leading roles, is the second feature. CAPITOL THEATRE. Kipling's colourful characters live glamorously, adventurously, and courageously on adventure's last frontier in the Twentieth Century-Fox picturisation of his famed "Wee Willie Winkie," now at the Capitol Theatre, with Shirley Temple and Victor McLaglen in the starring roles. From the heart of. mighty.. India, where all the world is wild and strange, where the British raj ends at Khyber Pass, in the land of the Bengal Lancers, comes this glorious adventure of the Scottish j Highlanders in action and of the little girl who won the right to wear their plaid. "The Texas Rangers," starring Fred Mac Murray, is the tecond^attraction,

CfH AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. Dazzling in its spectacle, exhilarating in its fresh, gay out-of-doors romance, "Thin Ice," Twentieth Century-Fox film starring Sonja Henie,' more radiantly exciting than ever before, and Tyrone Power, handsome young screen star who soared to fame in "Lloyd's of London," opens at the Plaza Theatre today. A star in her first picture, Miss Henie tops "Girl in a Million" with new miracles of grace never before revealed, as she skates and skis along the silvery Alpine slopes, with Tyrone Power and romance following close behind. Arthur Treacher, Raymond Walburn, and Joan Davis are featured in the notable supporting cast. The story is swiftly paced, exhilaratingly exciting, and hilariously funny. Interspersed throughout the romantic story are three elaborate skating numDers, the Prince Igor Russian Ballet, a beautiful Vienna. Waltz, and the Foxtrot Fantasy. ■ In these ice innovations, Miss Henie executes her most intricate ice designs. Hundreds of gorgeous girls are also in the sensational ce-revels set against the dazzling and breathtaking, beauty of the Swiss Alps. These innovations on ice are more elaborate and intricate than anything ever before attempted on the screen. DELUXE THEATRE. As stirring to the senses as a reliable alarm clock, "Married Before Breakfast," commences today at the De Lux? Theatre. The picture features Robert Young and Florence Rice m a romantic comedy with thrills. June Clayworth and Barnett Parker are capable flayers in support, and the picture is given unexpected comedy by the appearance of an amazing electrical robot man. The narrative concerns a handsome young inventor, played by Young, who is engaged to a society debutante. In a travel agency he meets a charming girl .clerk, Miss Rice, and ceases to be so positive about themarriage. In his efforts to impress the girl he tries to sell her boy friend an insurance policy and the plot goes into complications. The inventor has acquired a robot which is the marvel of all who see it. But when the youth and the lovely travel clerk become involved in'a jewel robbery, then are kidnapped, and finally are arrested, the robot really does his stuff. First of the famous Crime Club dramas to reacn. the screen, Universal's thrilling production of "The Westland Case," will be the associate feature. Admirably cast is Preston Foster in the leading role. ' STATE THEATRE. • Hailed as one of the most important offerings of the screen year, 'R;K.O.Radio presents three of filmdom's bestknown stars, Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, and Adolphe Menjou, in "Stage Door," a drama of the. ordeals of girls in search of a career, which commences at the State Theatre today.' As the title implies, "Stage Door" has a theatrical atmosphere.v It blends in its vivid dramatic fabric the hopes and dreams of a score of stagestruck girls, eager, ambitious, confident that they will succeed in opening the portals to fame and fortune. Until that day arrives, they live at a theatrical boarding-house, whose landlady is herself a former actress, and in this setting much of the film's action takes place. Miss Hepburn is one of these girls, a society debutante- determined on a stage career, despite the opposition of her wealthy family. Her room-mate, is Ginger Rogers, a carefree night club entertainer who yearns to go into musical comedy. With them are dozens of others, would-be actresses, ■ hopeful dancers, aspiring pianists, models, an oddly-assorted group, from every., station in life, but all fired with the one desire of winning footlight fame. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Joe E. Brown is the star in the musical comedy romance, "Sons o' Guns, now at Shortfs Theatre. The picture is based on the rollicking Broadway stage lit of the same title by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue, a colourful, tuneful comedy of World War, days, dealing only i with the; bright and hilarious side of doughboy life in the A.E.F. "Man Hunt," the second feature, combines tense, exciting melodrama with hilarious comedy. There, is a talented cast headed by Ricardo Cortez, Marguerite Churchill, William Gargan, ajid Charles (Chic) Sale. , NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. All the musical hits of the stage production are presented in new and en-r tertaining fashion in the film version of "Over She Goes," starring Stanley Lupino and Laddie Cliff, which 1 s showing at the New Princess Theatre Merry entertainment aptly - describes "Over She Goes." Smart gags, capital fooling, lilting songs, and expert direction make this picture highly entertaining. The associate feature is "Kathleen Mavourneen," starring Sally O'Neil and Tom Burke, the world-fam-ous tenor. ROXY THEATRE. The extent to which circumstances can weave a noose around an innocent man's neck is dramatically, portrayed in Paramount's "The Accusing Finger,' a tense drama of circumstantial evidece which is stowing at the Roxy Theatre, with Paul. Kelly in the starring role. -A jewel robbery, an excellent mystery story, and gay music are contained in 'Hideaway Girl," the supporting feature. In the cast are Shirley Ross, Robert Cumming, Monroe .Owsley, and Louis DaPron. KILB2RNIEKINEMA. The glittering star triumvirate of; Joan Crawford, William Powell and Robert Montgomery are seen at the Kilbirnie Kinema in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'S urbane' and highly-polished screen translation of Frederic Lonsdale's stage success, "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." It is a bright, amusing,' and diverting entertainment' and the combined talents of Miss Crawford, Powel, and Montgomery, plus its excellent supporting players, raise it exactly to that standard which one would expect of so rich an assemblage of star power. George Formby's latest musical comedy, "Feather Your Nest," is the second feature. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Something new in murder mysteries brings Jack Oakie to the screen as an amateur detective in "Super Sleuth," now at the Palace Theatre, with' Ann Sothern co-starred. Unlike the usual run of mystery pictures, this story makes no secret of the killer's identity. Rochelle Hudson and Michael Whalen are co-featured in "WomanWise," the second attraction, which exposes prize-fight racketeers. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Love in a Bungalow" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. Kipling's colourful characters live glamorously, adventurously, and courageously on adventure's last frontier in "Wee Willie Winkie," which opens tomorrow with Shirley Temple and Victor McLaglen in the starring roles. From the heart of mighty India, where all the world is wild and strange, where the British raj ends at Khyber Pass, in the land of the Bengal Lancers, comes this glorious adventure of the Scottish Highlanders in action and of the little girl who won the right to wear their plaid. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Keep Fit" will be shown finaly to night at the Grand Theatre. Three of the screen's most popular saddle-mates, "Hopalong Cassidy," "Windy" Halliday, and "Lucky" Jenkins ride to adventure and romance again in "Rustlers' Valley," latest of the popular Clarence E. Mulford action stories, which opens tpmorrow. Six well-known comedians have been assembled by Paramount for the screen treatment of the stage success, "Blonde Trouble," which is the second feature. They are Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs, Lynne Overman, Benny Baker, .William.Demarest, and El Brendel.

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Head Over Heels," starring Jessie Matthews, is showing at the Tivon Theatre. It is a zestful comedy-romance set in. the Parisian cabaret-world, of three young people and an actress, who has home-wrecking tendencies. Jeanne, a cabaret singer (Jessie Matthews) meets j young sound engineer, Pierre (Robert Flemyng) at a broadcasting station and accepts an invitation to lunch at his rooms, where he lives with Marcel (Louis Borrell), an insincere young actor-philanderer. To the worry of Pierre, who has taken a fond liking to her, she falls head over heels tor Marcel, who, however, has become infatuated by an American film star, Norma Langtry (Whitney Bourne). This leads to a quarrel in which Jeanne in a fit of jealousy upon seeing her; happincs' snatched out of her grasp, | rails Norma and causes such a scandal that the French Actors' Association bars her from.further cabaret appearances. The rest of Jhefilm makes some of the wittiest and most romantic screen entertainment yet filmed. Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans are the leading players in "Espionage,1 a new and unusually intriguing film, which is the second feature. REX THEATRE. "Get the picture—we can't screen abilis!" That's the order that starts John Wayne, as a newsreel cameraman, off on a series of hair-raising adventures in far-off and little-known Mesopotamia! That's the plot and the locale of the new Universal picture, "I Cover the War," now at the Rex Theatre. Wayne is seen as Bob Adams, ace newsreel cameraman, with orders to get motion pictures of Muffadhi, Arabian bandit and rebel, whom the British forces have been trying to find for years. Sandy Powell, Britain s greatest comedian, is the star of Can You Hear Me, Mother?" the second attraction. Famous on both radio and gramophone, on which "Sandys hilarious antics have delighted listeners throughout the country, this production marks his film debut. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor are the thrilling star combination, in the new comedy-romance "Man in Possession," which heads the double-fea-ture programme showing at Our Theatre. Jean Harlow is cast as an American adventuress .with a heart of gold inside a paper dollar casing. The paper dollar casing comes first into evidence when she affiances herself to an English merchant in the belief that he is: rich. He for his part engages himself to her in the belief that she is rich. Both beliefs are wrong. The merchant has a disgraced brother (played by Robert Taylor) who masquerades as Miss Harlow's butler, and tiie plot consists ,of the struggle between the brothers for the lady's heart and hand. The associate feature is "Good Morning, Boys," starring Will Hay. . SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Gene Raymond and Ann Southern score a screen scoop in the-newspaper story "There Goes My Girl," now at the Seaside Theatre. ; It is a fast-paced show'with "ample action, thrills, and judiciously spotted comedy, showing the blonde-haired Gene and the glamorous Ann at their best. Timely and highly dramatic, filled with excitement and touches of comedy, '"Freedom for Sale," the second feature, is a vivid dramatic entertainment. MUSICAL COMEDI SEASON. If laughter is the chief requirement, the selection of' "Over She Goes" for the night's entertainment can be recommended, with confidence. There is an abundance of it to be. had in this J. C. Williamson musical comedy, now nearing the end of a successful season at the New Opera House. But comedy of course is not the only strong feature of the production; there are also some tunefyl melodies,- splendid ensembles against effective scenic backgrounds, and a generous supply of tap-dancing to . cater for the modern demand in this field. George Gee, well remembered by New Zealand people who saw him when he was previously in New Zealand, provides mostof the-iun-and makes it sparkle without resorting to anything of questionable taste. He is ably ' supported by a first-class company, with'the result that "Over She Goes".-■ breezes along and time' passes very 'quickly. Tpmorrow at the matinee another London success "Swing Along" will be introduced by the company and will be played again at night and on Moriday and Tuesday nights It is gay and bright in colour, comedy, and everything else that is necessary to ensure a successful stage presentation* of this type. ./■ - 'v. •". ' .-■■'; ;:-