CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1938, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE THEATRE,

The double-bill programme which segan a season at the De Luxe Theatre -yesterday features "Thunder Trail,' adapted from a Zane Grey tale of Arizona, and "On Such a Night," whicn has for its theme a story, of murder and discovery set against the tearing flood waters of the Mississippi Basin. ' It is unfortunate, as a matter of fact, that the film does not give more frequent, glimpses of the floods, for there is in'the shots given majesty and impressiveness. Nevertheless the tale of the hanging-to-be of Nicky. Last (Grant Richards), who went astray when the flood waters caught the car in which he was riding to death and who goes from a Eed Cross refugee camp to a quiet home in Dixie, where the drama of the flood and of the crime for which Last was wrongly accused are fought out, has merit. The film is notable for the excellent performance of Eduardo Cianelli, one of the suavest villains of the screen. Karen Morley is appealing, and Roscoe Karns and Alan Mowbray play their subordinate roles well. "Thunder Trail" deals with the revenge of a boy whose father was shot to death iri the bad days of the West, and it affords .Gilbert Holand, in his first Western film, oppor- ; tunities which some of his more sophisticated roles never gave him. Charles Bickford does well, and,. the superb photography is a feature. Good shorts complete the programme. KING'S THEATRE. . A popular double-feature programme commenced a season at .the ; King's Theatre yesterday, "Thin Ice" and "Born Reckless" being screened: In the former picture the champion skater, Sonja Henie, and Tyrone Power are the • stars, and they are supported by a strong cast. Sonja Henie is skating instructor at a Continental hotel, which is chosen as a meeting place for the representatives of three countries who are to discuss relations. One of the . countries is, represented by, a youthful ' prince (Tyrone Power)" and. a misunderstanding links his name with the skating teacher. At the same time the young couple actually meet without the prince's identity being reevaled and without anyone else knowing of these . meetings. The result is a good deal ' of misunderstanding, a fair sprinkling of ■ humour, excellent skating,: picturesque skiing, arid several love scenes. Rochelle Hudson, Brian Donlevy, " Eobert Kent, and Pauline Moore all play prominent parts in "Born Reckless," which is the story of a' taxi racket in an American city. One taxi • owner attempts : to-, force all other owners into a combine where they will have to pay tribute to him and .when some refuse he sets his men to work to wreck their taxis. Then a racing driver appears upon the scene and commences to do more wrecking than •the racketeer. . -. , . -. . NEW PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Transferred to the New Paramount Theatre at the height of a successful season, "Maytime" is assured of as wide a welcome, in its new home in the future as it enjoyed in the past, and its appeal is likely to remain undiminished. *'Maytime" features the two singing, stars, Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy, who have an even wider scope for their .talents "than they had in their previous outstanding successes, "Naughty Marietta" and "Rose Marie." The story is an excellent and picturesque one. It opens with a prologue in which a winsome young girl is faced with the alternative of marrying the man she loves or of adopting a career as an operatic singer. She quarrels with her lover over, the matter and goes off to consult an elderly friend who was previously a great operatic ' star. The film then reveals this stars story, which shows how La Mornay, played by Jeanette Mac Donald, reaches the top of the tree in her profession. In the excitement of her success she accepts a proposal of marriage from her capable impresario (John Barfymore). That night, however, she meets and falls in love with Paul (Nelson Eddy) but decides she must marry the man who has done so much for her. In an opera she is cast opposite Paul, and the tragic end to this love story as revealed by La Mornay is sufficient to make the young girl in the prologue follow the path dictated by her heart. The story is embellished by a variety of songs by Sigmund Romberg and Herbert Stothart,. with excerpts from several famous operas. The supporting programme is in keeping with the main , feature. lULBIRNIE KINEMA. A gripping romance, comedy, some of the finest character portrayals in years, and thrills of a thundering racetrack are high lights in "Saratoga," starring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. "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. Modern warstricken Madrid is the locale for "The Last Train From Madrid," the second feature. The story deals with ten persons, all strangers, caught in the city during its heaviest bombardment, ' and how their lives ■ and destinies were suddenly made one by a common peril. Dorothy Lamour, Gilbert Roland, and Anthony Quinn are starred. ' EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans are'the leading players in "Espionage," a new and unusually intriguing film at the Empire Theatre. The story combines the'blend of interna.tional intrigue and romance. A munitions maker vanishes arid two opposition reporters are assigned to find him. Accused unjustly of criminal negligence, made a fugitive from the law,, a railroad' man. risks imprisonment, as well as his neck, to save a passenger train in Universal's exciting "West-bound Limited," the second attraction, featuring Lyle Talbot and Polly Rowles. BROOKLYN THEATRE. "Singing Marine"' will be the main feature at the Brooklyn Theatre to- . night. > The cast is headed by Dick Powell, Doris Weston, and Hugh Herbert. '-■ The film story has romance, comedy, and music, and the settings are something out of the ordinary. The second feature, "California Mail," features Dick Foran and Linda Perry. There will also be the usual supporting programme. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Angel's Holiday," Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox picture, starring the irrepressible Jane Withers, is showing' at the State Theatre. Aided and abetted in her topsy-turvy laugh spree by Robert Kent, Joan Davis, and Sally Blanc, Jane turns sleuth, tracks down and plagues the very lives of a murderous band of gangster-kidnappers, who welcome the 4 refuge of gaol promised with the arrival of the police. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Galling All Stars," with a score of lavish musical, radio, and variety acts., is showing at the Grand Theatre. Often enough in the past have cinemas claimed that they are presenting the perfect entertainment. Probably this is the first time that such a claim can be justified by facts. A new Nero Wolfe detective story, "The League of Frightened Men," is the second picture. This Columbia picture features Walter Connolly as the noted sleuth, and Lionel Stander and Eduardo Clannelli. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Brian Donlevy is a secret Treasury agent vowed to uncover the nefari- ■, oub counterfeiting ring flooding the country with spurious bank-notes in ■ "Midnight Taxi," now at the Palace Theatre, with Frances Drake featured opposite in a romantic role. The supporting feature, "Fugitive Sheriff." with Ken Maynard in the featured role, gives this popular Western star great scope for riding and shooting ability.

CITY 'AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

REGENT THEATRE,

A striking tribute to the magnificence of "The Prisoner of Zenda" is the fact that it has entered its fourth week at the Regent Theatre. Not only is there a plot out of the ordinary, but the persons, in the starring roles are definitely screen favourites, and in this performance they excel themselves. David O. Selznick has managed to bring to the screen all the beauty, colour, and adventure of the famous Anthony Hope romance. Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., play the leading roles. The plot of the story deals with the aristocratic Rudolf Rassenr«vl- fXJnald Colman), whose chief interests lie in the .direction*of fishing. The real interest begins when, because of his extraordinary resemblance, Rudolf is called upon to act the part of a king at a coronation from which the real king' has been kidnapped. Adventure and danger follow hard on his heels when the conspirators, thwarted .in their purpose, turn on him to wreak yengeance. The scenes move to the castle of Zendn, where the king is held prisoner. Glittering uniforms and the dazzling spectacle of a coronation add to the pomp and ceremony which surround the regal splendour of the film. Raymond Massey, C. Aubrey Smith, Mary Astor, David Niven, and Montague Love are other members of a distinguished cast. There are excellent supports. RIVOLI THEATRE. Marlene Dietrich and Robert Donat appear -' in ■ "Knight Without Armour," now at the Rivoli Theatre. "Knight Without Armour" casts the exotic Marlene as an alluring Russian countess, and Donat is seen as a mysterious modern knight errant whose hatred flares into a flame of protective love as they live through a series of stirring adventures, knowing moments of incomparable horror and bliss as they flee from the countless terrors that threaten to tear them apart. Kenny Baker, famous American radio star, makes his screen debut in "Mr. Dodds Takes the Air," the second attraction. It is a story which, appropriately enough, deals with a radio singer of Kenny's own type. "Mr. Dodds Takes the Air" was adapt, ed from a . highly-successful novel called "The-Great Crooner," by Clarence Buddingtqn Kelland. Every advantage was given Kenny Baker in his screen debut. : -.'•.. . ST. JAMES THEATRE. There are,, on occasions, films that have made such a profound impression on the public that their return has been almost demanded. One of these in recent years is "Smilin' Through." which is now screening at the St. James Theatre. Probably, the 'two finest stars in the film world today. Norma Shearer and Fredric March, are in the lead, and their .performance in this delightful romance of the war years is beyond reproach.. Norma Shearer plays the dual role of a girl in the'eighties and a modern woman. The story opens when a girl, sheltering in an old house from a storm, meets a young American who has come to England to enlist. The couple fall in love, and- when the girl's ward and uncle learns of her lover's name he tells her that many years before this man's father had shat his own bride-to-be at the wedding ceremony. Up tells the girl of his undying hate and makes her promise never to meet the man again.' Love conquers all in the finish, but only after a series of heartbreaking episodes, that include the lover's return from the front badly maimed and the death of the girl's guardian. The acting by the principals is magnificent, and the part taken by Leslie Howard, as the man who loses his wife on his wedding,day and the embittered old guardian;'1 is most convincing. The supports include an Our Gang comedy, a Pete Smith Oddity, a coloured traveltalk, and a Pathe airmail news. . ■■..'■ _■. . ROXY THEATRE. ; A novel back-stage plot, Charged with action and highly humorous situations, forms the background for R.K.O. Radio's hilarious musical comedy, "New Faces of 1937," which is showing at the Theatre. Joe Penner, Milton Berle, Parkyakarkus, and Harriet Hilliard are featured. The thrills of hard-fought college football games combine with the drama of a racketeer menace in "The Big Game," the second feature. The story deals with the college career of an ex-coal miner hired to play football. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE; Described as a merry, mad whirlwind of mirth, "Merry-Go-Rbund of 1938" is screening at the New Princess Theatre. Hollywood lias reached to Broadway and the airways for talent with which to make "Merry-Go-Round of 1938." In the principal featured roles of the production are rotund Billy House, star of the New York production, "White Horse Inn"; world-famous clown and pantomimist Jimmie Savo, Bert Lahr, and Joy Hodges. The associate feature is "Hitch Hike Lady," a comedy romance starring Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, and Mac Clarkei ■ ~ SHORTT'S THEATRE. The cosmopolitan comedy "Page Miss Glory," with Marion Davies in. the stellar role and a supporting cast composed of more than a score of Hollywood stars and featured players, is showing at Shortt's Theatre. Miss Davies rises to great heights in her portrayal of the naive country hotel chambermaid who became "Dawn Glory," America's outstanding beauty. A picture of raw, stark realism, which bares the terrors prisoners are subjected to in certain penal institutions,' is the second feature, under the title of ."Road Gang." Donald Woods and Kay Linaker are starred. CAPITOL THEATRE. A gripping romance, comedy, some of the finest character portrayals ' in years, and thrills of a thundering racetrack are highlights in "Saratoga," the picture that brings Jean Harlow and Clark Gable to the Capitol Theatre. "Saratoga" tells the story of the spoild daughter of a wealthy horse-owrier, and a gambler and bookmaker, whom she hated, fights, then loves., "Jericho," the second feature, starring Paul Robeson, as a film Is ei.'.irqly different from its immediate predecessors. It is, however,, worthy to rank with "Sanders of the River." The plot is entirely original and is carried with a "onviction and swing. REX THEATRE. In "Hollywood Cowboy," George O'Brien portrayed a hard-riding son of the Wild West, while in "Windjammer," now at the Rex Theatre, he enacts a prisoner aboard an old fourmasted schooner, manned by a crew of munitions smugglers, and who is forced +o climb the rigging, furl the sails, wash the deck, and in general take on tasks unfamiliar to the landlubber. Appearing with O'Brien are Constance Worth and William Hall. Gay with lilting tunes, sparkling with happiness, and bringing to the screen for the first time "The Riviera," a brand-new dance, "Dancing Feet," starring Eddie Nugent and Joan Marsh, is the second feature. ' SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Wallace Beery portrays the character of a small-town philosopher who retires from active business in order to locate the local speakeasies in the "Good Old Soak." now at the Seaside Theatre. The complications of the i plot revolve around a family nest-egg that is stolen. Of course the "Old Soak" is Warned. The manner in which'he'restores the money and reunites the clan makes a story that provides many laughs for the audience. The associata attraction features popular Paul Robeson in the main role.. Filmed mostly in the desert, this is undoubtedly Robeson's best starring vehicle since "Sanders of the River."

TIVOLI THEATRE. With songs by Irving Berlin, "On the Avenue/ Twentieth Century-Fox's sparkling musical production, is chowing at the Tivoli Theatre with a stellar cast of entertainers. la this real-life romance of New York, gay and glamorous as the town itself, Dick Powell and Madeleine Carroll make a handsome and romantic team. "On the Avenue" gets off.to a hilarious start when Madeleine Carroll, as a wealthy debutante; George Barbier. as her father; and Alan Mowbray, as an explorer, entor a theatre just as Dick Powell, Alice Faye, and the Ritz Brothers are going into a farcical burlesque of the home life of "the richest girl in the world." "Feather Your Nest," the second feature, with George Formby, has all the merry swing, of its predecessors, "No Limit" and "Keep Your Seats, Please," and the song numbers are both catchy and comical. The fun oscillates between George's work as a gramophone recordist and his mishaps in his "very jerry-built nest," with hectic Interludes at Turkish baths, the local "pub," and on a runaway motor-cycle, thown in, as it were,' for good comedy measure. Next Tuesday "Wings of the Morning" and "Easy Living" will be shown. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "After, the Thin Man," starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, heads the double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre. The story is a most intriguing one, and although it is concerned with .the solution of a series of murders it follows unusual lines and is guaranteed to keep the audience guessing until the final scene. Much of the action of the film is centred round a night club and the fascination which a vaudeville artist exercises over a man-about-town who has married into one of the exclusive families of San Francisco. The associate feature is "Fifty Roads to Town," starring Don Ameche and Ann Sothern. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Another demonstration of the versatile talent of Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor is given in the delightful romantic comedy, "Man in Possession," now at the Regal Theatre. Miss Harlow and Taylor are teamed for the first time and their collaboration is j distinctly a success. A group of flyers deprived of their pilot licences in the United States, accept service in a remote South American air service to fly mining equipment in condemned planes in "Flight From Glory," the second feature, with Chester Morris and Whitney Bourne in the top roles.