CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 14

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. N,"Ebb Tide" will have its final screening tonight at the Regent Theatre. "Angel" will be the new attraction at .the Regent Theatre tomorrow. ; MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Big City" concludes tonight at the Majestic Theatre. "Madame X" commences a season at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. ST. JAMES THEATRE. "The Barrier" shows for the last time tonight at the St. James Theatre. "Mad About Music" commences a season tomorrow at the St. James Theatre.. RIVOLI THEATRE. Due to the co-operation of the B/itish Government, which extended hitherto unheard of facilities in the production of RKO-Radio's feature, "Victoria the Great," the lavishly-produced drama of the revered British Queen, which is screening at the Rivoli Theatre, rejoices in an atmosphere as colourful as it is real. Much of ;the story centres on the younger days"of the Queen, showing her as a fun-loving girl, her courtship, her love for Prince Albert, with Victoria doing the proposing by virtue of Royal right, their marriage, and the long period of twenty r seven years of wedded bliss which followed.* Many important and leading events of Victoria's reign form dramatic high lights in the film. Anna Neagle, leading favourite of the English screen, plays the star role of Queen Victoria. Anton Walbrook, celebrated dramatic actor, is bracketed with her as Prince Albert. H. B. Warner fills the important role, of Lord Melbourne. "This Way Please'" starring Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Betty Grable and Ned Sparks, is the associate feature. KING'S, THEATRE. "High Flyers" and "There Goes the Groom" conclude tonight at the King's Theatre. Preston Foster and Sally Eilers appear as a team for the first time in "Everybody's Doing It," new RKORadio romantic comedy drama, which opens tomorrow at the King's Theatre. Foster is cast as a temperamental commercial artist, and Miss Eilers as his fiancee is called upon to see that he does not step too far out of line. The plot centres on a_ prize puzzle picture contest and the climax is reached when a gang of racketeers kidnap Foster to gam an inside track on the answers. Richard Lane, Guinn Williams, Lorraine Krueger, Cecil Kellaway, and William Brisbane also have leading parts in the film. James Dunn and Whitney Bourne have the novel experience of falling in love without learning each other's identity until the last minutes of "Living on Love," new RKO-Radio comedy drama, which is also on the bill. To make matters worse, each has a sworn enemy that they have never seen, and mutual sympathy is the interest that first brings them together., When each eventually discovers 'that the one loved is the one hated, the merriment all but goes overboard. The third feature will be the film of the Farr-Brad-dock fight. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "His Brother's Wife" and "Riding iOn Air" will conclude tonight at the I^New Princess Theatre. Too seldom are films produced that are so different that they start a new trend in motion pictures. Such a picture is Walter'Wanger's "Vogues of 1938," which commences'tomorrow at the .New PrincessXTheatre.'Mt, combines a story race in its dynamic pace, hilarious humouß; by Sam and Bella, and Spewack, gjrand stars in Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett, dazzling entertainment by New York's night club favourites. The picture is in techincolour; The associate feature is Paramount Films' mystery thriller "Bulldog Drummond Comes Back," starring John, Barrymore and Louise Campbell, i ROXY THEATRE. "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" and "Exclusive" conclude tonight at the Roxy Theatre. From its opening shot to its bombshell, courtroom close, "The Case Against Mrs. Ames," which screens at the Roxy Theatre tomorrow, sustains a machine-gun pace of drama and suspense. The picture, a Paramount production, presents Madeleine Carroll, in a fast-moving story of a woman charged with murder and later threatened with the loss of her only child. George Brent co-stars with Miss Carroll. Paramount's breezy romantic-comedy, "Easy to Take," will be the supporting feature* John Howard shares top honours in ;the film with Marsha Hunt. KILBIRNIE KINEIHA. "Take My Tip" and "Let's Get Married" screen finally tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema. With Marion Davies and Robert Montgomery as co-stars, and a supporting cast that includes such popular comedians as Frank McHugh, Patsy Kelly, Louise Fazenda, and Allen Jenkins, the Warner Bros.' Cosmopolitan comedy "Ever Since Eve" will open tomorrow at the Kilbirnie Kinema. It is described as the'sprightliest piece of nonsense that either of the stars has ever played in. An impressive cast is seen in the associate feature, Paramount's comedy with music, "Double or Nothing." With Bing Crosby as the star the cast includes Martha Raye, Andy Devine, Mary Carlisle, William Frawley, Fay Holden, Samuel S. Hinds, William Henry, and many others. lemphie theatre, island bay. "Slave Ship," starring Warner Baxter and Wallace Beery, is showing at the Empire Theatre, Island Bay, and brings the mightiest of the sagas of the sea tS the screen. Elizabeth Allan and Mickey Rooney head the large supporting cast, enacting a stirring story of the last of the American "blackbirders," hunted by the fleets of every nation in their vigorous effort to stamo out the slave trade. The love of a" Hollywood extra girl and an Italian singer who seeks film fame, is unfolded in "Music for Madame," the musical romance starring Nino Martini and featuring lovely Joan Fontaine, which is the associate attraction. ;'. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Teaming Robert Young and Florence Bice, "Married Before Breakfast," at the State Theatre, Petone, tells of a carefree young inventor who becomes enmeshed in a series of laugh-provok-ing adventures. Philo Vance falls in love in the middle of one of the most perplexing murder mysteries of his career, "The Garden Murder Case," •which will also be shown. Edmund £owe portrays Philo Vance, with bobhaired, sleekly-gowned Virginia Bruce as the society girl. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. •Equipped with a steel-clad, bulletproofed taxicab, Brian Donlevy. sets out to smash by brute force the vicious racketeers attempting extortion on the legitimate cab business of a typical Western city in "Born Reckless," which is showing at the Palace Theatre, Petone. The second attraction is "It Happened in Hollywood." with Fay Wray and Richard Dix in the featured roles. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. The main attraction at the Grand Theatre, Petone is "Borneo," Martin Johnson's last and greatest picture. Many strange sights never before photographed are recorded on film for the first time in the isle of the topsy-turvy, the upside down, and Nature in reverse. Among these arp tree-climbing fish, flying snakes, oysters grow.jng on trees, and the giant orang-utan "devil-beast" of the jungle. The second feature is "The Californian," Harold Bell Wright's ac-tion-packed drama of the old West, starring Ricardo Cortez.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. Hailed by the critics of America as the year's best comedy, "Nothing i Sacred," showing at the Plaza Theatre, is a hilarious dramatisation of life in New York city. Carole Lombard, who has a notable flair for comedy roles, is said to give the finest performance of her career, surpassing her achievement in "My Man Godfrey." Fredric March is also starred, and provides much of the comedy as the cosmopolitan journalist who unwittingly perpetrates a costly hoax on the publisher and editor of his newspaper. Miss Lombard is seen as a small-town girl with a yearning for New York. March, as the ace reporter of the New York "Morning Star," of which Walter Connolly is managing editor, and Charles Winninger as a small-town medico. To disclose the actual nature of the hoax which turns New York upside down and inside out would rob picture-lovers of pleasure when the film is released. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Love on Toast" and "Born to the West" conclude at the De Luxe Theatre tonight. The new pictures at the De Luxe Theatre tomorrow will be "The Black Doll" and "It's a Grand Old World." STATE THEATRE. ""The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" will be screened finally tonight at the State Theatre. ■ "Stand-in" opens at the State Theatre tomorrow. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Imitation of Life" 'is being shown finally tonight at the New Paramount Theatre. REX THEATRE. "The Sky Parade" and "Ship Cafe" conclude tonight at the Rex Theatre. "Sworn Enemy," which screens at the Rex Theatre tomorrow, reveals the amazing daring of a typical gangster leader, lulled into a sense of false security by his own peculiar success. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced the film and made the fortunate choice of Joseph Calleia to play the gangster characterisation. Robert Young plays the role of a young fight manager and square-shooter whose brother is killed\by the gangsters because he knows too much. Florence Rice appears in the feminine lead. Others are Nat Pendleton, Lewis Stone, Harold Huber, Harvey Stephens, and Samuel Hinds. "Behind the Mike," the second feature, presents William Gargan and Judith Barrett in the leading roles, with Don Wilson, noted radio personality; Sterling Holloway, Gerald Oliver Smith, William Davidson, Grady Sutton, Spencer Charters, and Jerry Mandy in featured parts. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Handsome Gary Cooper comes to the screen in his favoured role again in Paramount's "The Plainsman," the Cecil B. DeMille saga, which is showing at the Regal Theatre. This time he portrays an actual historic soldier-of-fortune, the famous "Wild Bill" Hickok, peace officer on the plains in the seventies. It is Cooper's first assignment to a historic role. Jean Arthur, who scored with him in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," plays opposite him again. . .. ■ . OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Poppy," W. C. Fields's latest comedy, is the main attraction showing at Our Theatre tonight at reduced prices. It marks the return of the comedian to the role he played in his two greatest hits in the past. "Professor Eustace McGargle," of "Poppy," is a character portrayed by Fields in his first stage success. In the associate feature "Nevada," Larry Crabbe is starred. The' story centres about Crabbe's efforts to break up a cattle-rustling outfit and win the love of a girl who is pledged to the owner of one of the State's biggest ranches. Excellent short subjects complete the programme. CAPITOL THEATRB. The dramatic story of China's teeming millions, their struggles, their hardships, and the intensely human heartbeat of the great and little known nation, is transcribed from Pearl S. Buck's epic novel and the stage adaptation by Owen Davis and Donald Davis to the talking screen in "The Good Earth," starring Paul Muni and Luise. Rainer, which is showing at the .Capitol Theatre. t SEASIDE THEATRE. The private life of a pair of gamblers provides the unusual and entertaining theme of "Don't Gamble With Love," the new Columbia comedy drama, which is showing at the Seaside Theatre, with Ann Sothern and Bruce Cabot in the leading roles. Beautiful Gail Patrick plays the first straight dramatic role of her career in Paramount's "Her Husband Lies," a drama of sacrifice which is the second attraction. "GEORGE AND MARGARET." J. C. Williamson, Ltd., take special pleasure in presenting Miss Fay Compton and her London company in the reigning comedy success of the year, "George and Margaret," which is still enjoying triumphal seasons' abroad. The Wellington season opens at the New Opera House at the matinee on Easter Saturday, and a gay gala week is promised. Moods, modes, and morals find their place in this sparkling comedy- written by the talented playwright Gerald Savory, and the family of the Garth-Banders from breakfast time to supper keep the audience on the gui vive, commencing from the son's liaison with the parlourmaid to the eventual reconciliation. "George and Margaret" of the title are the relatives who are always coming on a visit, and mention of their names alone is enough to set all the family in a ferment. Without doubt the comedy is one of the most entertaining seen in years, and Miss Corripton and her associates are gifted in interpreting the witty dialogue and hilarious series of situations that arise. Booking and other details are advertised. MOUTH-ORGAN CONTEST. A novel and attractive mouth-organ contest as the principal feature of a popular, variety programme was staged at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, on Wednesday evening before a crowded and enthusiastic audience. The mouth-organ has come into its own as a musical instrument, requiring a high degree of musical ability and skill in execution. These attributes were well exemplified in. both classical and modern selections which were exceedingly well rendered by the finalists in last night's Hohner mouth-organ competition, sponsored by Mr. F. Jenness and the management of the theatre. The preliminary rounds, preceded by a performance given by a professional mouth-organ band, were played on three successive Saturdays at the De Luxe Theatre, Lower Hutt, and attracted undoubted talent in an entry of nearly thirty competitors. The results were judged by popular vote among the audience, the winners being:— Junior classes: L. Baker 1, A. Hosie 2, G. Dempsey 3. Consolation prizes: Bruce Henderson and Gilbert Paulen. Senior class: L. G. Connor 1, J. Douglas 2, Ivan Taylor 3. Consolation prizes: R. Robbie and J. M. Hay. Ladies' class: Miss Eileen Hickey 1, Miss Ivy Evans 2.

The Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. J. W. Andrews), in presenting the prizes, congratulated the management of the theatre on the enjoyable programme and the promoters for making this opportunity of encouraging young talent, lie considered the musical standard of the contestants very high, and from personal experience knew ithat the finest of music could be made on these instruments. Ho congratulated the individual performers, and was sure that the audience would carry away the remembrance of a happy evening.

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Victoria the Great" will be screened finally tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. "Heidi of the Alps," starring Shirley Temple, comes to the Tivoli Theatre tomorrow. Bringing love to hearts filled with hate, and a twinkle to eyes filled with tears, "Heidi of the Alps tells of an embittered mountain-top exile, brilliantly portrayed by Jean Hersholt, reclaimed from his fierce hatred of the world, of a young girl who finds the strength and courage to walk again, and of the little heroine who brings everyone new zest for life. Arthur Treacher and Helen Westley play prominent roles in the story, and Pauline Moore, Thomas Beck, Mary Nash, Sidney Blackmer, Mady Christians, and Sig Rumann are also featured in the cast. Nine new song hits by Gordon and Revel, the Hollywood song-writers who have written many of America's leading musical successes, are presented in "Wake Up and Live," the 20th Century-Fox production featuring Walter Winchell, Ben Bernie, and Alice Fay, which will also be shown. Patsy Kelly, Ned Sparks, and Jack Haley add an extra measure of humour to the hilarious picture.