CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 84, 9 April 1938, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE. Because of the amusement that has been derived from "Nothing Sacred" since the season opened, it is not surprising to find that the film has been retained for a second week to head the programme at the Plaza Theatre. The movie-going public has become accustomed to the American newspaper story of an almost one-type pattern, so accustomed in fact that many have come to expect little else in this field, and from what they/have seen, have formed very definite ideas on what "goes down" with the great American public. Sensationalism is played up, but there is nothing like a nice "sob" story or so it would seem. It is this attitude and the methods by which it is exploited that form the basis of 'Nothing Sacred" and which are so delightfully satirised as to make the film, which is an all-colour production, something distinctly different from the tisual order and entertaining to a high degree. The situations in which those in the story find themselves are so amusing as to make much of the comedy with which the film abounds of a riotous nature. Frednc March and Carole Lombard have the main roles and with them are Charles Winninger as a small-town doctor and Walter Connolly, editor of the newspaper. The supports include another of the highly-interesting "March of Time" series, a coloured cartoon and newsreels. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Although the well-remembered theme is anything but a happy onefew essential melodramas present life as an easy struggle—' Madame A, which has returned in a new screen version and is now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is a compelling picture, full of suspense and interest, and made eminently successful by the fine handling of the principal roles. Gladys George, star of the film, appears first as a young Parisian wife, pretty and carefree, and her tragic existence up to the time of the sensational court scene is graphically depicted. She plays a difficult part, calling for great skill and consummate acting, for the young, attractive woman of early days resembles very little the broken, desperate, shabby creature who m later years lives a life of degradation. Tragedy strikes the young Jaquelme fleuriot (Gladys George) early inner married life, and her husband (War-, ren William), convinced of her faithlessness, refuses to give her a chance. She disappears, and drifts from place to place gathering a livelihood in cafes, unfil she finally comes back to Paris as the consort of a gambler whom she shoots and kills to prevent his blackmailing her husband. The dramatic courtroom scene, in which her son, a young lawyer, unwittingly defends his mother on a charge of murder, is a moving climax. The impassioned plea of the son (John Beal) to the jury is one of the emotional high lights of the film. A welcome streak of comedy is provided by Reginald Owen, as a family friend. Supports include newsreels, a cartoon, an "Our Gang" comedy, a Pete Smith specialty, and a traveltalk. . KING'S THEATRE. An unusually attractive programme is being presented this week at the King's Theatre, and includes a full film of the recent fight between Tommy Farr, of Wales, heavyweight champion of the British Empire, and James J. Braddock, former heavyweight champion of the world.' Braddock was given the decision but from the fight,' as it was seen by the camera, there could have been/very little difference in the points. In addition to the bout there are two main feature films of a high standard, both well acteid and extremely, funny., The first, "Living on Love," starring James Dunn and the attractive Whitney Bourne, tells of two people, a man and a woman, who share the same room, one in the morning and afternoon and the other in the evening. They do not know each other but each tries •to make things as uncomfortable as possible for the other. Humorously enough they meet outside the board-ing-house, np.t knowing that the other is sharing the room. The whole business comes out in the end, of course, but only after a series of very enjoyable incidents leading up to a hilarious climax. The other film is "Every-' body's Doing It," and deals with the life of a commercial advertiser who is not particularly inclined towards working hard for a living. Preston Foster has the role of the artist and it is only through the efforts of the girl whom he intends to marry that he is persuaded to work hard. He tumbles on a real money-making scheme of advertising, but is kidnapped by racketeers, which seems to hold matters up temporarily. He is rescued in a thrilling finish and all is well. ROXY THEATRE. From its opening shot to its bombsh(»Jl courtroom close, "The Case A^iinst Mrs. Ames," which is screening at the Roxy Theatre, sustains a machine-gun Dace 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," is the supporting feature. John Howard shares top honours in the film with Marsha Hunt. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. With Marion Davies and Robert Montgomery as co-stars, and a suppprting cast that includes such popular comedians as Frank McHugh, Patsy Kelly, Louise Fazenda, and Allen Jenkins, the Warner Bros.' Cosmopolitan comedy "Ever Since Eye," is showing 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. BROOKLYN THEATRE. The attraction at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight will be "Can This Be Dixie?" starring Jane Withers, and "Fifty Roads to Town," with Don Ameche and Ann Sothern taking the leading parts. There will also be good supports.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DE LUXE THEATRE. A light double-feature programme at the De Luxe Theatre is full of laughs. Sandy Powell and Gina Malo in "It's a Grand Old World," rip through deliriously impossible situations in the drollest way. Being the son of the staid manager of a factory does not suit Sandy, whose serious study of the football betting is a comedy in itself. Football crowds and the merriment of an easy life give place to another kind of humour when Sandy is forced to work as property man in a vaudeville show. The fact that he incredibly wins a fortune through penny football coupons launches him on a wild campaign of generosity in which he buys a mansion to please the,vaudeville star, and is mixed up in a free fight in armour. The other film "The Black Doll" is a humorous travesty of the average detective story, with Nan Grey and Donald Woods in the leading roles, while Edgar Kennedy (sheriff) supplies the comic relief. Funny as it is, it is eerie enough to thrill while the knife throwers work out of sight, and there is a novel note in the cliniax, where the independent sleuth eliminates suspects one by one in clever reasoning patter, while handing round scrambled eggs as the1 only one left who can cook. A Bahama travel story is a support. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The Academy award production "The Life of Emile Zola" impresses the more deeply when seen a second time. Yesterday at the Paramount Theatre, when the brilliant treatment of the career of Emile Zola, literary rebel and realist novelist, started its return Wellington season the full subtlety and outstanding merit of the film could be appreciated. The case of Captain Dreyfus, the French officer wrongly convicted of espionage in the nineties and sent to Devil's Island, brought to the open Zola's superb pen, which launched a campaign to see the gross injustice righted 6 Those days^held far more dr-ima than the mind of the most fmagfnative novelist; a natural medium for the skill of the film producer, a plot among plots with truth as the backzefwhhosrpf^ o a pdo|fa ties of the true artist. The work 01 k no single apparent fault in uus ions Mumph of acting and technical production. ■ NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Too seldom are films produced thai are so different that they start a nev trend in motion pictures. Such a pic_ ure is Walter danger's "Vogues ot 1938" which is the main feature at the New Princess Theatre. It combines a rare in its dynamic pace, hilarious humour by Sam and B^ and Spewack, grand stars in Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett, dazzling entertainment by New York's night club flvourUes The picture is in techincolour. The associate feature is Paramount Films' mystery thriller Bulldog Drummond Comes Back, starring John Barrymore and Louise Campbell. REX THEATRE. "Sworn Enemy," which is screening at the Rex Theatre, 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, Nat Pendelton, Lewis Stone,' Haiold Huber, Harvey Stephens,-and Samuel Hinds are also in the cast. 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. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "The Thirteenth Chair," a murder ■mystery which is showing at the Em-, pire Theatre, features Dame May Whitty, Madge Evans, Lewis Stone, Elissa Landi, Thomas Beck, and Henry Daniell and others. The locale is in India, with an inexplicable murder committed when 13 people are sitting around a table in the dark holding hands during a seance. Alice Faye, the Ritz Brothers, and Don Ameche head the cast in the new Twentieth-Century-Fox musical film, "You Can't Have Everything," which is also showing. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Fun-making Eddie Cantor and hitmaking Twentieth Century-Fox have combined their talents for the first time, in "Ali Baba Goes to Town," featuring Tony Martin,. Roland Young, June Lang, Louise Hovick, and a tremendous cast, which is showing at the Grand Theatre, Petone. The picture is the magnificent combmati6n of colourful-extravaganza, sidesplitting comedy, song hits, beautiful girls, exotic dances, brilliant dialogue, and lavish sets. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Romance and adventure ride the range with John Wayne in Zane Grey's latest action picture, Paramount's "Born to the West," which is screening at the Palace Theatre, Petone. Described as one of the funniest of the sophisticated comedies which began with "My Man Godfrey" is Paramount's "Love on Toast," starring Stella Ardler and John Payne, which will also be shown. The story concerns a male beauty contest, engineered by Miss Ardler, a recalcitrant winner, played by Payne, and- a battle of wits between the two. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Supporting Ronald Colman in "The Prisoner of Zenda," which is showing at the State Theatre, Petone, tomorrow, are Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Raymond Massey, C. Aubrey Smith, Mary Astor, and David Niven, who add their glory to a famous story of thrilling romance and breath-taking adventure. Colman plays the dual role of King Rudolf V and the adventurous Rasendyll in this tale of love and intrigue among the courts of Europe.

TIVOH THEATRE. "Heidi of the Alps," starring Shirley Temple, is screening at the Tivoli Theatre. 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 Treachcr 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. RIVOLI THEATRE. A surprise programme of two firstrun features supported by "Fury Over Spain" and selected shorts will be shown at the Rivoli Theatre tonight and Monday. "Souls at Sea," which will open on Tuesday, is ' the motion picture treatment of the famous trial of "Nuggin" Taylor, sea captain of the forties, who assumed command of the brig William Brown when that ship caught fire in mid-Atlantic-shortly after her master died., Taylor is played by Gary Cooper, and beautiful Frances Dee has the role of his sweetheart. George Raft, Henry Wilcoxon, Harry Carey, Olmype Bradna, Robert Cummings.'and Porter Hall are others in OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Laurel and Hardy, those whimsical and fantastical exponents of comedy were at the height of their glory in filming the hilarious sequences in the Hal Roach M.-G.-M. all-star feature, "Pick a Star," which heads the doublefeature programme showing at Our Theatre. The comedy cast includes Patsy Kelly, Jack Haley, and Rosina Lawrence. The story concerns the riotous misadventures of a small-town boy trying to get his sweetheart into pictures. Edmund Lowe and Florence Rice have the principal roles in the mystery thriller, "Under Cover of Night," the associate feature. CAPITOL THEATRE.- , Gary Cooper is cast as "Wild Bill" Hickofc in "The Plainsman," now screening at the Capitol Theatre, and lovely Jean Arthur portrays "Calamity Jane," famous frontier woman, who loved the silent, hard-fighting peace officer, but could not have him. Slim Summerville and his orphan horse add a new amusing element to "Off to the Races," Twentieth Century-Fox production .featuring the Jones Family, which is also on the bill. Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Russell Gleason, and Shirley Dean" are principal players. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. A young Italian tenor falls into the hands of a group of clever thieves and innocently aids in the theft of a valuable necklace in "Music for Madame,' screening at the Regal Theatre and starring the famed Metropolitan opera tenor, Nino Martini, with Joan Fontaine featured. "The Jungle Princess," a thrilling romance with Dorothy Lamour and Ray Milland, is the other attraction. SEASIDE THEATRE. A gripping romance, comedy, some of the finest character portrayals in years, and thrills of a thundering racetrack are highlights in "Saratoga," starring Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, at the Seaside Theatre. The latest and most thrilling adventures of fiction's world-famous hero are brought to the screen in "Bulldog Drummond at Bay," which is the associate attraction. , LENTEN CANTATAS. Tomorrow being Palm Sunday, the choir of Wesley ■ Church, Taranaki Street, will render at the evening service Harold Moore's beautiful cantata, "The Darkest Hour." The soloists will be Miss Myra Sawyer, soprano; Mr. H. F. Gardiner, baritone; Mr. Frank Skinner, tenor; and Mr. B. O. Stokes, bass. On Monday evening at 8 o'clock, also in Wesley Church, the combined choirs of Wesley Church and the Vivian Street Baptist Church will sing Stainer's "Crucifixion." Mr. Harry Wilson will conduct and Mr. H. Temple White will be at the organ. The soloists will be Mr. Owen Bonifant, tenor, and Mr. Ken Macauley, baritone; and minor parts will be taken by Mr. K. H. B. Strong and Mr. A. E. Gorringe. . WELLINGTON BURNS CLUB. On Monday, at 8 p.m., the Wellington Burns Club will hold, its monthly gathering in Nimmo's Hall, Willis Street. A varied concert of music, song, and story will be presented. Mr. R. L. Macalister will deliver an address on "A New Zealander's Impressions of Scotland," he having visited the country twice—during the war as a Digger" and a few years ago, when he toured "the land o' cakes" from "Maidenkirk to John o' Groats.' All friends interested are heartily welcomed. ORGAN RECITAL. The city's grand organ will be heard on Good Friday night, when an organ t viola, and vocal recital will be given in the Town HalL The organist will be Mr. Charles Collins, honorary City Organist, who will play pieces by Bach, Rossini, T. Tertius Noble, Dudley Buck, and others. Mrs. Frieda Meier will play viola solos by Marcello and Kreisler arrangements of compositions by Dvorak and Glazounoy. Mr. IC. Macaulay, a favourite baritone singer, will sing numbers by Mendelssohn and OHara. Miss Ormi Reid will be the accompanist. An enjoyable musical recital can be expected. SUNDAY PICTURES. At the De Luxe Theatre, tomorrow evening there will be screened an attractive double-feature programme. A 1938 season release, "Deadwood Pass," telling the story of "Billy the Kid," the Robin Hood of Rio Grande, is highly spoken of as a fast, gripping drama, with intense interest sustained throughout. Included in the cast are Tom Tyler (the new Western star), Wally Wales, Alice Wahl, Lafe McFee, Slim Whittaker, and Buffalo Bill, jun. Patrons are offered a preview of this picture. Also to be screened is "Paris Plane," starring John Loder, Molly, Lamont, Alan Jeayes, and Julie Suedo. This is an Imperial Airways liner mystery. Proceeds are for the funds of the Wellington Artillery Band. Patrons who wish to make sure of obtaining a seat may ring 53-080 (theatre telephone) after 6.30 p.m. tomorrow. SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT. At the St. James Theatre tomorrow evening a concert will 'be given for the benefit of Bryan Ashbridge, the gifted boy dancer whose friends are collecting funds to send him abroad for further study in his art. An attractive programme has been arranged, the principal numbers of which are as follows, and those taking part will include: —Members of the Frank Neil Revue Company, naval ratings from the Achilles (under the direction of PettyOfficer Heath), Bryan Ashbridge in two novelty acts, Melva Doney (the wellknown young dancer) in a brilliant and difficult Spanish toe dance, and a duo with Bryan Ashbridge, "Tonic Concert Party," Misses H. Gardner, L. McEwen, and Divine—all excellent vocalists, and members of the Phyllis Oliver Studios, with the star performer Esme Chalk, in dance exhibitions. Intending patrons are guaranteed an enjoyable programme. CENTRAL JAPAN PIONEER MISSION. the story of the Central Japan Pioneer Mission will be told and illustrated with lantern slides on Tuesday night by Miss Parr, who is on furlough in New Zealand. The mission was formed in 1925 in response to a vision given of the appalling need of the three most central provinces in the main island, and in the years since the work has grown rapidly. An advertisement appears in another column.