CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 112, 14 May 1938, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE. From the days of "Escapade" and Earlier, when he was just another featured player, Frank Morgan has grown in stature as one of the comedians of the screen. And in the ■newMetro-Goldwn-Mayer production "Beig, Borrow, or Steal," which opened a. season at the St. James Theatre yes- ' tetday, tie has a role which suits him exactly.'' Cast as the petty chiselling escort of, American tourists in Europe, using a variety of club badges to promote sales of works of art to his victims, hie hais plenty of opportunity for fun throughout Trouble strikes him when he grandiloquently offers the Use of his chateau for his daughter's wedding to the vice-president of a unall-town bank back home. The trouble is that he has no chateau. But a timely palming of a fake Murillo . enables him to hire a qastle and to . entertain his wife and daughter and the. relatives of his son-in-law to be. Unfortunately, complications in the .person of John Beale crop up to persuade his daughter on mamage other than in -the irttended' direction; and meanwhile there are constant compliI cations which give Morgan grey hairs and the audience plenty of laughs. Florence Rice plays the daughter charmingly, and John Beale is an adept stealer of ladies' hearts. The supporting programme, including a Pete Smith oddity,, an: excellent coloured cartoon, and "newsreels, helps to create a programme of remarkable and entertainment standard. • NEW OPERA HOUSE. Couples contemplating a divorce be- • cause of an Occasional tiff, or even now and' thien a downright row, will see how ridiculous they may become in "The Awful Truth," now screening at the New Opera House. Irene Dunne and .Cary Grant are the couple who imagine themselves unhappy together, and, after a particularly salty quarrel, make a bee line for divorce, arid .see it through. The trouble is not the custody of the cMildren, for this is a modern couple; but a dog, which is so important tci both, of them that for a while it seems as though-there must be a hitch. Once, divorced, they have time to think, and- it soon dawns on them that they: havemade a mistake,; and are really miserable apart. Especially is this realised jon the stipulated occasions when the husband meets the dog, #hich 'is. in the custody of the wife. . Each is irieridly with the opposite sex, and, if there is not a young man in tlie room with the dog and: the lady, there is' a public demonstration elsewhere, where the husband is amply consoling himself. It is'a brilliant comedy. . It. is put an end to by the former .wife who, intent on getting her husband back again at all costs, attends . his engagement party in the role of his sister,' and' succeeds in i thoroughly breaking it up. The dog is' soon pro- -, perly at home once more. There is fun- in every moment of a cleverlyplotted social muddle. The supporting programme is well in keeping with the main attraction. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Cardie Lombard has sprung to the front line of women film humorists in recent, years,'and her latest film, "True 'Confession," now at the' Paramount surpasses any of her previous efforts. The film has, in addition to Miss Lombard, a highly-talented cast, with the popular Fred Mac Murray in ■ the male. lead.,, The whole film is glorious comedy. It deals with the life ■ -of a young married couple. Fred MacMurray, the husband; is a lawyer of some repute, and is called upon to der , fend: hfei'Wife (Carole Lombard) in a . murder' case. The task is difficult owing to the fact that 1 she is known by her tidsband to be one of those human " beings. Who rarely tell the]truth, and, although she did not commit the mur-. der, her ,husband finds he is unable* to believe her. She, is finally driven to 'pie extent of .making a; confession, ahd the' husband makes - her plead guilty in self-defence. The woman is acquitted, but later in the piece a bogus criminologist, superbly played by John Barrymore,..is; discovered to be the real murderer. Barrymore has a rather unusual role,. but .acquits, himself well arid his efforts add to the general gaiety of the picture. As a detective' Edgar Kennedy has ' few rivals as far as stupidity is concerned, and he is well to the fore, as is the prosecuting attorney. XPorter Hall). There is little doubt that , the. picture's outstanding success is due in no small , measure to the . directing of the well-known Wesley Buggies. Unusually attractive sup- ' ports are shown; they include" a vivid newsreel showing the- situation m Europe when Austria was;.taken over by Germany., KING'S THEATRE. There is a double-feature programme 61-' first-release pictures at the Kings Theatre. : The title of the main film, "Thanh- You, Mr. Moto," gives no clue really to the type of picture, except to readers of the American publication "The Saturday Evening ; Post." To them the character "Mr; Moto" is well known as the ace,sleuth of J. P. Marquand's detective stories. ;The story is invested with any amount of action, suspense,' and thrills. It concerns seven scrolls, supposed td be . the key to fabulous . riches, and the efforts of Mr. Moto to thwart those seeking to gain possession of the i scrolls and . plunder ' the. '■ treasure. , There is a thrilling climax to this -gripping . picture ip, which Mr. Moto' triumphs over the gang of thieves. Among those in , . the supporting- cast ,are Pauline Frederick, a star in the days of the silent films, Thomas Beck, and Jayne Regan. The second feature is a comedy-romance with. the title, of '"Time: Out for Romance." starring Claire Trevor and Michael Whalen. Claire Trevor plays the part of a hitch-hiking heiress, who is given a lift by Michael Whalen as; the driver of one of a caravan of new cars being driven from the factory* to the market on the coast. With the girl trying to dvAge the leader of the caravan and the police whom her mother has set on her trail, the. story from then on is crammed full of action t PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "The Mutiny, of the Elisnore," a thrilling adaptation ■ of, Jack London's popular adventure-rcmance of the same name, is showing at the Palace Theatre. The film stars Paul Lukas, with Lynn Harding,, Kathleen Kelly, and Clifford Evans iu support. ' "Annapolis Salute," the second attraction, is the story of a bitter feud between two midshipmen at a. naval college. James Ellison, Marsha Hunt, Harry jCarey, and Van Hefilh have the. featured roles. ; GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. . Franchot Tone, Maureen O'Sullivan, v 9nd Virginia Bruce head the cast of "Betw'efen Two Women," M-G-M's stir- • ring drama of the liVes and loves of .' those who heal the wounds of humanity .in one of the world's largest hospitals, which is showing at the Grand Theatre. . In the supporting cast are Cliff; Edwards, Helen Troy, Janet Beecher, Leonard Penn, and Charley Grapewin. ; STATE THEATRE. PETONE. "Stella Dallas," starring Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, ana Ann Shirley, is showing at the State Theatre. The film, which, carries an appeal to the emotions in its Simple and powerful story, depicts the love life of Stella, a beautiful and pleasure-starved mill girl, who, after a brief romance, marries Stephen Dallas, outside her social sphere. They soon discover they are definitely mismated. Their baby is born, and Stella's only redeeming quality, seems to be her: understanding ..'C heart'.expressed in ! her love for her little daughter rLaurel. . BROOKLYN THEATRE. Jane Withers, supported by Robert Kent and Joan Davis, are the stars in the main attraction at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight. "Step Lively, Jeeves" will , also be screeined. The cast includes Arthur Treacher and Patricia JEllis, Then will,also b« a full suspDvtfuff programme.

cm AND SUBURBAN" THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. One might truthfully say of Bobbj Breen that he is the Deanna Durbir of his sex, and this is well borne om in his latest film, "Hawaii Calls," now screening at the -Plaza Theatre. Supert photography has supplied an idea! | background for his rendering of native sbrigs, and he seorces a distinct hit ir the popular "Song of the Islands." The opportunity arises for him to sing the old favourite "Macushla," and he does it with a depth of feeling. These arc but two of a number of popular songs he renders. In addition to possessing a remarkably fine soprano voice, his acting for one so young is almost flaw less. The story deals with the life oi a boy, who with a friend, stows awaj on a ship at Sari Francisco bound for Hawaii. His friend. is a Hawaiiar and is anxious to return to his people They are discovered on board by the screen's greatest pessimist, Ned Sparks and it is the, latter who gives to the film many huinorous incidents. Thej escape from the ship on arrival at port and depart to live with the relatives of his friend. Ned Sparks misses .his boat and stays, too. So do a banc of crooks wno are endeavouring tc steal the plans of an American air base There, are many thrills as Bobby and his friend stumble on the hideaway oi the crooks, and in a stirring finish thej manage to rescue the plans. The actual final scene is tinged with sadness as Bobby, on board a liner returning tc America, sings "Aloha Oe" to his many friends on the shore; ■ There are alsc excellent' supports. DE LUXE THEATRE. Although it is a quarter of a century since "On Our Selection" first raised roars of laughter, age has not dimmed its appeal, but rather the reverse. As a • talkie "On Our Selection has proved a much greater draw than as a stage play, and. the amusing adventures of Dad, Dave," and "Mum" and all the rest of the famous family, provide film entertainment of the highest order. Although first produced in Australia some five years ago. On Our Selection" will be joyously received as a revivifying tome by hundreds of film patrons in Wellington, no matter whether seen, it before or not, and the De Luxe Theatre, where "On Our Selection" has entered upon- a- season, is likely to,record a series of full houses. This new release of "On Our ' Selection" stars Bert Bailey, Fred Mac Donald, Alfreda Bevan and " Willie DriscoU,' who make an excellent team. This Cinesound film, which incidentally is Australians first and best production to date, is too cood to miss The humour, without being forced, never lets up moment the film begins untd the final GaSrs and .their nefarious doing^ STATE THEATRE. Romancing stars, dancing stars, comedy stars, smgmg star| e J:he N( . i star> wttfi: Shirley at tap-speed; and other talent includesPhyllis sroo k s Helen berg. Kate Douglas Wiggins story suggested the merry, m Sir TTari Timbers and Don uttiingcr. Six 85 rhythm songs stud the happy musical score. Songs which aad Grain Flake J," by Pollack_ and Mitchell; "Come and Get hv Pokras and Yelen; anld Tl oy S" wfth mu S ic by Raymond Scott End lyrics by Pollack and Mitchell. addition, Shirley sings, a medl<sy of all her famous hits of the past. TUDOR THEATRE. Edgar Wallace's greatest thriller, "The Squeaker," heads the progrOTime now showing at the Tudor Theatre. Edmund Lowe, Sebastian Shaw, Ta marA Desni. Ann Todd, and iiooerx Newton star. "Hawaiian Buckaroo, With Smith Ballew, the singing cowboy Pat O'Brien, and Evelyn Knapp, is the second attraction. .It' is rousing outdoor adventure,, and ranges in scene from : Arizona's borders to the shores of Hawaii. CAPITOL AND SEASIDE THEATRES. The. uproarious antics of tKe absurd Marx Brothers—Groucho, Harpo, and Chico—together with the admirable supporting work of Maureen O Sullivan" and : Allan Jones, . combine to make "A Day'at the. Races, now at the Capitol and Seaside one of the most amusing photoplays of this year. Its hilarious plot shifts between a sanatorium and a race tracK, with Groucho in the role; of , a doctor, Chico as a jockey, and Harpo as a race track tout. Combining the tang of the sea with an excellent Ben Ames Williams plot _ featuring John Wayne and Diana Gibson, Adventure's End," a whaling story, of the Southern seas in 1850, is the second attraction. "Adventures End. is a story of a masterful young man who plucked pearls from under the war canoes and cannibalistic forays of the i natives of the South Sea, until things got so hot. for him that he packed up his hoard of pearls in his loincloth ahd swam to a passing schooner out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "All Baba Goes-to Town," starring Eddie Cantor, heads the double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre. It is the most magnificent combination of colourful extravaganza, side-splitting comedy, song hits, > beautiful girls, exotic dances, brilliant dialogue, and lavish sets in the history of screen comedies. A notable supporting!, cast includes Roland Young, Tony Martin, and June Lang. The associate feature, "Fair Warning," starring J. Edward Bromberg and Betty Furness, is a story of mystery , and adventure at a fashionable desert resort. empire theatre, island bay. Furious fun • and melodious music are contained in the feature comedy, "Pick a Star," now at the Empire Theatre. Romantic and human-interest interludes of Jack Haley and Rosina Lawrence—aided and hampered by Patsy Kelly and Mischa Auer—as the home-town boy and girl making the trek from Waterloo, Kansas, to Hollywood, California, vie with the hilarious episodes of Laurel and Hardy making a movie and the glamour ,and tunes of Lyda Roberti in a film opera to reveal close-ups and behind-the-scenes of the studios. Combining the best features of the greatest detective novels of the past, Universal's thrilling production j of the famous Crime Club novel, "The j Westland Case," is the second, attraction. REGAL THEATRE. KARORI. I A powerful sea drama taken from real life brings Gary Cooper. and George Raft to the screen as mates of a slave ship in "Souls at Sea," now at the Regal Theatre. With them are Frahces Dee and Henry Wilcoxon, and a score of other important players. The story is a dramatisation of the tragedy of the famous ship William Brown and i the trial of its captain for manslaughter on the high seas. The story was written from the testimony of survivors which Paramount found in old newspaper files of the 1840's. The supporting programme, as usual, contains many entertaining features

TIVOLI THEATRE. Presented by an impressive cast, headed by Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, and Melvyn Douglas, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer': screen version of Kipling's "Captain! Courageous" is showing at the Tivol: Theatre. Freddie Bartholomew crown; his brilliant young career in the role of the rich American boj who is swept from the deck oJ a liner in a gale off the Granc Banks, rescued by a fishing crew, anc trained to live the life of the hardj men of the sea. Spencer Tracy, as th< Portuguese fisherman, is magnificen and Lionel Barrymore gives an extra ordinary performance as Captain Dis ko, skipper of the schooner "We'n Here." When a well-known doctoi murders his wife and plants clues tc implicate his rival for her affections he stirs up a cyclone of troubles in the police department and , newspapers John Barrymore is the doctor, anc Harvey Stephens is the man he plan: to take the blame for his crime, ir Paramount's "Night Club Scandal,' which is the associate feature. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Dead End," the one spot in New York where the poor and the rich live side by side, is tne background for the stirring film of that name now at the Rivoli Theatre. The story is that oJ a young slum-dwelling girl (Sylvia Sidney) who attempts to save her young brother from a career oi crime for which he is quickly heading. She is in love with a young and poor architect (Joel McCrea), but he is devoted to a girl who, having risen from the slums, is living in luxury. "Baby Face" Martin, a hunted killer, decides to return to the place which started him on his life of violence tc see "his mother and'former sweetheart His risky exploit is wasted, however, for he finds that his mother despises him and the girl is not at all what he expected. He decides to kidnap the son of a rich taan who lives in the neighbourhood, but a thrilling gun battle between his partner and him and the architect ends this plan dramatically. The boys of the Dead End gang /are those who played in the sensational New York stage success. . NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. With brilliant acting performances from Joan J Crawford, Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Franchot Tone, Melvyn Douglas, and James Stewart, "The Gorgeous HuSsy," now at the New, Princess Theatre, is one of the finest pictures to come from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studies. Perhaps the most notable high light of the picture is the teaming of Miss Crawford with the sensational Robert Taylor. The romantic pair offers something new in love teams and their acting together gives the story its most poignant and unforgettable moments. The associate feature,is Paramount Films' musical comedy, "This Way Please," which features Charles '("Buddy") Rogers, Ned Sparks, and Betty Grable/REX THEATRE. A ruthless gang of cattle-rustlers, hidden in their mountain fastness, defy anyone on earth to "get" them. That is the challenge taken up by "Hopalorfg Cassidy" in "Hopalong Rides Again," which is showing at the Rex Theatre. George Hayes is again cast as "Windy," and Russell Hayden, playing "Lucky." When it is time to do some, town reforming and elect an honest man to the Mayor's chair, Lynne Overman, as a detective, and Roscoe Karns, as a reporter, rock the town's foundations in Paramount's "Partners in Crime," which is the second feature. ' REGAL THEATRE, KARORL A powerful sea drama taken from real life brings Gary Cooper and George Raft to the screen as mates of a slave ship in "Souls at Sea," now at the Regal Theatre. With them are Frances Dee, Henry Wilcoxon, Olympe Bradna, and a score of other important players. The story is a dramatisation of the tragedy of the famous i packet William Brown, and the, trial ! of its captain for manslaughter on the high seas. ROXY THEATRE. "The Game That Kills," now at the Roxy Theatre, is a thriller dealing with j something different in the world of [ sports. Ice hockey has been called I by many the fastest game of them all !. . . and just about the most dangerous. Here is a picture , that brings all the action and thrills of a dozen hockey contests, combined with underworld intrigue and young romance. Based on the ingenious premise of a wealthy young man, feigning amnesia to escape from his matrimonial troubles, "There Goes the Groom," starring Ann Sothern, Burgess Meredith. ' and Mary Boland, is the second feature. KILBHJNIE KINEMA. "Thin Ice," Twentieth Century-Fox's gay and magnificent musical, starring Sonja Henie and Tyrone Power, handsome .young screen star, is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. A star in her first picture, Miss Heme, in Thin Ice performs 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. Spencer Tracy demonstrates his phenomenal ability for the fourth successive. venture on They Gaye Him a Gun," the second feature. SUNDAY PICTURES. At the De Luxe Theatre tomorrow night there will be screened a delightful comedy, "Letting in. the Sunshine. This film is full of mirth and merriment, with thrill upon thrill. Albert Burdon made a name for himself jis a splendid comedian in "The Maid of the Mountains," and now,v with Renee Gadd, a very lively comedienne, he scores a- pronounced , success in "Letting in the Sunshine." Others in the cast are Molly Lamont, Henry Mollison, Ethel WanVick. Tonie Bruce, Herbert Langley, Eric le Free, and Henry Longhurst. Every ingredient for firstclass entertainment has been included in the production of this film, which highly delighted large audiences wherever , shown. Proceeds are for the funds of' the Wellington Artillery Band. Reservations can be made by telephoning the theatre (53-080) after 6.30 p.m. tomorrow. MONDAY'S WRESTLING. The wrestling bout which will be presented by the Wellington Association on Monday night, is one which appeals as a contest which will provide gruelling and spectacular mat work. "Singing Cowboy" Pat Fraley will make his second appearance at the Town Hall, his opponent being Pat Meehan, the stalwart Canadian. Whereever. Fraley has appeared he has created such a fine impression with the spectators that he has immediately been in demand for' further contests, having had three contests in succession at Auckland. He has all the qualities that , appeal most strongly to the spectators and is undoubtedly, one of the best wrestlers ever to visit this country. Meehan is the type of wrestler against whom a rugged matman- like Fraley appears to the best advantage. He is a big and splendidly-built man with strength and speed in plenty, and he has the ability to show to advantage against either a "straight" wrestler or one who restorts to more rugged measures. He was twice amateur heavyweight champion of Canada and has built up an exceptionally fine professional record. There will be amateur preliminaries. SKATING. Skating is proving very popular this year and the sport is in full swing at the Golden Gate Rink. At this rink competent instructors coach learners in the art of the sport. PAJLMERSTON NORTH RACES. The Railway Department announces specially reduced fares and special train arrangements for the race meeting at Awapuni on May 21. CAMBRIDGE TERRACE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - The 51st anniversary services of the Cambridge Terrace Congregational Church will be held tomorrow. In the morning the preacher will be the Rev. A. B. Kilroy, minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, and in the evening the Rev. Arthur Muriel, 8.A., M.C., minister of the church. Special items will be sung by the choir. The anniversary social will be <held on Tuesday at 7.45 pan.