CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 143, 20 June 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Crently swaying tropical palms, silvery streams and pools, and beautiful Pacific seascapes make a perfect set- / ting for the -colourful background of "Her Jungle Love," the new technicolour film now;showing at the Regent Theatre. Dorothy Lamour, tall' and brunette, is well -cast as Tui'a, the beautiful girl wlio lives a strange, lonesome life on {he; island until two American aviators. Bob Mitchell (Ray Milland) and his co 7 pilot, crash spectacularly among' • the island palms. The three lead an unconventional though not unhappy life until the arrival of a fleet of native canoes from a neighbouring island, bringing with them as captive another missing aviator. Some striking scenes follow m the native temple, where the flying \ man is sacrificed to the sacred crocodile, a fate which is narrowly averted by the other two castaways. Concluding scenes feature a terrific volcanic upheaval in which the crocodile temple is destroyed, many of the worshippers themselves being thrown into the jaws of the creaturcs.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. Sometimes successful, at others indifferently received, Hollywood s combinations of male and female stars are selaom made without deep study by the film studios. The combination, of Jeanette McDonald and Alan. Jones foi "The Firefly," which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, promises to be as popular as any in recent years, particularly if it is. pursued in pictures as entertaining as The Firefly." The wealth of melody in the Friml songs, the excitement of the plot,/ the 'outstanding sequence showing how the, Duke of Wellington saved Spain from Napoleon, and the excellent singing of the two Principals, makes, the ' show memorable in every way. Some of the songs have a haunting quality and the Donkey Serenade" in particular has a tune that will not leave the hearer for days. Throughput the picture there are songs to please anybody and an interesting plot of espionage and counter-espion-age.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. | Happy-go-lucky George Formby, England's popular comedian, once again meets trouble and difficulties in his latest production "I See Ice, which is now showing at the St. James Thea-; tre. George, as a country photo-; grapher's assistant, has ambitions of joining a London newspaper as a cameraman, but when he arrives at London by accident he runs foul of the police. Then commences a wild chase through London. He succeeds m gaining temporary respite by masquerading as a /woman, and he brings his trick camera, concealed in his bow tie, into action to obtain some important _ photographs. By giving these to a big newspaper he is engaged to photograph an important ice hockey match which no photographer is allowed to attend. A screamingly funny climax :s reached when Geoge becomes confused as a referee and is compelled to control the game. Naturally opportunity is given George to sing some of his inimitable songs with his own banjo accompaniment.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The beautiful technicolour production "Wings of the Morning 1 ' is playing a return season at the Paramount Theatre. In charming settings the French actress Annabella moves in the gipsy world with dramatic incursions into titled life ln freland. The story turns on the gipsy "?orse on those of their race who marry outside their own:blood. The curse extends over three generations. "Wing's of the Mining" is a horse owned by the gipsies. Annabella figures in her refugee disguise of a gipsy boy and Henry Fonda is the self-sacrificing lover with a true .Irish heart. A ball scene features John McCormack in three Irish songs and when the action moves over to England we have a Derby Day in all its brilliance, with Steve Donoghue himself as the rider who brings "Wings" and the Gipsy Queen to triumph. A supporting feature, "One Mile from Heaven," takes the audience into a variety of American life, largely negro, with a good deal of dancing and plenty of incident. The principals are Claire Trevor, Lilly Blane, and Douglas Fowley.

KING'S THEATRE. Something entirely new and refreshing in the way of musical comedy is introduced in "Radio City Revels," now screening at the King's Theatre. The theme of the picture is a novel one, and with the popular Jack Oakie, Bob Burns, Kenny Baker, and Ann Miller in the starring roles it moves; with a swing. Bob Burns enacts the role of a country farmer with yearnings to become a great song writer like his teacher (Jack Oakie), who conducts lessons per correspondence. Oakie, however, is not as successful as the country lad thinks and he is quite unaware when he goes to the city that his teacher is penniless. Something in the nature of a miracle happens to put the teacher back on a prosperous path. The country lad falls asleep and in his sleep sings tuneful melodies that Oakie and his pianist copy. Oakie and his partner coin money but their plot is discovered in the end by HelenBroderick, who has designs on the singer. The associate attraction, "Hideaway," with Fred Stone in the leading role, is a film abounding with thrills, romance, and humour. ,

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Truly magnificent in its spectacular sweep, yet absorbing in its delightful intimacy, "A Tale of Two Cities," starring Ronald Colman, is showing at the New Princess Theatre. It takes its place among the immortal works of the screen, entertainment which cannot be praised too highly. Colman never has had a role which gave him such opportunity for the quiet humour, the high drama, and the poignancy he expresses so well. As Sydney Carton, whimsical, sardonic, brilliant wastrel, he reaches the peak of his artistic career. The associate feature is the R.K.O. Radio Pictures comedy "Mummy's Boys," starring Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey.

KILfcIRNIE KINEMA. "Victoria the' Great" and "45 Fathers" conclude ■ tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema. • "Black Legion," which opens tomorrow, will probably take rank alongside that other Warner film of several years ago, "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang," which was one of the most successful pictures any , studio ever turned out. The story ' concerns a young motor-car mechanic, played by Humphrey Bogart, who joins the Black Legion—purportedly a patriotic order —in a fit of bitterness over losing the foremanship of his shop to a foreignborn fellow-worker. The Legion, of course, is portrayed as a racket, enriching its promoters. "Dr. Syn," the associate feature, presents George Arliss in a truly remarkable double role —that of a preacher who, when not in the pulpiC is a daring smuggler. It is a costume piece, packed with action, excitement, and drama.

OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. May Robson has never been seen to better advantage than in the title role of "Woman in Distress," the main attraction at Our Theatre. The story tells of the professional rivalry between a handsome young star reporter and a beautiful girl on an opposition daily. The rivalry, however, is confined only to business, and througout the. story there is always an under-current of delightful romance. When the two attempt to aid an eccentric old lady in lolving the mysterious theft of her valuable painting, complications arise that speed the story to a thrilling climax. The associate feature is the exciting drama "The Devil is Driving," starring Richard Dix and Joan Perry.

< Cm AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. As a singing comedienne, gay, vivacious little Simone Simon makes a triumphant debut in the bright and snappy comedy "Love and Hisses, which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. Simone, as attractive and as saucy as ever, takes a lighter type of role than she has in the past and sings a number of catchy songs with charm and vitality. Walter Winchell and Ben Bernie, popular radio stars, cause many merry moments in their friendly fight over the pert Parisienne _ who promises to be a new sensation in entertainment. Ben brings Simone oyer from Paris for his night club and tries to get Walter, America's "one-man newspaper," to boost her up in his daily news session over the radio. His hopes are shattered, however, when Walter, wishing always to get the better of his rival, puts over the air the most adverse criticism of the new "find." Simone's rise to fame is quickly stopped, but Ben is not beaten and arranges things so that Walter "discovers" her under another name.

DE LUXE THEATRE. ' Excellent comedy is provided in "You're Only Young Once," now at the JDe Luxe Theatre. The scene is laid on famed Catalina Island, whither repair a complete family who are having their first real holiday in 11 years. All the family have their own and individual ideas about the way in which the holiday is to be spent, but the bestmade schemes do not always work out according to schedule. Lewis Stone plays the part of the father who has to bear the burden imposed upon him by a daughter who has just left college and an adolescent son. The girl, Cecilia Parker, is engaged to a mining -engineer, but that by no means prevents her entanglements with other young men of various sorts. The son, too, is a source of anxiety to his parents, who never know what he will be up to next. "State Police" is the other big film. In' this a young ne'er-do-well is enlisted in the State Police against his inclinations, his father being the chief.

STATE THEATRE. Catchy song tunes and clever dancing are always popular, and when there is added to them bright dialogue and continuous action, as is the case in "The Sky's the Limit," which is showing at the State Theatre, excellent entertainment is attained. Jack Buchanan takes first place in the picure and he is. capably supported by Mara Lossef and a host of other clever artists. Jack, as Dave Harber, a clever aeroplane designer, is giving his ideas to the company employing him until his friend and room-mate decides that Jack should have the benefit of those ideas himself. The friend has written a song and Jack sets out_to sell it to ■Madame Isobella (Mara Lossef). He is mistaken for his employer's nephew and Madame Isobella accompanies him to dinner at a cabaret; a new experience for her.' From then on the action becomes fast and furious, with many minor complications, mostly humorous.

REX THEATRE. "Ah, Wilderness!" Eugene O'Neill's great stage drama, brought to the screen in elaborate form by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is the current attraction at the Rex, Theatre. A smashing triumph for botij Wallace Beery, who stars as the lovable, alcoholic Uncle Sid, and Lionel Barrymore, who plays the father role enacted on the stage by George M. Cohan and the late Will Rogers, "Ah, Wilderness! tells the story of an American family in an_in-| tensely human manner. Williams is "one of the, best writers of sea stories in the world, and Adven ture's End," the second feature, is one of his best novels. John Wayne and Diana Gibson are starred.

ROXY THEATRE. Daring circus aerialists, the crack of the whip, rollicking clowns, the wild clamour of jungle animals, and the nasal twang of the side-show barker arf high lights in "The Shadow," . a thrilling back stage story of the circus, now at the Roxy Theatre. Charles Quigley and Rita Hayworth head the cast. The lives of the men who make and transport the world's most treacherous explosive, nitroglycerine, the background of the s "PP°^ g tu f rl ?" ture "Danger Patrol" whose plot turns on the romance between ,) v 0 people, Sally Eilers and John BeaL

TUDOR THEATRE. "In Old Chicago" is showing at the Tiidor Theatre, with Alice Braay, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, A]Lice Faye, and Andy Deyine m the leading i -roles. Long after its sensational features are forgotten, the lmmortal lovc story, the moving, sympathetic appeal of this saga of a pioneer family will live in the memories and hearts ox those, who see it. In its power to the emotion, the story of In Old Chicago" stands out as the nnest Darryl Zanuck has ever presentedlt is a story which has many of the beautiful qualities of famjly devotion The second feature will be Big Town Girl," with Claire Trevor.

SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. A dramatic story of a warden's daughter and the prisoner she dared to love is told in "Penitentiary, now at the Seaside Theatre. Walter Connolly, John Howard, Jean Parker and Robert Barrat are featured. Okay for Sound," the second attraction, first and foremost brings the Crazy Gang to the screen. This gang is comprised of three famous British humour teams.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Victoria the Great," a powerful dramatisation of the reign and romance of the famous British Sovereign with Prince Albert of: Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, is showing at the Capitol .theatre. Anna Neagle, popular English film actress, appears in the title role, co-starred with Anton Walbrcols,. international stage and screen star. Victoria's love idyll is pictured in intimate detail. In "45 Fathers," the second feature, with Jane Withers, Thomas Beck, Louise Henry, and the Hartmans, the star and the ventrilo- , quising Hartmans _ throw dancing, voices, and discretion to the winds.

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Melody for Two," now at the Palace Theatre, is a musical comedy based upon a new angle—the stiff competition between night club and radio bands for places on the big and profitable aerial networks.. The- picture features James Melton and Patricia Ellis. "Counsel for Crime," the second feature, tells the story of a lawyer whose entire life has been devoted to crooked politics, but who falls victim to his own cunning.

STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Greta Garbo reaches the greatest heights of her acting career in "Marie Walewska," which is showing at the State Theatre, and in which she is costarred for the first time with Charles Boyer in a memorable portrayal of the role o£ Napoleon Bonaparte. As the young Polish Countess, Marie Walewska, who encourages the infatuation of Napoleon to further the interests of her own country, but ultimately falls in love with him herself, Garbo once again stands out as the most distinguished actress on the screen today.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. A thrill-packed story of international spies and the lengths to which they will go to obtain secrets is brought to the screen in Paramount's "Bullc'og Drummond's Revenge," with John Howard once more in the title role, which is showing at the Grand Theatre. "Thrill of a Lifetime," new musical comedy-romance, which is the second feature, boasts three song hits. "Thrill of a Lifetime," "Sweetheart Time," and "Paris in Swing."

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Night Must Fall" and "Fight For Your Lady" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre, I Based on Baroness Orczy's bestselling novel, "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" commences tomorrow. Barry, K. Barnes/a newcomer to the screen, and already hailed as the most important star find since Robert Donat, . plays the titl.e role. Barnes is seen as Sir Percy Blakeney, an intrepid young Englishman, whose main occupation is snatching Irencn aristocrats from under the guillotine. His narrow escapes from the clutches of the tyrant Robespierre come to a brilliant climax that is both thrilling and spectacular. Sophie Stewart plays the part of Sir Percy's wife, who is captured by Robespierre only to he rescued by the League of the Pimpernel under her husband's leadership. Sandy Powell, Britain's inimitable comcdian of radio, stage, and screen is the star in "It's a Grand Old World," which is tho second feature Sandy is seen with Cyril Ritchard and Gina Malo. The picture. which is a mixture of music, mirth, and melody, brings Sandy to the scrcen as a football fan, a radio stai, a stasje hand, a lion tamer, and a gambler.

KIVOLI THEATRE. Based on Baroness Orczy's bestselling novel, "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Barry K. Barnes a newcomer to the screen, plays the title role. Barnes is seen as Sir Percy Blakeney, an intrepid young Englishman, whose main occupation is snatching French aristocrat from under the guillotine. His narrow escapes from the clutches of the tyrant Robespierre come to a brilliant climax that is both thrilling and spectacular. Sophie Stewart plays the part of Sir Percy s wite, who is captured by Robespierre only to be rescued by the League of the Pimpernel under her husband's leadership. The first story of the South Seas to be filmed in Technicolor, fittingly enough, is based on a tale by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne, Paramount's "Ebb.Tide," which is the associate feature. "Ebb Tide" tells the story of a pair of young lovers who meet under unfavourable circumstances in the South Seas, who go through perilous adventures and a typhoon together at sea, and who finally work out their destinies on an isle dominated by a madman., Ray Milland, Frances Farmer, and Oscar Homolka are featured in the film.

NEW OPERA HOUSE. "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry," brought back to the New Opera House, is not only a race story full of thrills, but it is also full of human interest of the best sort. The hero (Ra Hould, the New Zealand boy actor) through the death of his grandfather by shock following a race on which he has placed his all, is left to his own devices amongst a community where "anything goes," and has to assert himself, with little preparation for the rough and tumble of life, amongst a tough race track crowd. The leading jockey (Mickey Rooney) sees the sterling qualities beneath the unsullied skin of the young English lad, and it is this friendship which eventually smoothes out a very tangled skein. Partners with Rooney in making a self-reliant youth out of a self-effacing boy are Sophie Tucker, the keeper of the boarding-house where the jockeys live, and Judy Garland.

ALEXANDER KIPNIS. In "Wireless Weekly" the man who is now recognised as one of the greatest operatice and lieder singers of the day reveals something of the hardships and privations of his youthful years. Kipnis was born in Southern Russia. His parents v/ere very poor, but they gave him the best education possible under the circumstances. Until he reached the age of sixteen he had not even seen a piano. "What I did see," he writes, "was poverty, distress, and hunger. Hunger made me sing. Hunger was the tyrant that brought forth the singer." In his early teens, inspired by an intense; longing for music, Kipnis left his home and joined a small Russian opera company, which travelled from one province to another. His life at this period alternated between sorrow, hunger, and work. When the troupe disbanded Kipnis travelled to Warsaw, studied music there, and sang in the choirs, not to become an artist, but only to earn money to live and study further. He graduated from the Conservatorium, his voice was discovered, and then: "I took the first train out of Warsaw, allowing it to assume the responsibility of my further fate. Its destination was Berlin. There I studied four years with Grenzebach. In 1915 I signed up for.my first engagements in Hamburg, and during five years there and at the Royal Opera House in Wiesbaden I gathered my opera experience and successes." Through the enterprise of the National Broadcasting Service New Zealanders are to be afforded the opportunity of seeing as well as hearing this worldfamous singer. His first concert in Wellington will be given in the Town Hall on Saturday. Associated with Mr. Kipnis will be the brilliant young New Zealand solo pianist and accompanist, Noel Newson. The box plan is at the D.I.C.

COMMUNITY SING. This week's community sing will | be held in the Town Hall tomorrow as the hall will not be available on Wednesday. The sing will commence at noon, and the proceeds will be in aid of the Mayor's Metropolitan Relief Fund. The song leaders will be Mr. Will Mason and Mr. Charles Proctor, with Mr. Frank Crowther at the piano and Mr. Charles Collins at the grand organ. Mr. Elton Black and Miss Alice Benrjetto, Australia's popular entertainers, have again offered their services, and patrons are assured of an hour of bright and breezy entertainment.

"THE FLYING DUTCHMAN." Rehearsals in connection with the Royal Wellington Choral Union's second concert will commence at St. John's Schoolroom, Dixon Street, at 7.45 p.m. tomorrow. The work will be Wagner's grand opera, "The Flying Dutchman," which has not hitherto been performed in the Dominion by other than a professional company, and the forthcoming presentation by the Royal Choral Society, under the direction of Mr. Stanley Oliver, is being eagerly anticipated. Mr. Oliver will be present at the practice room tomorrow to interview intending choristers.