CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 151, 29 June 1938, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. A bright, witty comedy in the new tradition is "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife,' istarring Gary Cooper and Claudette \ Colbert, now showing at the Regent 1 Theatre. It is one of the best films t of its type to be released to date, and t the type is that which has most appeal a to the Wellington public. The story i is that of a young American mil- a lionaire,' Michael Brandon, who, dur- i: ing a holiday in the French- Rivi- v era, still manages to keep on with the o business of making money on the New ti York; stock market. Complications set c in when he meets Nicole de Loiselle, c the beautiful daughter of a rather un- a scrupulous French nobleman. Uhfor- r tunately, and with rather an inspiring ( show of inexperience, he adopts an s almost purely business angle in his £ attempts to make Nicole the eighth V Mrs. Brandon. The girl herself takes a a hand, with the result that the great o Brandon is found for the first ; time c with a defeat in a business deal. The r Bart of Brandon ig played by . Gary s Cooper with the same delightful, s serious-faced drollery which character- d ised ''Mr. Deeds Goes to Town-" c ST. JAMES THEATRE. | C One of the best British Comedies to date, "I See Ice," starring the happy-go-lucky George Formby, is showing for . a second week at the St; James Theatre, i Supporting the comedian- is ; Kay „ Walshe, the attractive heroine, and r many others. Formby is a country i photographer's assistant, with, ambi- ■ tions of joining a London newspaper , as a cameraman. When he ar- J lives at London by • accident ■he : runs foul of the police. Then com- 1 mences a wild chase through London. } Everywhere George goes, he is J hounded by a policeman. Re J succeeds in gaining temporary re- I spite by masquerading as a woman, and £ ho brings his trick camera, cohcealed z in his bow tie, into action to ® obtain some important photographs. } By giving these to a big l newspaper 1 he is engaged to photograph an import- 1 ant ice hockey match which no pho- « tographer is allowed to . attend. A { screamingly funny climax is reached •when George becomes confused as a I referee and is compelled to control the game. , 1 . ' MAJESTIC THEATRE. ] When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer an- i nounced its intention of produe&g in c England pictures comparable to any J made in Hollywood, and using its top i ranking stars, both England' and f America eagerly looked forward to the 1 result. "A Yank at Oxford," now at t the Majestic Theatre, the first of the t M.GM. British-made productions, 1 more than fulfils the promise.' A he- : man, athletic characterisation on the t part of Robert Taylor, rounded t and £ convincing performances by Lionel J Barrymore and Maureen O'Sullivan, l and fine contributions by a group of 1 outstanding British players, make the s film memorable. Particularly to be i noted are Vivien Leigh as the "other 1 girl," Griffith Jones as Taylor's under- 1 graduate enemy, Edmund Gwenn as i the Oxford Dean, C. V. France as the i tutor, and Edward Rigby as Taylor's < "scout." The consistently fast tempo of the film, its comedy, its thrilling athletic sequences, are all attributable to the guiding hand of the director, Jack Conway. ? ■ { PARAMOUNT THEATRE. E "Her Jungle Love," the technicolour J film which is now at the Paramount | Theatre, is rather misleading in title. J The name suggests a film of the Tarzan < variety with a jungle setting, but actu- J ally it has been cast against the more < placid background of a South Sea 1 island. Dorothy .Lamour is admirable J as Turq, who pursues" ~a strange'.and 1 lonesome existence on , the.: island un- 1 til into her life comes two American aviators, Bob Mitchell v (Ray Mill and) and his co-pilot Johnny ; Wallace (Lynne Overman), who stage a spectacular crash amid the island j palms. The not unhappy though ; unconventional life of the three is ar- : rested by the arrival of a fl'eet of native > \ canoes from a neighbouring island, ' bringing with them as captive another ; missing aviator. There is any amount • of action in the scenes that follow, and one of the most striking is the sacrifice ' to the sacred crocodile of the natives' 1 captive, a fate incidentally averted 1 with no little difficulty by Mitchell and 1 Wallace. KING'S THEATRE. The mysterious beauty and fascination of the South Sea Islands forms the background for Bobby Breen's latest , production "Hawaii Calls," which is i now showing at the King's Theatre. , As in all his other films, Bobby's voice is given full scope. He plays the part : of an orphan who stows away with a ' Hawaiian boy on board an ocean liner , at San Francisco. After eluding 1 authority for practically the whole voyage to Hawaii they : are compelled to jump overboard at Hawaii' and seek respite in the neighbouring . isle of . Maui. Here in the course of an idyllic existence the boys reveal a great: espionage plot: The hilarious exploits of a carefree but debonair young man, who is employed by a newspaper, to be sacked several times a day. as a stunt when complaints are received from the puljjic, are depicted in. the associate feature, "Too Many Wives." The stellar roles are taken by Ann Shirley and John Morley. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. The magic of the motion picture camera brings back to life some of the most stirring and colourful days in history in Paramount's "Wells Fargo," a romance with Joel McCrea and Frances Dee, which is- showing at the New Princess Theatre. The romance is built around the family fortunes 'of McCrea and Miss Dee, a pioneer. Western family, from the time of the first pony express rider carried his bag of precious mail. out •of St. Louis for the remote mining camps of the high Sierras, and .ends with the close of the war between the States. The associate feature is Me,tro-Gold-wyn-Mayer's "Exclusive Story," starring Franchot Tone and Madge Evans. GRAND THEATRE, FETONE. "Navy Blue, and Gold," a colourful and spirited story of life at the United States Naval Academy, with a timely emphasis on the football activities of the famous training school, is showing at the Grand Theatre. Robert Young heads a cast of film favourites in >the new picture, sharing honours' with James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Florence Rice, and Billie Burke, Others in prominent roles include Tom Brown, Samuel S, Hinds, Paul Kelly, and Barnett Parker. "County Hospital," with Laurel and Hardy, is also , on the programme. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Depicting the jams into which a girl can get herself who has too much money and not enough common-sense, "The Footloose Heiress," is showing at the Palace Theatre. Ann Sheridan and Craig Reynolds co-star in this picture. At the witching hour of midnight a man breaks into a stranger's house and carries on where another left off! What was he alter? Romance, adventure? Or was there some deeper, ■more sinister plot behind his masquerade? "Midnight Intruder," the second feature, tells the rest, with Louis Hayward and Barbara Read in the leading roles. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Fred Astaire makes merry in : a costarring role with George Burns and Gracie Allen in RKO Radio's romantic musical. "A Damsel in Distress," a P. G. Wodehouse story, spiced-with captivating tunes by the late George Gershwin, which is showing at the State Theatre. With his engaging comedy Astaire introduce:; what are said to be the most amazing dance routines of his career.- Supporting Astaire and the two vntlio comics _in this comedv is a brilliant cast including lovely Joan Fontaine.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRE?

' PLAZA THEATRE. jj, "The Divorce oE Lady X," now u Lf.reening at the Plaza Theatre, pro- i; vides not only a large number of de- a lightfully funny incidents, but gives - the star. Merle Oberon, another chance i to show her fine acting ability. In a addition to it being a very neat story | it; is in technicoluor. Miss Oberon en- t acts the role of Leslie, a charm- a ing, attractive, but decidedly self- C willed young debutante, who is I obliged to remain in a hotel owing o to an impenetrable fog. Accommo- n dation at the hotel is taxed to capa- h city, but Leslie, determined to secure a.bed for-the night, slinks into the bedroom of the young barrister, Laurence Olivier, and within a remarkably short space of time she has secured possession of his bedroom, bed, and pyjamas, a With the air of a martyr he retires to t an adjoining room. In the early hours t of the following morning Leslie, still I clad in • the young gentleman's pyja- f mas, departs, and explanations are c sought i by an irate grandfather when J she arrives home in this garb. Inci- I dentally, she leaves the hotel without " disclosing her identity, and, of course, ( this leaves the way open for a series 1 of even more delightful episodes. c t DE LUXE THEATRE. I Those who appreciate action and ex- " citement in their film entertainment c have but to go to the De Luxe Theatre i and see the current programme to get t all they can reasonably want. Gene i Aiitry,' the singing cowboy, is starred t in "Red River Valley," which is some- t thing superior to the ordinary cowboy run of .films. Advantage has been taken of that stupendous engineering work, the Boulder Dam on the Colorado River, to provide, a unique background, and the construction and com- j pletion of this dam plays a prominent i part in a rousing story wherein An- t zona and. Californian ranchers ride and i shoot and make love with an abandon j that quickens the pulse. Gene Autry i is given full opportunity for exercis- I ing his vocal talent and he does so very j effectively. Another popular screen 1 hero, Jack Holt, appears in "Under i Suspicion," which is also a picture re- 1 plete with action and excitement. < STATE THEATRE. < Three • popular players, Loretta { Young, Warner Baxter, and Virginia t Bruce have the leading roles in "Wife, £ Doctor, and Nurse," a cleverly deyised £ drama Which is now showing at the j State theatre. Warner Baxter, a pro- ■ minent doctor, marries one of his { pretty patients (Loretta Young), a ; bright Society girl. All goes well until , the young wife becomes suspicious of , the doctor's nurse (Virginia Bruce), who, she believes, is in love with her husband. Miss Bruce denies this but at the same time realises her strong attachment to the young man. ] She tells the doctor of her love for j him and leaves his employ. She has t become indispensable to him, however, i and her absence causes a great change ( in him. Loretta notices this, and tries £ to make a workable arrangement for j the-trio, and eventually Miss Bruce i returns to the doctor. Things do not j work to plan, but after many unusual . complications all ends well. j REX THEATRE. 1 Some like romance, some like thrills, ! some like comedy, and Paramount s , "Big Brown Eyes," which is showing 1 at the Rex Theatre, with Joan Bennett ; and Cary Grant sharing the leading ■ roles, will please them all, because it has everything. The supporting cast , includes Walter Pidgeon, Lloyd Nolan, 3 and Alan Baxter. "Timothy's Quest,' j Paramouht's presentation of the fam- j ous story by Kate Douglas Wiggin, is j the associate feature. In its quaintnegs, simplicity, and humour, this film bears ia resemblance to "Mrs. Wiggs of . the Cabbage Patch." KILBIRNIE KINEMA. —Love at Work," starring Ann Sothern, Jack Haley, Mary Boland, and' Edward Everett Horton, is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Aided and abetted by a merry comedy cast the film bursts forth with brand-new > ideas in laughing and loving. ' Oh, : Mr Porter," the second feature, with ■ Will Hay, abounds in rich, spontane- ! ous humour, and moves _ in lightning , tempo through side-splitting situations ' and uproarious complications to a magnificent climax. ROXY THEATRE. Something new in the way of a feminine character on the screen is shown in "Smart Blonde," a mystery-comedy-drama starring Glenda Farrell, which is showing at the Roxy Theatre. "Torchy Blane" is the new character. The picture is primarily a murder mystery, yet it has plenty of laughs, and occasional songs and dances. Entertainment of a "different sort is provided in "Living on Love, the second feature. OtJR'THEATRE, NfeWTOWN. • "Remember Last Night," the thrilling mystery- drama with Edward Arnold heading 'an all-star cast, is the main attraction showing at Our Theatre at reduced'prices. The story opens with a gay progressive party made up of three wealthy couples and a bachelor. The party breaks up as it progresses, and nobody is quite, sure what happened until the next morning, when one of the members of the party was found murdered in bed in his luxurious mansion. Prom that point on the story moves rapidly with the introduction of an ace detective and a hypnotist. The gay comedy, The Affair of Susan," starring Zasu Pitts, is the second attraction. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Adopting a technique of story con- - struction that is entirely new on the screen, Metr.o-Goldwyn-Mayer mtroi duces a novel picture in "Night Must . Fall," now at the Capitol Theatre. The . film is a daring venture in the produc- ! tion field, but even more experimental ! for Robert Montgomery who deliberate ■ ly chose to drop his accustomed ■ heroic roles for the characterisation of • a pathological killer. Drama, comedy, • mystery, and suspense are blended m "Panic on the Air," the second attraction, featuring Lew Ayres and Florence 1 Rice. T EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. , A famous Paris banker is mysteri- ; ously killed arid at Monte Carlo a r courageous girl, masquerading as a . gay adventuress, begins the most dangerous game a woman in love can play i in "Dinner at the Ritz," now at the Empire Theatre. Annabella, sensaL* ional discovery of two continents, is starred in this picture as tensely exj citing as she is excitingly lovely. Murder and mirth are judiciously mixed in "Night Club Scandal," the second feature. John Barrymore, Lyiine Overman, Louise Campbell, and Charles 1 Bickford are in the cast. i /' - - N REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. " One of the screen's funniest men, s Charlie Ruggles, plays his first drac matic role in Paramount's "Exclusive," s a dashing story of a newspaper war in u. a large city which is showing at the Regal Theatre. Ruggles plays the role ~ of a broken-down newspaperman who Z still cherishes the high ideals of honest j journalism. This forces him to expose his daughter, played by Frances Far--1 mer, when , she causes a man to take his life by exposing him in a rival newspaper. Fred Mac Murray plays the male romantic lead. £ SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Working under intolerable hardships I in a l'ever-infestcd tropical jungle, a u heroic scientist finds his efforts to „ save countless thousands of human p lives thwarted by (he death of a single „ individual in "The Crime of Dr. Hal- £ lot," now at the Seaside Theatre. e Author of more best-selling novels than any living American writer, Harold n Bell Wright, crcator oC "It Happened <j Out West," the second feature, strikes " a new note in Western adventure films.

TIVOLI THEATRE The boldest venture a British secret agent ever faced, impersonating an oJficor in the German high commaiiu. < forced to gamble on the. love ot a; womarl whose business was betrayal, < with the opportunity to strike l ic | deadliest blow of the Great War it he| lived, is the theme of "Lancer Spy, ! now at the Tivoli Theatre, \ vlL ; iDolores Del Bio, George . Sanders, and Peter Lorre. P.evenlmg t witn jioltine tealism an untold ut the World War. "Lancer bpy is brought to vivid lite by tn o acting discovery of the yeai. Sanders. With Marion Davies a-J Robert Montgomery as c°-sta!'s-a supporting cast that n ; such popular comedians as "i^nK-J- ; Hugh, Patsy Kelly. Louise Fazenda. and Allen Jenkins, the Wainei 8t0.,. : Cosmopolitan comedy Evei b net.. TTtris" ic i.ho second J-t described as the sprightliost piece ot, nonsense that either the lovely haired Miss Davies or handsome Robe it, Montgomery has ever p.ayed in.

RIVOLI THEATRE. j Three excellent films are showing j at the Rivoli Theatre. Particularly interesting is "Ring Memorns" wnich is being screened for time m New Zealand. This film is a review oi famous world championship oou'ls. i > eluding Les Darcys last fight.in 1915, Jack Johnson v. Jess Willaid, J ° e Louis v. Max Baer, Gene Tunney \. Tom Heeney, George Cook v. Georges Carpentier, and Jack Carroll v. Wcs-j lev Ramey. The triumph of the, camera over the eyes of forty to a "perfect crime is dramatically ciepicted in "Murder With " starring Lew Ayres and Gail PatncL. "Murder With Pictures" _is tlie stor> of a murder perpetrated in a crowded room during the height oi a celebration. Chills, thrills, surprises, fastpaced drama, and plenty of "earl interest, make a first-rate screen mys-tery-tkriller of "The Black Doll, which is also being shown. NEW OPERA HOUSE. j Franchot Tone's popularity as an actor has arisen from his starring in many fine pictures. One of his finest, giving him great opportunities to demonstrate his techniQuc, was 4 The Unguarded Hour," which has been reissued and which is showing at the New Opera House. Dealing with the predicament of a brilliant criminal lawyer who finds that his wife, is the chief witness jn a case where j he has pressed for conviction on circumstantial evidence alone, Tone gives a polished display. More-,| over, he himself becomes implicated in a crime and circumstantial evidence against him mounts more and more. For a time, his wife, his home, and everything closest to him become endangered, and the dramatic suspense of the picture is admirably managed. Loretta Young is convincingly good as his wife, and Lewis Stone I and Rolaiid Young are two supporting players who contribute greatly to the j picture. | DEBUT OF VINCENT LOPEZ.

Vincent Lopez, whose visit to the Dominion this season has aroused the greatest interest among werstling enthusiasts, will have his first Welling-' 'ton match at the Town Hall on Monday night. Dick Raines has been selected as his opponent, and the choice is one that will he approved by all who have enjoyed his performances in the three gruelling contests which h3 has already had in the local ring. I.ope'z is one of the really outstanding figures in the modern mat sport, and the Dominion Union has scored one of its most notable successes in being able to book him for his present visit. Before joining the professional ranks Lopez distinguished himself among the amateurs, winning several titles in inter-collegiatd tournaments. Whereas other wrestlers toolt the flying tackle from the football field to the wrestling ring, Lopez took the>elbow jolt, which he was the first to use and in which he has unequalled efficiency. To back It up he has a!n unusually wide array of holds, together with great speed and strength. Over six feet an .height and weighing 16st 81b, he has remarkable physique, allied with a penchant for the most rugged and aggressive tactics. Particulars are advertised. "THE AEOLIANS."

Tomorrow evening "The Aeolians." conducted by Mr. Maxwell Fernie, will present their third choral recital in ; the Concert Chamber of the -Town Hall, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. One of the immediate aims of the society is the establishment of more - adequate facilities fcrf the care and treatment of crippled children, at the Wellington Hospital. The .value of this and-other work which the society has in hand cannot be overstated, but it can work only within the limits of its financial resources. Tomorrow evening, therefore, the public will be afforded an opportunity of furthering. this worthy cause and of directly assisting in the work of the society. It is confidently expected that "The Aeolians, in their effort on behalf of the crippled children, will receive the full suppoit of all sections of-the community, included in a very fine programme by the choir will be "Come to the Woods Away" (Peace), "Viking Cradle Son (Sharman), and "Lullaby , a J? r d om^ B^arian r Highlan a d r Assisting. artiste $!, h S £°IK""£ tralto), Miss Jocelyn Waiker Cpiamstej, and Mr. Russell Laurenson (baritone). The box plan is at the D.i.U - VERSE-SPEAKING CHOIR. _ The main feature'of the programme to be presented by the Wellington Verse-Speaking Choir in the Town Hall Concert Chamber tonight is the play "End and Beginning,' which tells the story of the last two days m the life of Mary Queen of theme has been very well handled by John Masefleld. The poetry subtly creates the dramatic* atmosphere at one moment, suggests the pathos and tragedy of " the story at another, ana sometimes relieves the intensity with pure beauty. Zenocrate Mountjoy takes the role of Mary, and iothers in the cast are Dons Mildenhall, Pat Henry, Cecily Gallagher, N. Beatus, and C. Johnson. Costumes have been specially. designed from contemporary portraits and setting and lighting should help to give the correct atmosphere. The play is produced by Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, jun., whose production of the verse-play, "Murder m the Cathedral," was such a success last December. The first half includes a variety of spoken poetry, some little-known poems and some old favourites, including one of the most beautiful of English poems, "Kubla Khan," the popular "Lady of Shalott," and poems by Shelley, Byron, Browning, and Humbert Wolfe. PIANOFORTE . A pianoforte recital by Madame Betts-Vincent will be given on Thursday, July 7, in Nimmo's Hall. The pro- , gramme, which is a particularly at- - tractive' one, will include the Schumann "Carnaval," the Fantaisie in F, Scherzo in E, and Etude in A Minor, by Chopin, the G. Major Rachmaninoff Prelude, Rhapsody in C, by Dohi nanyi, two "Moon-Pictures," by the ■ modern Italian composer, Pick-Mangia- ' galli ("Conversation in the Mooni light" and the "Dance of 01a£"). "The ; Girl-and the Nightingale," by Grana- ; dos, "Triana," by Albeniz, » and the > ever-popular "Naila" Waltz. The items ; will be prefaced by comments by ■ Madame Betts-Vincent. [ BROOKLYN THEATRE. : "Nancy Steel is Missing" will be the main attraction at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight. The cast includes June Lang, Victor McLaglen, Peter Lorre, . Waller Connolly, and Robert Kent. "To 5 Mary With Love'' will also be screenJ ed. Mvrna Loy, Warner Baxter, lan Hunter, and Claire Trevor are starred.