CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 3, 4 July 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

■ REGENT'THEATRE. . Sophisticated comedies have of late become very popular, probably because :of their ability to lift the audience into an enchanting world of nonsense": and sparkling /dialogue, and; Eighth Wife," which is siajl showing at the Regent zThea'tre, is' a splendid example of-this type of 41m, ! Gary Cooper and Claudette Colbert, 'who possess that delightful v>knack. ;of anaking the most of .subtle situations, team brilliantly." Garjr," a young American- 'millionaire who; "has been married seven times, is taking a holiday on the French Riviera when he meets Nicole de Loiselle (Claudette -, Colbert) and decides that she shall be ■his eighth wife.,,,.A.,marriage to Gary ■is purely a'busine'sspagreement to be dissolved By a generous settlement and forgotten. Claudette has other ideas, however, and the Sim mainly centres around her efforts her husband (which is no'-feasy matter) and the complications thii involves. ' ■ MAJESTIC $HEATR3E. ■ -' For fast-moving arid delightful film entertainment", with- k i/theme; 'entirely new, it would be practically impossible to go past "A Yank at Oxford," now ispreening at the Majestic Theatre, with Robert Taylor in the leading role. The story deals with the career of Lee . Sheridan . (Robert Taylor), who, after proving a magnificent athlete at his American State school manages to get a scholarship to Oxford. His bombastic entrance and general demeanour in the early days in that venerable, institution /gain . him many enemies, and for some ■time"' he." is-.' ■Very>unpopular;"'Some1 "of"his actions considered, "not cricket," but after a while he begins to learn what is expected of him. He takes a leading part in the rowing and; athletics of the college and the pic- " ture ends on a happy note as he strokes the Oxford crew to victory over Camr. bridge in the annual boat race. Maureen O'Sullivan, an undergraduate1, provides the romantic interest as far as Sheridan, is concerned. ■ :; ST. JAIVffiS.THEviTjSfe ;■ . • In "The Last Gangster,' 1•■•^ow at the St.- James ; Theatre, Edw^d'v.G. Robinson seems to fit naturally "itito the part of a racketeer. Joe Kxpzac goes- to Europe and. brings bac^with :hini a, wife, whom he regards meremais the mother of a future son, who" shall be Joe, junior, and. perhaps be ruler pf gangland in some future years. Jbe's son is born, but by this time he is be-.. hind the bars of Alcatraz prison, serving a sentence for income tax evasion. ' Wires are pulled, Court actions taken, but to no avail, and the gang leader series his full ten years. In the meantime his wife has married again, this time to a young newspaper man, .played by James Stewart; There are some astonishing scenes when Krozac's,'former henchmen turn against him, and Joe's son, who does not know the gangster is his father, is beaten up: in an effort to make the gangster confess as, to the • ' whereabouts of a hidden fortune. ■ -■■• .'new opera house. • When/two of the,finest filnj-stars of the present day ha'vetv&e leading roles in a' picture it can be taken for. granted that. th at picture is something out of the ordinary as far as acting,and: entertainment are concerned; and'that is the case with "Small Town Girl," now screening for a return season in Wellington at the New Opera House, with Janet Gaynor and Robert Taylor in. the lead. Humour, drama, and to a 'snjall extent, pathos, are deftly interwoven into this story of a small-town - girl, Janet Gaynor, who takes unto herseii a husband, Robert Taylor, on the night of the Yale-Harvard, football match, when the gentleman concerned .in.the matrimonial venturers in a state of-intoxication. The couple!: are married by a J.P. about 4 a.m. the' day after: •th£ match, and follow this, by crashing in the car. The. doctor comes-to and is told-by his wife .that he is married. It is the .first he knows about it After that the fun really starts. .- i' ■"'■■ PARAMOUNT- THEATR& V Witty and, clever comedy isvsthe .essence of "The Awful Truth," :whichl'is playing a return season at the Para-mount-.Theajtre; The v tw.o leading, stars., Irene Dunne and Gary Grant, are re- - sponsible-;for some splendid .acting, which causes ■thß''filsh~-I*>.~be^'one<'-<lon]^ laugh. The story concerns a young married coupje who find tßeir married life inconvenient, and so becoriie divorced. The decree does not become 'absolute for;three s months^-arid. during' that time each finds new partners. The-'fun commences when each in,;tum.spoils tha other's chances of-a fresh ijiayriage. Complete reconciliation is'brought about within g few minutes of the expiration of the three months., The associate feature, "Killer at; Large/ concerns the machinations of a maniac to kill two people who had been instrumental in -placing justice on-.his trail. Mary Brien and Hardie are starred.. ■:\XISG'S"THEATRE^' ' '^ Two.really good 'English, comedies, "The Divorce of Lady X" and "School •for i Husbands," are /at; the King's Theatre. "The Divorce •of Lady X" features one of the most piquant ' and charming British- • stars, - Merle Oberen, and in a sophisticated •^nS finished comedy she gives a /really first-class portrayal. The picture ,has all the. best features of the really, , good British pictures; and jiv addition it gives a striking indication of Jhe advances made in technicolour production. : Opposite <Miss/ Oberon, and very well cast in the role of .an irascible youiig barrister, is Laurence Olivier. "School.lor Husbands," with Rex Harrison, June Clyde* Diana Churchill, and Romftey Brent, will possibly be enjoyed more by wives than toy -husbands,'but. it is nevertheless excellent entertainment and possibly something of an education, for both. , ; • :;.; .' roxy theatre: ■■' 'Torbidderi Valley,".:nGw'at-. the Roxy Theatre^ contains fast action, brilliant photography, and a strong, dramatic story. Noah Beery, Jun., plays a frons tier youth, whose dad has. been uhgustly accused of a killing. They hide m the hills far from civilisation. Noah doesn't see a girl till he reaches young manhood. Then he meets Ffanfces RdbinsOn and dramatic events begin to happen. Bert Wheeler and Robert Wolsey rise to new comic heights.in "HighFlyers," the supporting feature. , KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Dinner at the Ritz" and' ''Bulldog Drumrnond's Revenge" conclude tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema. , Presenting- a notable cast in a series of mad, hilarious, adventures^ "Fight • For.: Your Lady," which opens tomorr row, volleys thrills and laughs with rhachine-gun speed. This romantic comedy deals with the love, .affairs q£ an American' concert singer, played by John Boles, with comedy resting chiefly on the ample shoulders of Jack Oakie. His back to the wall, a knife at his throat, the world's slyest sleuth, Char-, lie Chari, battles for his life in the most thrilling and exciting of the Twentieth" Century-Fox' adventures of: the wily Chinese detective, "Charlie Chan-at the Opera," the associate ..feature. Warner Oland portrays the archenemy of crime, with Boris Karloff costarred as| the ..king of' terror.CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. In a picture as tensely exciting as she is excitingly lovely,- .'Annabella plays the most dangerous game a beautiful girl in love ever chose'in "Dinner at the Ritz," now at the Capitol Theatre, A lovelyj carefree girl one day and a daring adventuress the next, • Annabella whirls from ■'the brilliant salons of Paris through the gaming rooms of Monte Carlo to a luxurious private yacht in the Mediterranean ,in a daring search packed,, with thrills. The manner in which spies use money and beautiful 'women to ferret out military secrets is portrayed in "The Spy Ring," the associate, attraction. -

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES s

PLAZA THEATRE. So many superlatives have been used previously to describe the sheer artistry on ice of Sonja Henie that it is relatively, difficult to describe afresh the poetry; of motion of this twinkling star in- "Happy Landing," which is showing at the Plaza Theatre. Her art is consummate. But brilliant though, her .skating is it does not at-tract:;attention-away from her development as a star in more normal directions. The picture: itself, as so many musicals are, is rather disjointed, and one is occasionally left wondering just who the star of the show is. At one time Sonja enjoys the complete spotlight? at others Cesar Romero is very much the central figure, and at still another Don Ameche is the dominant personality. 5ti11,... for all that there is any amount in the picture, apart fi*om Sbnja's spectacular work,1 that can be grouped, under the head of good entertainment, some of it rough "and tumble. There are several catchy songs, even if the rendition is sometimes harsh, and the dialogue is in the best twentieth century style. .' . • DEvLUXE THEATRE.. When people are still laughing as they go out into the street it's a good comedy, and that is the case with "Good-bye, 'Broadway," now showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Alice Brady and Charles Winninger are starred. These two well-teamed comedians lead a vaudeville troupe on a tour of the Connecticut backblocks. Pat Molloy, always either ./choleric or crazily happy in self-immolating generosities, loses his ' temper with the hotel jGlerkr;;an4:-.. buys the . place ,to get nis" own way. The cellar is full of "fake George Washington furniture the leading realtor is : making apolitical graft to have a Bill passeel to!- make it a national asset. "There,the fun starts, aided by, a half- ; wit "who imagines himself the curator 'Of an antique museum, and the pride «gfaph of.,the crazy old building is like a fever chart for a few days. "When G. Men Step In," ' the second feature, is a fast-moving story with; a,more than usually, coherent plot.- .. '/.v 'theatre; "Joy of Living," now showing at the State Theatre, is the latest production ■in the new. American ' tradition \ of "cra^y" film.s, ;aricf it. makes no fiiistake about its crazihess; The story is that of a highly-successful Broadway revue singer, who is one of a long line of old ..troupers. Unfortunately the rest of the * f aniily move in on their successful relative^. The. result is that, although she is earning .the equivalent of £2000 a week, it is insufficient to keep f up with the extravagances of the family." At the saptje time, certain members of the' family'are jealous of her success. All is not so well until a young man who owns a Pacific island - and a tramp steamer, among other things, sets out in pursuit of the singer. Irene Dunne is as sparkling, and as vivacious as ever in thevrole of the revue singer. Opposite her as the Young Lochinvar of"1 the tramp steamer is Douglas Fairbanks, jun. ~,.; /.;■;■. ( : !, REX THEATRE. In a •locked room, under the very nose of Scotland-Yard, a daring killer strikes. There is mystery, romance, and thrills for all in M.G.M.'s "The 13th Chair," which is showing at the Rex Theatre. In-the cast are Dame May Whitty, Lewis Stone,'- .Neil ..Fitzger? aid, Janet .Beecher, Thomas Beck, i Madge Evans,1 EUssa Landi, Henry Daniell, and Ralph Forbes. Charles Farrell occupies with Fritz Kortner, famous Continental sctor, the leading role in a new British picture entitled "Midnight Menace," which is the setond feature. . Margaret Vyner, a tall, slim, beautiful newcomer from Australia, plays tile "fefnfirine lead. •:■ NEW I?RXNqESS TIJEATRE^,, ~.. Sparkling with catchy Gershwin tunes and with one of P. G. Wode- : house's most hilarious stories of Eng•listi social life as its basis, "A Damsel in Distress," is showing at the Princess Theatre with Fred Astaire in his first ' picture with George Burns and Gra'cie- Allen. The film ■ has been planned; throughout to afford Astaire .exceptloffal1 opportunities for sensa-■ tional novelty dances and comedy. The associate, attraction] "The Crime of Dr. Hall^tt^aI'gripping drama of love _and intrigue in the uncharted Sumatran ;fung|ee^Bt.4^. -Ralph Bellamy,: Josephine%itch'ihson, Barbara Read, and .William^ Gargan. , \. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. < \- ■Audiences at the Regal Theatre are introduced to a new screen sensation. This is provided by the appearance of Gene Autry in VThe Big Show," which is a Western picture, but one differing greatly from previous cowboy pictures. The story is packed to the core with | excitement; and sensation, sufficiently leavened with romance and humour to conform to popular taste. Ricardo Cortez:has a.role.very much to ,his, liking in Paramount's "Her Husband Lies," a 'drama of sacrifice in - which b,e is,co-featured-with Gail Patrick, which is the'second attraction. . >.- ~OUH THEATRE, .NE,WTOWN. ~ ; "The.:; New .Adventures of Tarzan," starring Herman Brix, is showing at ,Qur TJheatre.' . The ' story starts with Tarzan- -boarding the Uingai^to help- a friend, when .he accidentally meets Major Martling, an archaeologist leading, .an. .expedition to the Guatemalan jungles "in the: hoi>e of. locating the 'famous * "Green Goddess-—a priceless Mayan relic, containing a fortune in -gems',! "Tarz-an joins the expedition, and immediately the party is beset with perils, that keeps the action and- suspense at a high pitch. The world's most .versatile skater, lovely Sonja Henie,' is starred iri "Girl in a Million," the second attraction, showing, for a return season; ; ;'SE&BI£J!E THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Laurel and Hardy go wild and woolly m' their first Western, "Way Out" West,!' which is now at the Seaside -Theatre. 'As tenderfopt desert prospectors going to town for a good deed, in delivering a deed of a gold minis'': to'-the daughter of a dead, miner, Laurel and Hardy commit so many misdeeds that it. was surprising, inde.ed,,that.they were not shot. The supporting, feature, "The Mighty Treve," has Barbara Read and Noah Beery, jun.-, in. the main roles, while the dog •Tfeye, 'ah Australian sheep dog, plays an- important part. ~ S.TATE THEATRE, PETONE/. ,;•' Epic saga of the West and the story of how law and order supplanted .the reign -of th.o six-gun, "The Bad Man of Brimstone," starring Wallace Beery, is showing, at the State Theatre.1 Famous for his-portrayals of bad man roles. I Beery, as leader of a gang of outlaws who rule the town of Brimstone,' is offered one of the best opportunities ■of his long career. Virginia Bruce and Dennis O'Keefe are also starred^ ... PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. The complications provided by a prize puzzle picture contest, and the kidnapping of the artist by a gang of racketeers who want inside information on the answers, is the basis of the unique plot of "Everybody's Doing It," npw at the Palace Theatre. Preston Foster and Sally Eilers are starred. "California Mail," the associate attraction, is a picture packed with dramatic thrills." Dick Foran is the lead and is' supported by Linda Perry. CJRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Sentimentality—lrish, juvenile, marital—is"; the keynote of "Rose of Tralee," 'now at the Grand Theatre. The film, for want of more precise nomenclature;, must be classed as a drama with -music. Actually its main function is to exploit the popular appeal in little curly-haired Binkie Stuart and in tuneful renderings of well-loved Irish'ditties, surrounded as these are by; a: generous aura of good-hearted-ness. "Slim," a story of the colourful, perilous, touch-and-go lives of high- i tension linesmen, is the second- feature. I

TTVOLI THEATRE. "Love Under Fire" and "The Lady Fights Back" conclude tonight at. the Tivoli Theatre.' Annabella, the sensational star discovery of two continents, appears in "Dinner at the Ritz," -which opens tomorrow. In a story as tensely exciting as its star is excitingly lovely, tha most dangerous intrigue that ever involved a beautiful woman in love whirls Annabella from the brilliant salons of Paris through the fabulous gaming rooms of Monte Carlo to a luxurious private yacht on the Mediterranean. Paul Lukas, David Niven, and Romney Brent are featured in the cast. A thrilling mystery, whose pivotal motive for murder is the wealth of a multi-millionaire oil man and the identity of two girls who claim to be the rightful heirs to his fortune, is the I story of "The Case of the Stuttering Bishop," the second 'attraction. Perry Mason, in the person of Donald Woods, is the brilliant lawyer-detective who once again gets a chance to combine his legal ability with his penchant for unravelling a mass of circumstantial evidence, pointing to no less than six highly possible [ suspects, of whom the stuttering bishop, played by Edward Me Wade, is one. RIVOLI THEATRE. "After the Thin Man" and "Daughter of Shanghai" conclude tonight at the Rivoli Theatre. 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 commences tomorrow at the Rivoli Theatre. Fruit of four years of research *and preparation; of the work of a film expedition that spent a year in China, filming exteriors, studying details, and bringing back thousands of authentic properties, the picture, in which thousands of Oriental players appear, is one of the most > gigantic tasks ever undertaken by-a producer. Muni plays Wang Lung, the farmer. Hero of "Louis Pasteur,", "I Am a Fugitive," "Dr; Socrates," and other amazing screen character roles, his Chinese characterisation is one of his most outstanding feats. Luise Rainer, Viennese heroine ,of "Escapade" and the Anna Held of "The Great Ziegfeld," plays the' intensely dramatic role of the wife, O-lan. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The first in which neither Elsie Randolph nor Jack Buchanan either sings or dances is "Smash and Grab," now at the Empire Theatre. In "Smash and Grab" this inimitable pair play a similar type of role as was played by Myrna Loy and William Powell in the "Thin Man" series. Luli Deste, glamorous Viennese, marks her Hollywood debut in "She Married An Artist," the second feature, in which she and John Boles are co-starred. The film is a hilarious comedy of the battle of a wife and model for an artist's love. TONIGHT'S WRESTLING. At the Wellington Town Hall tonight Vincent Lopez, the famous Mexican wrestler, will have his first Wellington match against Dick Raines. Lopez is one of the really outstanding figures iri 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 jofnirig the professional ranks Lopez distinguished himself among the amateurs, winning several titles in inter-collegiate tournaments. Whereas other wrestlers took 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 an unusually wide array of holds, together with great speed and strength. Over six feet in height and* weighing 16st 81b, he has a remarkable physique,. allied with . a penchant for the most rugged and-ag-gressive tactics. Raines has given uniformly high-class displays in the local ring, and is a fitting opponent for Lopez.. Particulars are advertised.