CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 13, 15 July 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. i Lavishly produced, tuneful, sometimes mad and always gay, and boasting a cast which includes outstanding names of screen and radio, Paramount's "The Big Broadcast of 1938" is showing at the Regent Theatre. "The Big Broadcast of 1938" stars W. C. Fields and features Dorothy Lamour, Shirley Ross, Ben Blue, Bob Hope, Lynne Overman, and Leif Erikson, with specialties by Mme. Kirsten Flagstlu, of the Metropolitan Opera, and Shep Fields and his Rippling Rhythm Orchestra. Cast adrift in mid-ocean, Martha Raye and| Ker boy friend, Lynne Overman, float around on a raft until they are rescued by the s.s. Gigantic owned by W. C. Fields. Also on board is Bob Hope, radio announcer and entertainer together with his three ex-wives, Shirley Ross, Grace Bradley, and Dorothy Howe, and also Dorothy Lamour, whom he loves. The members of the crew Of the Gigantic, knowing of Miss Raye's reputation as a jinx, are, aghast, and plan to throw her overboard, but are persuaded to hold off until everything has a chance to straighten out. MAJESTIC THEATRE. . Modern motion picture, magic has brought a new kind of aviation film to the screen, one that glorifies the man who "lays a floor in the sky so that future-generations can go to bed in safety." It is "Test Pilot," dedicated to those men who gamble their lives against the airworthiness of a designer's dreams. It commences today at the Majestic Theatre. Metrp-Goldwyn-Mayer ispared nothing in making their first aviation film in more than two years, a saga of civilian flying. They gave it four stars in Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy* and Lionel Barrymore. They provided authentic and realistic flying sequences which could only have been made at legitimate flying fields. They presented^ a story, fay Lieutenant-Commander Frank Wead, which encompassed the life of a typical test pilot. Gable, in the title role, is completely the daring aviator. Miss.Loy is ideally cast in a characterisation which allows her to be at once simple and smart, unsophisticated, and brilliant. Spencer Tracy, as a rough-neck, kindly, gruff mechanic, "the best in the business," as usUal gives a performance approaching perfection. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The excellent comedy, "Romance for Three," is having an extended season at the St. James Theatre. Frank Morgan, Robert Young, * Florence Rice, Mary Astor, Edna .May Oliver, and Reginald Owen are in the film. As a millionaire Viennese manufacturer who yearns for a return to simple pleasures, Morgan wins a free holiday in a slogan competition conducted by his own firm and spends it in the Alps. Unfortunately the millionaire becomes involved with a divorcee {Mary Astor), and his house. ?per, the formidable Edna May Oliver rushes to the scene to try and smooth things out before it is too late. Also at the hotel is the young man who has won p. free holiday in the same competition, . and he finds romance in the Alps with Morgan s daughter. In order to win his love she poses as a poor girl, and it is when all return to Vienna that some explanations are due. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Deanna Durbin's new picture, "Mad About Music" is showing^, at the Paramount Theatre. This ■ film pre; sents Deanna as a student at a girts school in Switzerland. Her mother, Played by Gail Patrick, is a Hollywood movie star, who acts glamorous ingenue roles and consequently csmnot acknowledge she is a widow with a daughter of high school age. All the other girls at the school have noted fathers, so Deanna invents an explorer dad -or herself and tells the girls tall stories abouf him. Then Herbert Marshall arrives in the Alps with his manservant Arthur Treacher. Deanna adopts Marshall as her father and soon has him entangled in her web of fiction. Each time Deanna tells a particularly bouncing' lie, she closes her eyes and crosses her fingers. This is her signal to herself that she does not mean what she is going to say. Although the screen adapters, Bruce Manning and Felix Jackson, wrote this Durbin mannerism into their script, they did not invent it. The fetish was created by the little star herself at the very outset of her career when the script of 'Three Smart Girls" required her to tell lies. \ KING'S THEATRE. ' ""Battle of Broadway," a Comedy of American Legionnaires in New York, is showing at the King's Theatre. When Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy, of the American Legion Post, arrive in New York for the Convention, the first thing to whet their rivalry is the attractive person of Louise Hovick. They both fall in love and out of good favour with each other. The boys are not in town solely for pleasure, however. They have promised Raymond Walburn, big steel man, to break up the romance of his son, Robert Kellard, with a chorus girl, Lynn Bari. Louise is all for.the youngsters, however, and pretends to Vie and Brian that she is Bob's fiancee. Walburn comes to New York to see what sort of girl has ensnare^d his son, and falls for Louise himself. This horrifies McLaglen and Donlevy, who abduct the steel-man. Then follows a series of hilarious comedy sequences. The musical comedy, "The Lilac Domino," is the second feature. The leading roles are taken by Michael Bartlett, the goldenvoiced American tenor, and pretty June Knight, the musical comedy s,tar.REX THEATRE. Hal Roach introduces a new and decided stellar comedy team, Patsy Kelly and Lyda Roberti, in their initial Hal Roach-M.G.M. full-length feature comedy, "Nobody's Baby," now at the Rex Theatre. The picture is described as a laugh-feast from the time Kitty Reilly (Patsy Kelly) and Lena Mar-, chetti (Lyda Roberti) meet, applying for an amateur radio show audition, until the finale. Featuring Robert Wilcok, Dorothea Kent, and Hobart Cavanaugb, Universal's romantic comedy drama, "Carnival Queen," is the associate feature. With a colourful romance, dramatic action, and amusing comedy sequences, the picture deals with the adventures that befall Dorothea Kent, as the lovely heiress who inherits a-.carnival from her father. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Anna May Wong retains the sophisticated calm that marked her in the old days, and in "The Secret of Lan Ying," now at the Kilbirnie Kinema; she is admirably cast as the power that moves relatively unnoticed but seeing behind the political throne of a gangster. As Lan Ying, his confidant and adviser, as the woman who sees his rise and who is responsible ultimately for his fall, Miss Wong gives an accomplished performance. Romancing stars, dancing stars, comedy stars, singing stars —there are stars all around Shirley Temple in her musical hit, '■'Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," which is the associate attraction. EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND BAY. Columbia's romantic comedy, "The Awful Truth," starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, is showing at the Empire Theatre. Also in a prominent role is Skippy, the "Thin Man" wire-hair pup, masquerading as ! Mr. Smith. "The Awful Truth*' tells of the final tiff between Irene Dunne and Cary Grant which leads to the Divorce Courts. There, in what is the most hilarious courtroom scene ever filmed, they battle for the custody of Mr. Smith with Irene the victor. Cary, however, wins the Court's permission i to visit the dog once a month. The j second .attraction is "Thank You, Mr. J^t^ I**fiiaxcing1**fiiaxcing -Peter Loßse* ,_.

CUV AND SUBURBAN IHEATOES

| PLAZA THEATRE. Dominant In the amateur ice*skating field for years, Sonja Heme's brilliant accomplishments on skates have already made her a box office favourite in the films. Her latest show, "Happy Landing," which will be shown for a further week at the Plaza Theatre, a story of her infatuation with a New York orchestra leader, who makes a forced landing on a flight across the Atlantic in a small Norwegian village and whom she follows to America, gives her opportunity to demonstrate her great brilliance on the ice. In the story, Don Ameche, the orchestra leader's manager, becomes in turn Sonja's manager and assists her to rise to the top of the skating field. Complications set in, but they are overcome before the end in satisfying style. Somewhat discursive in its development, the story nevertheless gives Sonja acting opportunities and her bright smile is infectiously captivating. Don Ameche, portrays the manager splendidly, and Cesar Romero's accent is ideally suited to the orchestra leader. Good shorts complete a fine programme. DE LUXE THEATRE. Paramount's thrilling gangster drama, "The Tip-off Girls," starring Lloyd Nolan, Mary ' Carlisle, and J. Carrol Naish, heads the new programme at the De Luxe Theatre today. The second feature is "Cassidy of Bar 20." STATE THEATRE. The greatest round-up of big stars of any musical set, headed by three sirens of swing in search of social security, appears in "Sally, Irene, and Mary," the new 20th Century-Fox rhythm romance., which is showing at the State Theatre. Alice Faye and Tony Martin sing songs as only they know how. They head the cast with -Fred Allen. Other players are Jimmy Durante, the street-sweeper who crashes into cafe society; Gregory Ratoff, with a champagne bank-roll and a gleam in his eye; Joan Davis, Marjorie Weaver, the sensation of "Second Honeymoon, Louise Hovick, Barnett Parker, and J. Edward Bromberg. The romance is made radiant by eight topnotch tunes. The country's dance bands will get new life ,from "Half Moon on the Hudson," "I Could Use a Dream," "This Is Where I Came In," "Help Wanted—Male," and "Who Stole the Jam?" by Walter Bullock and Harold Spina, and "Got My Mind on Music" and "Sweet as a Song," by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel. NEW OPERA HOUSE. Replete with action, laughs, and fine characterisations, "A Yank at Oxford," now at the New Opera House, offers Robert Taylor his most convincing role to date and more than repays Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the time and effort spent in producing in England pictures equal in calibre to any made in Hollywood. This is the studio's first Bri-tish-made production. In fact, the authenticity of the background and atmosphere of the picture prove that only, in a British setting could it have been so successfully evolved. In presenting Taylor in the, title role as the cocky, all-star athlete who comes to Oxford to "teach the natives," and himself learns,much in return, "A Yank at Oxford" accords the star his greatest opportunity to demonstrate . .is athletic ability, his flair for comedy, and his ability to handle genuinely dramatic scenes. Lionel Barrymore, Taylor's father,-and Maureen O'Sullivan, as the English, undergraduate whom the hero 'meets at Oxford, lend their accustomed - polished performances, while in the British players who also have leading roles audiences may note at least two potential stellar "finds'* of tomorrow. ROXY THEATRE. One of the most notorious scandals in modern history supplies the motivation for the great Warner Bros, picture, based upon the life of a famous Frenchman. The picture is "The Life of Emile Zola " and it is showing at the Roxy Theatre. The scandal is that, surrounding the conviction and imprisonment of Captain Alfred Dreyfus on Devil's Island, on a trumped-up charge that he had sold important army secrets to Germany. Paul Muni is starred. The second feature is a thrilling newspaper story, "That's My Story " featuring Claudia Morgan, William Lundiganj and Herr bert Mundin. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. If the motion picture camera had been in practical use 150 years ago, no more authentic nor thrilling record of the amazing exploits of HJVLS. Bounty and the historical mutiny could have been recorded' than is seen in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's saga of the seas, "Mutiny on the Bounty," starring Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, and Franchot Tone, which is: showing at the New Princess' Theatre. Adventureloving men again live the perils of angry seas, the silent suffering of tyranny, and the heartbreak of loneliness to recreate this immortal struggle of a handful of mutineers. The associaate feature is "Everybody's Doing It," a racy mystery-comedy featuring Prfcston Foster, Sally Eilers, , and Cecil Kellaway. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. . "Forty-five Fathers," the first of two splendid attractions showing at. Our Theatre tonight, develops a series of hilarious situations when Jane Withers, as the ward of a millionaires' club, goes on the rampage with a troupe of dancers and ventriloquists. She upsets a false romance and also her 45 guardians, but finally brings happiness to everyone. The accompanying feature, "The Californian," from the pen of Harold Bell Wright and starring Ricardo Cortez, captures all the thrilling action and picturesque life of the Far West in a stirring story of lawmaking and breaking on a wild frontier, where vengeance and love hold sway., The supporting items of'the programme are of excellent choice. , PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Isle of Fury" and "Big Town Girl': conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. Brother against brother, a G-man fighting for the law versus a mobster battling for his life; America's secret crime dictator topples from his terrorstalked throne. There, briefly, is the story of "When G-Men Step In," which commences tomorrow. The film features Don Terry and Jacqueline Wells. In "Here Comes Carter," the associate attraction, ,Ross Alexander plays the role of a radio scandal columnist who is "put on the spot" by gangsters because the.gossip he reports is not to their liking. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE "The Great O'Malley" and -"Goodbye Broadway" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre. Commencing tomorrow a special treat is in store for the patrons of the Grand Theatre in the person of "Ventrix," well-known southern ventriloquist, who will present from his large repertoire a number of special items for adults and children. An eternal triangle in the heart of the African jungle brings added thrills to "Tarzan's Revenge," the main film. "The Go Getter," the associate feature, is a comedy-drama made from one of those delightful Peter B. Kyne stories involving that lovable old character Cappy Ricks, owner of steamships. SI.ATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Mad About Music" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. The romance behind the building— and the maintaining—of America's first lifeline of Empire—the Wells Fargo Trail which linked the Far West with the East, is the background for the gripping love story of Joel McCrea and Frances Dee in "Wells Fargo," which commences tomorrow. The supporting cast is headed by Bob Burns and includes Lloyd Nolan, Henry O'Neill. Porter Hall. Robert Cummings, and two thousand others. Two generations of a great American family are traced against a bold .background of Western history ifi, the film*

TIVOLI THEATRE. Two generations of a great American family are traced against a bold background of Western history in "Wells Fargo," Paramount's romance which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. The story is concerned with the family fortunes of Joel McCrea, a man of vision, and Frances Dee, a trusting wife who does not understand her husband's dreams. This is woven around the establishment of the famous Wells Fargo Trail, from St. Louis to San Francisco, America's "lifeline of Empire," and takes in the twenty colourful and crucial years in America which began with the discovery of gold in California and the end of the war between the States. The big supporting cast is headed by Bob Burns. In "Way Out West," the second feature, Laurel and Hardy are not portrayed as broncho-busting cowboys bold—instead they are just a pair of "tenderheel" desert miners trying to do a good deed for a dead prospector. But they are -in a locale of the wild and woolly gay 90 s, surrounde dby mounted cowhands, stage coaches, and all the tough characters and picturesque atmosphere of the glamorous and adventuresque pioneer REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Irene Dunne scores in the year's choicest comedy role as Lucy Warriner m Columbia's "The Awful Truth," now at the Regal Theatre. The fun starts when Jerry (Cary Grant) Sh«. k ucy decioe to separate with the only ■ bone, of contention, the custody of Mr. Smith, their wirehair terrier. Le Affaire Warriner takes its most ludicrous turn when Jerry announces his engagement to a flighty young thing with a social register background. Lucy, determined to wm Jerry ,back at all costs, attends the sumptuous engagement party, posing as Jerry's sister, and by actions totally unbecoming a lady, manages to have herself and her "brother" thrown out on their collective ear. "Daughter of Shanghai," with Anna May Wong, is the second feature. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Nino Martini and Joan Fontaine have the leading roles in "Music for Madame," now at the Capitol Theatre. The story revolves about Martini's struggles to win a foothold in Hollywood—and at the same time avoid arrest as a participant in a daring robbery that has turned the screen world upside down. A fast-moving comedy-drama with crackling dialogue, unfolding one of the most unique romances presented on the screen, is "Wise Girl," starring Miriam Hopkins and Ray Milland, which is the associate feature. A special featurette, "Fury Over Spain," will also be screened. Tim McCoy in "police Car 17" is a special matinee attraction for tomorrow. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Political racketeering and social climbing do not mix, Akim Tamiroff finds out in his newest drama, "Dangerous to Know," now at the Seaside Theatre. When he throws off his lifelong mentor, Anna May Wong, for a beautiful member of the country club set, Gail Patrick, Tamiroff knots the rope that later strangles him in its1 noose. "High Flyers,"- the second feature, was designed especially toi intensity the comic antics of Wheeler; and Woolsey. mmm~mmmm *"*' "THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY." j "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray," the Wellington Repertory; Theatre's latest production, is continuing its season in the Wellington Town Hall Concert Chamber. Pauline Shotlander, as Paula, is always vital and intelligent, and gives a fair portrait of the unfortunate woman, glib in her dialogue, excellent in her changes of expression, but lacking perhaps in emotional power that the role demands in the more impassioned scenes. Miss Shotlander is at her best in her last speech, when j she calmly reviews the whole tragedy of the situation. The Aubrey Tanqueray of Dr. P. B. Benham is a solid conservative performance, enhanced by a good voice and presence. There is no better performance in the cast than Mr. Norman Hannah's Cay ley Drummle. Miss Nancy Potter plays a demure Ellean. and Miss Florence Penney is robust and wholesome ns Mrs. Cortelyon.?:Mr;; Hugh Herd is amusing as the tippling Sir George Orreyed, and Miss Pat Greenfield Brown gives aust the required touch of vulgarity/to Lady Orreyed. Mr. James Crawford portrays .\ Captain Ardale, while Gordon Jayne and Frank Misquith are played by Messrs. C. A. Burgess and T. V. Anson. The scenery is in the: best of taste, and true to period in every detail. "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" will be presented finally tomorrow night. THE PANDORA SOCIETY. Members of the Pandora Society and their friends were entertained at their last meeting by a reading of J. B. Priestley's, play "I Have Been Here Before." This play is one of the deeper kind and needs to be well done to hold the attention of an audience. Fortunately a fairly strong cast had been chosen. It included Misses Goldstein and Billman, Messrs. Ken Aitken, Cousins, Hedges, and Thomson. Members may look forward" to a much lighter play next time. "Springtime for Henry," this effort being in the hands of the club's energetic chairman, Mr.' Len Walker. The next evening will take the form of a general variety entertainment, including numbers by the ladies' Welsh choir in full national costume, the production of the comedy, "A Hopeless Muddle," vocal, elocutionary, instrumental, and dance items, and a novelty surprise turn. MONDAY'S WRESTLING. Dean Detton's impressive form in his bout with Jack Kennedy in the local ring and his fine display against Raines at Palmerston North last night have caused interest to become keener than ever in his important engagement at the Town Hall against Pat Fraley on Monday night. That Fraley is going to be one of the toughest propositions to contend with this season, despite the highly-ranked opponents that he will be called upon to meet, was shown at Auckland this week, when he inflicted the first defeat of the season on Vincent Lopez. Fraley is a really fine wrestler who is seen at his best when against a man of his own calibre and there is no doubt that he and Detton will have a hectic struggle with the issue in doubt the whole time. Amateur preliminaries will commence at 8 o'clock.