CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 58, 6 September 1938, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

CTEf AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

REGENT THEATRE. Now in its third week at the Regent Theatre, "The Perfect Specimen" continues to make everybody laugh. Hidden away in a single-specimen seminary, with beautiful grounds,. and nothing to do but study, the hero is snatched out into real life by the heroine, and what they do and where they go is exciting. ■ But that is not all. Now and again along the road' they fall across weird characters, who have their own distinct sense of humour. A battle with a pugilist at a fair is interrupted by the arrival of the police, squads of them on scream-1 ing motor-cycles, in search of the heir to the millions he is learning to con- ■ trol in his own fashion. The pair bolt | off in a fast car, until they shake them off. Then they came to the abode of the queerest but most good-hearted, poet anyone ever imagined, and be-, tween his sudden mistaken poetical inspirations regarding their connubial status, his odds- and ends of philosophy j ami the spectacle of the heir to a few dozen millions cooking, the evening goes quicker, for the audience than for the pair, because they have trouble with a lot of things during the night. MAJESTIC THEATRE. From the pen of the author of "All Quiet on the Western Front" comes another gripping screen story, this time a narrative in which a nation's woes after the World-War-are overshadowed by one of the most human love stories to reach the screen. In the new picture, "Three Comrades," which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, Robert Taylor and Margaret Sullavan provide a poignant rom&nce, with Franchot, Tone and Robert Young also in stellar roles.. The story centres about Taylor, Tone, and Young, three young war veterans 'who> face a chaotic future together in .a -' country gripped by post-war disturbances. Taylor, the youngest, falls in love with Miss Sullavan, the love affair- giving, all three - comrades a new interest in life. Tay T lor and Miss Sullavan, are married, and it seems as though fate has offered them a share of hlappiness at last. But life" decrees otherwise.Young is slain in a* riot and Miss. Sullavan suffers an illness on her honeymoon. . When she faces an operation in a distant sanitarium, Tone sells his proudest a racing car, but Miss Sullavan dies, leaving Taylor and Tone to face the future alone. ST. JAMES THEATRE. How a combination of musicians who, after months of struggle and sacrifice, finally attain • the rich rewards which lie > in store for them, is told in the,' musical film "Cocoanut Grove,", now -at the St. James Theatre. In this case the musicians are the members of a dance band whose leader is Fred MacMurray, and the personnel includes the -Yacht Club Boys, Harriet Hilliard, Ben - Blue, Rufe Davis. a hillbilly character, and Harry ' Owens and his Royal Hawaiian Orchestra^ At the commencement' of the film the band is seen-getting-the sack because Mac Murray is a little free with his fists and knocks down their employer, and for a long time work evades them, the leader keeping the musicians "together by telling falsely that they have a chance of playing at the "Cocoa- •>■ nut Grove," a mecca of all struggling dance bands. With the band is a little boy, and a tutor is required for him. That- this tutor and the band leader should fall in love is only natural, but - misunderstandings arise, and it is a long time before they are reunited. Eventually the "Cocoanut Groye" is reachfed7althougli the band is.nearly beaten iat the. tape. '-' PARAMOUNT THEATRE. .- "Merrily We Lijve". is continuing its season at the Paramount-Theatre. For those who like fast , *and clever comedy, the film can provide a -continual stream of madcap frivolity, • set in a. sumptuous background. Things . 'commence to happen when the lady of the house, played by Billie Burke, exhibits a delightful ■weakness for befriending "down-and-outs." a weakness which the other slightly abnormal members of the family can do little "to curb, despite the disappearance, after a day or two, of the strays, together .with the family plate. Eventually Brian. Ahearne arrives on the scene to use the tele- ■ phone, and is pressed into service as the chauffeur. He is no ;tramp, of course—this the audience knows—but " his identity is kept,secret until the final crazy scenes. He falls in love with Constance Bennett, the elder daughter, and the fun waxes really lurious when the chauffeur is forced into the role of guest of honour at an . amazing dinner party. TUDOR THEATRE. Another double-feature programme is • the bill of fare for the Tudor Theatre. Sally Eilers, Ann Shirley, and Louis Hayward are co-starred in the leading feature, "Condemned Women," a dramatic fihnisation of forsaken women. The associate film is a comedy, "Maid's Night Out," in which Allan Lane and Joan, Fontaine head the cast. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Irene Dunne and Cary Grant are starred in Columbia's "The Awful Truth," now at the New Princess The- . atre. Irene is again cast in an allcomedy role, described as more madcap than her unforgettable performance in ' "Theodora Goes Wild" for the same studio. • Leo McCarey, who won memorable fame for his direction of "Ruggles of Red Gap," directed The Awful Truth" from Vina Delmars adaptation of Arthur Richman's famous stage play. Featured in the cast are Ralph Bellamy, . Cecil Cunningham, Alexander D'Arcy, and Robert Allen. The associate feature is \'Stand-In, United Artists' hilarious comedy, starring .Leslie Howard and Joan Blondeii. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Dinner at the Ritz" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. "Sweet Aloes," starring Kay Francis, opens tomorrow. The picture, based on the smashing stage hit by Jay Mallory, was made for Kay Francis. The intensely emotional situations of the play offer her the finest dramatic opportunities of her career and she rises to them with all the brilliant artistry for which she is famous. There is a remarkably brilliant supporting cast which includes such famous players of stage and screen as Patric Knowles, Henry Stephenson, Frieda Inescourt Helen Flint, Halliwell Hobbes, Zeffie Tulbury, and Elspeth Dudgeon. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "The Last Gangster" will be shown finally tonight at the Grand Theatre, "Death deals a hand at the gaming tables in "Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo," which opens tomorrow. ' The world's ace detective at the worlds gayest playground takes a million-to-one chance to solve a triple murder as he mingles with the millionaire playboys, bejewelled beauties, and gay adventurers. Behind the laughter and banter of thousands of pleasure-seeking internationals, there is a million-dollar stake in- stock manipulation which spells success for one man and ruin for another. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Under. Suspicion" and "Empty Holsters" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. "Smart Blonde," which commences ' tomorrow, is a combination mystery-newspaper-police thriller, co-starring Miss Farrell, as a wisecracking but brainy reporter and Barton Mac Lane as a iard-boiled detective-lieutenant. Romance in a new setting „will be found in the Warner Bros, picture, "King of Hockey," the associate attraction. It is staged in the atmosphere of Madison Square Garden, New York, and carries all the thrill, colour, and drama of ' the popular sport of ice hockey. Dick Purcell and, Anna Nagel have the leading" roles.

.STATE THEATRE. : ' "Kidnapped," the story which Robert • Louis Stevenson is said to have considered his best, is now in its second week at 'the State Theatre., Every person conversant with so ttiuch as high school English has: thrilled to the adventure in "Kidnapped." It will be these' who, wlil remember that the story had little or, no "feminine interest"—being chiefly the tale of the escapades of Alan Breck and David Balfour (portrayed on the screen by War-, ncr Baxter) and Freddie Bartholomew. Purists may try, therefore, to quarrel with Hollywood's intoduction into the story of a Jean McDonald, Highland lass who becomes enamoured of Alan Breck; The role is portrayed by an astonishingly vivacious and beautiful screen discovery, Arleen Whelan. It is interesting to note, then, that the motion picture people have no less a precedent than Stevenson himself for allegedly "tampering" with the facts. He admits he tampered with the historical facts in writing the book. The cast of "Kidnapped" includes C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, John Caradine, Nigel Bruce, Miles Mander, Ralph Forbes, and H. B. Warner. DE LUXE THEATRE. Thrills" aplenty throng round a most unusual gangster story in "Hunted Men," at the De Luxe Theatre, in which the interest doe's not lie in either a chase or shooting, Lloyd Nolan, in the lead, has a part of great possibilities. Immaculate, devoid of all finer feelings as a successful racketeer, he steps callously away from murder to run into danger when his car is held up in a traffic jam and the police sirens draw close. As witness in favour of a drunken motorist, he leaves his gang to drive the reveller home, and, as the r hue and cry is raised, takes his place in the family until it is too late to go out Complications rise, not only with ' the.-daughter (Mary Carlisle), but with' the .remainder of his gang, who take up a. position in the opposite house and plan to kill him for safety's sake before the police get him. "Heart of Arizona," a William Boyd Western thriller, with magnificent scenery, l brings George Hayes ("Windy"), Natalie Moorhead, and Russell Hayden into association in a "Hopalong Cassidy" story full of colour and wild riding. PLAZA THEATRE. The possibility of films centred around the lives of Britishers on the North-west Frontier becoming tedious is very remote if future productions,' with that theme, are of an equally high standard as "The Drum," now screening at the Plaza Theatre. The film, entirely in technicolour, abounds in thrills, drama, and humour, and gives an excellent insight into the troubles encountered by British regiments in those, at times, '" troublous regions. The story deals: with an- attempted rising of .the natives in Tokot- (an imaginary State) by a fanatical prince (a role brilliantly enacted by Raymond Massey). The success of this venture would throw the whole of Northern India into a religious war. A small British foree1, „ under the command of .Captain Carruthers (Robert Livesy) and a juvenile prince,!- Sabu-^-proper heir to the throne .. occupied by' the fanatic—are the two main difficulties with which the fanatic has to contend, and events prove that the combination carries top many guns for the insurgents. There are many fighting scenes, which are most realistic, and the many glimpses of Indian life could not be improved upon. " REX THEATRE. Swift-moving action, drama, comedy, and songare the 'ingredients that make up life in a forest camp, which is the theme of Paramount s/ "It's a Great Life," which is showing at' the Rex ; Theatre. The,principal dramatic roles , belong to Joe Morrison, Paul Kelly, Rosalind Keith, and William Frawley, but the picture acquires balance through the work of Charles (Chic) Sale and of three.juvenile stars, Baby , Leßoy, David Holt, and Gloria Ann i White. .^Randolph- Scott, and Frances Drake: have leading'romantic roles in . the Paramount production of drama on < the highways, "Toll of the Roa^. which is the associate feature. .The \ story was inspired by a famous article * which made a nation conscious of the , traffic toll some months ago. , OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. J ! Brought to the screen in all the life- , like beauty of natural Technicolour, ■ 1 i "Wings of the Morning" is screening at , Our Theatre. It provides a thrilling ; mixture of drama, spectacle, and sur- 1 1 prise, including the spectacular changIng of the guard at Buckingham^ Pal- } ace and the most sensational Derby 1 i ever run. Annabella the. charming , ' French actress, stars with Henry . i Fonda and Leslie Banks. John McCor- j mack, world-famous tenor, sings in the -, Ifilm. The uproariously funny comedy, 3 "The Interrupted Honeymoon," star- j ring Claude Hulbert, is the second at- : traction. Varied supports complete the 1 programme. 1 KILBIRNIE KINEMA. i Joan Crawford, again demonstrates ] her superb artistry in "The Bride Wore Red," now at the Kilbirnie i Kinema. With the lovely star are - her distinguished actor-husband, \ Franchot Tone, and Robert Young ' in romantic competition. Others in the cast whose performances are ! noteworthy are Reginald Owen and ; Billie Burke, Lynne Garner, George Zucco, and. Dickie Moore. The story \ describes the dramatic adventures of a charming girl who rose from poverty ; to wealth and then gained spiritual . riches in love. It is, of course, Chi- : derella up to date, but this one is .: dated every night in the modern man- ; ner. Miss Crawford handles the part : with finesse. - , j REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Depicting the adventurous life his- i tory of five pals who emerge from • one of the toughest districts in New 1 York, Universal's. "The Devil's Party" i is showing at the. Regal Theatre, with < Victor McLagleh starring in One of ! his famous he-man roles. Adapted for < the screen from, a novel by Borden '< Chase, this picture delineates the enduring friendships and fierce loyalties that develop among kids who grow up together in- a great city. How to double £5000, win a fortune and the girl in thirty days, is Bing Crosby's big problem in "Double or Nothing," the second feature. The girl is Mary Carlisle and her problem is finding a way. to reconcile love with duty. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. While "Cloistered,'' how at the Sea- ; side; Theatre, is regarded as of particu- • lar interest for Catholics, it has a great '■ deal of interest.for■.those of Other de- ; nominations, since it draws aside a veil of mystery 2000 years old, to take picture-going audiences into the atmo- < sphere of a sanctuary previously only , guessed at, but never actually seen. Re- ; volving about one of the most ingenious themes ever brought to the screen, RKO-Radio's new musical comedy hit, "Radio City Revels," which is the associate film, has been lavishly produced : with a cast headed by Bob Burns, Jack Oakie, Kenny Baker, and Ann Miller. CAPITOL THEATRE, MDIAMAR. For the first time in history cameramen have/been permitted to film the mysterious life ot the nuns.living in a strictly cloistered convent, and. the resultant: production is "Cloistered," npw at the Capitol Theatre. The picture is most revealing. It takes- ah audience right inside the „ hitherto. . carefully guarded gates, shows the'life of, a girl from applicant to:the final ceremony, which makes her a njember of the community, and it permits the world, to see, for the first time, the: ritual -and the colourful scenes that follow. A mile-a-minute romance interspersed with sparkling dialogue and situations is depicted in "The Lady Fights Back," the second feature. A fine castis headed by Irene Hervey and Kent Taylor.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Cecil BJde Mille has used the broad panorama of the war of 1812 as background for his Paramount film, "The Buccaneer," which "is showing at the Tivoli Theatre, .Fredric March is cast as the famous pirate chief, Jean Lafitte, whose '■■' love* for a belle of old New Orleans, Margot' Grahame, and her country, the struggling young United States,, makes him. join' with General' Andrew. Jackson in the defence of New Orleans i against, the British attack. Although he becomes the hero of the hour when, the British are routed, March j loses his honour and his sweetheart when it "becomes known that his men sank the-Ameri-can merchant ship; "Corinthian,' with Margot's sister and a score of other prominent citizens aboard. Escaping from New Orleans with Jackson's help, he goes into exile with, the girl who really understands and loves • him, Franciska Gaal, an orphan whom he had rescued from the sea. A highspeed romance, carried on ,m ■ a spooky atmosphere under the , e,ves-present threat of desperate gangsters and blazing guns, and leavened with, side-split-ting comedy situations forms the basis, of "Seven Keys to Baldpate," the second feature, with Gene Raymond. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Stand In" and "Her Jungle.Xoye" conclude tonight at the Rivoli Theatre. Barking gangster guns, swing music, underworld intrigue, and a hectic_ romance are combined to provide a, fastmoving drama entitled "Night bpot, which opens tomorrow. An unusual hero is seen in the person of Allan Lane, who brings a gang of .jewel thieves to. a rightfully earned justice by working in a night-club orchestra as a police undercover man. ; Lovely Joan Woodbury is cast as a hard-work-ing secretary who also harbours musical ambitions and it is her good fortune to obtain a singing job in the same night club, which leads to a hectic romance with the young policeman and the subsequent nerve-tingling ex-^ periences at the hands of gangsters operating the night spot. - Sally Eilers has the main role in "Nurse From Brooklyn," the second attraction. Miss Eilers, however, has a more difficult role than any she has occupied since she soared to fame in "Bad Girl." As Beth Thomas, the nurse, she is forced to depict the soul-searing emotions that sweep over -a girl who finds she is losing her heart to the man she believes has"shot Jier brother. Leading1 figures in "the bast with Miss Eilers are Paul Kelly, Larry Blake, and Maurice, Murphy. ' ROXY THEATRE. I In exposing the latest "racket" to i worry the heads of the American Department of Justice the producers of "Tip-Off Girls," screening at the Roxy Theatre, have come to light with the customary supply of thrills, suspense, and fast action, as well as some rather unexpectedly strong acting. Featured players are Lloyd Nolan and Mary Carlisle. William Boyd heads the cast in Clarence E. Mulford's new romance of life in the frontier ranch country, "Cassidy of Bar-20," which is the supporting feature. It is a dramatic story of how. a small group of determined ranchers route a notorious . band of rustlers and bring law and-order to a distressed countryside. .. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The story of a headstrong, irresponsible air pilot who crashes in unexplored South America through his own carelessness, "Flight Into No.where," now at the Empire Theatre, narrates the difficulties, endured by a rescuing expedition, ■'the horrors of .being held captive by .head-hunters, and the love duel between two girls, 'one a beautiful white woman and the other the proud daughter of a forgotten Inca tribe. Jack Holt is starred. The plight 'of a.^star reporter who spends his wedding night on a goat hunt—under orders from his managing editor—provides the theme of the new romantic-comedy "No Time to Marry," the second feature, with Richard Arlen and Mary Astor. ■. . .1; ' > "BALALAIKA." "• ■' '• '; ' Tomorrow night at the-Grand Opera House, beginning at 8 . o'clock, J. C. Williamson Theatres will present their New Royal Comic Opera, Company, numbering over 100 people, in a grand opening gala performance of the musical romance, "Balalaika." . The company arrives tomorrow by the Maunganui. The scenery and .effects arr,iyed a fortnight ago in charge.of a-la^ge-stdfti^p'fvi'^iasjr^ian.^miech^icjs-and electricians, anj&?a full-scenic and lighting rehearsal place tonight' under the•/supervision.::of- the stage manager. Only a limited number of performances can be staged of "Balalaika," including matinees on Saturday next and Wednesday week, and during the season the company will present for a few nights only a revival of the musical play, "The Desert Song." Great interest is being taken in the appearance of the dashing young New York comedienne, Miss Violet Carlson, who achieved an electrifying triumph in Sydney recently, and- it is stated that in- the role of Masha in "Balalaika" iMiss;: ; Carlson's brilliant artistry will be enjoyed at its very best. Not for several, years has any musical comedyror opera company included a notable -.baritone, . and in Mr. George Hancock, "the ; Williamson management engaged; one of outstanding merit. His appearance as Count Peter Karagin in "Balalaika" is,of particular interest to local iplaygoersy .as the music' allocated; to.this role, it is said, shows- his rich ■ voice to- except tional advantage.. Miss.Diana Ducane has been described in. Australia as one of the best and'youngest Sopranos who has ever visited1 Australia and New Zealand from England,'and'her voice, too,will be heard 4o great-advantage in the numbers allotted to her role. Don Nicol is a natural and genuinely humorous comedian, and it is said that he is even funnier in ."Balalaika . than he was in either "The White^ Horse Inn or "The Merry Widow.'',...: The cast, which, is a particularly ;long one^ includes Gaston Mervale, Yvonne^ Banvard,.- Charles Zoli, Sidney : Wheeler, Dorothy Du'nckley, Clifford Cowley, lan Devereux, Hori Thomas, ; Douglas Herald, George Jameson, Harry Dale, Myrtle Creagh, Masie Rowed, Len Gotting,- Olive Kingette, Frank Bermmgham, Leslie Gordon, • George Garden, Gwen Bullock, Pat Smith, 'Harry Neil, William Innes, George Leslie. A feature of the opera- is the bnlhant Russian ballets and dances, the soloists being Jan Ivinsky and Gwen Brown, and other,features,are the gorgeous costumes and uniforms, and the scenic splendours' ;and lighting effects. The company includes a full operatic chorus arid ballet.- . /■