CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS-

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 59, 7 September 1938, Page 8

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS-

REGENT,. THEATRE.

"The Perfect Specimen" concludes tonight at the Regent Theatre. "That Certain Woman," starring Bette Davis, commences tomorrow.

MAJESTIC THEATRE,

i :From the pen of the author of "All Quiet on the Western Front" conies 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 romance, with Frajachot 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 Sul- / lavan, the love affair giving all three comrades a new interest in life. Taylor and Miss Sullavan, are married, and it seems as though fate has offered them a share of happiness at last. But life decrees otherwise. , Young is slain in a riot and Miss Sullavan suffers an illness on her-honey-moon. When she faces an operation in a distant sanitarium, Tone sells his proudest possession, 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 in-, eludes 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 "Cocoanut Grove," a mecca of all Struggling dance bands. With the band is a little boy, and a tutor is required fdr him. That this tutor and the band leader should fall in love is only natural, but misunderstandings arise, and it is along time before they are reunited. Eventually the "Cocoanut Grove" is reached, although the band i£ nearly beaten at the tape. , ~ PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Merrily We Live" 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 ibackr ' ground. Things commence to happen when^the lady of the house, played by BiUie Burke, exhibits a delightful weakness for befriending "down-and-outs.V a weakness which the other slightly abnormal members of the family can do little to curb, despite -the disappearance, after a day or, two, ox the strays, together with tile family plate. Eventually Brian Ahearne arrives on the scene to use the telephone, /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 furious when the chauffeur is forced into the role of guest oi honour at an / amazing; dinner, party. . ' ' "REX THEATRE. ■ ; ... . Sw4ft-moving action, drama, comedy, and song are 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 Hex Theatre. The principal dramatic/oles 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 jjtars, Baby LeßoyJ i David Holt, and Gloria Ann • White.!' Randolph Scott and Frances Drake have leading romantic roles, in the Paramount, production of drama 1 the highways, "Toll of the Road, 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. ~ NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Irene Dunne and Qary^Grant are starred in Columbia's "The Awful " Trfith," now at the New Princess Theatre. Irene is again cast -m an alicomedy role, described as more madcap than her unforgettable performance in ' "Theodora Goes Wild" for the same studio. Leo McCarey, who .won., mem- - orable fame for his. directionVof "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 Blondell. KJLBIRNIE KINEMA. .Joan Crawford again demonstrates her superb artistry in "The Bride Wore Red," now at the Kilbirnie 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, Cinderella up to date, but this one is dated every night in the modern manner. Miss Crawford handles the part , with finesse. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Sweet Aloes," starring Kay Francis, is showing at the State Theatre. The picture, based on the smashing stage hit by Jay j Mallory, was made for Kay • Francis. The intensejy 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 j i famous players of stage and screen as j Patric Knowles, Henry .Stephenson,! Frieda Inescourt, Helen Flint, HaUiwell, Hobbes, Zeffie Tulbury, and Elspeth! Dudgeon. / ! GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. .. Death deals a hand at the gaming tables in "Charlie Chan at Monte Carlo," now at the Grand Theatre. The world's ace detective at' the world s 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. "Smart Blonde," which is showing at the Palace Theatre, is a combination mystery-newspaper-police thriller, costarring Miss Farrell as a wisecracking but brainy reporter and Barton MacLane as a hard-boiled detective-lieuten-ant. Romance in a new setting will'De found in the Warner Bros, picture, "King of Hockey," the associate attrac* tion. ,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 Furcell and Anna JTagel have the leading roles*

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. The possibility of fiLns 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 screen-1 ing at the Plaza Theatre. The film, entirely in techhicolour, abounds in thrills, drama, and humour, and gives an excellent insight into the troubles encountered by British regiments _m those, at times, troublous ijegions. 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 force, under the command of Captain carruthers (Robert Livesy) and a juvenile prince, Sabu—proper heir to the throne occupied by the fanatic—arethe two main difficulties with-which,the fanatic has to contend, and events prove that the combination earries^too many guns for "the insurgents. >Thejce are many; fighting scenes, which are most realistic, ant the many glimpses of Indian life could not be improved 'upon. 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 much ,as hign school English has thrilled tc.the adventure in "Kidnapped." It will be these who will remember .thaj the story had little or no "feminine interesting chiefly the tale of the escapades of Alan Breck and David Baliour (portrayed' on the screen by Warner^Baxter) and Freddie Bartholomew. Purists may try, therefore, to quarrel with HoUywood's introduction into the story of a. Jean McDonald, Highland lass who becomes enamoured oiAian Breck. The role is PorttayecTby an astonishingly .vivacious and beautiful screen discovery, Arleen_Whelan. It is interesting to note, then, that tne motion' Picture people hay a precedent than "stevdnson himself for alleeedlv "tampering" with the facts. HeiSs he tampered with the historical facts in writing the book. The cast of "Kidnapped" includes C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, John CaSdfneT^Sel 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 does + not Sem either a chase -or. shooting, Lloyd Nolan, in the lead, has a part of great possibilities Immaculate, Si^ete^ r^^^a|oS| SiTcaTra^^^ ATwiSe^in^ou?^!^^ motorist, he leaves his .gang to drive the reveUer - home, and, ,as the^ 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 m A^ Z on^ Cea Bo^Wes? Natalie Moorhead, and. Russell Hayden into association in.; a Hopalong Cassidy" story full of colour afid wild riding. _____ 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 inthe leading tSSSr "Condemned, Women/^ a dramatic filmisation of torsaireii Sen The associate film to a^comedy, "Mniri's! Nifiht Out, m v/hich Aiian lS and S Fontaine head the cast. BOX* THEATRE. In exposing the latest "racket" to worrv'the heads of the American DeSSSent of Justice the producers of "Tio-Off Girls." screening at the Roxy Theatre have come to light with the cSm eary>PPly of thrills> suspgng and fast action, as well + .as«som^ltn?Jd unexpectedly strong acting. J eat«f!° nlavers are Lloyd Nolan and Mary William Boyd heads" the cast £ cfarence E. Mulford's new romance of life in the frontierjanch country, "Cassidv of Bar 20," which is the suppSting feature. It is a dramatic story li Sow a small group.of determined ranchers route a notorious band oi rustlers and bring law and order to a distressed countryside. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. With Pat O'Brien starred, and such excellent players as Humphrey Bogart, Barton Mac Lane, Joseph Sawyer, and Ann Sheridan in supporting roles, the Warner Bros. First National melodrama "San Quentin" vis showing at the Empire Theatre. While the story is laid in and about the famous penitentiary thatrjuts into San .Francisco Bay, it is not one of -those sorrowful movies about condemned men and last hours and that sort of thing. It is simply a swiftly-moving melodrama dealing with the prisoners, the lives they lead some good, some evil, even behind walls—and the officers who guard them. The first-class comedy, "Second Honeymoon" is the supporting feature. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Sandy Powell's new hit, "Leave it. to Me," is showing at the Regal Theatre. That this new vehicle gives the grand trouper —famous on music hall, stage, and radio alike —the finest opportunities he has ever had carinot be doubted. All that heed be said about the.story is that it concerns Sandy's activities as a special constable. Supporting the star is a very strong cast of talented British players. Adventure and excitement are the keynotes of "Flight Into Nowhere," Jack Holt's latest Columbia drama, which is the associate feature. The film, enacted by a sterling cast, is set against the trackless forests of the upper Amazon, with modern science pitted against jungle hoodoo. OUR THEATRE, NE^TOWN. As a singing comedienne, gay and vivacious, Simone Simon . makes a triumphant debut in the bright and snappy comedy, "Love and Hisses," which heads the double-feature programme at Our Theatre. Simone sings a number of catchy songs with charm and vitality. \ Ben Bernie brings Simone over from Paris for his night club and tries to get Walter Winchelll to boost her up in his: daily news session over the radio. His hopes are shattered* however, when Walter 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. "Borrowing Trouble," starring the Jones family, is the second attraction. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. For the first time in history camera-, men have been permitted to film the) mysterious life of the nuns living in a strictly cloistered convent, and the resultant production is "Cloistered," now at the Capitol Theatre. The picture is most revealing. It takes an audience right inside the hitherto carefully guarded gates, shows the life of a girl from applicant to the final ceremony, which makes her a member 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 cast is headed py Irene Hervey and Kent Taylor, j

TIVOLI THEATRE. Cecil B. de 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 against the British attack. Although he becomes I the hero of the hour when the British i are routed, March loses his honour '» and his sweetheart when it becomes . known that his men sank the Amenl can merchant ship, "Corinthian, with ■ Margot's sister and a score of other , prominent citizens aboard. Escaping l from New Orleans with Jackson s help, ! heroes into exile with the girl who i realty understands and loves him, l Franciska Gaal, an orphan whom he i had rescued from the- sea. Anig£ : speed rcnance carried on in a spooky ■ atmosphere under the ever-present •threat of desperate gangsters and blaz- ( RIVOLI THEATRE. ! Barking gangster guns swing> music, : underworld intr gue, and a^hectic ro- ; mance are combined to provide a, fast; j moving drama entitled N^t, Sp°t no.w at the Rivoli Theatre; 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 ra police undercover man. ,L°V^ 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 ahectic romance with the young policeman and the subsequent nerve-tingling experiences at the hands of gangsters operating the night spot. Sally Eilers has the main role in "Nurse From Brooklyn," the second attraction. As Beth Thomas) th& 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 her brother. Leading figures in the cast with Miss Eilers are Paul Kelly, Larry Blake, and Maurice Murphy. "BALALAIKA" TONIGHT. Tonight at the. Wellington _Opera House, begining at 8 o'clock, J. C. Williamson Theatres will present their Royal Comic Opera Company in a brilliant opening gala performance of the picturesque, tuneful, and humorous musical play, "Balalaika," which has proved an outstanding success m Londan, New York, the Continent, and Australia. "Balalaika" is regarded as the biggest and mosf expensive attraction ever sent to New Zealand by the Williamson management. The Opera House has been renovated and .elaborately decorated in harmony with the romantic and colourful settings of "Balalaika." It is said "Balalaika" is a production that is pleasing, both to the ear and the eye. As a spectacle it is said to eclipse any production ever staged in Australia or New Zealand, and its comedy scenes are refreshingly wholesome and genuinely humorous. Also, "Balalaika" unfolds a romantic love story, which was written by Eric Maschwitz . and is intensely interesting from beginning to end. Two new members of the company, Miss Violet Carlson and Mr. George Hancock, will make .their appearance this evening. Miss Carlson, who is the' comedienne of the company, is a brilliant young New York actress, who achieved an /outstanding success;when she made her first appearance in Sydney recently. Mr. Hancock had to leave an important London engagement to accept an attractive offer from the J. C. Williamson management, and in "Balalaika" he more than sustains his English reputation. Miss Diana Ducane has a delightful personality, added to which she? possesses a soprano voice of exceptional range: and quality; and it is said that she gives a perfect performance of the part of Lydia Marakiva. A clever and popular comedian, Mr. Don Nicol, has an-important; and very amusing character to portray in* that of Nicki. Other well-known,artists in the cast of forty principals include Gaston Mervale, Yvonrte Bauvard, Charles Zoli, Tim Blackman, Cliff Cowley, Dorothy Dunckley, and Sydney Wheeler. -The dances and Russian ballets are big features of "Balalaika," and in the solos it is said that Miss Gwen Brown and Jan Ivinsky are artistic to a degree.