CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Anton Walbrook, Ruth 'Chatterton, and Mary Clare, in: "The Rat," now showing at the Regent Theatre, show : '» generosity and the finer shades of love \ do not belong exclusively to the re- ; putable and honourable citizens of, this world. Walbrook, as "The Rat," a suave, dangerous cat burglar of Paris, to whom danger is the spice of life, has never been known to break his word to his friends, and it is that which makes a condemned criminal, who imagined that he could keep his seventeen-year-old girl, pure and out of the gutters of Paris, hand over the convent-trained lass to the care of the man most hated by the police. The ' Rat's haunts are not the place for ' her, so he simply takes her under his ■ wing up in an attic "and makes her stay there. Seeing him only now and ~ again, the^girl takes months to realise that he is a dangerous crook, but he . plays the game with his executed friend and gradually the girl gives up trying to take a place in his life. 5 The prefect of police despairs of evejr laying hands on the. Rat, and it looks as though there were a deadlock in » romance until a rich girl, who comes into an apache cellar with her fiance - just as the Rat is about to kill a traitor, undertakes to overcome the distaste which her kind arouses in this master thief. They drift into a flirtation, and ' she falls • deeply in love with him, • while he is rather dazzled by the richness of her surroundings and the many' surreptitious meetings they enjoy in all parts of Paris. Eventually she discards her wealthy South American suitor for the Rat. The older man, at a loose end, is led to the Rat's protegee by an old hag with designs on her to annoy the Rat. The girl is last being overcome by the old roue when the Rat is warned of what is happening. The rich man is shot, by whom it is not very clear at first, and the intense interest given to, the court trial of the girl and the Rat, both of whom have confessed to the murder to save each other, is. heightened by the unexpected actions of the society belle. It is a dramatic end. Supports include "Land of the Yellow Robe" and a cowboy band of merit. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Trite is the phrase "nothing new under the sun," but Hollywood sent the theatregoers something new when they produced "Port of Seven Seas," now at the St. James Theatre. Starring Wallace Beery, and with a splendid cast Including Frank Morgan, Maureen • O'Sullivan, John Beal, and Jessie Ralph, the picture presents an entirely novel theme. As the gruff, but understanding father and owner of a waterfront tavern, Beery is outstanding as usual, and his dramatic work with Frank Morgan is equally as enjoyable as their comedy,, Rom"ance is supplied by Miss O'Sullivan. The story concerns a boy who is torn from the arms of his sweetheart by the lure of the sea. He promises to return and marry her in three years. In leaving he also breaks his father's heart. In the meantime; another suitor, twice the girl's age, asks for her hand. ,At first she refuses, then agrees to marry him when she sees the happiness it will bring. She is still in Jove with the boy, but feels .they will never be happy if his love for adventure1 is greater than his devotion for her. He returns to find the girl married. He demands' that she leave her husband and go with him. His father makes hinv see that it would be impossible to break the old man's happiness, so the boy returns to his first love, the sea. MAJESTIC THEATRE. as a happy choice that teamed iv^ Cla^iovd and. Spencer Tracy for the first _ time in "Mannequin," which is showing ■ at- the Majestic Theatre. Miss Crawford has a- role tha&'ds reminiscent of her portrayals in "Banc'♦Bft I and- ."Possessed," pictures that. won. her wide popularity. ■-' The acting versatility of Tracy ceases: to surprise. —He seems to fit any part handed him as though made for it This is particularly true of his characterisation as John L. Hennessey, rugged and two-fisted, who rose from the docks to own a line of ships. Full of unexpected twists, the story opens with Jessies marriage to Eddie Miller as an escape from her tenement surroundk!? s* A? he p2, rt,? f Miller is played by Alan Curtis. When Miller proves to be 'a cheap crook, Jessie leaves him. determined to live her own lifk- Hennessey, who also loves Jessie, refuses to let her, and they are married. Miller sees an opportunX «>„ blackmail Jessie, which fails when Hennessey goes broke. This gives Jessie the chance to prove her love tor Hennessey in a gripping climax. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. One of the great pictures of the past, Rudolph Valentino's immortal me Sheik," which began a revival S° f n t?da^ J # the Paramount Theatre, should prove thrilling not ; °w to everyone who saw the picture ', when it was first released, but also , to the new generation of moviegoers ' who have not had the opportunity of ' seeing the "great lover" on the screen. ; As a spectacular picture, "The Sheik-' has lost none of the thrill which it gave audiences who saw it when it was first re- i leased—the auction of beautiful dancing girls to the lords of Algerian - harems, the barbaric gambling fete ; in the glittering casino at Biskra, the secret slave rites of the Bedouins* the raid of the British beauty's caravan and her kidnapping by the Sheik, the j fierce battle of the Sheik's clans to ' rescue the girl from the bandits who ' steal her—all of these unforgettable 1 scenes are as alive and real as they 1 ever were. The brilliant performances 1 of everyone in the cast help make 1 "The Sheik" memorable—the immor- ] tal Valet? Uno as "The Sheik"; lovely Agnes Ajres as the beautiful European girl who steals his untamed :ieart; Adolphe Menjou as the faithful friend who prevents the Sheik from 1 | making the one big mistake of his life; Lucien Littlefield as the Sheik's - valet, and Walter Long as the cruel j desert raider —all these roles will live j in the memory of audiences. ] NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. j The privilege of seeing and hearing 1 fifteen-year-old Deanna Durbin at her i best falls to the lot of patrons at the j New Princess Theatre this week where "100 Men and a Girl" is being shown. The sweetness and abandon of the girl, which did so much to make the record , success of "Three Smart Girls," are } with her in the making of this new and unusual picture. Into the artifiiality of the screen, Deanna Durbin enters , like a breath of fresh air; and one won- ' ders whether advancing age and sophis- ] tication will spoil her natural charm, j However, it is abundantly with her j now, so now is the time to make the ) most of it, and her new picture, "One J Hundred Men and a Girl," provides tlje ; opportunity. Many singers can offer .] nothing in personality, but with l Deanna voice and personality—song and smile —are inseparable. The as- i sociate feature is Metro-Goldwyn- ' Mayer's "Camille," starring Greta ' Garbo and Robert Taylor. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Heading the double-feature pro- I gramme at Our Theatre is "Topper," c with Cary Grant, Constance Bennett, i Roland Young, and Billie Burke in the i principal roles. Topper, admirably 1 portrayed by Roland Young, is a-\ banker very quiet, very unobtrusive, i resigned outwardly, at any rate, to the j prim and conservative existence to j which he has been moulded by a too-socially-careful wife. But the whole tenor of his life is abruptly changed when two friends, Constance Bennett and Cary Grant, gay young sparks, are killed in a motor smash and return in j spirit form determined to .lift Topper i out of the rut of his existence. They i are eminently successful. They can 1 materialise or vanish at will, and they < lead their old friend a merry dance, j The associate feature is "She Had to ] Eat," with Rochelle Hudson and Jack .< Haley. > J

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. Hollywood has made "Four Men and a Prayer." And the transition of this popular story, read by millions in book ■ form or magazine serial, provide a ' number of surprises. The 20th Century i Fox production, which is at the Plaza Theatre, has added an emo-1 .tional dimension to the motion picture that defies description. Scenes speak volumes without a word . . . menace stalks across the screen in a weird silence that rumbles in the heart, unheard by ear—it's a new and eerie effect, done by a marvellously assembled cast, directed by Academy Award winner John Ford. . The theme is an inspiring departure from the usual saccharine movie affection. Four stalwart young men, with a grand old I soldier-father, are bound by a gallant pledge to rove the world to avenge his dishonour and death. That great love pervades the entire story. Yet the shimmering beauty of Loretta Young j and her love for one of the brothers, | Richard Greene, is a joy to behold. Miss Young gives'a flawless performance, as the American girl who i covers her intense loyalty to the brothers' cause with an "American"! flippancy which amazes, her British i sweetheart most of all, but more than anything puts spirit and vigour into the grim quest. j DE LUXE THEATRE. A; young girl's unreasoned love for a man who: does not deserve it lands lier in a brutal penal institution in the new Paramount drama '^r:son Farm," which comes to the De Luxe Theatre today.- Shirley Ross, recently, seen in the "Big Broadcast of 1938," heads the cast in a story that combines a moving, romance with a revelation Of shocking prison conditions. As her two. leading men, she has Lloyd Nolan, the ever-popular "menace,"- and handsome John Howard. Prominent in the supporting cast are J. Carrol Naish, Porter Hall, and Anna Q. Nilsson. O. Henry, who has often been, called the greatest of all writers of popular fiction, created the story which has been made , into "Doctor Rhythm," Paramount's musical comedy starring Bing Crosby, Beatrice Lillie, and Mary Carlisle, which will be the supporting feature. Bing Crosby is seen =in the role of the fashionable New York doctor who dons a policeman's uniform for a day to help his best friend, Andy Devine. Bing gets his first job as bodyguard to Miss Lillie's socialite niece, Mary Carlisle, and applies the strong arm of the law in a most unlawful manner to win her heart. STATE THEATRE. The mystery master stakes his life to play a dangerous game against a phantom killer in "Mr. Moto's Gamble." which is showing at the State Theatre. This 20th Century-Fox drama provides detective story fans with a most exciting murder thriller. Guns without bullets—silent, invisible, and deadly—with 20,000 witnesses unable to tell how death struck in th£ midst of a packed fight arena, provide Peter Lorre, the star, with an entirely different and far more exhilarating type of "who-done-it" drama than the star ever has given before. To add still further • intriguing elements to this 20th Century-Fox hit, Keye* Luke, playing his famous role as Charlie Chan's No. 1 son, helps Mr. Moto clear up the strange case of a prize-fighter's death. "Mr. Moto's Gamble" is new, gripping to.the last scene, and packed with surprises—produced by an excellent supporting cast featuring Keye Luke, Dick Baldwin, Lynn Bari, Douglas Frowley, Jayne Regan, Harold Huber, and Maxie Rosenbloom in the cast. Directed by James Tinling, with John Stone associate producer, the 20th Century-Fox mystery thriller is. an original screen play by Charles Belden and Jerry■■■Cady, based on the character created- by Jt P-, -Marquand. j'rv^ :: BEX; THEATRE. .n.'.; ; v. -; .",■;.. I '«Sphg >of the "City;*= now' at-the-sßex Theatre, is the story- of a youth who refused to marry for wealth when his own'money ;was lost in the stock mar-1 ket.'•-.. The girl, however, loves hiir<> j and refuses to give him up easily. The youth is washed overboard from a San Francisco Bay ferry arid rescued by. an Italian fisherman. Margaret Lindsay and Jeffrey Dean score in the leading roles. "Midnight Intruder,") the supporting film, contains all the elements of good entertainment. There are hilarious situations, tense i moments, a gorgeous night club set, j and tender love scenes—all skilfully ; woven into this Universal production. Pert Barbara Read plays the role of ( Patricia Hammond, lovely temptress who snares Louis Hay ward, cast as Barry Gilbert, and converts him from a vagabond to a paragon. • TUDOR THEATRE. Lawrence Tibbett leads the cast in the 20th Century-Fox production "Metropolitan," which is showing at the Tudor Theatre. Alice Brady, Virginia Bruce, and Cesar Romero are among the supporting cast. The second feature of the programme, "City Girl," co-stars Ricardo Cortez and Phyllis Brooks. The programme begins at 7.30, with featurettes. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Penitentiary" will be shown finally tonight at the Grand Theatre. "Leave It To Me," starring the English comedian, Sandy Powell, opens tomorrow. That this new vehicle gives the grand trouper-—famous on music hall, stage, and radio alike-—the finest opportunities he has ever had cannot be doubted. Supporting the star is a very strong cast of talented British players, including Iris March as the heitoine, Garry Marsh as the superintendent, Franklin Dyall in the role of the mysterious Chinese, and Wally Patch as the all-in wrestling referee, . STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Joy of Living" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. A whole new world of joy-laden wonder comes winging from the snowsilvered Norseland with America's newest and sweetest sweetheart, Sonja Henie, in Landing," which opens tomorrow. "Surpassing the breathless sensations of "Thin Ice" with scintillating songs by Porkrass and Yellen, the wonder girl, breathlessly in love, veritably brings happy tidings, thrilling as even she never thrilled before. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. " "Red River Valley" and "Young Fugitives" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. ■ "Music for Madame," a tuneful romantic comedy starring Nino Martini, and featuring Joan Fontaine, commences tomorrow. 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. The second attraction, "Rawhide," is of the blazing action type, deftly interwoven with catchy music and colourful romance. Appearing on the stage is the celebrated ventriloquist, Ventrix, and his pal Jerry. _____ KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "The Firefly," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's impressive adaptation of Rudolf Friml's memorable operetta, with Jeanette Mac Donald in her seventeenth musical triumph, is showing at the King George Theatre. Allan Jones and Warren William are the star's leading men. "The Firefly" presents a powerful story of dramatic romance, as well as a vehicle for remarkable music. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. Sylvia Sidney and Spencer Tracy are the stars in "Fury," which is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. The narrative, based on an original story by Norman Krasna, has to do with the tragic circumstances that separate two young lovers on the eve of their marriage.. "Love on a Budget," the latest of the. Jones Family's pictures, is the second feature.

TIVOLI THEATRE. The tensely human story of a love that affected nations is drawn vividly in the fictional drama of "Parnell," "Uncrowned King of Ireland," which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre, with Clark Gable and Myrna Loy in the starring roles. Gable and Miss Loy are superb in their respective roles as the fiery - Irish leader and the beautiful Katie O'Shea, whom he loves beyond any fame or fortune that political power might bring.' "Parnell" as it is here presented becomes international, although it remains essentially Irish, of course. But always, it is the dramatic love story of a striking individual and a gorgeous woman, presented with supreme artistry. One of the most baffling of all the Erie Stanley Gardner murder mystery dramas, "The Case of the Black Cat," is the supporting film. Ricardo Cortez and Jwne Travis are in the leading roles. One of the unusual features of the plot of this highly involved drama is that while detectives are trying to solve the supposed murder of one man, the ."dead" person himself commits a murder, and still another slaying is perpetrated by a couple to cover up what they believe to be their crime in "killing" the first man. ' . RIVOLI THEATRE. A story containing all the charm and drama of another "Seventh Heaven" is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. It is "Stolen Heaven," Paramount's new musical drama co-star-ring Olympe Bradna and Gene Raymond. Th,e story deals with a pair of young lovers who try to live down their dangerous past in a forest hideaway with a great musician whom the world has iong. forgot. This man, played by Lewis Stone, has so strong an influence on them that they give up their plans to escape the country and devote themselves to preparing for the old man's "comeback." On the eve of. the, festival, however, their past catches up with them in the form of their former confederates, who arrive at the hideaway and plead with them to flee. All their normal instinct for self-preservation tells them to flee with their ex-confederates, but their sud-denly-realised devotion to Stone makes them stay-and "face the music." After a lengthy absence from the screen, Merle Oberon returns more beautiful and talented than ever in "The Divorce of Lady X," a delicious and highly satisfying repast of,, wit and gentle fun. which is the second feature. It is Miss Oberon's first appearance in technicolour. Partnered by handsome and capable Laurence Olivier, the star gives a wholly delightful and refreshing performance, colour enhancing her already incomparable loveliness. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. A whole new world of joy-laden' wonder comes winging from the snowsilvered Norseland with America's newest and sweetest sweetheart,. Sonja Henie—radiant beyond imagining, in "Happy Landing," the 20th CenturyFox production now at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Surpassing the. breathless sensations of "Thin Ice" with scintillating songs by Pokrassand * Yellen, the wonder girl, breathlessly in love veritably brings happy tidings, thrill-t mg as even she never thrilled before. As if they didn't have trouble enough already, Dadi Jones adopts the toughest kid in town and Bonnie becomes a bride in the fastest, funniest Jones Family picture. "Borrowing Trouble," the supporting film. ROXY THEATRE. Ramon Novarro in "The Sheik Steps Out, is showing at the Roxy ineatre. Handsome Ramon proves HVTx. The Sheik" as a romantic institution is here to stay and that desert songs and flying burnouses are just as glamorous today as they were ten years ago. Moreover, the modern sheik has a sense of humour, and a greater imagination than his pre decessor. "Cocoanut Grove" is the supporting picture. Its story is based on a young musician's climb to fame' and eventually to the top spot of leader of the featured band in this , famous ballroom. Fred Mac Murray is starred. j , REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. ' Merle Oberon and David Niven. are cast together on the: screen for the first time in "Beloved Enemy," now at the Regal Theatre. Brian Aherneis starred opposite. Merle as the successful lover, while Niven is cast as the young man who loves her but for whom she feels only a sisterly affection. The beautiful romance is carried on under fire amid the bloodshed and terror of rebellion. The talents of three stars, Loretta Young. Warner Baxter, and Virginia | Bruce are brilliantly blended in "Wife, Doctor, and Nurse," the supporting film., Two" modern women who thought they' could reason about love, and a man' who wouldn't listen to reason, are the-i highlights 9f one of the year's most ex ceptional pictures, a gay romantic story in the mood of today. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper show what happens to a rich American who marries and divorces seven wives, only to be taken completely into camp by his eighth, in Paramount's "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," which is showing at the Empire Theatre. .Ernest Lubitsch, master of the famed "Lubitsch touch," directed this urbane comedy of life among the sophisticated inhabitants of Europe's pleasure resorts. "Making the Headlines," Columbia's exciting murder-mystery drama, is the second feature. Jack Holt stars in the production as the intrepid police officer who unravels the baffling mystery^: supported by a cast including Beverley Roberts and Craig Reynolds. x" ■ .:- _. . ■ ■ ■ HUTT PARK TROTS. The Railway Department has made arrangements for a fast and frequent train service-to run direct to the Hutt Park trotting course tomorrow: A popular fare has been provided. BUS TIMETABLE. The Railway Road Services advertise in this issue additions to the Welling-ton-Ngaio-Khandallah bus timetable which will become operative on and after Sunday. . :..•. UNEMPLOYED EX-SOLDIERS. The Wellington R.S.A., 12 Victoria Street, requests all unemployed returned soldiers to register at the association's office not later than October 14, with a view to obtaining employment for them by subsidising labour.