CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1938, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. '' "The Kat" will be shown finally to- • night at the Regent Theatre. "The Great. Garrick," starring Brian Aherne and Olivia de Havilland, com-, mences tomorrow. ) MAJESTIC THEATRE. Joan Crawford, who has romanced on the screen with Clark Gable, Rob-ert-Taylor, Robert Montgomery, Gary Cooper, and other famous film heroes, adds rugged, two-fisted Spencer Tracy - to her long list in "Mannequin," now . at the Majestic Theatre. Miss Craw,.v, ford as Jessie Cassidy has the role , -of a shop girl who seeks escape from poverty by marrying Eddie Miller, a : .cheap crook. Eddie is played by Alan - Curtis, Hollywood's newest leading x- man discovery. When Eddie fails her, «: Jessie decides to live her own life. ... John L. Hennessey, a role vfhich gives „ _„Tracy a powerful characterisation as : a man who worked his way up from "~ 'the docks to become a wealthy steamship owner, refuses to let her. Jessie -•■t~tnarried Hennessey. She learns to love .!-■ "him when Eddie attempts to black—mail them. His plan fails because fcrl ,.Hennessey goes broke. This gives Jes- .. -Sic a chance to prove, her love in a ,;l" surprising and dramatic climax. Never -•more beautifuly gowned, Miss-Craw- ■-■■ ford has twenty-eight costume changes <»<•■ designed by Adrian as an advance -"'' iolo lon Preview of feminine styles for ST. JAMES THEATRE, ~"\' Centred around picturesque Mar---iseilles with its ever-changing scenes, ... .Port of Seven Seas," which is now •-- ti^"^ at the st- James Theatre, is a - blend of pathos and comedy. Wallace ~_,Beery plays an impressive role as a ";;.§ ru,fl but understanding owner of a -• waterside tavern, and John Beal takes --'■the part of his son, torn between love -•of the: sea and love of a young woman. \ - ---The ,stor y opens when the young man to yield to the.lure of the r ,,,,pcean for three years. The tavern- . keeper and the girl grieve his departure. Frank Morgan is a suitor for the hand of Maureen O'Sullijvan, but is always gently refused. -■""'When the girl discovers that she is to be a mother, however, she "goes to Morgan, and, explaining ■" this to him, asks if he will still . marry her. He readily agrees. Beery , , learns of the situation and at first ; . attempts to stop the marriage, but, - realising that it -is the only solu- ,/... tion, he acquiesces. Frank Morgan ;- sets about making a good home for his family, but his well-meant efforts -"■" are interrupted by the return of the -..-sailor son, who comes to claim his .sweetheart and-baby. * PARAMOUNT THEATRE. That immense success of years ago, . ,"The Sheik," in which Rudolph Valen- ";- tino, now deceased, sealed his claim *- 'to be the world No. 1 screen lover, Z .-has been revived in recent months \-and is now showing at the Paramount t..,,-Theatre. "The Sheik," of course, is . from the famous novel and deals with the escapade of a young, "wayward English beauty, who goes "'-■■ into the desert after having proevoked an Arab leader and is abducted 'r/-by him and kept in captivity until - her hatred turns to love. There is . .. a certain period charm about the film; M it reveals, in striking fashion, the methods of actors in the heyday of the ' silents, its dressing has quaintness, ■-and its uncroppjed women are a sur- -"" prise. The desert scenes, of course, are ageless and Valentino's stern, apif peal is an education in what was y .popular over a decade ago. The film has Agnes Ayres, a well-remembered \star, in the women's lead, and Adolphe -' Menjou, Lucien Littlefield, and other names still familiar fill principal roles. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. The privilege of seeing and hearing fifteen-year-old Deanna Durbin at her best falls to the lot of patrons at the New Princess Theatre this week where "100 Men and a Girl" is being shown. "■"""i 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 'uand unusual picture. Into the artifiial'l'■■■ ity of the screen, Deanna Durbin enters -:■" :like a breath of fresh air; and one wonders whether advancing age and sophis- *.:■;■<.■ tication will spoil her natural charm. ror.Many singers can offer nothing in but with Deanna voice , • Jand personality—song and smile —are -.inseparable. The associate feature is "" "Metro - Goldwyn- Mayer's "Camille," ■~ starring Greta Garbo and Robert i: EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. ■?.:.,* The talents of three stars, Loretta ~-"»•;: Young, Warner Baxter, and Virgniia '• -'-Bruce, are brilliantly blended in "Wife, ....Doctor, and Nurse," the main film at ..,,,the Empire Theatre. A dramatic acj tion picture, Universal's "State Police," ''with John King and Constance Moore in the leading roles, is the associate ". feature. It tells of King's efforts, as ". .sergeant in a detachment of State ~'/Police, to "wipe out" racketeering of a ..previously unknown type. "State UV Police" contains a tender romance between King and Miss Moore. The reaches a surprise climax when .^"Larry Blake, as a killer, and one of ._his henchmen endeavour to escape - , through a. cordon of State Police radio .;-'. cars and embattled coal miners. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, .:: woburn. -' Mysterious aerial smugglers, a highv, speed romance, a rivalry between two ._, small-town newspaper correspondents, ■=.*.■,",< and a device for controlling aeroplanes ;:;.; : in flight by a radio beam, are all woven into an exciting basis for Joe ... „. E. Brown's newest film, "Riding on !;':Air," which is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. "Think Fast, Mr. ", Ji Moto," a thrilling mystery film star- ;; Ting Peter Lorre, is the associate feature. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. , Cattle rustling isx the days of the frontier West and the efforts of ranchers to put an end to it form the "'■ plot of the new Hopalong Cassidy • drama "Cassidy of Bar 20," which --. is showing at the Grand Theatre. Wil- .. liam Boyd, as Clarence E. Mulford's - popular character, accompanied by his '.:"-. saddlemates, Russell Hayden and Frank V' Darien, defeat the worst rustler of v - - them all. The connection between beau~T'' tiful "finger girls" and America's newest and fastest-growing racket, hi-. jacking, is attacked in the new Para- ,■. _, mount drama, "Tip-off Girls," which is - . the second feature. Lloyd Nolan plays r^-the leading role of a G-man. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. A romantic story of young love, I played against background music of -"•"■ Liszt, Moskowski, Chopin, and Strauss, ■'•*'■■ is brought to the screen of the Palace . Theatre in Paramount's "Stolen Heaven." This tale of a pair of attractive young jewel thieves who give up their ■unsavoury past when they find love together in a country hideaway, marks a new development in- motion pictures—dramatic action told in pic- •■>-'•» tures, dialogue, and music. At the ;?? head of the cast is Olympne Bradna, :^- and handsome Gene Raymond. I STATE THEATRE, PETONE. The audience becomes part of a deL lightful family in "Judge Hardy's '■"■ Children," third of the "Hardy Family": '""series, which is showing at the State Theatre. They shai-e the problems '- of the father and mother and the joys and tribulations of the child- • * ren, and they laugh with the characters ~V rather than at them in the homely, down-to-earth comedy scenes. Women "" * are Trouble" is the *tle of the nows- ' " paper story which is the second attraction. In the picture Stuart Erwin gives ■'-■■'■ newspaper men a chance to see themselves as others see them, in the characterisation of Matt a star reporter. Florence Rice plays a girl reporter.

Cm AM) SUBURBAN THEATRES

PLAZA THEATRE. ' Hollywood has made "Four Men and " ( a Prayer." And the transition of this £ popular story, read by millions in book j 'form or magazine serial, provide a j number of surprises. The 20th Century- t Fox production, which is at the ( Plaza Theatre, has added an emo- £ tional dimension to the motion pic- i ture that defies description. Scenes £ speak volumes without a word . . r menace stalks across the screen m a , weird silence that rumbles in the j heart, unheard by ear—it's a new and ( eerie effect, done by a marvellously- £ assembled cast. Four stalwart young r men, with a grand old soldier-father, ai-e bound by a gallant pledge to rove s the world to avenge his dishonour and • death. That great love pervades the entire story. Yet the shimmering i beauty of Loretta Young 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 covers her intense i loyalty to the brothers' cause with an i "American" flippancy which amazes i her British sweetheart most of all, but r more than anything puts spirit and i vigour into the grim quest. i DE LUXE THEATRE. i Bing Crosby is a policeman for a * day in the new musical film, "Doctor Rhythm," the main attraction at the * De Luxe Theatre. His friend, a real £ policeman, is unfit for work after a i school reunion (held in a menagerie), t and so Crosby, taking his place, is t assigned as bodyguard to a beautiful i young heiress (Mary Carlisle). • This I proves to be quite a task for she is z trying to elope with a gambler. The c theme provides scope for numerous s comic situations. Andy Devme, as f the incapacitated policeman, and i Beatrice Lillie, lead the clowning, as- t sisted by Rufe Davis and Laura Hope Crews. The many musical presentations include a song by Crosby, accompanied by a chorus of birds, and i a gipsy ballet in which Miss Lilhe as- . sists Crosby. The associate picture, } "Prison Farm," is a drama of the lives of the inmates of a penal institution, £ showing the corruption of small-town ( justice and the harsh treatment ot ( prisoners unfit for work. The cast •] is headed by Lloyd Nolan and Shirley i Ross. STATE THEATRE. The very fact that Peter Lorre is t starring in a film is sufficient evidence j. for most people that the picture is t a thriller out of the ordinary, for it , is impossible at the moment to name an actor who can fill a "sinister role more suitably. But in his latest film, "Mr. Molo's Gamble," now screening at the State Theatre, he has, strangely enough, the leading role in a thriller par excellence—but he is not the phantom killer as might have been expected; he is the man who is destined to track the killer down, c What really starts matters off with I a metaphorical "bang" is the novel, t and distinctly unusual, murder of « a prize-fighter—shot by a mysteri- r ous gun without bullets—in view of thousands of spectators. Mr. Moto" (Peter Lorre) , assisted by Keve Luke (of Charlie Chan film fame), sets off on the dangerous game of finding the killer, and in a complex of incident and excitement, that has seldom been equalled on the screen, he proves successful, thougn , only after he has endangered his own i life on numerous occasions. l ■ REX THEATRE. \ "Escape From Devil's Island," a Co- \ lumbia film of the dreaded Devils j Island, French penal camp off the coast j of South America, is showing at the £ Rex Theatre. Victor Jory, Florence j Rice, and Norman Foster are in the i leading roles. The story, by Fred De ( Gresac. well-known author, tells the j ironic tale of two men in love with j the same' girl joined to the death in j their desperate escape from the infa- ( mous tropical prison. .'"They Met in a j Taxi," Columbia's romantic comedy- x drama, featuring Chester Morris, Fay r Wray, Lionel Standeiy and Raymond j Walburn, is the assocate film. Directed A by Alfred E. Green, "They Met in a t Taxi" tells of the diverting experi- j ences of a pseiido-heiress, and a Man- c hattan cab 'driver, who has become " the unwilling squire of the lady in distress. . j ROXY THEATRE. \ Ramon Novarro in "The Sheik Steps j Out," is showing at the Roxy ] Theatre. Handsome Ramon proves E that "The Sheik" as a romantic in- £ stitution is here to stay and that de- j sert songs arid flying burnouses are } just as glamorous today as they were ten years ago. Moreover, the mod- ( crn sheik has a sense of humour, and < a greater imagination than his pre- ; decessor. "Cocoanut Grove" is the J 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 m this . famous ballroom. Fred Mac Murray « is starred. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. j So numerous were the requests upon , the part of the publi^ to once again ( see Norma Shearers great dramatic , triumph, "Smilin' Through" that its producers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, de- ■ cfded to bring back this famed screen classic. Fredric March and Leslie < Howard share honours with Miss ( Shearer in this picture, which is show- , The picture combines melodramauc unlersea thrills withjowdy romantics. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. The tensely human story of a love that affected nations is drawn_ vividly in the fictional drama of Parnell, Uncrowned King of Ireland," which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offers at the Kilbirnie Kinema, with Clark Gable • and Myrna Loy in the starring roles. Directed by John Stahl, from the . orfgfnal stage play by Elsie T. Schauf- ■ fler! the screen adaptation was written by John Van Druten and closely follows the spectacular career of Charles . Stewart Parnell, who found a great love more powerful than a great cause. "Living on Love," starring James Dunne and Whitney Bourne, is the associate feature. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. : "Too Tough to Kill," starring Victor Jory and Sally O'Neil, is the main attraction showing at Our Theatre at reduced prices. It tells the story of a brainy and brawny engineer who fights the elements of Nature and a gang of murderers to complete a tunnel project within a set time. Thurston Hall and Johnny Arthur are m the supporting cast. The second attraction is '"Shake Down," starring Lew Ayres and Joan Perry- The film deals with the racketeers who "shake down" society folk for millions of dollars every year. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. ' What is heralded as one of the maddest, merriest comedy romances of the season, "Snowed Under," is showing at the Seaside Theatre. ; The picture is enacted by a brilliant all-star cast, which includes George Brent, Genevieve Tobin, Glenda Farrell, and Patricia Ellis. "Man of Iron," Warner Bros.' picture which treats of the adventures in high society of an unpolished workman, and which gives Barton Mac Lane, the screen's Public Enemy No. 1, his first stellar opportun- . ity in a heroic role, is the second feai ture. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. A whole new world of Joy-iaden wonder comes winging from the snowsilvered Norseland with America's 1 newest and sweetest sweetheart, Sonja ' Henie —radiant beyond imagining, in ;- "Happy Landing," the 20th Centuryi Fox production now at the Regal The- ! atre. • Surpassing the breathless sen- ' sations of "Thin Ice" with scintillating songs by Pokrassand Yellen, the wonder girl, breathlessly in love, veritably '. brings happy tidings, thrilling as even she never thrilled before.

TIVOLI THEATRE. The self-confident, adventurous spirit of two young boys accustomed to shift; ing for themselves is shown in "Hawaii Calls," Bobby Breen's latest musical starring vehicle for RKO-Radio, which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Bobby, an orphan, has shmed shoes for a living in Sari Francisco, while his young Hawaiian friend, Pua Lani, has been a newsboy. With little thought of the possible consequences the two lads start for Honolulu as stowaways on a great passenger liner, only tb be discovered and placed under guard soon after the ship has left port. But through a daring act they succeed in landing at the Hawaiian city, and then become the centre of a swift succession of stirring adventures. The story reaches an exciting climax when a group of men bent on stealing Government naval information take a little girl as a hostage to cover their escape, and the boys take an important part in tracking down the criminals. Merle Oberon is at her best in "The Divorce of Lady X," an Alexander Korda technicolour production, which is the associate attraction. Cast as an impetuous society beauty, she takes great delight in teaching a lesson in chivalry to a young barrister, attractively played by talented Laurence Olivier. 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. The 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 long 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." 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. 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. RETURNED SOLDIERS' DANCE. The Hataitai auxiliary committee of the Returned Soldiers' Association will hold their annual dance tomorrow at the Realm Hall, Moxham Avenue, Hataitai. Details are advertised. i