CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1938, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE. Favoured, as never; before, with the I assistance of American production Gracie Fields rises to new heights in . "We're Going to be Rich," the comedy film of gold-rush days which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. Still she ' has opportunity to sing her inimitable songs and give her laughable character skits, as she is cast as the showgirl wife of a ne'erdowell roisterer, and it is by her singing that she keeps the home fires burning. Victor McLaglen is splendidly cast as the tough, shift- '. less husband of Gracie, and when firs! seen the two are in Melbourne, where Gracie has just finished saving enough money to go back home to England.: where they hope to settle down. Hopes; are in vain, for McLaglen robs the money box and buys a non-existenl gold mine near Johannesburg. Here they start life anew, and Gracie gets a good job at a saloon, singing while her . husband does a gaol sentence. Trouble strikes again, and the pair are temporarily parted because of a- feud be . tween McLaglen and Brian Donlevy manager of the saloon. i MAJESTIC THEATRE. | A light social drama in which witty conversation and • the ultra-modern "streamlined" type of acting play big parts, "Manproof," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is bound to keep its audiences amused and entertained The tale is that of Mimi, a young, society girl who fancies she is in love j With a man-about-town of the real I American type. Unfortunately he j marries a girl with a great deal more) money than Mimi, who, after creating ' several scenes, recovers to find herself i a man-hater. On the return of the couple from their honeymoon, however, she manages to capture the husband back for a while, and the result might be permanent were it not for the shrewd generalship of the wife. Franchot* Tone gives a performance with all his usual easy grace as a newspaper ! artist, a friend of Mimi's novelist i mother and one who is very concerned ;in preventing Mimi from making a fool of herself. As Mimi, Myrna Loy is also in her best form, and Rosalind Russell, as a normal type of gracious, sympathetic, understanding society girl, gives a performance which again shows her calibre as an actress. - ST. JAMES THEATRE. '•Hollywood Hotel" wil be shown finally tonight at the St. James Theatre. "Little Tough Guy," starring "The Dead End" kids, opens tomorrow. REX THEATRE. "Boulder Dam" anct "Times Square Playboy" conclude tonight at the Rex' Theatre. "Prescription For Romance," which opens tomorrow, tells the story of an embezzler who flees to Hungary to escape from arrest at the hands of the Bankers' Protective Association. He leaves his gold-digging sweetheart behind him in New York and when she finds he has deceived her she follows him to* Budapest. Wendy Barrie, Mischa Aver, Frank Jenks,"' and Steve Macy are in the cast. Murder on a campus is the story of "Extortion," Columbia mystery drama which is the supporting feature, and which includes in its cast such well-known players as Scott Colton, Mary Russell, Gene Morgan, Arthur Lbft, and Thurston Hall. 'NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Dead End" and "Turn Off the Moon" conclude tonight at the New' Princess Theatre. J Based on Baroness Crczy's best-sell-1 ing novel, the long-awaited London] film, "The .Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel," comes to the Princess Theatre tomorrow. Barry X, Barnes plays the title role. Barnes is seen as Sir Percy Blakeney, an intrepid young Englishman, whose main occupation is snatching French aristocrats from under the guillotine. His narrow escapes from the clutches of the tyrant Robespiei*rc . come to a brilliant, smashing climax that is both thrilling and spectacular. Sophie Stewart plays tlie part of Sir Percy's wife who is captured by Robespierre only to be rescued by the League of the Pimpernel under her husband's leadership. The associate. feature is., the romantic comedy, "She Married An Artist," starring John Boles and Luli Deste. j KILBIRNIE KINEMA. An original story by Erich Yon Stroheim, once a distinguished Hollywood director, "Between Two Women," is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema, with Franchot Tone, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Virginia Bruce. It is a; dramatic narrative of life, death, and romance in a great metropolitan hospital, and it has been produced by Metro-! G'oldwyn-Mayer with all of its lavish resources. A new challenge to the amusement-seeking public's risibilities! is now on the motion picture screen in ] "Bringing Up Baby," the second feature, which is a fast-paced modern j comedy romance with Katharine Hepburn playing mad pranks as an heiress ] animated/ with mischief, and Cary j Grant in an equally bizarre but con-1 trasting role as the victim of her torments. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. In picturising Marc Connelly's famous Pulitzer Prize play, "The Green Pastures." which is showing at the Regal Theatre, Warner Bros, have given the drama a lavishness of production that far. outstrips the. stage play. The picture, hailed by some critics as the "modern Divine comedy" and "America's best-loved play," is indeed a veritable classic in its simplicity and sincerity, its poignant beauty, and remarkable characterisations. Its rich humour is happy and appropriate, yet so tactfully presented that it evokes smiles both tender, and reverent. "Prescription for Romance," the second attraction, is filled with exciting situations and alternating moments of suspense and romance. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. The boisterous spirit of Captain Flagg and Sergeant Quirt, of "What Price Glory?" and "The Cockeyed World," rises high in the 20th Cen-tury-Fox comedy of American Legionnaires in New York, "Battle of Broadway," which heads the double-feature programme at Our Theatre. Victor McLaglen ai}d Brian Donlevy are the two "tough guys." Alice Faye, Tony Martin, Joan Davis, and Fred Allen have tlie principal roles in the musical comedy, "Sally, Irene, and Mary," which is the associate feature. Varied and entertaining supports complete the programme. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. Wfcat is proclaimed as an entirely new type of murder mystery thriller is showing at the Seaside Theatre under the title of "The Walking Dead," a Warner Bros, production, starring Boris Karloff. The picture deals with the resurrection of a dead man, who walks again among his fellow-men, walking in a half dream, dazed, but possessing an unfailing and seemingly supernatural power to recognise the members of a band of crooks he had not known before as the persons who had framed him for murder and caused him to be electrocuted for a crime he did not commit. "Man of the Moment," starring Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and' Laura La Plante, is the second film. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Green Light," best-selling novel for two years, and now translated to the screen, is showing at the Capitol Theatre. Errol Flynn, the youn" Irish star who made such a sensational success with his first starring role, "Captain Blood," and followed it with another hit in "The Charge of the Light Brigade," has the role of Dr. Newell Paige, a young surgeon who sacrifices has career to save that of an older doctor. "Sparkles," starring Jessie Matthews, is the supporting feature.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

DE LUXE THEATRE. ! "Alcatraz Island" and "Prairie Thunder" conclude tonight at the De Luxe I Theatre. The efforts of a powerful internaI tional spy ring to steal the plans of a mysterious radio wave disintegrator, England's greatest military secret, starts a vicious diplomatic intrigue, involving several important European Powers, causes the kidnapping of. the head of Scotland Yard and brings "Bulldog Drummond," the famed amateur detective, face to face with the most exciting adventure of his career in "Bulldog Drummond in Africa," which opens tomorrow at the De Luxei Theatre. Led by J. Carrol Naish, the I international spies kidnap "Colonel '<, Nielson" of Scotland Yard, played by H. B. Warner, when all their efforts to learn the pi-ecious secret fail. After i murdering Warner's bodyguard, they carry him oft" to intrigue-ridden Mo-! rocco, where they have a stronghold in the desert. Here they plan either to 'pry the secret loose from him by i means of slow torture or to kill him as I a last act of revenge. Although forbidden by Scotland Yard to leave Eng-; hand, John Howard, again cast as the famed sleuth, steals his aeroplane right from under the noses of "the guards and flies to Morocco to rescue his best friend. Featuring Nan Grey, Donald Woods, and William Lundigan, Universal's latest Crime Club mystery production, "Danger On the Air," will.be i the second feature. | PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. ! Tonight at the Place Theatre there will be a three-feature programme. Firstly, there is the Joe Louis v. Nathan Mann world's heavyweight championship fight. No. 2 attraction has the well-liked George O'Brien in an action picture, "Gun Law." In the third feature. Joe Penner is seen in "Go Chase Yourself," a hilarious musical comedy. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Tlie world's most famuos night club is brought to the screen for the first time in "Cocoanut Grove," which is showing at the State Theatre. The cast is headed by Fred Mac Murray and Harriet Hilliard, aided and abetted by the antics of the Yacht Club Boys, Ben Blue, Rufe Davis, and Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiian Orchestra. The story concerns itself with a swing band and its hilarious trials and tribulations in getting to an audition at the famed Cocoanut Grove.

RIVOH THEATRE. One of the most beautiful and powerful love stories to reach the screen is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Ronald Colman and Loretta Young are the principals and "Clive of India" is the vehicle. This true story of Robert Clive, a poor young clerk in the East India Company, who conquered an Empire at 26 and became England's greatest hero, only to see his star fail when the woman he loved had drifted from his side, is more than a great love story—it is a reflection of a life of truly heroic proportions, of staggering achievement, attained because a man believed in his own destiny. One secret of its greatness—if secret it is—is certainly that •'Clive of India" dares to tell the whole truth about a great man, glossing over nothing—not even the man's less admirable deeds. The seventy-odd remaining speaking roles are expertly filled by popular and expert players. The second attraction will be that compelling and interesting film "The Story of Louis Pasteur," which is based on the life of the famous French scientist and medical man. Paul Muni is seen in his most powerful role. TIVOLI THEATRE. A whole new world of joy-laden wonder comes winging from the snow-sil-vered Norseland with America's newest sweetheart, Sonja Henie—radiant beyond imagining, in "Happy Landing," the 20th Century-Fox production, which is showing at the Tivoli • Theatre. Cesar Romero, cast as an orchestra leader who, with his companion, Don Ameche, flies across the Atlantic, starts this musical of superlative splendour on a fast-moving pace. An ocean fog puts the flyers off their j course and they land in Norway, where Jean Hersholt's five daughters (one of them Sonja) are happily engaged in a "Brides' Fair" festival. The local I custom that a young man who dances twice with a girl is proposing to her gets Robero involved in a love affair which is all. hero-worship on the part of a lovelorn Sonja, and all basking in the ever-satisfying warmth of egotism by Romero. Don Ameche, sincere in his interest, tries to keep things on an even keel, but there is the matter of another girl of Romero's back in the States. "Wife, Doctor, and Nurse," the second attraction, is a gay, penetrating drama with a catch in its heart and a twinkle in its eye. EMPIRE THEATRE. ISLAND BAY. Stalked to his doom by his own brother, America's secret crime dictator topples from his terror-stalked throne. Brother against brother, one a G-men fighting for the law, the other a criminal battling for his life . . and' the heart of the girl they both love. Those, briefly, are the high lights of Columbia's thrilling drama, "When G-men Step in," now showing at the Empire Theatre. Don Terry, Jacqueline Wells, and Robert Paige enact the leading roles. "Sparkles," starring Jessie Matthews, is tlie supporting feature.

| PARAMOUNT THEATRE. I "There's Always a Woman" and "Extortion" conclude tonight at the Paramount Theatre. Bette Davis will again be seen to advantage in a photoplay that has plenty of scope for her emotional talents in "That Certain Woman," a Warner Bros, melodrama, which will be the attraction at the Paramount Theatre tomorrow. Adventure, romantic love, martyrdom, mother-love are all portrayed by Bette in the course of this exciting drama. Her part in the play is more important than the one in "Kid Galahad," with Edward G. Robinson, and the role is even more tense than the one she had in "Marked Woman." "That Certain Woman" is a story about the widow of a slain gangster, who, despite the scorn of the world and the persecution of enemies, wins her way to business success and to the affections of a worth-while man. Henry Fonda carries the male romantic interest, while others .in the cast include lan Hunter, Anita Louise, Donald Crisp, Hugh O'Connell, Mary Phillips, and Herbert Rawlinson. The scenes of the action include Monte Carlo, with some very striking sets, and Paris, as well as New York city. "Dance, Charlie, Dance," with Stuart Erwin, Jean Muir, Glenda Farrell, and Allen Jenkins will be the supporting feature. ROXY THEATRE. "Night Must Fall" and "Double Danger" will be shown for the last time tonight at the Roxy Theatre. "Money is all very well, but you dan have" a lot of fun without it," says Douglas Fairbanks, Jun., to Irene Dunne in the new musical, 'Joy of Living," which opens tomorrow at the Roxy Theatre. Presenting a new viewpoint on the pursuit of happiness idea, the story is about a stormy romance between a musical comedy star and a happy-go-lucky adventurer. The thrilling exploits of Government G-men as they swoop down on modern gangsters and the rivalry of two brothers on opposite sides of the law as they vie for the love of a beautiful society debutante, are the high lights of "When G-Men Step In," the.second feature. lUDOR THEATRE. "Four Men and a Prayer," now showing at the Tudor Theatre, is a delightful transition of a popular story which has thrilled millions. Four stalwart young sons of a grand old soldierfather 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 beauty of Loretta Young, and her love for one of the brothers, Richard Greene, is a joy to behold. The second feature is "Island in the Sky," starring Michael Whaleri and Gloria Stuart. The German annexation of Austria is dealt with in a film of the "Time Marches On" series.

STATE THEATRE. Charles Boyer has his most Romantic role as a lovable fugitive in Walter Wanger's "Algiers," the colourful adventurous romance that stars him opposite Hollywood's two most glamorous newcomers, Sigrid Gurie and Hedy Lemarr, which is showing at the State Theatre. "Algiers" casts the dark-eyed screen lover as Pepe le Moko, devil-may-care international jewel thief, who takes refuge from the French police by living in the Cas_bah, the mysterious native quarter of Algiers where the law dare not intrude. Here Pepe le Moko rules as king. Sigrid Gurie is seen as Ihes, his I beautiful and wildly jealous native sweetheart. Then one day there strolls into the Casbah, a beautiful Parisian tourist. This is the day for which Slimane, suave* provincial detective, has been patiently waiting, For he i knows that if nothing else can lure I the great lover out of" the Casbah and I into the hands of the law, perhaps a woman can. /•? ;;