CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 151, 23 December 1938, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

KEGENt THEATRE. Laurel and Hardy have never been funnier than, in, "Blockheads," their ctlrifefit film at the Regent Starting-off with all solemnity, they never do anything right, and what one' does always annoys the other, Who has just sufficient perspicacity to pick his comrade's shortcomings without evert dreaming of his own. Laurel distinguishes himself by guarding a deserted trench long after the Great War, but it is when they meet once more, in America that the fuh really begins, when the feminine influence on their lives produces the most impossible situations. Patricia Ellis is the sparky wife of a morose elephant hunter, who comes home to find the humorists in social tangles which send him out after them with a large-bore rifle. It is all ens long laugh. Rarely does a remainder of a programme entertain. in go many varied directions as in this case. A live newsreel is followed by "Captain and the Kids?' (C&rtdon), "Nostradamus" (historical and , mysterious), a get-rid'Ofrcrime moral dealing With big fires, Pete Smith oddity, and a coloured travel talk of beauty, "Cairo, City of Contrasts." AiAJESTIC THEATRE. x The central character Of "The Crowd Roars," starring Robert Taylor, with Edward Arnold Mauieeb O'Sullivan and Jane Wyman, which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, is a composite Character, combining the characteristics 61 hiSny Champions, and enacting incidents in the careers oi others. He it credited with a "lucky punch, with which he knocks opponents out. aftet bein • wet) behind on points. Maureen 6'Sullivan once more shows herself the ideal romantic foil, sincere, appealing, and forthright And for competition t;here< is her school chum. Jane Wyman admirable as the blonde rival for T&y lei"& affections. tJ anyone eoula "steal' f' c picture from Tayloi, which is well*nigh impossible. It would be Frank Morgan as his father As Brian McCoy Morgan is superb not only IB his comedy but In his dramatic d& lineatior of all the character's potentialities It is an acting *em Edward Arnold as the big-shot gamble* who pulls the behihd4he-&rena strings, William Gargan in a memorable role as Johnny Martin, ex-light-heayyweight champion who is killed by his former pupil, Taylor in a cdme-back bout, Isabel ewe! as Gargah's wife, Lionel Standet typical as "Happy," Taylor's trainer. Nai Pehdieton as Arnold's racketeering rival, and young Gene Reynolds, outstanding as Tommy McCoy as a boy. vie so closely for supporting honours that a host of other character player? can but follow in their fdOtsteps. __ ST. JAMES THEATRE. Melvyn Douglas, who has recently climbed to new , screen heights with his deft comedy W^ayals adds new laurels to his career as a modern rare book sleuth in "Fast Co-mpany*" which is the Christmas attraction at the St James Theatre. Florence Rice as the feminine lead is given a complete personality change with the aid of - special mature' hair dress and make-up as a distinct contrast to the ingenues of her recent pictures. She. plays, the ultra-modern wife of Douglas, who believes that domestic and business life can be combined. The plot presents a novelty background for a. fastmoving -blend of. romance, -. mystery, drama, and thrills, An .inside revelation of the little known, traffic in stolen rare books provides a diverting series of incidents leading toti mUrderiand the breaking up of an international racket. Miss Rice and Douglas share ' the adventures Of the picture with a delightful tongue in cheek spirit that defies the villainouß attempts of the book gang to stop their efforts to solve the mystery- Claire Dodd provides blondev&iiure. in the role of an inside meiriber of the book gang,' who finds that romance is more dangerous than a knowledge-of gang secrets. Her revelations to Melvyn Douglas, Who masquerades as a roving swain, with the lenowledge of his wife, finally breaks lip the book racket. >AIfcAMbU«T TBEATEE. $W .advent of any Deanna purbw picture-is a milestone ■■■:. in the history of the!%*ereett.. From the surprising %u3ft£tttrt qMa," through the beau* tlful and stifiting "100 Men and a gW and the touching "Mad About Music" right to the current film, "That Certain Age," which is the Christmas fare at the Paramount Theatre, her pictures have been a delight and a. revelation.- "That Certain Age" ,1s as different from the previous trio as each of them waa from each other. Staging fceanna with Melvyn Beugl&B, Irene Rich, Jackie Cooper. John-Hall - day, Juanita Qulgley, Jackie Se^rl, Peggy Stewart, Nancy Carroll, and Charles Coleman, "That Certain Age tells the story of a young girl, near* ing sixteen, who meets a war GOrres* pondent and fancies herself violently &i love with him Temporarily infatu* ated with him, she forgets her.younger 'boy-Mend" and her childish play mates until it ie brought home to her that she is still a child, and that , romantic love has no place in her life. Supporting this attractive film 4 is another production quite as big and noteworthy in its own way This bei&| Walt Disney's "Academy Award Revue," a fuikength feature in glorl* ous technicolor, with all the favour--late Dtaney characters Including .Three Little Pigs, Donald Duck Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Grasshoppers and . the Ants, and all those duaint delightful people which have thrilled thousands of theatregoers all over the world. REX THEATRE. A drama with music, deftly relieved by comedy and enlivened by several new song hits, combine to make "Banjo on My Knee." the Twentieth CenturyFox picture, which is showing at the Rex Theatre, screen entertainment for every of audience. A notable east plays in . support of Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea. Among the principals are Helen tUstfey, Buddy Ebsen, Walter Brennan, Walter Catiett, Anthony Martin, and - Katherihe de Mille. Man's age-old battle to get gold out of the ground brings war into the ranch coun>try in Paramount's "Bar 20 Justice,' Clarence E. Mulford's latest "Hopalong Gassidy" story, which is the associate film. William Boyd goes into action against the West's most daring gold thieves. ; TUDOR THEATRE. After a successful season at the King's Theatre, "My Lucky Star," featuring Sonja Henie, has been transferred direct to the Tudor Theatre. Sonja's latest triumph presents her in an entirely nev setting, far removed from Switzerland's alpine peaks and Norway's remote peasant village^ She is a radiant modern girl, having a modern good time on a co-ed campus. Sharing star honours with her is Richard Greene, handsome yOung British actor. In order to raise some money to pay alimony to free Richard from his wife Sonja agrees to stage an ice carnival in a Fifth Avenue store. It Is here that Sonja performs her magnificent "Alice in Wonderland* ice ballet, one Of the six big skating ensembles in the picture. NGAIO CITIZENS' PIOTURES. ■ . Metro*Goldwyn's powerful drama, "Night Must Fall," in which Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell have the featured roles, will be the principal attraction at the. Ngaio Citizens' Pictures tomorrow night. "Nurse From Brooklyn," the second feature, in which Sally Eilers rises to great dramatic heights, supported by Paul Kelly, is the associate film. Loretta Young and Tyrone Power in "Second Honeymoon," and Glen Morris«. in "Tarzan's Revenge," make up the double bill for Boxing night.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. High d'-ania, pathos, excitement, and suspense are woven into Walt Disney's feature-length picture^ "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which is showing at the King's Theatre. In the seven-reel teehnieolour picture Snow White's beautiful but vain and wicked Queen consults her eerie magic mirror to flhd who is the fairest in the land. When the mirror replies "Snow White," the Queen, retreats to her secret dungeons at the bottotti of the castle, through which a mysterious river Hows, Here she br"eWs magic potions and turns nersell into an old witGh, to an accompaniment of lightning and' crashing thunder. She disguises herself thus so that she may go to Snow White living in the cottage of the ,seven dwarfs, and, posing as an old peddler woman, induce her to Dite into a poisoned apple. The dwarfs, discovering the Queen at their cottage, chase ■ her through a blinding thunder and rain stOrm. up into mouiitain fastnesses, Where, just a.g She is about to roll a boulder down on them, a bolt 01 lightning sends her toppling over a cliff into oblivion. The dwarfs, believing Show White dead, build a glass coffin for tier so that they may still look Upon her beauty. They place it in a flower-laden bower in the woods, where they and the small birds and animals take turns keeping watch over It. Romance comes riding- along soon, however^ in the person of a handsome young Prince, long in love with Snow White He kisses her, breaks the spell of the magic apple t and the two ride away to lasting happiness, with Snow White promising to return to visit her forest friends from time to time. FLA2A THEATRE. Shirley Temple always turns in a fine performance, but in "Little Miss Broadway," whleh is showing at • the Piaza Theatre, she excels anything she has done in the past. The grand group of troupers which aids and abets Miss Temple is headed by that scintillating stepper, George Murphy, the lrrepressibie Jimmy Durante, Phyllis Srooksj and Edna Mac Olivers the popular, prihij and prudish • grande dame of filmdom. To make this the musical thrill, hit .of the year six new Bullock and Spina melodies radiate from the romance, and the selectors can choose from '*Be Optimistic," "We Should be Together," "If All the World Were Paper," "Swing Me an Old-fash-ioned Song," "How Can I thank You," and "Little Miss Broadway," the title song. The film is about a little miss who lives in a vaudeville hotel with her foster family, Edward Ellis and Phyllis Brooks. When Jimmy Durante's jazia band gets too loud in its rehearsals, the wealthy neighbour, Edna Mac Oliver, complains and threatens to close the hotel. George Murphy, her nephew, intercedes, and while he wins nothing but enmity from his prim aunt, at least he wins the favour of fair Phyllis. Led by Shirley, everything ends as it should—especially after Shirley convinces an austere judge that he should permit the actors to stage their show in the courtroom. STATE THEATRE, The advent of any Jones Family picture is a signal for considerable rejoicing, and from reports 'it would seem that "Safety in Numbers," their latest for 20th Century-Fox, which is screening at the State Theatre, will more than do its share in living up to the industry's current slogan, "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." The story gets bff to a bree&y atart with Mrs. Jones—voted "The World's Best Mother'Un a radio contest—going on-the ait with a weekly broadcast, advising ti&t listeners about domestic pro* blems> The programme is a hi^ge sue cess, but; meanwhile . the Joneses get tangled up m, some pretty serious domestic problems of their own—what with Jack planning to elope and Dad plunging his own and the whole town's savings into a mineral water investment scneme which turns out to be a fraud. It has been a long time since anything So funhy as the gangsters' dilemma in "Passport Husband" has appeered on the screen—even though the rest of this 20th Century-Fox comedy, which is the associate film, is a hilarious piece, of film madness. Picture Stuart Erwin, _a night club bus boy, married to a' Spanish dancer who happens to be loved by two rival gangsters. One of these worthies, in the absence of the other, has had her married to Erwin to gave her from deportation. Erwin, If de* velops, is the only person the gangsters know who: has an unimpeachable r& cord. On top of this Erwin inherits a pin*bali machine factory from an uncle. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. A comprehensive and ' authentic panorama of Britain's sea might, of life in the Navy, below as well aS above decks, forms the background for "Our Fighting Navy," the naval melo* drama which is now showing at the New Princess Theatre. It is com* prehenslve and authentic because the Navy League and the Admiralty for the first :time granted the fullest poe* Bible coOperation, allowing the mighty battleships of the fleet to appear ad aetdrs, and lending liaison officers to Herbert WilcOx to facilitate shooting* The associate feature is "Rose of the Rio Grande," starring Mevita, John Carrol, Lina Sasquette, and Don Al--varado. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Jack Haley, and other noted players head the cast of "Alexander's Ragtime Band," the main attraction at Our Theatre. Although the story centres around Alexander (played by Tyrone Power) and his sensational. band, which he developed on the colourful Barbary coast, most of the action of the story takes place in high emotional scenes in San Francisco, a New York theatre, a London theatre, and Carnegie Hall. Loretta Young and Joel McCrea are eO'Starred in the romantic drama, "Three Blind Mice, • the associate feature. ROXY THEATRE. A combination of thrills and laughs and romance is the Warner Bros. mys-tery-Melodrama "The invisible Menace,*' which is the main feature at the Roxy Theatre, with Boris Karloff as its star. The picture—made from the successful Broadway stage play of the same name—deals with a murder in a government arsenal, and transfers, part of the time, to the island of Haiti, with its revolutions, voodoo jungle rites, and the like. The supporting feature is "Blazmg Sixes/ starring likeable Dick Foran, the Singing Cowboy. It has to.do with how Government agents in 1890 stopped the looting of stage-coaches carrying newly-made gold Coins. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Fresh from his triumphs as the pirate chief's blustering lieutenant in Cecil B. DeMilie's "The Buccaneer," Akim Tamiroff returns to the screen In a dramatic story of the rise and fall of a political ringmaster in Paramount's "Dangerous to Know," which is showing at the Regal Theatre. Mysterious ■ Anna May Wong has a leading role aB his adviser and hostess, While others in the cast of the, picture are Gail Patrick, Lloyd Nolan, and Roscoe Karns. The Jones Family, one of Hollywood's most human contributions to film entertainment, is in "A Trip to Paris," the associate attraction. This picture is the funniest adventure America's favourite film folks have embarked upon. CAPITOIi THEATRE, MIRAMAR. William Powell, as an artist whose studio is a trailer, plays the most laugh-provoking role of his amazing career in "Double Wedding," co-star-ring Myrna Loy. which is showing at the Capitol Theatre. Although Powell hag proved himself, as hasi also Miss Loy, a star of dramatic roles as well as comedy, he has never had a more amusing vehicle than this. "Dangerous Adventure" is the associate attraction.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Chills, thrills, surprises, fast-paced drama, and plenty of heart interest, make a firsfrrate screen mystery thriller of Universal's "The Black Doll," which is the main attraction at the Tivoli Theatre. In addition to the tense drama and the bright thread of romance, "The Black Doll" also brings the audience a sequent of highly amusing situations revolving around a fat-headed sheriff and his deputies that most unexpectedly relieve the nerve strain and cause the audience to rock with mirth. The story, from a Crime! Club novel, tells how Nelson Rood (C. Henry Gordon), a cruel and shrewd financier, finds "The Black Doll" on his desk iti his home. It is a sign to him th vengeance is due as result of his having slain one Of his partners after the discovery of "The Black Doll" mine, many year* ago. A musical comedy set against the glamorous background of rural Mexico, "Tropic Holiday," is the associate film. Ray Miliand and Dorothy Lamour share, top romantic honours, while Bob Burns is a Senatorial candidate from Oklahoma and Martha Raye is Milland's secretary. Theodore Reed, who brought Bing Crosby's recent "Double or Nothing* to the screen, directed the picture for Paramount. RIVOLI THEATRE. The programme at the Rivoli Theatre tonight will be screened continuously from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. America's most widely publicised penitentiary, that "Big Rock" situated in the chill waters of San Francisco Bay, is brought to the motion picture screen for* the first time in "Alcatraa Island," a thrilling Cosmopolitan melodrama which is the main feature. Grim but fascinating is this story of men who live outside the law, and of the men whose duty it is to apprehend and convict them. Every moment is loaded with thrills as, this drama moves swiftly to an unexpected and exciting climax. But "Aleatraz Island" is more than a story of crime versus law and order. It also carries a splendid human story of love—both romantic and parental—and of exciting adventure on the mainland. Romance, tragedy, and wild adventure march hand in hand in Universal's "Sinners in Paradise," which is the associate film. Madge Evans, John Boles, and Bruce Cabot have the principal roles. The picture relates the vast changes in character that occur when nine passengers ort a trans-Paci-fic airliner are cast away on an is* land inhabited only by a doctor and his Chinese servant. The sdoCtor is hiding from the laW because he has killed the man who led his Sister to her doom. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "Varsity Show," a musical comedy along altogether new lines, and possessed of a sparkling cast, is the main attraction at the Empire Theatre.. A star individual—Dick Po Well—and a star organisation—Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians —are the top-Imers in this melodious, laughable, fast-paCed tale of college life as the moviemakers see if. There are not many people as funny as Joe E. Brown can be when he puts his mind to it. And he really concentrates in his latest picture, Columbia's "W^de Open Faces," which is the associate film. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. \ One of the most popular detective story Characters of recent times is known as "The Saint." He is the creation of Leslie Charteris, a mystery writer who has been referred to as "the second Edgar Wallace." In his presentation as an entirely new type of film hero; in RKO Radio's "The Saint in New York," which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kittema, "The Saint* becomes even more colourful and excite ing than he was in a score of the author's popular novels. The exotic atmosphere of the interior of North China—rarely if ever before shown in a imotion pieturie and particularly timely'today with China in the headlines—• comes to the screen in "West, of Shanghai." Which is the associate film. KHANDALLAH PICTURES. "Carefree" and "Adventure's End" will make up the double bill at Khandallah Pictures tomorrow night. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers give delightful performances in "Carefree," a bright and breezy production. "Adventure's Eh d»" produced.by Universal Films, is a powerful drama framed against a South Seas canvas. John Wayne and Dlna Gibson head- a fine cast. Peter Lorre^m • "Mr.. Moto'S Gamble" and Smith Bellew, the "singing cowboy," in "Rawhide," will form &. grand double feature programme on Boxing night ' ;'_ Ll j \ '■ ■ -PAfcAOE".THEATRE, PETONE. A triangular romance between a transport pilot, a society girl, and a student flyer forms the basis of Sky Giant," R.K.O. Radio's new drama of modern aviation now showing at the Palace Theatre. Richard Dix appears as the pilot, with Joan Fontaine and Chester Morris in the starring roles. A crash of. & big plane irt Alaska while mapping out a new ait route to Europe provides the dramatic climax of the film, which was directed by Lew Landers under the production guidance of Robert Sisk. GRANB THEATRE, PETONE. "Mannequin" will be shown finally tonight at the Grand Theatre. Texas in the turbulent days following the War between the States forms the exciting background of Paramount's epic drama of the Reconstruct tion period, "The Texans," which opens tomorrow. With Joan Bennett, Randolph Scott, and May Robsott heading a huge cast, the picture tells of the Souths struggle to attain selfrule ahd find a new way of life after the ravages of War. STATE THEATRE, 1»E1ONE. "Man in Possession" and "The Devil is a Sissy" conclude tonight at the State Theatre. "Submarine D-l," & melodrama deal'iit with the exploits of Uncle Sam's undersea boats and the gallant lads who man them, has thrilled enthusiastic audiences everywhere. It opens at the State Theatre tomorrow. The picture is authentic as well as stirring, for it was made With the complete cooperation of the Navy, which turn>ed over to the movie-makers all its. facilities at Newport, CocOs Coco in the Panama Canal Zone, and' San Diego* California. FAMED MAN-\VOMAN. A bitter controversy that racked sport and medical circles a year ago' came to an astounding climax recently with the probability that a man will be allowed to retain two women's running records. The chahge of sex that makes this possible was told in a Reuters dispatch from Prague, Czechoslovakia, which said s that Flaulein Zdertka Koubdova, the holder of the women's world records for the 80 and 800 metre foot races, shortly will be come, physically and legally, Herr 2dehka KOubk—altering the name slightly as well, Sexual determination, which is, according to recent statements from medical authorities, governed by the influence of the gonads or interstitial glands, seems to have been baffled inlhe ease of Anna Johh Budd, the woman who is how changing to man. Anna John, Who is displaying her very astonishing transformation at the Evans Bay carnival, says that the most notable characteristic of her changing world is the awareness that man possesses an aggressive pugnacity which is in direct contrast with the defensive timidity of woman. While her voice has been changing to a much deeper tone and hair has begun to appear on her face, her muscles have become more powerful and the bones heavier on her right side. Anna John, born June 16,1900, in Vancouver, Canada, was a normal child. The parents never entertained the slightest doubt as to her sex. But as a "dOublebodied woman" and as a person of more than ordinary intelligence she. gets much happiness out of life, and having been before the public for some time she is used to being looked upon as perhaps one of the most unusual persons alive today. '