CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 27, 2 February 1939, Page 6

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. The romantic and half J legendary stories that have through the centuries gathered round the figure of Robin Hood have been made excellent use of in the picture of the same name which is now in its fourth week at the Regent Theatre. The adventurous atmosphere of Sherwood Forest, domain of the: outlawed knight and his green-lad followers, is faithfully reproduced. Clothyard shafts fly to their marks .in the bodies of Norman oppressors of the Saxons and the merry outlaws of the forest carry out the policy of robbing the rich to give to the poor and to pay the ransom for Richard the Lion Hearted imprisoned in Europe. Meantime Richard's brother John, aided,by certain nobles, is planning to seize the Throne and Robin Hood's several succesful attempts to upset his plans provide ' some of the more exciting moments in the picture. The film is entirely in colours. Errol Flynn plays the leading role and Olivia de Havilland is a lovely Lady Marion. MAJESTIC THEATRE. As powerful and gripping a film as ever reached the screen. "Marie Antoinette," which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, is the stirring story of a hapless woman who tried to find happiness in the dark days of France. Norma Shearer gives a splendid performance as Marie Antoinette. Married to the slow-witted, weak king-to-be, Marie Antoinette, disappointed and unhappy, seeks escape in frivolity and mad escapades. She has many admirers ready to help her forget herself in the whirl of gaiety, out it is not until she meets the handsome and bold Count Axel de Fersen of Sweden (Tyrone Power) that love really comes to her. When she insults the famous du Barry, the king threatens to expel her from France, but it is not her lot to fine escape so easily. The film is not given the happy story-book ending; it is history, and as such the producers have treated it. Two newsreels show a number of interesting events, including the recent bush fires in Australia. ST. JAMES THEATRE. "It's in the Air" will be shown finally tonight at the St. James Theatre. "Crime School,". starring the "Dead End" Kids, opens tomorrow. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back" and "Looking for Trouble" conclude tonight at the Paramount Theatre. "Confession," starring Kay Francis, opens tomorrow. * REX THEATRE. Few pictures have proved so genuinely interesting as "The , Invisible Ray," the Universal 'drama which is •showing at the Rex' Theatre. Karloff and Bela Lugosi, two of the screen's most sinister individuals, are' costarred in this unusual screen play, and are the focal points of a story in which -they are bitter enemies. "Three Kids .and a Queen," the second feature, is May Robson at her best. As the wealthy 'old' maid, eccentric, and yet filled with an acid humour, this bright star gives a splendid performance. ROXY THEATRE. "I Am the Law"" and "For the Service" conclude tonight at the Roxy Theatre. ' • In1 "Professor Beware," which opens tomorrow, Harold Lloyd introduces a new ' leading lady' 'in the person of Phyllis Welch. The picture deals with Harold's mad. dash across the Continent to arrive in New York in time to catch" a bo'at'sailing to Egypt. Broke, and out-of -a job, he starts the trip with Miss Welch;at his heels, and arrives at his destination, after a myriad of dizzy adventures. A young Englishman, who gives up everything and risks his life in untamed jungles to catch a mysterious' white tiger, is the central figure in "Booloo," the second feature. • Colin Tapley, the New Zealander, is starred. - KBLBIRNIE KINEMA. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are together in- the sparkling and spectacular musical comedy romance "Carefree" at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Sylvia Sidney' and "George -Raft are the stars in "You and-Me," the second attraction. The film.has the background of a large department store owned by a philanthropist who gives jobs to ex-convicts. Raft and Miss Sidney, are two of his employees who try to find happiness together, going straight after serving prison terms. REGAL. THEATRE, KARORI. With Warren William and Gail Patrick in the leading roles, Universal's "Wives ..Under Suspicion," depicting the soul regeneration of a merciless district attorney, is the main attraction at the Regal Theatre. This picture, in which tragedy, despair, and poignant romance alternate in rapid succession, was adopted for the screen by Myles Connolly from an original; story idea by Ladislas Fodpr. The supporting film is "Hot Water," starring the popular Jones Family. ••" . STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Even as history is constantly changing, so does romance change and no better proof thus far has reached the screen than "Man-Proof," starring Myrna Loy, Franchot Tone, arid Rosalind Russell, which is showing at the State Theatre. "Man-Proof" is , the amusing story of a modern marital mix-up, with the Misses Loy and Russell ably abetted by Tone and Walter Pigeon. Box plans are now open for "The Count of Monte Cristo," which opens on Saturday. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Packed with excitement, crammed with action, with splendid portrayals by Jackie Cooper and Joseph' Calleia. "Tough Guy" is the main attraction at the Grand Theatre. P. G. Wodehouse^s hilarious * story, "Piccadilly Jim," has been, transposed to the screen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with Robert Montgomery in the title role and Madge Evans as ' his heart interest. The film, which is the second feature, retains the amusing delights of the.popular book. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Penrod and Sam," now at the Palace Theatre, is a small-town story, with characters and atmosphere of the sort : in which Booth Tarkington has always excelled. Penrod's parents are those excellent stage players, Frank- Craven and Spring Byington. One of the most entertaining musical romances that has been seen on the screen in many a day, "Sing Me a Love Song," is the sunorting film. It has an all-star J cast including James Melton, Patricia Ellis. Hugh Herbert, and Zasu Pitts.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. The best comedy offering to be seen here for some time is undoubtedly "The Cowboy and the Lady," now showing at the King's Theatre. Gary. , Cooper is at the top of the form which brought "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" into so much favour with audiences the world 0ver..,1. n "The Cowboy and the Lady" he is cast in a role which is eminently suited to his talents, for, apart from being one of the comparatively . few Western screen heroes who really can ride a. horse, lie has the real cowboy manner as a carry-over from his preacting days. Playing opposite him is Merle Oberon, who, though she is justly famous in her own right for film successes, is making her first appearance with Gary Cooper. The supports, which include "Eternal Flame," the first of the new World Window series, and newsreels showi ing the Victorian bushfires, are excellent, , PLAZA THEATRE. The G.B.D. comedy-drama "The Lady Vanishes" commences its third week at the Plaza Theatre tomorrow. -A young Englishwoman, played by Margaret Lockwood, drops off to sleep in a Continental train and on awakening finds her elderly travelling companion .(Dame May Whitty) missing. The other passengers declare' that the companion was non-existent and, added to this, a- brain specialist says the companion was a figment of the girl's imagination, an aftermath of slight concussion received before the train started. Joining forces with a young composer (Michael Redgrave) the girl convinces him that the old woman really exists, and between them they unravel the plot of an international spy ring. Among the supporting features is a newsreelof the tragic Victorian bush fires and the havoc after the-blaze had passed. D& LUXE THEATRE. "The Mysterious Rider"* and "Give Me a Sailor" conclude tonight at the De Luxe Theatre. . . . "Army Girl," starring Madge Evans and Preston Foster, and "Missing Witnesses" commence tomorrow. ' STATE THEATRE. "Renegade Ranger" and "Fugitives for a Night" conclude tonight at the' State Theatre. \ \ ' What happens to a temperamental screen star who aUows a rash Press agent to stage a series of wild stunts to publicise her pictures forms the theme of , "The Affairs of Annabel," number one in a series of "Annabel" productions, which opens tomdrrow. The stunts' are theoretical means fbr attaining publicity, but always develop unexpected results- in practice. The ensuing troubles between the two principals, rock the film with hilarity." These troubles include such worries as gaol sentences, dangerous implications With hunted criminals, and kidnapping. Jack Oakie and Lucille Ball top the film's cast. A music-mad collegian who develops into a synthetic football star is the unique role portrayed by Joe Penner in his latest R.K.G. Radio comedy, "Mr. Doodle Kicks Off," the second attraction. The popular radio and screen star aspires, to be a band leader, but his father plans a football career for him. The old man's promised endowment to the school results in college authorities launching an amazing campaign to , groom.-Penner to be a football celebrity. June Travis, Rich'ard Lane, Befn Alexander, Billy Gilbert,, and„■Jack Carson -are seen in supporting roles. TUDOR THEATRE. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs^ the famous Disney full-length feature,: is showing at the Tudor Theatre. Of the millions of persons throughout tlie: world who see Walt Disney pictures each day, not all realise that the principal reason for their universal appeal is the manner in which Disney endows animals with human foibles. This will Ibe found particularly true in this picture. There are rabbits, squirrels chipmunks, several kinds'of birds e!v, and d<^- and not a villain among them. The second attraction: is Straight, Place, and Show," starring the Ritz.Brothers. ! i NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. I «n2 e pE?eroS Candlesticks" and n?£ff ? e£ tai£ W™?n" conclude tonight at the New Princess Theatre ' .Hailed as the most distinguished motion picture in which Greta Garbo has yet appeared, "Marie Walewski" i opens tomorrow. Charles Boyer is co-starred. In the story, filled with the memories of an epochal period in world history Garbo plays the role [of the beautiful Countess Walewska who forsakes her home and her husband in a heroic attempt to win over Napoleon, and thus save the life of her country. The associate feature is Back to Nature," starring the popular Jones Family. v d|UR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "Adventure in Manhattan," starring Jean Arthur and Joel, McCrea heads the^double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre at reduced prices. The story concerns the efforts of a former newspaper man turned crime novelist to solve a series of robberies engineered by a master crook. It is a battle of wits and courage throughout i with a hilariously contrived romance neatly interwoven. The romantic French Foreign Legion provides the i background for Jack Holt's picture, I "Trouble in Morocco," which is the ! associate feature. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Arsene Lupin, that famous fictional character created by Maurice Le Blanc, is revived in "Arsene Lupin Returns," which is showing at the . Capitol Theatre. In this new mystery thriller the adventures of the famous gentleman jewel thief, who is supposed to be dead, are continued. "Everything Is Thunder," the second feature, is a three-star production. Featuring Constance Bennett, Douglass Montgomery, and Oscar Homolka, it is a gripping drama revolving around a British officer's escape from a prison camp during the Great War. . EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAT. The advent of any Deanna Durbin picture is a milestone in the history of the screen, and her latest .one, "That Certain Age," which is showing at the Empire Theatre, is as different from the previous trio as each o.f them was from the others. This picture is lighter in theme than . the others, but I no less powerful in entertainment I content. Four-fifths of a Western or outdoor-action film must be solid chase or battle action, according to Ray Taylor, director of - "Panamint's Bad Man," which is the supporting film. Smith Ballew. starred in the film, intersperses the action scenes with his popular renderings of cowboy fireside ditties arid riding songs.

TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Firefly," which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre, is the combination of music and drama fbr. which the public have -been waiting. The story makes no sacrifice for music. Yet, in the interesting fashion of life itself, the melody rings in at opportune moments. And it is lovely melody enhanced by. a stirring beauty of background. Here is Jeanette MacDonald, more romantic and far more talented in her seventeenth starring musical picture than she ever was before. Here, too. is Allan Jones, brilliant young tenor, who has accomplished in "The Firefly" what Nelson Eddy did in "Naughty Marietta," also with Jeanette MacDonald. And Warren William, a star in his own right, gives a picturesque character to the screen in the chacterisation of Major de Rougemont, staff aide of Napoleon, who also loves "The Firefly." RIVOLI THEATRE. Continuing its policy of providing1 novelty programmes, the popularity of which is shown by the large audiences at every session, the management of the Rivoli Theatre is presenting a mystery programme. Special features have been secured— there , are ten all told—and the main film has never, before been shown in Wellington. The films represent the whole range of screen entertainment. There are comedies, film vaudeville items, newsreels, sporting films, etc., the whole making up a first-class1 nrogramme. i