CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 91, 19 April 1939, Page 5

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE

• "If I Were King" is continuing to draw large audiences at the Regent Theatre. Francois Villon is played by Ronald Colman and one could not imagine a better man in the role. Basil Rathbone portrays the crafty. King Louis. When the king in disguise visits a disreputable cafe in tne "Court of Miracles," famous centre Of the slums of Paris, he hears the vagabond poet boast what ne would do is he were King, and; a royal whim gives Vi lion a; chance to make good his boast, tie i is made Grand Constable of France tor one week at the end of which he is instructed to hang the villain, Francois Villon. Meantime a beautiful woman, the Lady Katherine (Frances Dee), has captured Villon's heart. The temporarily ennobled poet gains a royal pardon by successfully leading the rabbje of Paris against the Burgundians who have long besieged the . city. MAJESTIC THEATRE. j A new Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy and a new warmth, colour, and comedy spirit in musicals makes' itself manifest in "Sweethearts," fifth co-starring musical of the famous singing team, which is showing for an extended season at the Majestic Theatre. Technicolor has given both singers a more vivid personality. In "Sweethearts" Miss Mac Donald and Eddy por- ! tra3' two Broadway musical comedy stars who are husband and wife in private life. Their quarrels, temperamental outbursts, and jealousies, together with their joint attempt to outwit a producer who wants to prevent them from accepting an offer from Hollywood, make for a comedy which is rich in laughter and at the same time replete with beautiful and original song and dance presentations. ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Little Tough Guys in Society," screening at the St. James Theatre, has provided the opportunity for three of Hollywood's leading comedians to play together for the first time. The stars are Mischa Aver, Edward Everett Horton, and Mary Boland. The last-named is cast as an American society hostess, with a most objectionable young son whom she worships. This son refuses to get out of bed, and the doting mother, thinking he is suffering from some unusual malady, calls every famous doctor to his bedside. The last is Mischa Aver, who dabbles in hypnotism and the curing of the soul. He tries to put his spell on the son as he lies in bed, but it is the mother who falls under the doctor's influence. The doctor recommends low class playmates for the aristocratic son, and that is where the "little tough guys" make their society debut and with extraordinary results. NEW OPERA HOUSE. Adapted from the famous stage play, "The Golem," '""\e Legend of Prague," screening at the New Opera House, is . of more than usual entertainment value because of the present tension in Europe. The film is also interesting because it is one of the few examples of Continental productions that New Zealanders have seen for several years. The quality of realism in direction and photography which distinguishes Continental films is apparent throughout. It is* She Prague» pi, a :much older day that is shown, but some people may see a parallel with modern times in its depiction of suffering and oppression among the inhabitants, particularly the Jews. The story is based on an ancient legend about the Golem, a huge man-made image which the Jews believed would come to life in the darkest hour of their suffering and sweep away their tyrants. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. There is a double-feature programme at the Paramount Theatre. "I Stand Accused." the first attraction, is a new release. Two law students after graduation, set up in business as partners, but their friendship splits when one accepts "shady" briefs. The other takes the side of law and order and joins the District Attorney's office. His pal rises to great heights as he successfully defends criminals and wins victory after victory, but there comes a time when he wants to call a halt. Then, however, he finds himself in the net of the underworld and is threatened if he does not defend the crooks who have been arrested in a city "clean up." The main parts are taken by Robert. Cummings, Helen Mack, and Lyle Talbot. The second feature is "Storm Over Bengal," an entrancing story of the Indian frontier, in which the leading parts are taken by Patric Knowles, Richard Cromwell, and Rochelle Hudson. It is another adventure with the Bengal Lancers, and deals with plot, counter-plot, and revolution in the hill country of India outside British administration. REGAL. THEATRE, KARORI. Otto Kruger gives the performance of his career in the title role of "Housemaster," the Associated British screen version of lan Hay's play, which is showing at the Regal Theatre. "Housemaster" is a bright arid breezy comedy with a sympathetic and human note underlying its humour, the action of which takes place almost entirely within the walls of a large English public school. Sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic, and always exciting, "Crime School," the associate film, contains a powerful indictment of unthinking, brutal, out-moded methods of dealing with juvenile crime. PROFESSIONAL BOXING. The Wellington Boxing Association will open its professional season at the Town Hall tomorrow night, when two Auckland welterweights, Don Johnson and Vie. Caltaux, will meet. Caltaux took everything in his stride last season, and was matched with Tommy Jones, the American negro boxer, who is in line for a world title bout with Henry Armstrong. Caltaux is a rugged boy and a great battler, but he will find in Johnson an opponent who cannot be taken lightly. Johnson is reported to be in fine fettle, and prospects are for a willing tussle. Caltaux can absorb plenty of punishment and the steadying effect of the experience he gained last year has undoubtedly improved his style and his ring technique. There will be amateur preliminaries. Particulars are advertised in this issue. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. How a handsome young police officer falls in love with a pretty nightclub entertainer while trying to obtain evidence against her that will link her with a gang of jewel thieves provides romantic difficulties ..in "Night Spot," starring Allan Lane and Joan Woodbury, which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Racketeering methods of powerful gambling rings are dramatically disclosed in "Gambling Ship," with Robert Wilcox and Helen Mack, which is the feature attraction. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. A sympathetic and understanding story of the problems of today's youth of the college age is unfolded in "Spring Madness," which is showing at the King George Theatre. Maureen O'Sullivan and Lew Ayres are excel- j lently cast as the young couple who : find themselves faced with an aftercollege future in which love has to survive on a shoe-string. "Rendez- : vous," featuring William Powell and < Rosalind Russell, forms the second i part of the programme.

GUY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE.

i The fact that the whole of "Ken- ; tucky," which is showing at the King's Theatre, is filmed in natural colour. . has done much to make the picture outstanding. The origin of the family feud which forms an i integral part of the story is shown in a neatly-continued prologue deal- , ing with an incident of the civil war • when the head of the Dillon family as a Yankee officer kills the head of the Goodwin family. The story proper then opens in 1938 where the old feud finds its expression in the rivalry be tween the Dillon and Goodwin stables. Principal members of the Goodwin family are the daughter Sally (Loretta Young) and her Uncle Peter. Outstanding in the strong supporting programme is a "March of Times" series dealing with the famous French Magi- ' not line. PLAZA THEATRE. Though now in its fifth week, the pictured drama of Shaw's "Pygmalion" j is at the height of its popularity, and is enjoyed by packed houses at the Plaza Theatre at each performance. As the young Cockney fiowergirl who. to settle a bet, was presented to society as a princess within six months of being "rescued" from Covent Garden, Wendy Hillei scores magnificently. As the clever but bombastic student of phonetics, who is forcibly introduced to his own lack of manners, Leslie Howard is thoroughly in character. There are no flaws in the supporting characters. The supporting programme this week con-1 tains a remarkable added attraction, j entitled "Vyvyan Dormer's Fashion j Forecast." DE LUXE THEATRE. 'Hopalong Cassidy is seen in something quite new in "Sunset Trail" at the De Luxe Theatre. For once he poses as a dude visitor to a guest ranch, and with his chaparrejos and gun belt he sheds the Cassidy behaviour, emerging as the timid, awkard Easterner, in which role he is unexpectedly humorous. In city clothes he fails to ride his own horse, is taken down at poker, and generally puzzles the lady owner of the guest ranch which she, is trying to run to earn a living after having been robbed by the murderer of her husband. "Disbarred." the second film, featuring Gail Patrick and Robert Preston, is a crook story. The villain, lawyer to a big gangster, is disbarred, and comes across a young woman barrister who wins all her cases in her home town. The idea of making her the lawyer for the new gang he forms, and faking evidence so that all his caught killers get off, is the eventual undoing of the "chief." STATE THEATRE. Seldom do the movie studios turn out as uproarious a comedy as "Up the River," the new 20th Century-Fox picture which heads the new programme at the State Theatre. A welcome relief from the cycle of grim melodramas, with their worthy but solemn messages of social reform, "Up the River" transforms the usually sombre walls of a State penitentiary into a background for some of the most absurd situations, some of the best swing tunes, some of the most riotous football sequences of recent months. The story focuses on a group of happy inmates in a mythical state prison which boasts a radio in every cell, gates that are practically revolving doors, and the best football team in the "Big Pen Conference." Preston Foster is completely at home in his first light comedy role and the elongated Arthur Treacher, as Foster's partner in crime and football, gives his most polished performance. Tony Martin and Phyllis Brooks are excellent in romantic leads. The associate film is "Bank Holiday," starring Margaret Lockwood and John Loder. TUDOR THEATRE. ■• Back in a ten-gallon hat, high-heeled boots, dungarees, and roll-your-owns, Gary Cooper in "The Cowboy and the Lady," which has returned to Wellington to show at the Tudor Theatre, gives a most stirring and dynamic performance. Merle Oberon, cast as a say and witty modern society girl, enriches her role with fine timing and a beautiful sense of comedy. The second leads are capably played by I Patsy Kelly and Walter Brennan, who appear in excellent comedy scenes. The associate attraction is "Woman Chases Man." Miriam Hopkins Joel McCrea, and Charles Winninger are at the head of the cast. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "It's in the Air," the latest George Formby film, which is screening at the New Princess Theatre, has as its background the Air Force, where George finds himself "accidentally" in uniform, subjected to a bewildering discipline, and, as usual, making a hopeless mess of "everything." George finds time and place to sing three excellent numbers and has a romance with the sergeant-major's daughter. The associate feature is "Romance in the Dark, a musical romance, starring Gladys Swarthout, John Boles, and John Barrymore. OUR THEATRE, NEWTOWN. "It Can't Last Forever," starring Ralph Bellamy and Betty Furness, heads the double-feature programme showing at Our Theatre. The story concerns a couple of vaudeville agents who sign a "Master Mind," give him a big publicity build-up, only to have him get gloriously drunk at a crucial moment. Bellamy has to take the place of his psychic marvel, and as a result he runs into the funniest series of complications imaginable. "A Fight to a Finish," starring Rosalind Keith and Don Terry, is the associate feature. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. The No. 1 song writer of America, Irving Berlin, composed some of the I catchiest melodies of his brilliant I career for "Carefree," R.K.O. Radio's Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers romantic comedy, which is showing at the Grand Theatre. "Carefree" is the third of the Astaire-Rogers successes to have Berlin tunes, "Top Hat" and "Follow the Fleet" having also featured the famous songsters melodic efforts. The new film features four song numbers.. "The Night is Filled with Music," "I Used to be Colour Blind," "The Yam," and "Change Partners." PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Meet the Girls," introducing June Lang and Lynn Bari, two up-to-the-minute young people, is showing at the Palace Theatre. A thrilling drama of a woman's bitter fight against the underworld, "Numbered Woman," is the associate film. Sally Blanc stars in this daring story of the private life of a private nurse, and the supporting cast includes Lloyd Hughes and Clay Clement, renowned stage star. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Grim mystery among a group of people gathered around a table for a seance, and sqlution of a baffling murder by the use of a second seance, are but a few of the exciting elements in "The Thirteenth Chair," which is showing at the State Theatre. Myrna Loy 'as the voluptuous secret agent of an international ring of jewel thieves/carrying a hidden fortune in smuggled pearls, is seen in "Whipsaw," the second feature. Spencer Tracy is a Government agent who tries to trap her through romantic intrigue.

RIVOLI AND TIVOH THEATRES. Otto Kruger gives the performance of his career in thu title role of "Housemaster," the Associated British screen version of lan Hay's long-run-ning play, which is showing at both the Tivoli and Rivoli Theatres. "Housemaster" is a bright and breezy comedy with a sympathetic and human note underlying its humour, the action of which takes place almost entirely within the walls of a large English public school. Otto, as the housemaster, a dry-humoured bachelor devoted to his boys, has three devastatingly pretty wards descend upon his school. These three girls, played by Diana Churchill, Rene Ray, and fifteen-year-old Rosamond Barnes, cause a sensation at the school and unwittingly help to incite a revolution among the boys against the new headmaster's drastic reforms. Adapted from Marco Page's best seller novel revealing the inside of the stolen rare book racket, "Fast Company," the associate feature at the Tivoli Theatre, presents Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice in a hilarious blend of romance and fast-moving adventure. An intimate inside view of the life of an average American family is blazoned on the screen in "Love Finds Andy Hardy," fourth in the series of Judge Hardy Family pictures which is the second attraction at the Rivoli Theatre, i ROXY THEATRE. Filmed entirely .in technicolour, "The Adventures of Robin Hood," starring Errol Flynn, is showing at the Roxy Theatre. This beloved legend, concerning the gallant deeds of a Saxon noble who turned outlaw with a band of followers and plundered the rich Normans to feed and protect the poor and oppressed, hac long been a favourite to moviegoers of all ages. "Sing Me a Love Song," the associate film, is one of the most entertaining musical comedies^of the year. There is an allstar cast headed by James Melton, the radio singer. REX THEATRE. Stalwart Warren William portrays the role of a big-tfme gambler in "Midnight Madonna," a drama of mother love and a court battle waged for the custody of a child, which is showing at the Rex Theatre. Larry Crabbe and Marsha Hunt head the cast of a new hard-riding Zane Grey Western, "The Arizona Raiders," a Paramount picture, which is the associate film. The story presents a plot packed with novel angles.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Merle Oberon is revealed in all her true beauty for the first time in Alexander Korda's technicolour comedy, "The Divorce of Lady X," which is showing at the Capitol Theatre. Besides marking Merle's technicolour I debut, the film also marks her first comedy. role after a series of exotic and tragic characterisations. A new romantic comedy about studio life, "She Married an Artist," is the associate film. John Boles and Luli Deste are co-starred. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. A startling story is told in "Four Men and a Prayer," starring Loretta Young and Richard Greene, which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. The theme is an inspiring one. Four stalwart young men, with a grand old soldier-father, are bound by a gallant pledge to rove the world to avenge his dishonour and death. Described as one of the funniest of the sophisticated comedies which began with "My Man Godfrey," Paramount's "Love on Toast," starring Stella Ardler and; John Payne, is the associate film. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The most seasoned follower of the adventures of screen sleuths will get a real thrill out of Monogram's "Mr. Wong, Detective," which is showing at the Empire Theatre, for not only is it a clever mystery drama, full of action and suspense, but it serves to introduce a new screen detective in the person of that ex-horror man and master of eerie characterisation, Boris Karloff. "Paradise for Two," a scintillating musical comedy co-starring Jack Hulbert and Patricia Ellis, is the associate film. Karloff. BROOKLYN THEATRE. Two very . powerful films will be presented at the Brooklyn Theatre tonight "You and Me," starring George Raft, Sylvia Sydney, Barton Mac Lane, Roscoe Karns, and George Stone, will be the main attraction. "Sons of the Legion" will be the second feature. Lynne Overman, Evelyn Keyes, Donald O'Connor, Billy Cook, and Bill Lee have the stellar roles. There will i also be a selected supporting programme. "CAPPICADE, 1939." Next Saturday night, Victoria University College will present the first performance of "Cappicade, 1939." The programme consists of a curtain-raiser —perhaps it would be more correct to call it a "hair-raiser" —entitled "Comes the Dawn," a spectral interlude in which the ghosts of past Cappicades sing their ghoulish spirituals from their tombs. Even the dark halls of Limbo seem to have been penetrated by the Jitterbugs, for the ghosts perform their dances with the true enthusiasm of terpsichorean devotees. The other plays, "Adam in Wonderland" and "The Dinkum Oil" are respective satires on both sides of party politics in New Zealand. These should satisfy all tastes. "The Dinkum Oil," written and produced by John Carrad, brings a gust of romance from the South Pacific seas. It will delight the audience with its song and dance. The Rustic Maidens will present novel dances and songs. "Adam in Wonderland" has its fare of satire, which is very clearly and cleverly produced. The main play, "The Vikings," written by Ronald L. Meek, provides a feast of diverse types of entertainment woven round the immortal story of Hit and Nev, who finally found out they were twin brothers. Miss Berys Ball as So* Tight is the goddess of the Stonehenge ably assisted by her flying squad of Dinosaur Boys, who attempt to overthrow I the Druids. They are, however, foiled I when Nev and Hit discover their close relationships. This and numerous other farcical incidents abound in "The Vikings," which makes the play one long laugh from beginning to end. The "Cappicade" booklet, which is now on sale, is, as usual, a bright publication, containing plenty of humour and satire. It is liberally sprinkled with cartoons. The proceeds from the sale of the booklet and from "Cappicade, 1939," will be devoted to the Students' Building Fund. "THE WOMEN." Clare Boothe's witty comedy of modern society, "The Women," will commence a season at the Grand Opera House on Saturday week, April 29, under the direction of J. C. Williamson Theatres, Ltd. The novel, all-feminine cast of 40 is headed by Irene Purcell, the distinguished New York actress. She is supported by a brilliant cast, which includes Mary Dees, the late Jean Harlow's double, Marjorie Crossland, Jessica Rogers. Doris Packer, Suzanne Jackson, Debby Dare, Christine Maple, and Arden Young, all of whom come from the United States. Several leading Australian actresses also are in the cast. "The Women," which has ' been described as one of the most stimulating plays of the day, depends mainly for its effect upon the scintillating dialogue and its many and varied scenes. It ran for over 800 performances in New York, and had extended seasons in Sydney and Melbourne. It is at present running in Auckland to crowded audiences, and is the centre of much controversy. While "The Women" is frank and in many instances extremely caustic, it is. above all, hilarious fun. The box plans will open next Monday.