CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

1 REGENT THEATRE. There is nothing very serious or ' very subtle about the plot of "The Girl Downstairs," which heads the new ' programme at the Regent Theatre, but that is probably its greatest charm. It is a simple story of the Cinderella type, the story of a young country girl who falls in love with a wealthy Prince Charming in the belief that he is no- ' thing more than a humble chauffeur. When she discovers her mistake; she 'ihas but one idea, and that is to leave at the earliest moment for the farm where she was reared, but Prince Charming has other ideas, and he even invokes the aid of an obliging police force to restrain her. Of course, he succeeds, and everything ends as happily as every well-conducted film story should end—on a note of happiness and with wedding bells about to ring. The theme is not a' new one, but it is handled with a refreshing charm which makes "The Girl Downstairs one of the most delightful comedy-dramas that has come this way for some time. Comedy of the fast-moving variety is the main ingredient, and there is scarcely a dull moment from beginning to end. Heading' a particularly strong cast are the attractive Franciska Gaal and the debonair and dashing Franchot Tone, both of whom are seen at their best. Others who have prominent parts are Franklin Pangborn, Walter Connolly, Rita Johnson, and Reginald Gardiner. In keeping with the policy of the Regent Theatre, there is a strong supporting programme, which includes a Fitzpatrick travel feature, "Colourful Curacao," a Benchley comedy, "How to Eat" and another of the popular "Crime Does Not Pay" series. "Help Wanted." The whole programme is well worth seeing. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. After having become something of a legend in the short history of the motion-picture industry, "Hell's Angels" returns again to Wellington, and is now showing at the Paramount Theatre. .This film is a new edition of the original, and is in no sense a wornout, flickering survival. For many years it has served as a standard with winch to compare later air-war films, and those who are interested in the history of motion pictures, as well as those who enjoy a good film story, should not miss the Chance of refreshing their memories. Seeing the film again, the picturegoer can readily decide that never again will he see such realistic air scenes of fighting in the World War. Fokker D7s and British 5.E.5 aeroplanes are seen in the air and on the ground, and it is impossible to find a jarring note. Such a film will not be seen again, for two reasons. In the first place, the wartime planes that have not been crashed are now nearly all museum pieces, and in the second, the film is the most expensive ever made. Jean Harlow is seen and heard in this, her first film. The male parts are taken by Ben Lyon and James Hall. On the same programme is "The First World War," a documentary film built up of actual newsreels taken from the turn of the century to the end of the war, and telling with amazing veracity the tale of the fighting. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Honolulu," now in its second week at the Majestic Theatre, is easily the best light musical Show which has been screened here for ' some time. It has more to it than even the dancing of Eleanor Powell and the comedy of Burns and Allen can provide. Robert Young has the dual role of Brooks Mason, a very popular film star, - and Joe Smith, a Hawaiian . pineapple grower. The film star, in need of a holi^ day from his .too-enthusiastic admirers, changes places, with the planter and goes off to Hawaii. He meets. on the boat a girl (Eleanor Powell), with Wlipm he falls in love, but on arrival at Honolulu finds himself already provided with a fiancee. A; series of misadventures results in the- film-star being thrown into gaol, and the planter into a strait-jacket, Burns and Allen break new ground in that it is not until the last fifty feet or so that they are seen together. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Drama, romance, thrills, and the gorgeous music of Victor Herbert's greatest operetta are blended in "Naughty Mariettas" Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's spectacular romance.of Creole days in New Orleans, which brings to the screen Jeanette Mac Donald, glamorous heroine of "The Merry Widow," and Nelson Eddy, eminent American operatic baritone. Directed by W. S. Van Dyke, Of "Thin Man" fame, the film, which is showing at the St.. James Theatre, tells a graphic story, of the .settlement of New Orleans by the French'in the days of Louis XV and of the love of a disguised French-princess, seeking escape from a marriage of State, and an English officer. The dramatic side of the adventure, thrills, and perils of the period is stressed as a thundering background for the glamorous music. Such song hits as "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life," "I'm Falling in Love with Someone," "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp," "The Italian Street Song," and all the original music of the operetta are retained with new lyrics by Gus Kahn. DE LUXE THEATRE. "The Gang's All Here," a hilarious detective farce starring Jack Buchanan, is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. John Forrest, an investigator for an insurance company, has decided to retire in order to write detective novels, and the firm gives him a farewell dinner from which he and his wife both wake in a somewhat chastened frame of mind. While at breakfast, John learns that the jewels he had deposited in the company's safe as his last job fOr them have been stolen. Immediately he feels that lie must follow up the matter, and from that moment plunges with his wife into-a series of excitements which involve the royal owner of the jewels and a band of crooks headed by Mike Chadwick, intent upon securing insurance money as well as the jewels, which they dangle before the anguished owner prince's eyes. "Mystery House," the story of how a wealthy man was slain at his remote hunting lodge, and how clever Detective Lance O'Leary found the killer, is the associate film. Dick Purcell plays, the sleuth and Ann Sheridan plays a lovely nurse who suspects a crime has been committed. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Representing another striking addition to the great dramatic' actor's gallery of masterful portrayals, "St. Martin's Lane," starring Charles Laugh ton, is showing at the New Princess Theatre. Laughton succeeds admirably in blending comedy and pathos with real dramatic, force. The atmosphere of the glamorous London theatreland is a novel setting. The associate feature is "Hold That Kiss," a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer comedyromanee, starring Mickey Rooney, Maureen O'Sullivan, and Dennis O'Keefe. REX THEATRE. "Fire Over England," which is showing at the Rex Theatre, was recently awarded the League of Nations Gold Medal. It features an imposing cast of players headed by the famous London stage actress, Flora Robson. Leslie Banks, Raymond Massey, Laurence Olivier, and Vivien Leigh. "Thanks for the Memory," the associate film, is based on the famous Broadway play of a few seasons ago, "Up Pops the Devil." Featured with Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in "Thanks for the Memory" are Charles Butterworth, Otto Kruger, Hedda Hopper, and Roscoe Kama.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

J PLAZA THEATRE. " ' That matchless sleuth,. Sherlock Holmes, is brought to vivid life on the screen by the distinguished Basil Rathbone, who shares top billing with Richard Greene and Wendy Barrie in 20th Century-Fox's thrilling production of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles," which ,' heads the new programme at the Plaza 1 Theatre. The classic, one of literature's most shocking, spine-chil-ling mystery stories, has been transferred to celluloid with thrilling realism. For background the picture has perfectly reproduced the misty,, fog-shrouded moor in England's Devonshire country* where a fiendish, : ghostly hound is believed to wander, ; leaving a terrifying trail of horror and 1 chilling the blood of the countryside ; with its unearthly howls. "The Hound i of the Baskervilles" is another feather |in the cap of Darryl F. Zanuck. Sid- ! ney Lanfield did a grand job of direcition from Ernest Pascal's splendid ! script and every member of the great i cast turns in a' first-rats performance. I KING'S THEATRE. j With Brian Ah erne, Victor Mc--1 Laglen, and June Lang playing the : top roles, Hal Roach's "Captain Bury," ; frontier drama of Australia, is show- ' ing at the King's Theatre. "Captain ■ Fury" is the story of dauntless men 1 and brave women who migrated to the i barren brush country of Australia Ito hew a nation out oi a strange ! wilderness. Paul Lukas, June -Lang. jJohn Carradine. George Zucc, Dougj las Dumbrille, and Virginia Field, i featured in support of the stars, I portray the strangely assorted charjacters who join in this march! of progress in the pioneering; days of the early nineteenth century. The story narrows down to a fight to I the finish between Captain Fury, j daring adventurer and political pris-; oner, who migrates from Ireland, and Arnold Trist, greedy land baron, whose game is to oust incoming settlers, grab their land, and build up a vast feudal estate to be ruled tyranically. STATE THEATRE, Now well established as one of the J leading fictional figures of the screen, i the imperturbable Mr. Moto is seen in | another of his adventures in "Danger Island," which is part of the new programme at thejState Theatre. The story is set in Porto Rico, colourful tropic isle, where civilisation has not entirely stamped out native customs and superstitions. Mr. Moto Peter Lorre) is on the track of diamond smugglers, and his quest brings him face to face with a powerful gang whose headquarters is located in a poisonous and almost impenetrable swamp of evil reputation. The second film is "Crackerjack," starring Tom Walls, a comedy thriller built about the fanciful career of a gentleman thief who robs the disgustingly rich and gives the proceeds to charities. OPERA HOUSE. Transparent, mirrors, invisible light rays that ring warning bells, disappearing dice tables —all the modern tricks by which big-time gambling houses try to cheat, the law are to be seen in "Manhattan Melodrama," now at the Opera House. The stars are Clark Gable, William Powell, and Myrna LOy, appearing together for the first time. The story deals with a gambler and a District Attorney, friends all their lives, who love the same woman and who, on opposite sides of the law, fight for her, each in his own way. Modern motion picture magic has coloured the fantastic exploits of ambu-lance-chasers, one-time bane of the police department, and big corporations, in "The Chaser," which is the associate film. There is no end of hilarity in the story of an ambulance-chaser who found both profit and amusement in annoying the hired minions of a big corporation. Whenever the story promises to become serious, a sudden shift in the plot results in another highlylaughable situation. Dennis O'Keefe and Ann Morriss are starred. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Thome Smith's sensational story, "Topper," with " Constance Bennett, Cary Grant, Roland Young, Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray> and Eugene Pallette, is showing at the Vogue Theatre. "Road Demon," starring Henry Arthur and Joan Valeric, is the supporting feature. The supports are excellent. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Git Along Little Dogies" and "Hold My Hand" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre. A new series of detective stories will be introduced at the Grand Theatre tomorrow as "James Lee Wong," in the person of Boris Karloff, makes his bow in "Mr. Wong Detective." The feature attraction .s "Gold Diggers in Paris." newest of the Warner Bros, famous musical series, starring Rudy Vallee and featuring Freddie Fisher's Schnickelfritz Band. The first chapter of the serial "The Lone Ranger" will also be shown. .PALACE THEATRE, PETONET* "Up the River" and "The Mysterious Mr. Moto" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. Jackie Cooper and Dick Powell star in "Streets Of New York," which opens tomorrow. The film is a new angle on the juvenile racketeers. The associate film is "Sins of the Children," a powerful drama that ptits the older i generation on trial. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Three. Smart Girls Grow Up" will be shown finally tonight at the State Theatre. "Marie Antoinette," which opens tomorrow, is a triumph of the motion picture art. More than that, it is a triumph for Norma Shearer. Magnificent in its pageantry, with brilliant costume and setting, flawlessly cast with such famed film names as Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Anita Louise, (Joseph Schildkraut, Gladys George, and scores of others, these were secondary to Miss Shearer's absorbingly human interpretation of a woman sometimes carefree, of times desperate, seeking for happiness. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. The charm of Deanna Durbin's voice and her acting grow greater with each of her films. Her latest, "Three Smart Girls Grow Up," which is showing at the King George Theatre, is a notable success, filled with humour, fine singing, and dramatic interest. The story concerns Deanna's attempts to settle the love affairs of her two elder sisters and to save them from the dangers of incompatible marriage. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Romance and war hit the range country at the same time in Paramount's new "Hopalong Cassidy" outdoor action thriller, "The Frontiersman," which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre wlith William Boyd, George Hayes, and Russell Hayden cast in familiar roles, "Gateway," starring Don Ameche, and Arleen Whelan, is the associate feature. The first episode of "The Lone Ranger" is also showing. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. "Manhattan Melodrama" and "The Scrapper" conclude tonight at the Prince Edward Theatre. Based on Baroness Orczy's best-sell-ing novel, "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel" opens tomorrow. Barry K. Barnes plays the title role. Stanley Lupino's stage and screen successes are so numerous that we have come to expect great things as normal from this gifted comedian. "Hold My Hand," the associate film, is a worthy newcomer to the entertainment world.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Joan Crawford returns to the screen as a talented dancer in her new picture, "The Shining Hour," which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. The picture is an adaptation of the New York stage success by Keith Winter. Appearing with Miss Crawford are Margaret Sullavan. Robert Young, Melvyn Douglas, and Fay Bainter. Briefly, the story is that of a charming dancer who marries a grave young ' farm expert for security and I peace rather than for love. Con- ; noisseurs of detective fiction hold cer- | tain golden rules of judgment. It is I permissible to draw any number of red ; herrings across the trail of the murderer but never definitely to mislead the reader. All those abortive clues ! must be justified. In "Premiere," the associate film, the crime fiction lover will find great entertainment, for the' ■ solution of the murder of a theatre] impresario in a crowded auditorium ■ points to several possible culprits, but ■ all their apparently questionable behaviour is explicable. RIVOLI THEATRE. Inspector Bonnard was taking an evening off at the first night"of a new show when he was railed backstage. > The impresario had been shot dead in j ■ his box during a scene in which revolvers were used on the stage. A nice | little story it turned out to be, for the i impresario seemed to have more mortal i enemies in the theatre than any black-; guard could have. The detective,, played by forceful John Lodge, heaved a sigh and left the auditorium, and after disentangling the threads of hate, jealously, and intrigue that ran through the story he unearthed, he finds the murderer before the end of the show. A nice evening's amusement for any I police officer. Such is the main theme of "Premiere," which heads the bill at the Rivoli Theatre. Bringing before film fans a new and youthful romantic team, a Warner Bros, comedy-drama, "Love, Honour, and Behave," is the associate film. The youngsters are Wayne Morris and petite Priscilla Lane. ROXY THEATRE. A thrilling human drama of ragged newsboys who fight for a chance in life on the streets of a big city isj presented in "Newsboys' Home," which is showing at the Roxy Theatre, with Jackie Cooper in the starring role. "Yellow Jack," dedicated to those five soldiers who risked their Lives to free humanity from the yoke of yellow fever, is the associate film. With starkly dramatic scenes, unusual romantic appeal, and a new type of heroism, the picture is most impressive. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Modern dress, a modern story, and modern Technicolor befit Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy better than J anything they have attempted in the past. Despite their successes together in "Naughty Marietta," "Rose Marie," "Maytime." and "Girl of the Golden West" they establish still another milestone for the film musical in "Sweet(hearts," now playing at the Capitol Theatre. Charles Farrell and Jacqueline Wells appear in "Flight to Fame," the associate attraction. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. "Pygmalion," the screen version of Bernard Shaw's brilliant comedy, is j showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. The! story tells of a Cockney flower girl j (Wendy Hiller), who becomes the subject of an experiment to a professor of phonetics—a role which provides Leslie Howard with one of the greatest opportunities of his distinguished career to display his unchallenged histronic genius. "Safety in Numbers," the latest of the popular "Jones Family" series, is the associate attraction. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Connoisseurs of detective fiction hold certain golden rules "of judgment. It is permissible to draw any number of red herrings across the trail of the murderer but never definitely to mislead the reader. In "Premiere," showing at the Regal Theatre, the crime fiction lover will find great entertainment, for the solution of the murder of a theatre impresario in a crowded auditorium points to several possible culprits. The associate film is "Moonlight Sonata," starring the world's greatest pianist, Paderewski. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. A glorious love story of a swashbuckling poet from the back streets of Paris who dared to love a royal princess is told in "If I Were King," Frank Lloyd's dramatic interpretation of the life of Francois Villon, which is showing at the Empire Theatre. Ronald Colman, as the romantic vagabond who becomes the ruler of France for one glorious week, and Frances Dee, as the lovely princess are starred. "Cowboy From Brooklyn," with Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, and Priscilla Lane in the leading roles is the second feature. BENEFIT BOXING. There has been a really excellent response on the part of local amateur and professional boxers to the Ted Morgan benefit tournament which will be held in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. Morgan, the only New Zealand boxer ever to win an Olympic title, recently broke a le£ and as a tribute to the service he rendered Wellington boxing particularly and New Zealand boxing generally it was decided to ask boxers and trainers to co-operate in a tournament, the funds to be given to Morgan. The feature of the evening will be an eight-round professional bout between Jackie Sharpe, of Australia, and Norm Dyer, of Australia, pretty well known as a diver of no mean ability. Sharpe has been seen in New Zealand rings previously but this bout will be something in the nature of a come-back. Dyer will be making his professional debut. The latter had a useful record as an amateur so the bout should be an excellent one. There will be a special six-round amateur bout between Harold Foote, of Wellington, New Zealand bantamweight champion, and A. Byrne, a former Hutt Valley champion. The rest of the programme will consist of some first-rate bouts over shorter distances between some of the best amateurs in .the province. Particulars are advertised. KIRCHMEYER AND JONES. Roll end Kirchmeyer, of Oklahoma, and Paul Jones, of Texas, will meet in the professional heavyweight ■wrestling match which is to be staged at the Wellington Town Hall on Monday night. It will be the first meeting of these two men, and the displays they have given against other wrestlers have indicated that there will be high-class wrestling as well as plenty of fiery exchanges. Kirchmeyer was seen here in several matches earlier in the season, when his form was most impressive, and since then he has done even better. With his celebrated python clutch he succeeded in taking the first fall of the season off Earl McCready. Kirchmeyer s heieht. strength, and speed are big assets, and he makes the utmost use of them. Jones has only had one bout in the local ring so far, but it was a real thriller, and his return is being eagerly awaited. He has his hook scissors as an answes to the python clutch and plenty of other holds as well. The preliminaries will include a bout between two local professionals, C. Croskery and Alf Bloomfield.