CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 104, 30 October 1939, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "The Four Just Men," talking picture s version of the exploits of a group of a strange characters made famous by c Edgar Wallace, is continuing a successful season at the Regent Theatre. The ° story tells of one or the principal ex-: ploits of four • mysterious Englishmen, " who take the law into their own hands a when they consider the cause just, and .' whose sole motive is love of England 11 and hatred of all sinister forces en- ) dangering the peace of the world. They »t are modern adventurers of the "Scary let Pimpernel" type, and the daring y manner in which they foil the efforts is of a foreign power to destroy the y British Empire is thrilling in the true 1. sense of the word. . Authentic pictures d y of the German invasion of Poland and I scenes of activity on the Western Front, c apparently taken in the midst of the il present hostilities, are striking features c of the. newsreel. c. ' , . '- MAJESTIC THEATRE, Scrooge, *Tiny Tim, the Cratchits, find the rest of the beloved characters in n the Charles Dickens story, come to life s in "A Christmas Carol," filmisation of s the classic tale, which is. showing at. ; . the Majestic: Theatre. Directed by !- Edwin L. Marin. with Reginald Owen ,f in . the role •qf Ebenezer Scrooge, the i. miser, and Terry Kilburn as Tiny Tim, 3 the crippled child who touches the i man's hard heart, the picture follows s the original story closely. Old London n of the Dickens period is faithfully rec produced, with its quaint Christmas f costumes, its' singing of carols, and n other details'of the story. The cast i- includes Gene and Kathleen Lockhart i, as Bob Cratchit, the clerk, and his wife, parents: of Tiny Tim. Lynne Carver ana Barry Mackay are the ro- _ mantic leads as Scrooge's nephew and his sweetheart. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The inimitable George Wallace, popular stage comedian, finds plenty of scope for his buffoonery and fooling in the Australian production "Gone to the Dogs," which is in its second week at the St. James Theatre. As a zoo attendant without much pride in his job, George doesn't distinguish himself much until he gets, loose with . a large selection of chemicals in the zoo clinic, and in an attempt to mix a monkey tonic brews something that turns out to be good for dog races, because a small dose of it adds umpiieen miles an hour to a dog's speed. With , his typical comical clumsiness George races from one laughable situation to another in hilarious fashion, but he strikes a serious, note when he runs out of his special dog| tonic the day before the big race, and Black Beauty, languishes for want of it. DE LUXE THEATRE. A moving story of an innocent girl who spends three years in prison, and in that . period learns enough of the law to further the vengeance she swore against the man who put her in goal, is "Within the Law," the film version of the famous stage play, which heads the double-feature programme at the De Luxe Theatre. Mary Turner (Ruth Hussey) was a 22-year-old assistant -in a big department store; she was taking night school to^ improve her in her work, ' but when jewellery stolen by another assistant is found in her locker all her protestations. of innocence are useless. She swears to make her employer suffer, and to that end returns from prison well equipped in law. The sec-' . ond feature is "Burn Up O'Connor," a thrilling drama of the motor- : racing track. The leading players are > Dennis O'Keefe* Cecilia Parker, Nat Peridleton, and Harry Carey. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "The Zero Hour," which heads the double-bill attraction at the Paramount , Theatre, is an absorbing and compelling story acted with consummate skill by Freida Inescort and Otto Kruger. The role allows full scope for Miss Inescort's splendid emotional ability as an actress who has pledged her love to a man who was hopelessly crippled on the night they were to be married. With a newspaper background, "Off the Record" is a bright and breezy story with Joan Blondell and Pat : O'Brien in the stellar roles. The i theme concerns the exploits of a "tough" youth who gets~mixed up with, gambling rackets and in the end is sent to a reformatory school. Joan Blondell. Who has been instrumental with her newspaper articles in getting .him sentenced, takes pity on the boy and tries to reform him. ROXY THEATRE. A killer ■ whose disguises are so numerous and effective tha he can confidently enter into the search which is ' being made for himself without being detected, is the central figure in the new Michael Bfelcon Capad production, "The Gaunt Stranger," now at the Roxy Theatre; The glamour, the restless surge, the will-to-win of the old West, are caught in Zane Grey's wellwrought story, "Heritage of the Desert," the associate film, starring Donald Woods and Evelyn Venable. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Smartly dialogued, brimming with laughs, and offering finished and believable characterisations by Janet Gaynor, Robert Montgomery, and Franchot Tone, "Three Loves Has Nancy," is showing at * the ■ Princess Theatre as one of the most refreshing and original romantic comedies seen here in some time. The second feature is "The Chaser," starring Denis O'Keefe, Ann Morriss, and Lewis Stone. Also on the bill is a comedy. "The ■\ Three Sew ? and Sews." EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Samuel Goldwyn's "Wutbering' Heights," based on the unforgettable love story of the Emily Bronte novel of the same name, is. showing at the Empire Theatre. Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier are cast as the. romantic lovers. "The Gang's All Here," the second feature, is a comedy that shows there is still new comedy material to be found in the world. Seventy-seven minutes of hilarious fun has been packed into this film with never a familiar gag to damp the proceedings. Jack Buchanan heads the cast. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. With Eleanor Powell offering a series of new and brilliant dances against the exotic background of Hawaii, with Robert Young in a romantic dual role, ■ and with the sensationally popular comedy team of Burns and Allen adding to the uproar. "'Honolulu" is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema. Deriving | drama from the ever-changing world I 1 affairs of today, Universal's "The Sun Never Sets,", starring Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Basil Rathbone, Virginia | Field, and Barbara O'Neil, is the as- ' sociate film. I REX THEATRE. i "The.Goldwyn Follies," the sparkling ; ! musical revue, with the Ritz Brothers, Edgar Bergen, and "Charlie McCar- : ' thy," Adolphe Menjou, and the Ameri- : t can Ballet, is showing at the Rex The- - i atre: The second attraction is "Law ; lof the Underworld." Chester Morris j ! heads the cast of the film as a gang- ■' ster chieftain who leads a double life ' as a society idler, and Anne Shirley and Richard Bond have the romantic leads. . VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. ■ "Port of Seven Seas," starring Wai- • lace Beery? Frank Morgan, Maureen : O'Sullivan, and John Beal, is the tnain ■ r attraction at the Vogue Theatre. Joe|: , E. Brown, Beverly Roberts, and Leo , " Carrillo are seen in the supporting ' ' feature, "Flirting With Fate.'r "Pop- & eye the Sailor Meets Ali Baba's Forty i Thieves" is an added attraction. There : 'ere also selected supports. >!

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. = "Second Fiddle," now showing at £ the King's Theatre, is a Hollywood r romance rather out of the general run ■of Sonja Henie pictures. The plot ; concerns a search: extending over - several years for a star suitable , for playing the leading role in a ; film based on a very outstanding I book. The analogy with "Gone With I the Wind," is here very close, the dif- . ference being that, after over four h-un-r dred attempts, the studio locate the . star. She, of course, is Sonja. A > wild satire ensues, in which are im- ; broiled Tyrone Power (a publicity man » with original ideas), Tludy Vallee (a > star in need of "building up"). Mary j Healy (the star's jealous girl-friend),! I Edna May Oliver (Sonja's aunt), Alan I Dinehart (a harassed film executive), \ and Lyle Talbot (Sonja's farmhand j sweetheart). PLAZA THEATRE. [ Gaiety and cleverness mark the new l comedy romance, "Bachelor Mother," ; the Ginger Rogers-David Niven film, : which is in its second week at the ;. Plaza Theatre. Perfectly tailored xo '■ the talents of its two principals, "Bachei lor Mother" deals with Miss Rogers's s troubles in trying to convince the , world that she is not the mother of a ' baby whom she finds on the steps of > ,t»n orphan home. The mirth-making : situation interferes with her job as a ; sales-girl in a big department store ' owned by Niven's father. Niven, at- : tempting to force Ginger to keep the : baby by threatening to discharge her, ; incurs the jealousy of Ginger's self- ! appointed boy friend, who misinforms '. Niven's father that his son is the [ father of the baby. These delightful situations build to a hectic climax. STATE THEATRE. i Stirring incidents in the early life :of Abraham Lincoln form the basis ;of "Young Mr. Lincoln," which is ' showing at the State Theatre. Although the later, political career of the great American is of much ; more interest in the United States ' than elsewhere, the story of his j ! early struggles as an earnest and quietly-humorous young lawyer, as depicted in the film, is packed with enough miman interest to guarantee the picture an appreciative audience anywhere. Henry Fonda plays the f part of the youthful attorney with poli-', ' tical ambitions, and his portrayal will! rank as one of the best performances of his career. The associate feature, "Chasing Danger," starring Preson Foster, Lyntf'Bari, and Wally Vernon, shows the adventures of two newsreel cameramen. TUDOR THEATRE. "The Four Feathers," now at the Tudor Theatre, proves that, as well as comedy and domestic drama, the producers and actors of Great Britain can really hajndle the more extensive and impressive /campaign type of film. A large part of the picture deals with the Egyptian campaign, and includes skirmishes, with the Dervish army and some splendid scenes of the Battle of Omdurman. Ralph Richardson, John i Clements, C. Aubrey Smith, and June Duprez head the cast. "Saleslady," the associate film, is a bright breezy comedy, starring Anne Nagel. RIVOLI THEATRE. "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" and "The Lady's from Kentucky" conclude tonight at the .Rryoli Theatre. Ten people;stranded by,a plane crash in the jungles, of the Amazon—-nl.eans of escape for fivei only—who shall live? That is the question in "Five Came Back," which opens tomorrow. Playing the leads are Chester Morris, as pilot of the plane; Lucille Ball, as a gold diggerj and Wendy Barrie, as an eloping heiress; ably supported by a brilliant all-star cast, including C. Aubrey Smith, Allen Jenkins, Kent Taylor, John Carradine, and Joseph Calleia. "Homicide Bureau," the thrilling Columbia drama featuring Bruce Cabot and Rita Hay worth, is the associate film. Exposing a series of baffling crimes committed by international dealers in war munitions, "Homicide Bureau" boasts a large supporting cast/ \ REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. 'Hailed as 1939's greatest screen adventure, "Only Angels Have Wings" is showing at the Regal Theatre, with Cary Grant and - Jean Arthur co-starred together for the first time. "Only Angels Have Wings" i|s a drama of romance and adventure in a small South American seaport. The supporting programme includes a "March of Time" entitled "Mediterranean Background for War" and Walt Disney's colour cartoon "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood." PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. Brilliantly alive in glorious Technicolor "The Mikado," which is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre, is magnificent entertainment. There is no word sung or spoken in the film that Gilbert did not write; no note of music is played or omitted that Sullivan did not compose. In the supporting feature, "Blockheads," Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy again leave behind them a trail of hilarious disaster. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. The inimitable and beloved "Hardy Family" are back in the fifth of the series of their laugh-packed and teartinged adventures, this , time laid against the picturesque background of the West. "Out West with the Hardys" is showing at the King George Theatre. .DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Elizabeth Bergner has the greatest part—or parts, for she appears in a dual role —of her career in "Stolen Life," which her husband, Dr. Paul Czinner, has produced and directed, and which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. The Camera Dare-devils, two devil-may-care newsreel photographers, make their bow on the screen m "Sharpshooters," the associate film. '- STATE ■THEATRE, PETONE. j: High adventure in the British Army campaigning on the North-west Frontier of India, half a century ago, colourful romance, rowdy fun, hero- ! ism, and sacrifice are compounded in the notable screen production based on Rudyard Kipling's famous ballad of , "Gunga Din," which is showing at the « State Theatre. Cary Grant, Victor ; McLaglen, and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., share the starring honours. ; PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. , "Gang Bullets," an exciting tale of a ' young lawyer who is forced to prose- .; cute his best friend for a crime he did ; not commit, is ' showing at the i Palace Theatre. The featured play- • ers are Robert Kent and Anne Nagel. In his latest film, "Blondes : For Danger," the associate attraction, ; the popular Cockney comedian, Gordon ! Harker. comes back in a role after his ; own heart, that of a wise-cracking taxi- ] driver with a cab of ancient vintage. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. An outstanding double-feature programme is showing at the Grand : Theatre. The best of all the j Edgar Wallace thrillers, "The Terror," featuring Wilfrid Lawson and . j Bernard Lee, is the main attrac- \ tion. Warner Bros.' drama of family life. "My Bill," with Kay Francis and ! Sonita Granville heading the cast, is 1 •the. second feature. The thirteenth epi- < sode of "The Lone Ranger" is also : showing. 1 1

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Keep Smiling" and "Bank Holiday" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. "Honolulu," which opens tomorrow at the' Tivoli 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. There is also an intriguing story, which satirises the life of the movie star. The central attraction is, of course, Eleanor Powell, whose dancing has never been| better. Perhaps the most striking se-< quence of the show is her interpretation of Hawaiian dances. Robert Young has a dual role. The greatest detective ever portrayed in fiction, often slavishly copied ; but never) equalled, is depicted on the screen in one of his most famous exploits in "The Hound of the Baskervilles," the associate film, starring Basil Rathbone. NEW OPERA HOUSE. ; A motion picture technique that is refreshing in its difference is seen for the first time in the film "The j Cheat," which is showing at the New Opera House. "The Cheat" is an English "dubbed" version of the sparkling French comedy hit "Le Romain dun Tricheur." starring the famous Trench actor Sacha Guitry. Guitry does more than act, for this film was both- written and produced by him. "The Cheat" takes the form of an autobiographical monologue by the great Guitry himself. At least the words' appear to be; coming from Guitry's mouth. In reality they are being spoken in English by Norman Shelley, a 8.8.C. an-j i nouncer. Basically. "The Cheat" is the story of a man's whole life from boyhood to age; told through the medium of an illustrated diary, showing the principal incidents in a life of trickery and crime. SCHOOLS' MUSICAL FESTIVAL. The fourth annual primary schools' festival will be held in the Wellington Town Hall tomorrow. Over 700 children from 25 of Wellington's primary schools will take part. The first half of the programme will comprise choral singing by eight school choirs, together with pianoforte solos by Mr. L. Souness and 'cello solos by Miss Marie Vandervart. The second half will be presented by the massed choir of 600 voices, accompanied by members of the Symphony Orchestra under the conductorship of Mr. T. J. Young. The orchestra will also present selections, under the conductorship of Mr. Leon de Mauny. Ldvers of children and music will bei thrilled with the performances of the choirs. The performance commences at 8 p.m. The audience is requested to be seated by i 7.50. The proceeds will be devoted to I the Otaki Health Camp. 1..' ' _ . 'THE AEOLIANS." Tomorrow, night. "The Aeolians" will present their sixth choral recital in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. A wide variety of choral numbers, calculated to be of interest not only to lovers of good music but to the public generally, will include a group of British folk songs and a group of part songs composed by Brahms. The choir, which is largely composed of young voices, performs for charities, and on this occasion the proceeds will be devoted to the A.M. Seamen's Institute. The assisting artists will be Mrs. Merle, Gamble (soprano), Mr. George Gray (baritone), and Mr. Graham Ay son (violinist). The choir will be under the direction of Mr. Maxwell Fernie and the accompanist will be TVIr. John Randal. The box plan is at the, D.I.C. ASCOT THEATRE. Drama, romance, and comedy are: expertly blended to make "Four Girls in' White,' 1 showing at the Ascot Theatre, one of the most satisfying pic-, tures. The stars are Florence Rice, Una Merkel, Alan Marshall, and Buddy Ebsen, in a story of the nursing profession. "The Renegade Ranger," starring George O'Brien, is also showing. It tells of an exciting border episode, involving a Mexican girl falsely accused of murder. The supporting features are splendid.