CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 108, 3 November 1939, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

I REGENT THEATRE. I "When Tomorrow Comes," now showing at the Regent Theatre, is a most unusual drama of American life, ! in which is seen some exceptional aet-. ing by the two principals, Charles ! Boyer and Irene Dunne. The story is Ithat of a waitress and a piano player | who turns out to be a world-famous musician. Thrown together by a working girls' strike, oddly and painlessly successful, the two get to know each other even better during the course of I one of those hurricanes which must make life on Long Island Sound so interesting. Romance seems assured until the musician's wife puts in an inopportune appearance. The secret of the musician's, attitude is then explained, and the story proceeds on an unusual line towards a most unexpected ending. As the musician, Charles Boyer gives a performance worthy of him. Irene Dunne is really not allowed to sing enough, though the character of the picture is such that it could never be converted into a musical. It is by no means a fast-moving film. The plot is allowed to evolve without forcing, and the effect is a pleasing one. Supports include the latest in war newsreels, a film on the beauties of old English mansions, and a musical feature. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Charles Laughton adds another brilliant characterisation to his career in "Jamaica Inn," which is showing at the St. James Theatre. He plays the : role of Sir Humphrey Pengallan, squire of Cornwall, entertainer.of the nobility yet' withal the evil genius behind the nefarious, doings of the gangs of wreckers who haunted the nearby coast. Here is a story .of a lonely inn on the bleak Cornwall moors, not far from the coast. Its name was evil, coaches whisked past, and no man knew what horrors its ever-closed shutters hid. Yet it was to Jamaica Inn that Mary Yellan went when her mother died, to join her aunt and the man her aunt married, Joss Merlyn. The evils of the inn, its dread secret, and ; the . gathering's of the wreckers, she. was all too soon to learn, to make her way in frenzied haste to Sir Humphrey for his protection. Little | did she bknow He was the evil genius who guided- her uncle Joss and his band of cut-throats. In support of Charles Laughton are Maureen O'Hara, beautiful newcomer to the screen, Leslie Banks, Emlyn Williams, Marie Ney, and others, all under the expert direction of Alfred Hitchcock. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "The Four Just Men," which opened today at the Paramount Theatre, was made for a definite purpose. First and foremost to provide exciting and memoi'able entertainment and secondly to expose the spy menace in our midst by revealing the secret endeavours of these enemies of the nation, often cloaked in the disguise of decent citizenship, ever seeking and plotting to undermine the strength of the Empire. "The Four Just Men" are symbolical of the Empire's manhood, and when they discover a plot to block the Suez, to cut Australia off from England, .they act as would every true Britisher in similar circumstances. The gentleman referred to in the Edgar Wallace thriller, "Mr. Reeder in Room 13," the' associate film, is an elderly character, whose apparent ' dotage conceals a keen brain, devoted to tracking down criminals on behalf of the Bank of England. Gibb McLaughlin and Peter Murray Hill head the cast. 'i NEW OPERA HOUSE, ' A motion picture technique that is refreshing in its difference is seen I for the first time in the film "The .Cheat,"j which is in its second week <ni the New Opera.; House. "The Cheat" is an English'"dubbed" version of the sparkling - French comedy hit "Le Romain d'uh Tricheur." starring the famous ""rench 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 grea* 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. announcer. 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. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A scintillating new comedy team is seen in "Lucky Night," which is showing at the Majestic Theatre. Myrna Loy and Robert Taylor make their first appearance together before the cameras. Taylor demonstrates a flair for comedy as authentic and virile as he has displayed in drama. Miss Loy is even more beautiful than in previous pictures, for the producers have been lavish with their budget in gowning her. Interweaving moving heart throbs with uproarious laughter, the story unfolds the accidental. meeting and later marital careers of Cora Jordan and Bill Overton. Cora, the spoiled daughter, of a millionaire steel magpate, walks out on her fourth engagement to hunt for a job. Bill is a playboy down on .his luck. Following an accidental meeting on a park bench, they, gamble, frolic, and fight their way 'to fortune, get married, quarrel over the family budget, separate, and come together again after a series of mad-as-march-hare complications as hilarious as they are novel. ROXY THEATRE. Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea join with Cecil B. de Mille in bringing to the screen the • story of one of the boldest feats of American history and recreating one of. the most colourful periods of the nation's past in "Union Pacific," showing at the Roxy Theatre. An exciting gangster story with a new twist. "I Am a Criminal," is the associate film. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Drama, romance, thrills, chills, and' comedy are expertly blended to make "Four Girls in White," showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema, one of the most j satisfying pictures of the year. Florence Rice, Una Merkel, Ann Rutherford, and Mary Howard are in the title roles. The romantic stars of "Alexander's Ragtime Band"—Tyrone Power and Alice Faye;—are joined by Al Jolson in "Rose of Washington Square," the second feature.. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. With Eleanor Powell offering a series of new and brilliant dances against the .exotic background of Hawaii, with [Robert Young in a comedy as well as j romantic role, and with the comedy ! team of Burns and Allen adding to the uproar, "Honolulu" is showing at the Capitol Theatre. The background of the story of "The Sun Never Sets," tho associate film, lies in the British diplomatic service. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Basil Rathbone are j starred. ! VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. ! The two excellent films which are showing at the Vogue Theatre are in aid of the work of the Brooklyn Returned Soldiers' Association. The main film is "The Life Story of Alexander Graham Bell," starring Don Ameche and Loretta Young. Edmund Lowe and Helen Mack are featured in "Secrets cf a Nurse," the supporting feature. There are also selected supports. REX THEATRE. The magnificent cast of "Souls at Sea," now at the Rex Theatre. is headed by two great stars, Gary Cooper and George . Raft, and the supporting cast includes, among scores of other favourites, Frances bDee, Henry . Wilcoxon, Plarry Carey, and Olympe Bradna. The second feature stars Charles Quigley and Rita Hayworth in "Convicted."

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

[ KING'S THEATRE. [ There is something new, something different, and something great in screen entertainment at "the King's Theatre, where Irving Berlin's "Second Fiddle" is iri its second week. The 20th Century-Fox picture features one of the greatest arrays of talent ever gathered for one show —Berlin's six new songs, • Sonja Henie's sunny brilliance, Tyrone Power's gay romancing, Rudy Vallee's Edna May Oliver's fun, and newstar Mary Healy's beauty and appeal. The screen play is a realistic story of what happens when the long search to find a girl to play the heroine of a great best-selling novel is ended, when the girl arrives in Hollywood, and makes the picture. "Second Fiddle" is one of the greatest entertainments to come out of Hollywood, i The supports include the latest "March ! of Time" and war films, and a feature on inider-water tunnel building. STATE THEATRE. Another of the' popular "Mr. Moto" series, "Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation," starring Peter Lorre, is the main attraction at the State Theatre. The plot is woven round the discovery of the Queen of Sheba's crown by a young archaeologist, John King, who is attached to the San Francisco Museum, from which the story moves to Chinatown and back again with amazing rapidity. The film ends in a dramatic climax with a confession from the criminal, who remained a mystery right through. In the supporting attraction, "Old Iron, Tom walls appears in a new role, that of a. dogmatic domineering head of a shipping firm whose dictatorial ways land him into trouble with ' both his firm and his family. Cecil Parker, as his rascally . business partner, is very good. The story is by Ben Travers, which is a testimonial in itself. TIVOLI THEATRE. Marooned four weeks in an impenetrable tropical jungle after a plane accident, under constant threat of death from a sinister' tribe of head-hunters, the dire plight of eleven people unfolds'in the dramatic story of "Five i Came Back," which is showing at the j Tivoli Theatre. With Chester Morris, ! Lucille Ball, Wendy Barrie, John : Carradine, and Joseph Calieia heading I the cast in this. RKO-Radio film, ithe vivid story depicts in gripi ping fashion the experiences of the survivors while waiting for the ! South America-bound plane to be i repaired. When <it is apparent ! that only five of the party can be perfmitted to return to civilisation, the i tense drama. reaches spectacular | heights. The Elstree Studios of Associated British have scored again- with a new comedy, "Jane Steps Out," the associate film. Diana Churchill turns in another accomplished performance in the name part. RIVOLI THEATRE. ! Claudette Colbert and Don Ameche, j teamed together for the first time, head a cast" studded with a dozen stars in I Paramount's gay new comedy. "Midnigllt," now at the Rivoli Theatre. It concerns an American girl's hectic i romance with a Paris taxi driver I and a wealthy man about town and her adventures when she crashes international society as a Hungarian baroness. John Barrymore, Francis Lederer, and Mary Astor are also in the cast. In "The Hit Parade," the associate- film, Frances Langford has the role of an unknown and unheralded singer. She is skyrocketed to radio fame through the efforts of a Press agent, played by Phil Regan, only to have a jealous rival jolt her career by publicising the fact that she was once sentenced to a reform school. REGAL THEATRE, KARORL Dramatising the roaring adventure and .rich romance of the pioneering day^ in Australia in the: early nineteenth century, Hal Roach's "Captain Fury," co-starring Brian Aherne, Victor McLaiglen, and June Lang, is showing at the Regal Theatre. Martha Raye, Bob Hope, Betty Grable, and Jack Whiting have the leading • roles in "Give Me a" Sailor," Paramount's madcap comedy, which is the associate feature. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. With Brian Aherne, Victor McLaglen, and June Lang playing the top roles, Hal Roach's "Captain Fury," drama of early Australia, is showing at the Empire Theatre. "Captain Fury" is the story of dauntless men and brave women who braved the hazards of early colonial settlement. Blondie, Dagwood, and Baby Dumpling step out of Chic Young's popular comic strip on to the screen in "Blondie," the associate film. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. Jackie Cooper's latest human dramia. "Streets of New York," which is showing at the Prince Edward. Theatre, is a down-to-earth story of a youngster who tries to follow in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln. "Timber Stampede," starring George O'Brien, is the second feature. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. The most amazing array of talent ever assembled hi a single produc-. tion is presented in the Technicolor musical extravaganza, "Tlie Goldwyn Follies," which is showing at the King George Theatre. Drawing from every field of entertainment to augment a screen cast headed by Adolphe MenjOu, the Ritz Brothers, Andrea Leeds, Ella Logan, Jerome Cowan, and the Goldwyn Girls, the producer secured Edgar Bergen and "Charlie McCarthy," Phil Baker, and Kenny Baker. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. The triangular romance between a young 'American gambler, a lovely dancing girl and a Mexican bandit, forms the basis of R.K.O. Radio's "The Girl and the Gambler," which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Leo Carrillo, Tim Holt, and Steffii Duna are starred. "The Hound of the Baskervilles," the associate film, is one of literature's most shocking, spine-chill-ing mystery stories. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Action for Slander" will be shown finally tonight at the State Theatre. Dreamy days on the Mississippi, thrilling adventure, comedy, and pathos, written as only Mark Twain could write of them, mark Mickey Rooney's first solo starring vehicle in "The Ad- [ ventures of Huckleberry Finn," which commences tomorrow. | . ' GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. j "Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police" | and "Boy Trouble" conclude tonight at I the Grand.. Theatre. I Co-starring George Raft and Claire Trevor, "I Stole a Million," which opens tomorrow, is based upon a theme I of deep character motivation. The Lone Wolf, that debonair rogue whose light[fingered knavery made him the bane of police officials throughout the world, returns to the screen in the person of Warren William in "Ttye Lone Wolf Spy Hunt," the associate film. The fourteenth episode of "The Lone Ranger" is also on the programme. I PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Arsene Lupin Returns" and "Libelled Lady" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. Hugh Herbert heads an all-star cast of Hollywood comedy favourites in "The Family Next Door," showing at the Palace Theatre tomorrow. Herbert's latest screen role calls for him to portray a confused father in one of the most hilarious families on record. .The supporting feature is "Forged Passport," an action picture of the Mexican border, starring Paul Kelly and | Jessie Lang.