CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 131, 30 November 1939, Page 8

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE

Tile reputation of Bobby Breen, , whose talents include an excellent vqice and not inconsiderable acting ability, should gam much by his work -in "Way DOwn South," his latest picture which opened last night at the State Theatre. In some of his earlier pictures there was a tendency for the action to be halted too much to enable 'the producers to get their moneys wor;th from the young actor's voice, * but that eiror has been avoided in this case. •' The story deals with the advenI lures of a young orphan owner of a cotton and sugar plantation (Bobby Breen) and his successful efforts to thwart the evil intentions of the executor of his father's estate who plans to sell most of the slaves., Alan Mowbray,'Steffi Duna, and Sally Blanc figure in 'the cast —and there is some fine singing by the Hall Johnson choir —the"y are the slaves —and, of course, Bobby Breen. The second big picture is "Bad Lands," a production of unusually high dramatic merit. The story tells with careful restraint the fate that »overtakes ten me l comprising a sheriffs posse while on the trail of a <■ murderer. After a harrowing thirsttormented march the men reach a water hole only to be besieged by a band of outlaw Indians. Only the II -iron control and splendid character of the sheriff prevent early disaster, but ' one by one the band are picked off until the1 last of nine graves has been ' "duksby the sheriff. The handling of the emoUonal parts oi the story shows uncanny skill*amounting to genius and one brief scene where the sheriff, haggard' through want of sleep and privation and (With only two of his men still aliver«recites vt!ie Lord's Prayer while he-.maintains his pxrn of guard duty. There', is, also a newsreel and a hilarious .Donald, Duck cartoon in colour. /■ ' REGENT THEATRE, "The Sisters," which is showing at the Regent Theatre, co-stars Bette Davis and Errol Flynn for the first. time. Flynn and Miss Davis' do the most striking acting jobs of their .respective and brilliant careers—in roles that are completely new departures for tlfem "both." The story of "The Sisters" covers the four years' between the Presidential elections of "Teddy Roosevelt and Taft. The three Elliott sisters, played by Bette Davis, Anita Louise, and Jane Bryan, are the most beautiful girls at the election ball m Silver Bow, Montana, but from that night on the sisters weave their chequered careers in widely varied "* patterns. Bette elopes to San Francisco with a .fascinating young newspaper-, man,' played by Flynn. Miss Louise, the secpnd .sister, * succumbs ■- to ■. the wooing-of cKmiddleiaged, millionaire (Alan Hale), who promises her a ght- < tering, cosmopolitan life m New xork and London Miss Bryan, the only one content to remain m Silver: Bow, marries the town banker,' played, by Dick Foran MA3ESTIC 1 THEATRE; -VM~ ' "Thunder Afloat," now showing* at the Majestic Theatre, is a war adventure story in which there is jiot a dull moment The story is that of an old tug-boat captain, (Wallace Beery), whose life is bound up in his > tug-boat, made by his own hands, and ' * his beautiful daughter (Virginia Gray,)., His deadly rival is a younger captain '- ' (Chester Morris), whom he persuades to enlist m the Navy in order to put ' him out of the running for a ,towing contract. When, a U-boat rises, out of the sea on the American side or the Atlantic, however, and blows up his beloved; tug, -the war becomes a very personal matter, and he vows to sink thfc raider.1 • , ST. JAMES THEATRE. % "Unexpected Father" concludes tonight at the St James Theatre. "Angels With Dirty Faces," starring / James Cagney and Pat O'Brien, opens tomorrow. , ; , PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Mutiny on the Blacknawk" and "Grand Jury Secrets" conclude tonight at the Paramount Theatre. ' " | , "Damaged Goods" and "Circus Girl" commence tomorrow. . c * ROXY THEATRE, vfl'i^ :'ii "Out f West With the Hardys?k- ah* "Women Are Like That" conclude uto-; night at the Roxy Theatre. With >a cast topped by Errol Flynn, Olivia de. Havilland, Rosalind Russell, ' and Patric Knowles, "Four's a Crowd," Warner Bros' swiftly-paced comedy romance, opens tomorrow With the i inimitable George Wallace in the starring role, "Gone to t. c Dogs,' the asso- "■, ciate film, was twelve weeks m front of the cameras, and when such record time is spent in shooting approximately 80 minutes of screen entertainment; then some idea as to the quality may. be clearly evidenced PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, - WOBURN. ". "Small Town Girl," which :is: showing at the Prince Edward brings together Janet Gaynor and Rob- - crt Taylor in the leading roles, sup- ' ported by Lewis Stone, Bmnie Barnes, and Andy Devine. "Tenth Avenue Kid," the associate film, shows the double-reformation of a hard-boiled police detective and a young twelve-year-old boy who has been raised in the slums of New York. Tommy Ryan, Bruce Cabot, and Beverly Roberts are starred. x ■ , I ■■ PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. The love story which changed the destiny of an empire, with Tyrone Power and beautiful Madeleine Carroll > starred, is told with stirring beauty against a magnificent setting in "Lloyds of London," which is showing at the Palace Theatre. Smith Bellew is the < outdoor star of Zane Grey's "Roll j Along, Cowboy," the associate film., GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. With Don Ameche as a singing, loving, fighting D'Artagnan, and The Ritz Brothers, as musketeers, the musical comedy version of "The Three Musketeers" heads the bill at the Grand Theatre. The most mysterious cluehunt ever devised in a screen mystery story alsb finds plenty of opportunity, for hilarity.m "The' Great Hospital/ Mystery," the associate film. The eighth episode of "Scouts to the, Rescue" is also showing - .'"■;.■ STATE THEATRE, PETONE. What happens when a beautiful girl walks into a strange man's hotel suite, steals his bed. his pyjamas, his bpok, his breakfast, and, incidentally, his heart, and vanishes without leaving her name, is merrily told in "The Divorce of Lady X," now at the State Theatre. Merle Oberon is starred. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Of twelve people aboard an iilrfated passenger piane, which crashes vi the dense jungles of Brazil, four are. killed, five return to civilisation, and three are left behind to face death, according to. the dramatic story of "Five \ Came Back," now showing at the King _ George Theatre. Chester Morris, Lucille Ball, and Wendy Bailie-head , the cast. " '-} v. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. ' ' -"Yodellin' Kid From Pine Ridge," starring Gene Autry, in another thrilling story of the great outdoors, is showing^at the De Luxe. Theatre. .The Econd gfeature, -'Thanks '. For;, The; Memory," is an entertaining musical comedy, starring Bob Hope, Smrley ;^oss7Charles Butterworth, andL.Otto

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

| KING'S THEATRE. "Shipyard Sally" will be shown finally tonight at the King's Theatre. "The Real Glory," starring. Gary Cooper '■ and Andrea Leeds, opens tomorrow. : . PLAZA THEATRE. "I Killed the Count" concludes tonight at the Plaza Theatre. When a middle-aged bachelor, knowing nothing about love except what he has. read,in. .the. papers, attempts to assume direction of the love affairs 01 his decidedly" marriageable young niece, there is ;no limit to what may happen. The truth of this statement is finally realised both by Roscoe Karns and Lynne Roberts in the closing moments of On Ice, hilarious- coniedy-drama, which opens tomorrow and which brings six-year-old Irene Dare as its particular attraction; An "eternal triangle" is complicated enough, but the introduction of a fourth party as a self-appointed supervisor of events is simply more than outraged human nature can bear. Tiny Irene dominates this rollicking screenplay as a skating expert. The charming youngster displays in several beautifully staged, ice ballets the skating skill which has suddenly elevated her to, the top rank of screen juveniles. Erie C. Kenton directed this Sol Lesser production for RKO-Radio. The cast appearing* in "support includes, in 'addition to Karris and Miss Roberts, many such popular favourites as Edgar Kennedy, Eric Linden, Mary Hart; Bobby Watsori, and Wade Boteler. DE LUXE > THEATRE. , "Brother-Rat'^aiid;"Broadway Musketeers" conclude tonight at, the- De Luxe Theatre." ' "6000 Enemies" and "In Old Monterey" commence tomorrow.. ■ OPERA HOUSE. > The Opera House will show "The Guardsman" for the. last time tonight. "South Riding," starring Ralph Richardson, p^ens tomorrow. TUDOR THEATRE. Charming Ginger Rogers steps out in an unaccustomed role in "Bachelor Mother," at the Tudor Theatre. David Niven is co-starred. The trouble starts when Ginger Rogers, as Polly Parrish, a temporary hand in Niven's department store, finds a : foundling on a doorstep, and immediately is accepted as its mother. "Panama Lady," a new release, will be the associate film. ''ROBERT'S WIFE." A cast comprising thirteen members of the Wellington Repertory Theatre will co-operate'in the presentation of Mr. St. John Ervine's comedy "Robert's Wife," which is to be staged for the first time in New Zealand on Saturday next at 8 p.m.:. under the direction of; Leo dv .Chateau. :vTJfri§ -season, which as limited to fives2sEj»in^ performances, :jwill .close on the'sroP^ing. Thursday. "Robert's Wife 1' w : as--flrstyi^;pduced at 'the Globe Theatre/J^aftclpri, on November 23, 1937; and w&slpnly withdrawn when the .lease lapsed 'on! May 20, 1939;^ so that it ran almost, exactly: months. "Robert's -iWife" was also one of the few pl^^'libensed: for production in the pro;ss§gsrafter.■;war was declared. Mrs. ]V|ar#^Mackejizie .has the -title role in the local production., played in London ■by.';: Madge- Evans and in the provinces ifiy^ Fay Compton, and Mr. Algernon Deubei\,is playing the part of her husband, tlif Rev. Robert Carson, which Mr. (Jweri Nares played in London jMSalso.: in AhoprovinceSi . Other iriSpottiant parts will be taken iby Mrs. Begsie Anderson, Misses Margaret CairnsVeowafc, Ailsa Newton, Vide Helyar. Patricia Ahear-n, and Messrs. W. P. C. Balham, Greville Wiggs, Dr. P. B. Benham, Hugh Walls, Eric Lawson, and A. OV Heany. "Robert's Wife" is largely-controversial but is intensely interesting and. has many humorous moments. : Dorothy Buck is making the frocks under the supervision of Pauline Shptlarider, Mrs., J. W* Jack is handling the properties, and Hester, Nicholls is the prompter. VOGUE THEATOE, BROOKLYN. Sandy Powell stars in "I've Got a Horse," showing at the Vogue Theatre. Others' irr.the. cast include Norah Hbward£"|Pelix Aylmet, Evelyn Rob•ertsjC'aifd* Leo Frariklyn. : "I'm From Misspuri?''*is?the second "feature. Bob Burns* CHadys George, and GenevLockart are:'starred, r Three selected supports are L also showing. , , , . REGAL KARORI. N;A woman of brilliant intellectual attainments, -Frieda Inescort has made herself one'of the. best loved personalities on the screen^ Her latest picture, "Wonian Doctor," in which she co-stars with Henry* Wilcoxori," is showing at the Regal Theatre. Mysterious and 'in-trigue-ridden Morocco forms • the romantic ;set£Lng .for "Bulldog Drummond in "Africa," the associate film. KILBIKME KINEMA. Music and comedy are the two basic ingredients of "The Garden of the Moon," the Warner Bros, production which is showing at the Kilbirnie Kinema, with Pat O'Brien, Margaret Lindsay, and John Payne in the featured roles. A mystery so baffling that even the detective who solves it doesn't suspect the murderer until the second before he nabs him is unravelled in "Inspector Hornleigh," the associate film. • Gordon Harker ia starred. ASCOT THEATRE. "Crackerjack," with Tom Walls and Lilli Palmer, is showing7 at the Ascot Theatre. It is a bright detective story with plenty of action and tense situations. {"Who Goes Next?" is also, showing and is a vivid i story of prisoners of war, starring Barry K. Barnes and Sophie Stewart. Excellent supports complete an entertaining programme. THE jGUILD SINGERS. Mr. Thomas .Wood-has his forces well in hand for next Tuesday's performance, of "Merrie'England," which will be given -in-the-Town Hall -at 8 p.m. by the Guild Singers. A feature of the presentation will be the appearance tof members of.- the Wellington branch of the English Folk Dance arid Song Society in dances specially suited to co-ordinate with the opera. Charges for admission are reasonable, and soldiers in uniform will be admitted free. REX THEATRE. For the concession night programme at. the Rex Theatre two popular films are showing They are "The Return of Sophie Lajjg," a mystery drama, and "Blond* Trouble," a sparkling comedy. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. America's most thrilling, story—"The Story of. Alexander Graham Bell," is showing at the Capitol Theatre. Don Ameche, Loretta Young, and Henry Fonda head the cost. A grimly realistic drama of * boys who live by the code of alley slums is unfolded in Universal's "Code of the Streets," the associate.-film. ~- ... ■ ...; ', EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. George Raft; plays the role of a gambler to whom betting on the races is literally "as important as his life's blood" in the popular star's latest picture. Paramourit's "The Lady's From Kentucky," which is showing at the Empire Theatre. In "Sing As You Swing," Action Pictures' all-star musical revue, which is the second feature, many of the top-line stars of radio and stage are assembled for the first time*

TTVOLI THEATRE. "T_he Outsider" and "The Girl Downstairs" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. The new Stanley Lupino film, "Hold My Hand," which opens tomorrow, is a true comedy in that it makes laughter out of trouble. One of the funniest sequences is seen in the office of a newspaper owned by Stanley, which is literally going to pieces. Investigating for himself, he finds the hat-stand collapse under, a touch, the reception room barrier comes away in his hand, chairs and tables fall to splinters in a draught, and even a cigarette box will not survive being picked up. Windows slide down when opened and the glass shatters; doors only open to admit wrathful deputations from the printing. staff. In her first Technicolour production, Shirley Temple reveals all her radiant charm and amazing talent in "The Little Princess," the 20th Century-Fox hit which is the associate film. It was in direct answer to the thousands of requests that flooded the studio that Darryl F. Zanuck decided to cast the dimpled star in the immortal story. RIVOLI THEATRE. "St. Martin's Lane" and "Undercover Doctor" conclude tonight at the Rivoli Theatre. The combination of Gracie Allen's many talents, a story by the late S. S. Van Dine, and excellent wOrk by a large group of featured piayers equals one of the best mystery comedies to reach the screen in many a year. It is Paramount's picturisation of S. S. Van Dine's "The Gracie Allen Murder Case," which opens tomorrow at the Rivoli Theatre.- The tense climax of "Woman Doctor," the associate film, will live long in the memory. Frieda Inescort, who plays Judith Randall, gives another delightfully sincere screen portrayal. , Henry Wilcoxon contributes an excellent performance as her husband, Alan Graeme, and Sybil Jason is a great success as their daughter.