CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Wings of the Navy," a Warner Bros.-1 Cosmopolitan production, which is de-1 clared . to. be by. far. the best to date of the successful "service" pictures | turned out at that studio, comes to thei screen of the St James Theatre \ with a cast headed by George Brent,: Olivia de Havilland, John Payne, and Frank McHugh. As its title indicates,! "Wings of the Navy" is-a story laid against a background of naval aviation. It is a powerful tale that effectively transfers to the screen the spirit and traditions of the aerial divisions of the nation's guardians of sea and coastline, and in the course of telling the story the film production impressively unfolds scenes which give the onlooker a vivid conception of the strength/and competence of the navy's aerial wing. In obtaining such scenes, the studio was given, the unstinted cooperation of the United States navy, with the result that there, are breathtaking shots of aerial formations and manoeuvres which even the newsreel cameramen have never been able to photograph. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Robert Donat, who gave the screen one of its finest performances as the idealistic doctor of "The Citadel," prlte again reveals his consummate artistry and acting skill in "Good-bye, Mr. Chips," film version" of the celebrated James Hilton novel, which is showing for. an extended season at the Majestic Theatre. The. story of "Mr. Chips" is the story of the education of youth the world over. Donat plays the kindly schoolmaster who comes to a large English school as a young man and passes his entire life there. He becomes the ideal of the boys in his care, and when these boys grow up they send their sons back to "Mr. Chips." He meets and falls in love with a young and beautiful girl and when She ultimately dies the tragedy leaves "Chips" with a great human understanding and compassion. ' _. REGENT THEATRE. Those who enjoyed the stage version of "Yes, My Darling Daughter" .in Wellington recently will find much of additional interest and entertainment in the screen adaptation of this successful comedy by Mark Reed, which opened at the Regent Theatre last night. For those who missed the play the picture will provide equal diversion. Warner Bros, have - made the most of the romantic comedy opportunities of the play and selected a cast that leaves no room for criticism. Indeed, every player earns the highest praise for acting ideally suited to the part. "Yes, My Darling Danghter" is sophisticated comedy and demands a certain degree of broadmindedness without which its subtlety cannot be fully appreciated. It is the story of a mother's dilemma when her _ very "liberal" ideas are adopted by her daughter. Mark Reed has chosen to infuse comedy instead of drama into the plot, and the result is wholly delightful, with one hilarious complication following another. Those two charming youngsters, Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn, who had the leads in the memorable "Four Daughters," play the romantic roles with complete success, but while their romance again travels a rocky road, this, time there is no tragedy about it.' The more mature members, of the cast furnish the laughs and do it thoroughly. May Robson almost "steals" the show as the shrewd, " secretly liberal-minded Granny, and Fay Bainter, Roland Young, Genevieve Tobin, and lan Hunter give admirable performances. The supporting programme, which is of more than usual entertainment value, includes a topical newsreel, a Blue Barron musical feature, a Technicolor "short" on Chinese scenes, and Technicolor cartoons. PLAZA THEATRE. Few real-life stories have appealed more to the imagination than that in which Livingstone was found by Stanley in the wilds of Africa. It provides the theme for the current feature at the Plaza- Theatre, "Stanley and Livingstone," in which Spencer Tracy, Nancy Kelly, and Richard Greene take the leading parts.- The picture shows Henry M. Stanley. (Spencer Tracy), the "New. York Herald" reporter, first as he was in 1869, a man of bulldog tenacity who willingly risked his neck to get his story. It follows him through all the thrills and dangers of his.great adventure, and shows with great dramatic force the influence on his character and his whole life of bis meeting and subsequent friendship with the great missionary-explorer, who had buried himself in the black heart of unknown Africa to serve humanity. RIVOLI THEATRE. Hilariously depicting the experiences of a group of New York taxi-drivers who evolve a unique scheme to beat the racetrack bookmakers, "The Day the Bookies Wept," which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre, presents comedian Joe Penner in the stellar role. Forming a pool, the cabmen purchase a racehorse, electing Penner to buy the steed at a Kentucky auction. But Penner unwittingly buys a horse.which is addicted to alcoholics. The hectic adventures the cabbies have with their eccentric pony, and the manner In which they eventually realise their ambition to make "the bookies weep," afford many funny moments. A bizarre situation in which a dead man identifies his own murderer adds an eerie touch to Universal's Crime Club production, "Mystery of the White Room," the assocate film, with Bruce Cabot and Helen Mack. ROXY THEATRE, Infant charm, hilarious comedy, and romantic intrigue are combined in a most effective manner in Universal's •^Unexpected Father," showing at the Roxy Theatre. The infant charm is supplied by Baby Sandy, the comedy comes largely from Mischa Aver, and the romantic intrigue is supplied by Dennis O'Keefe and Shirley Ross. One of the cleverest and wittiest film productions since the invention of the cinema is "The Cheat," the second feature, written and produced and acted by one man, Sacha Guitry, the wellknown French playwright and actor. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. A true picture—true in story and true in detail. Such is "Mayerling," a Metropolitan Films release starring Danielle1" Darrieux and Charles Boyer, which heads the. bill at the New Princess Theatre. This famous romance is played in the actual surroundings in which it really happened. Paramount Films supply the associate feature, ■ "Death of a Champion," an exciting murder mystery, starring Lynne Overman. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. With Melvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell co-starred and with a strong supporting cast that includes Walter Connolly, Alan Curtis, Joan Perry, and Isabel Jeans, Columbia's "Good Girls Go To Paris" is showing at the Regal* Theatre. "Bank Holiday," starring Margaret Lockwood and John' Loder, is the associate film. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. John Howard as "Bulldog Drummond," Heather Angel as the lovely Phyllis Clavering, who is making a final desperate attempt to marry him, H. B. Warner, Reginald Denny, E. E. Cliv%, and Elizabeth Patterson in familiar supporting roles, comprise the cast of the new Paramount thriller. "Bulldog Drummond's Bride," showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. Gene Autry • rides again! "Boots and Saddles" is the associate film, ■

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. I The first of the new season's 81ms I from United Artists, "The Lion Has Wings," is continuing'at the Kings I Theatre. This inspiring spectacle cf a nation defending itself from sky attack was produced by Alexander and is sponsored by the British Government. . "The Lion Has Wings" i reveals for the first time on the screen the inside story of England's air defence, the . producer having had the privilege of access to the most accurate .record of events behind the headline news since the. present war began. The raid on the Kiel Canal is said to be a marvel of realism, according to London Press reviews. Merle . Oberon, Ralph Richardson, and June Duprez head a large cast, which includes members of the Royal Air Force who actually took part in the raid. STATE THEATRE. Boris Karloff, master of "horror" roles, plays a typical part,in "The. Man They Could Not Hang/ which is showing at the State Theatre. He is seen as Doctor Sayaard, a kindly and enthusiastic srferitist who has solved the problem of restoring life to the bodies of people thought by all ordinary laws to be dead. He has experimented successfully on- all types of living bodies except those of humans, and it is when he is presented with the opportunity, willingly offered by one of his young students, of carrying out the supreme test of his invention that he meets his'undoing. At the instigation of his nurse,' who is in love with the student; the;police intervene when the operation is only half completed. The student is unmistakably dead and the doctor has to admit the fact. The .associate feature Is "Konga, the Wild Stallion," a story that will appeal to alllovers of horses. There are many excellent sequences in the film, and Fred Stone, as a kindly old man who lives for his horses, plays a congenial, part. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Without doubt the most poignant and moving love story ever brought to the screen, Columbia's "Man's Castle" heads the bill, at the Paramount Theatre. Spencer Tracy and Lbretta Young are starred. Tracy is seerii as a shiftless, homeless vagrant, and jTVtiss Young as a hungry, helpless waif whom he rescues, from the streets and takes to his ramshackle tin shanty in the riverside "dumps." Footloose and irresponsible, he soon becomes restless under the restraint pf living so long in one place, and he tells the girl he doesn't love her and plans to leave her. She, happy in the home she has, sees her world crumbling beneath her. The girl announces that she is soon to become a mother. But that means nothing to the vagrant, except that he must now provide the money to care for both before he can leave. To get money he attempts.a robbery and fails. But the results of that failure straighten out the tangled .romance of these children of poverty. DE LUXE THEATRE. A Warner Bros, production, "Boy Meets: Girl," is the main attraction at *the De Luxe Theatre. The principals are James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and Marie Wilson. ; "Women in the Wind," with Kay Francis and William Gargan, is the associate attraction. -.■ TUDOR THEATRE. Despite its sober theme—espionage and sabotage in the air force of a great nation—and its sombre title "Clouds Over Europe," now in its second week at the Tudor Theatre,, is possessed of a delightful melody of persiflage. Laurence Olivier is. seen as a debonair test-pilot who' undertakes a dangerous flight, fully aware that it may be his last, in order to help to solve a mystery about aeroplane disappearances, and Ralph Richardson, as the Scotland Yard man most interested in the solving of the mystery, gives a characterisation as sincere as it is. pleasing. Blondie Bumstead is successful in,regaining, her husband's job for him —-not without hilarious incident—in "Blondie Meets the Boss," the associate attraction. • ■'-- f ■' ■ .' ■ •• ASCOT THEATRE. Popular Gracie Fields appears in "Shipyard Sally" at the Ascot Theatre, with Sydney Howard, in a joyful bl^nd of song and hilarity with the shipyards of Scotland as a background. Another attraction, "Old Iron," features Tom Walls in an entirely new and .different role in a Ben Travers story. The supports are well chosen and entertaining. ! .' EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Loretta Young and Warner Baxter romp through a blithesome, blissful romance in. "Wife, Husband, and Friend," the 20th Century-Fox comedy, which is showing at the Empire Theatre. The film, which marks the second appearance of Loretta and Warner as a co-starring team, is based on the novel by James M. Cain. "Old Bones of the River," starring the popular English comedian Will Hay is the second feature. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Joan Crawford, James Stewart, and Lewis Stone are the leading players in j Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's musical hit, "The Ice Follies," showing at the King George Theatre. In effect it is a "Great Ziegfeld on Ice." There is an attractive supporting programme. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. A great favourite the world over, by i virtue of his unique comedy radio j recordings and his oft-repeated.slogan, "Can You Hear Me, Mother?" Sandy Powell has already ,< starred in two screen comedies, "It's a Grand Old World" and "I've Got a Horse," and his "Home From Home," showing at the De Luxe Theatre, will take him further up the ladder of film fame. "Secret Service of the Air," starring Ronald Reagan, Ila Rhodes, and John Litel, is the second feature. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. "The Gorilla," starring the Ritz Brothers, Patsy Kelly, Anita Louise, Edward Norris, and Lionel Atwill, is the main attraction at the Vogue Theatre, j Shirley Ross and Bob Hope are co-j starred in "Some Like it Hot," which is the supporting feature. There are three selected supports. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE,, "Charlie Chan in Honolulu" and "Who Goes Next" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre. The most timely drama in months* "Spies of the Air," ' comes, to the Grand Theatre tomorrow. It is packed with thrills and excitement. Barrj^K. Barnes and Roger Livesey are featured. "Going Places," Warner Bros.' comedy with music, starring Dick Powell and Anita Louise, is the second feature. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Dinner at the Ritz" and "On the Avenue" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. . • The popular Western star, Gene Autry, heads the cast in the Western picture, "The Big' Show," which opens tomorrow. Supported by that clever comedian, Smiley. Burnette, Gene Autry sings his way to new heights. The supporting feature, . "Panama Lady," stars Lucille Ball and Allan Lane. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Lusty outdoor drama of the pioneer west, "Song of the Plains," is showing at the State Theatre. The new pictures presents Nelson Eddy in his most virile characterisation to date, and surrounds him with such veterans as Virginia Bruce, Victor McLaglen, | Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Guy- Kibbee, and Charles Butterworth.

TIVOLI THEATRE. A grimly gripping. story pi the New York police and of a father who must? put a halt to the criminal ■„activities of his own son, "Sergeant Madden" is; screening at the Tivbli - Theatre^. and I presents Wallace Beery, in . his. most masterful characterisation to; date. As Sergeant Madden, thirty-year veteran of the force, softhearted, plodding, and idealistic; Beery epitomises the finest traits of "New York's Finest." -And as the father who must track down the son whom he has bailed to impress with the traditions. and ideals of the job, Beery is magnificent. With Jack Benny providing comedy, Dorothy Lamour the romance,; Edward Arnold in an important role, and Binnie Barnes, Phil- Harris, Betty Grable. "Rochester," and. Matty. Maln6ck and his orchestra numbered among the supporting cast,; Pairamount's lively comedy, with music, "Man. About .Town," is the assPciate film. \ ; ; . ■■. : REX THEATRE.-. ; . ... ./ ;. .-7 A thrilling action drama of the China Seas, "Queer Car^b," with John Lodge, Kenneth Kent, and' Louis Borsell, heads the bill at the. Rex Theatre. Also showing is "The Lost Jungle," 'with Clyde Beatty, the world's : greatest animal trainer, starred. y ■ ! KILBIRNIE KINEMA. It is very seldom that Ja picture combines so many aspects .-of interest, so many unusual angles of appeal, as does the national; and intetnational drama, "The Four. JUst Men," which is showing at the Kilbirn^e Kiriema.'Because of Jthis, it.is one, of those rare productions which entertain,,and.thrill, at the actual. time of screening, and which live in the memory long afterwards. Headed by Bing Crosby, and Joan Blondell, one of the most capable casts ever found in a single picture was assembled for ■UniyersaFS "East Side of Heaven," the associated film.