CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 35, 10 February 1940, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Unusual in conception and presentation is "On Borrowed Time," the film which ,is now in its second week at the Regent Theatre. Simple in its story, the film deals with emotions rather than spectacle, and demands much of the principals. "On Borrowed Time" delves into fantasy to depict the struggle for existence. Lionel Barrymore has, the leading, part, and handles it with skill and restraint. He is cast as an old man who feels death creeping upon him, but fears to die lest his grandson should fall into unkind hands. Anxious to gain custody of the boy on the old man's death is a stern aunt, motivated .rather through desire of a liberal endowment left by the boy's father. There is a good supporting programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Now in- its fifth week, there is no fading of the' attraction of "Goodbye Mr. Chips" at the Majestic Theatre. It is a story of the past, not one of today, but it«has an appeal that few modern pictures have.- Romance, tragedy, and all'the., traditions of a famous public school, "Brookfields," set in peaceful country surroundings, are the setting for the plain story of a young master, who, between 1870 and 1920, works his way. to being headmaster. Architecture and • atmosphere are such that the story gains an Imperial quality, and there is pure delight in the contacts between "Chips" and'his boys. He has drifted into being an excellent teacher of dead languages,. and little else., -when the German master at the college (Paul yon Nernried) takes him for a tour of the Austrian Tyrol. Here "Chips," while scrambling about a dangerous spot in the Alps; meets a girl cyclist tourer (Greer Garson), who, falling in love with him for his many hidden good qualities, sets to work to kill his retiring disposition, and when, after their marriage, she takes a hand in his school life, "Chips" is a surprise to staff and boys. Left wifeless and childless, the hero gamely struggles on, and in the years of the Great War, when all the sound men are in France, becomes at last headmaster. Robert Donat gives a great performance in the role of "Chips." ST. JAMES THEATRE. The return season of that popular attraction "San Francisco" is likely to create a good deal of interest among Wellington audiences, and its strong appeal was forcibly illustrated by the large audiences yesterday. The ruthlessness and iniquities rampant in San Francisco in the early century are realistically characterised by splendid acting. The earthquake and fire of 1906 are, so vividly presented that one can easily picture the devastation and tragedy that followed. The theme is set to' a background of varied activities' in life on, the Barbary Coast with its odd assortment of characters. Jeanette McDonald, Clark Gable, and Spencer Tracy give of their best in the stellar roles. Clark Gable is the owner of a gambling den on the coast. His best friend is Spencer Tracy, as Father Jim, a tolerant and broadminded priest, whose chief aim, apart from his calling, is the redemption of Gable. Jeanette McDonald is the singer who eventually leads to the downfall of Gable among his own followers. The picture is skilfully handled throughout, with the interest of the audience retained to the last moment. There is an excellent array of newsreels in support, with scenes of the landing in England of the Australian airmen and Canadian troops. The devastation in several towns in Finland is also shown. ROXY THEATRE. Hugh Herbert and baby Sandy share starring honours as a brand-new-comedy team in Universalis zestful film "Little Accident," which heads the new programme at the Roxy Theatre. Based on the famous stage hit of the same title, "Little Accident" is described as a whirlwind comedy-drama. Billy Gilbert, noted comedian, appears as an indignant and explosive waiter in Universal's "Rio," which stars Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen, with Sigrid Gurie. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAYThe machinations of the German spy system' in America are revealed in "The Confessions of a Nazi Spy," which is being shown at the Empire Theatre, Island Bay. The picture is one that should not be missed. The second attraction is "Going Places," in which Dick Powell and Anita Louise are starred. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Pioneering a new type of screen comedy, R.K.0.-Radio stars Ginger Rogers in. "Fifth.-Avenue Girl," which is being shown at the Regal Theatre, Karori. It is an uproarious tale of a sidewalk Cinderella who brings about a revolution among the members of a rich but unhappy New York family. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Taken in the latest Technicolor, "Valley of the Giants" will be the main attraction atthe' Vogue"Theatre, tonight. Claire Trevor, Wayne ' Morris, Alan Hale, and Frank McHugh are starred. Gail Patrick and Lloyd Nolan will be seen in "King of Alcatraz," the supporting feature. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "The Ice Follies of 1939," which is being shown at the Capitol Theatre, Miramar, deals with the story of a team of fancy skaters, portrayed by James Stewart and Lew Ayres. When Stewart marries Joan Crawford and adds her to the double act, trouble ensues. The Jones Family in "Everybody's Baby" is the associate attraction. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Irving Berlin's new songs, Sonja Henie's sunny brilliance, Tyrone Power's gay romancing, Rudy Vallee's singing, and Edna May Oliver's funone of the greatest combinations of talent ever gathered for one show — makes Irving Berlin's "Second Fiddle," which is being shown.at the Kilbrnie Kinema, the sensation of the preview critics. "The Gorilla," starring the Ritz Brothers, is the associate feature. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Now showing at the King George Theatre, Lower Hutt, is the comedy "Bachelor Mother," in which David Niven and Ginger Rogers are costarred. The supporting programme includes a recent issue of the "March of Time." GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. The- glamorous atmosphere of Palm Beach, Florida, is the background for "Everything's On Ice," a rollicking comedy romance; which will be shown at the Grand Theatre, Petone, tonight. The associate feature is "Legion of Lost Flyers." PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Two of the screen's leading dramatic players, Sylvia Sidney and Leif Erikson, play the chief roles in Paramount'^ "One Third of a Nation," which is being screened at the Palace Theatre, Petone, Ex-cowboy Buck Jones will be seen in his first "city" role in "Unmarried," a Paramount picture, which is the second feature. BTATE THEATRE, PETONE. Successfully combining for the first Lime.adult and juvenile appeal in a motion picture fantasy, "The Wizard of Oz" is being shown at the State Theatre, Petone. The book has been read by eighty millions since it was written in 1900 and has always had as.Hiany grown-up as child readers.

j KING'S THEATRE. I "The Housekeeper's Daughter," which is screening for a further week at the King's Theatre, is uproariously funny, American "wise-cracking" being the keynote of the film's outstanding success. Joan Bennett is the daughter of the housekeeper to a wealthy American family; John Hubbard is a son of the family. They provide the love interest, and in Hubbard's case he makes a most pleasing impression in his first big picture. Hubbard yearns , to join a newspaper in the capacity ' of a crime reporter. He succeeds even- , tually, and .is taken on a large daily las junior to the city's ace crime jour- | nalist (and city's ace buffoon, too), a j role enacted by Adolphe Menjou. Menjou's misguided impression that he is one of the world's greatest lovers provides the basis for much of the humour. However, a murder is committed (it. is only incidental to the film, actually) and Menjou and Hubbard set out to solve the mystery. Hubbard scoops his senior; he does it unj intentionally, but quite effectively; and i for a time relations are somewhat strained. Following a scene as hilarious as it is impossible, the murderer (three deaths have occurred at this stage) is discovered. Amid the fumes from tear gas bombs Menjou announces that he will marry the housekeeper, and Hubbard states his intention of marrying her daughter. The supports are varied and most entertaining. Outstanding is a "March of Time" series, which depicts the growing strength of the American Air Force. PLAZA THEATRE. Crisp dialogue and polished acting by David Niven are but two of several factors that raise "Eternally Yours," which opened at the Plaza Theatre yesterday, well above the average in entertainment value. As the Great Arturo, who sees all, knows all, and whose debonair manner has a devastating effect on women of all ages, Niven does a' masterly piece of work, and with Loretta Young and Hugh Herbert to assist him, he exploits the many clever comedy situations to the limit. The story is slight but it has a background of ultra-sophistication and smartness that gives it an attractive setting. Briefly,. it tells of the whirlwind marriage and infatuation of Arturo and the Bishop's granddaughter, and of their rise from one triumph to another as Arturo graduates from a stage magician to a daring parachutist. His wife has plans of a cottage in the woods and a family and so on, but the Great Arturo is consumed with ambition, and it is on this rOck that the rair split. The wife leaves him, Arturo without her to help him, slips, and failure faces him. Just in time he meets her unexpectedly, and the fact steadies him. She gets her cottage. The supports include an interesting "March of Time" feature. STATE THEATRE. The humour of Laurel and Hardy has triumphed in the most extraordinary settings, but it is doubtful if this great combination has ever shone more brilliantly than in "The Flying Deuces," which is shown at the State Theatre. "The Flying Deuces" is one continuously irresistible jest. . When one of them is all broken up by a disastrous love affair, the other naturally shrinks with pain also. "Sued for Libel," the other half of the programme, is a thriller of the best type. Morgan Conway, Linda Hayes, and Kent Taylor are the stars. DE LUXE THEATRE. Huntz Hall, Billy Halop, and the "Little Tough Guys" are featured in "Call a Messenger," the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. There is plenty of action. The little tough guys this time are' on the side of law and ■ order. They are recruited as telegraph , messenger boys by Billy Halop, a ■, messenger himself, because the" manager of the telegraph company gave him a job to save him from reform j school. The rest of the film is conI cerned with Halop's efforts to reform i his brother. The film ends with a grand battle between the little tough guys and gangsters. The second feature is "Forgotten Woman." It stars Sigrid Gurie, who appeared in "Algiers" and "Marco Polo." The film deals with" a tragic episode in the life of a woman who spends four years in gaol through the machinations of party politicians. There is another instalment of "The Lone Ranger" serial. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. "Boys' Town," starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney, is being shown at the Prince Edward Theatre, Woburn. Others in the cast include Henry Hull, Leslie Fenton, Gene Reynolds, and Bobs Watson. The hilarious incidents of "Blondie" and "Blondie Meets the Boss" are exceeded in laughprovoking value by the exciting events which occur in "Blondie Takes a Vacation," the second attractoin. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "Rio," starring Basil Rathbone, Victor MacLaglen, Leo Carillo, and Sigrid Gurie, is .the main feature showing at the De Luxe-Theatre.' The second attraction is J. Edgar. Hoover's thrilling underworld drama, "Persons in Hiding," starring Lynne Overman, Patricia Morrison, and J. Carol Naish. TUDOR THEATRE. The main attraction at the Tudor Theatre is "Stanley and Livingstone." The picture reconstructs movingly the thrilling discovery of Livingstone by Stanley in ihe wilds of Africa. As Henry M. Stanley, the "New York Herald" reporter, Spencer Tracy gives another outstanding characterisation. He is Shown first as a young man whose tenacity of purpose is such that risks mean nothing to him if there is a story to be got. The second attraction is "Frontier Marshal." Randolph Scott plays the title role of the gun-fighting marshal who brought the law to Tombstone. PRINCESS THEATRE. Robert Taylor is the central character of "The Crowd Roars," which is $t the head of the new programme at the Princess Theatre. In this film Taylor is a prize-fighter who rises from the slums to the championship of the world. Maureen O'Sullivan once more shows herself the ideal romantic foil, sincere, appealing, and forthright. And for competition there is her school chum, Jane Weyman, admirable as the blonde rival of Taylor's affections. The associate attraction is "Invitation to Happiness," starring Irene Dunne and Fred Mac Murray. . ASCOT THEATRE. The Hardy family inherits a fortune in the new story of their adventures, "The Hardy's Ride High," showing at the Ascot Theatre. Andy (Mickey Rooney) soon learns that it takes more than a top hat and tails to become a man-about-town. "Call of the Yukon," James Oliver Curwood's drama of the frozen north, starring Richard Arlen and Beverly Roberts, is the second attraction. KHANDALLAH PICTURES. "Who Goes Next" will be screened at Khandallah tonight. Barry K. Barnes and Sophie Stewart are -the stars. The film is not just another war story, but a timely one of British officers who run hazardous risks. The second feature, "Way Down South," features Bobby Breen and Allan Mowbray. NGAIO CITIZENS' PICTURES. At Ngaio tonight Norma Shearer will appear in "Marie Antoinette." The cast includes Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, and Anita Louise.

Cm AND SUBURBAN THEAIRES

TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Four Just Men,", the powerful Capad drama, which heads the new programme at the Tivoli Theatre, was made for a definite purpose. First, it exposes the spy menace in our midst, j Secondly, these four courageous men I are presented as symbols' of the man-j hood of the nation, and- when they discover a sinister plot to. smash the j British Empire and place world domination in one man's hands; they acts as would any true Britisher in similar circumstances. The second attraction is "Climbing High." RFVOLI THEATRE. •■ The new attraction at the Rivoli Theatre is "The Four. Just Men." Although based on events which could not occur in the sequence or in the exact manner betrayed, it is an intrinsic revelation of the activities which are contributing so much to the world unrest of bur times. Columbia's j new screen drama, "Coast Guard," is the second feature. Randolph Scott, Frances Dee, Ralph Bellamy, and i Walter Connolly head the cast. i