CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. j Unusual in conception and presenta- | tion', "On Borrowed Time" 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. 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 I i» 1920, works his way to being headmaster. Robert Donat and Greer Garson are the stars. 0 PARAMOUNT THEATRE. a The dramatic story of the fight that " delivered Texas from the domination of Mexico and brought it within the (• United States of America is vividly told in "Man of Conquest," which is 0 being shown at the Paramount Theatre.! Coming at a time when New Zealand, j q in celebrating the Centennial, is I 0 honouring tlie stout hearts of pioneers, I 1 this outstanding production is particu- j larly apt The producers have done a; <• great job in so realistically capturing the tense atmosphere of early and: troubled America, and no better cast could have been chosen to carry the o difficult roles. Richard Dix is excellent, adding to a reputation that has never been weakened by inferior parts. Gail Patrick is also featured. The 9 second full-length feature on the pro--6 gramme is "Wolf Call," the screen 3 version of Jack London's exciting story of radium mine intrigue. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The return season of that popular at--0 traction "San Francisco" at St. James Theatre is likely to create a good deal of interest among Wellington audi--0 ences. The ruthlessness and iniquities rampant in San Francisco in b the early century are realistically characterised by splendid acting. The earthquake and fire of 1906 n 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. Jean--0 ette McDonald, Clark Gable, and Spenr cer Tracy give of their best in the stellar roles. There are excellent supports. DE LUXE THEATRE. Huntz Hall. Billy Halop, and the 3 "Little Tough Guys" are featured in "Call a Messenger," the main attrac- ,. tion at the De Luxe Theatre. There is plenty of action. The little tough guys tii is time are on the side of law and order. They are recruited as telegraph 6 messenger boys by Billy Halop, a messenger himself, because the man--9 ager of the telegraph company gave him a job to save him from reform G school. The second feature is "Forgotten Woman." It stars Sigrid Gurie, who appeared in "Algiers" and "Marco Polo." ° ROXY THEATRE. 2 Hugh Herbert and baby Sandy share starring honours as a brand-new comedy team in Universal's zestful film "Little Accident," which heads the „ programme at the Roxy Theatre. 0 Billy Gilbert, noted comedian, appears A as an indignant and explosive waiter 0 in Universal's "Rio," which stars Basil 0 Rathbone and Victor McLaglen, with Sigrid Gurie. 6 EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY' ® The 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" second attraction is "Going Places," in which Dick Powell and Anita Louise are H 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, r Karori. It is an uproarious tale of a c sidewalk Cinderella who brings about a revolution among the members of a 0 rich but unhappy New York family. 11 CAPITOL, MIRAMAR. 3 The Ritz Brothers in "The Gorilla," heads the new programme at the Capitol Theatre, Miramar. The action takes r place in a house that is a maze of b sliding panels. The time is something „ close to midnight—in the midst of a 6 raging thunderstorm. Into this scene „ wander those super-detectives. HarriX gan, Mulligan, and Garrity. The as--0 sociate attraction is "I Am a Criminal. VOGUE THEATRL, BROOKLYN. n Taken in the latest Technicolor, "Valley of the Giants" is the mam attraction at the Vogue Theatre. 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. 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— o makes Irving Berlin's "'Second Fiddle," /' which is being shown at the Kilbirnie Kinema, the sensation of the preview 'j.' critics. "The Gorilla," starring the ln Ritz Brothers, is the associate feature. Js. in "*- PALACE THEATRE. PETONE. « on Two of the screen's leading dramatic players, Sylvia Sidney and Leif Erikf" son, play the chief roles in Paramount** ~-* "One Third of a Nation," which is be--47 ing screened at the Palace Theatre, as. Petone. Ex-cowboy Buck Jones will F s be seen in his first "city" role in "Unlt? married," a Paramount picture, which ed is the second feature. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Successfully combining for the first eh time adult and juvenile appeal in a 14 motion picture fantasy "The Wizard of Oz". is being shown at the State «5 Theatre, Petone The book has been read by eighty millions since it was 10 m 1900 and has always had 19 as many grown-up as child readers. 20, GRAND THEATRE. PETONE. 28 The glamorous atmosphere of Palm 29 Beach, Florida, is the background f>.r * "Everything's On Ice," a rollicking 29 comedy romance, which is being shown "at the Grand Theatre, Petone. The as-' 29-sociate feature is "Legion of Lost . Flyers." 11 PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, 1 1 WOBURN. ' "Boys' Town," starring Spencer 2 ; Tracy and Mickey Rooney, is being „. shown at the Prince Fdward Theatre, i ; Woburn. The hilarious incidents of 15: "Blondie" and "Blondie Meets the 15 . Boss" are exceeded in laugh-provok-I ing value by the exciting events which 15 occur in "Blondie Takes a Vacation," 16 the second attraction, i

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

] TIVOLI THEATRE. I "Four Just Men" and "Climbing High" will be finally shown at the Tivoli Theatre tonight. I A composite of the lives of many | greaf merchant princes who amassed gigantic fortunes by erecting mercantile dynasties upon the ashes of the disastrous Chicago fire, is deftly welded into the new screen drama, "Three Sons." which will be shown tomorrow. Covering several decades, the vivid story opens in 1871, year of the great conflagration which consumed the II linois metropolis, and traces the" experiences of a man of vision and power whose faith in the future of Chicago helped him to build a department store that grew into stupendous proportions along the Windy City. Edward Ellis, William Gargan, and Kent Taylor are starred. The second attraction will be "The Hardys Ride High,' sixth of the famous series dealing with the popular screen family. The new picture is different in every respect from the others, but the beloved Hardys remain the same. RIVOLI THEATRE. 3 "Four Just Men" and "Coastguard" i conclude tonight at the Rivoli Theatre. Headed by Bing Crosby and Joan Blondell, one of the most capable casts ever found in a single picture was -assembled for Universal's "East Side of Heaven," which will be shown tomorrow. Mischa Aver, often referred to as the mad Russian, tops the supporting cast. Telling a story of how a fearless scientist fights to save human l lives against tremendous odds, Columjbia's "Hidden Power," the second feature, shows Jack Holt in,the strongest role of his career. Gertrude Michael i > portrays a stellar characterisation as !the harsh, selfish wife, while Dickie ' Moore graces the screen with a topi notch performance. Regis Toomey also a firm favourite, heads a large supporting cast. KING'S THEATRE. "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 eventually, and is taken on a large d_fily as junior to the city's ace crime journalist (and city's ace buffoon, too), a role enacted by Adolphe Menjou. PLAZA THEATRE. Crisp dialogue and polished acting by David Niven are but two of several factors hat raise "Eternally Yours," which is being shown at the Plaza Theatre, 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. 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 lis douhtful.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. 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 the wilds of Africa. As Henry M. Stanley, the "New York Herald" reporter. Spencer Tracy gives another outstanding characterisation. 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 being shown 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 ths ideal romantic foil, sincere, appealing, and forthright. •■' 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, is the second attraction.