CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 59, 9 March 1940, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

BEGENT THEATRE. Few more dramatic or superbly acted pictures than "Dark Victory,1 screening for a further .week at the Regent Theatrej have been shown in this.country. It is a triumph for Bette Davis. George Brent, too, gives a firstrate .performance. Briefly, the story deals with the life of a young society woman (Bette Davis), spoilt, selfwilled, and extremely beautiful. Susceptible to sudden illnesses, blinding head pains, and other ailments, thU young woman ignores the family doctor's advice to slacken, down the pace of her living. Then one day the family doctor calls in a brilliant youn^ specialist (Brent). A cursory examination »shows him that at 2t years oJ age the young woman has not long te live.. His operation, after consultation with world specialists, serves only to .delay the day for a few months. Matters are complicated by the twc falling'in; love. Ultimately they marry, both fully aware that their married life will be but of a few months' duration.- " MAJESTIC THEATRE. "The- Cat and the Canary," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is the latest and most hair-raising of movie ghost thrillers. From start to finish it moves at .top speed, with the clanking of chains.and the unexplained screams that characterise the very best of hpiror stories. Of course, there are a few murders, but they are not allowed to-interfere with the general lack of tranquillity displayed by the eight hapless characters marooned for the n|ght in. the old mansion of evil reputationin the Florida Everglades. Fortunately for the peace of mind of the audience it soon becomes apparent that the unearthly happenings, together with' the. murder of the family lawyer, havesqme explanation other than that given by the spiritualist housekeeper. The flesh-and-blood interpretation, that the job; is being done by someone who is anxious, either to dispose of the beautiful young heiress or to drive her insane, turns out to be the correct one, but not before another murder is chalked up to the score of "The Cat." Paulette Goddard makes an attractive heiress, and at.the same time displays considerable acting ability. The star of ;,the picture is Bob Hope, who contrives: to sandwich in quite a number of laughs between the horror " scenes. The supporting characters are excellent. Also on the programme is one of those fine orchestra numbers, "Farewell Vienna," with the' National Philharmonic Orchestra. There are also films 6f the arrival of the new Anzacs at Egyptian ports, and features on sports and philately. ; PARAMOUNT THEATRE. - HedyLamarr, most exotic of film stars, makes a welcome reappearance on- the screen in one of the. year's finest films, "Lady of the Tropics," which is screening for a further period in Wellington at the Paramount Theatre. Set against the mysterious background of the East—Saigon in French Indo-China —the film is intensely interesting throughout, with Robert Taylor teaming, with Hedy Lamarr magnificently. Drama, a touch of humour, and pathos are admirably blended in this passionate love story. Manon (Hedy Lamarr), a beauty of French-Chinese parentage, is pledged to wed a sultan, and is, at the same time, loved by an oyerlord of the city (Joseph Schildkraut). Because of her half-caste status she is not allowed to leave Saigon, though her whole mind and soul are crying for the Western world and Paris, the home of her! father. Two days before her marriage to the sultan she meets a young American' playboy (Robert Taylor), who is touring with friends. They fall in love j and are married pending their immediate departure for Paris. Man on, however, is refused a passport. Finally, after ; many months, during which the husband has been unable to secure employment, Manon goes to her influential lover, knowing that he was responsible for the cause of their worries. The result of the interview is ,that the husband obtains work and Manon remains in Saigon with her lover. There is a highly dramatic', if poignant, 'conclusion to the picture. The supporting main film, "Secrets of a Nurse," starring Helen Mack, Edmund Lowe, and Dick Foran, is most entertaining. . . , , ST. JAMES THEATRE. "The Underpup," starring Gloria Jean, Universal's new singing star and successor to Deanna Durbin, is now in. its second week at the St. James Theatre.- The Peguins, an extremely exclusive society of young girls, has the idea of asking a little slum child to share .their annual ■ camp • in- the mountains. For this purpose they run ah essay competition, the subject being "Trees,' the winner of which is Pip- I emma (Gloria Jean), whose rather! cryptic and pathetic epistle, "I cannot write on trees for I have never seen any," gains the attention of the girls. Pipemma starts out on her holiday full of excitement, only to find that it is not all a bed of roses. However, after a lot of trouble, she manages to break down the prejudices of the Penguins and finally, through the efforts of her friend, Janet Cooper (Virginia Weidler), she actually becomes a "Penguin" herself. The little star's beautiful, singing voice is heard to full advantage. The supporting programme includes a Pathe News Gazette of the war on all fronts, an amusing cartoon entitled "A Visit to Bola-Mola Island," and an ice vaudeville show. ROXY THEATRE. James-Cagney and Pat O'Brien are co-starred, and sucb stars as "Dead End" kids, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, and George Bancroft are the chief supporting players in "Angels With Dirty Faces," a thrilling, stark, grim, and yet intensely .moving melodrama which is screening at the Roxy Theatre. Against a sinister Oriental background, Glenda Farrell steps into her most exciting adventure yet as the irrepressible girl reporter in "Torchy Blanc in Chinatown," the associate film. n NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Pronounced by a regiment of critics and a vast army of Deanna Durbin fans as the best picture the amazing star has yet made, "First Love" is showing at the New Princess Theatre. Presenting the young star in a more mature role than any she has ever attempted, "First Love" finds her experiencing her first romance. , The associate' feature is "The Forgotten Woman," starring Sigrid Gurie. Miss Gurie is seen for the first time in a modern portrayal which affords unusual dramatic. opportunities. NGAIO CITIZENS' PICTURES. Tonight at Ngaio Citizens' Pictures "Dad and Dave Come to Town" will be shown. Bert Bailey as Dad, Fred McDonald, the original "Dave" of "On Our Selection," and Shirley Ann Richards head a fine cast. The fun starts when -Dad inherits a ladies' lingerie salon and the Rudds come to town to run it. The associate feature is "Miss Fix -It," starring Jane Withers. . i KHANDALLAH PICTURES. "So This is London," with Robertson Hare and Alfred- Dray ton, is showing at the Khandallah Pictures. It is a ; sparkling "comedy full of action and can claim to be one of \the most entertaining films seen for some time. "Five Came Back," with Chester Morris, C. Aubrey Smith, and Lucille Ball, is the associate film.1 . KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "First Love," Deanna Durbin's greatest success, is showing at the King George Theatre. The extended season will conclude on^Thursday next, -,

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

| KING'S THEATRE. y ' Too much money brings unhappiness " in its wake, according to Alexander c Korda's new film, "Over the Moon," n now showing at the King's Theatre, c Light-hearted and gay, "Over the ,- Moon" nevertheless contains a certain y amount of truthful outlook, and it is y unusual, to say the least, for a film •- romance to deprecate riches rather than '<- glorify them. The theme is simple. § Merle Oberon is the poor orphan couns, try girl who falls in love with the :" country doctor, but just as happiness c seems within her grasp someone spoils " it all by leaving her eighteen million g i pounds. She loses her head, and in a I terrific effort to have everything she * has never had before she antagonises the doctor, who is disgusted by her ~ hangers-on and horrified at being 5 pointed out as the "Glitter Girl's" hus--0 band-to-be. After many hilarious adr t ventures, in Monte Carlo, Switzerland, 1 and Italy, a sense of proportion re- - turns, however, and the poor little rich girl and her country doctor find happiness. Rex Harrison plays the part of the doctor. The film is in excellent technicolour, and the beautiful moun- - tain scenery and Venetian waterways t are fine subjects for the cameraman, t The supporting artists are good, and s supply much of the humour as the f .avaricious hangers-on. On the sups porting programme are two outstandi ing subjects, one, an instructional film * of unusual interest dealing with the J size of animals, and the other a "March j of Time." The "March o;£ Time"' deals I with the British Navy, and reveals the ! - ; very healthy regard in which Ameri-: jeans hold that magnificent fighting 4 llorce. t| . . r! PLAZA THEATRE. ; I Many films have been made of tha life and habits of India, its supersti:i tions and beliefs, but few have caught \i the atmosphere of that vast continent I with such subtle force as "The Rains [■Came, 1 which entered its second week : jat the Plaza Theatre yesterday. Apart -1 fT om J lts theme, the production is out- ; I standing for its dramatic, and often J humorous, acting. Tyrone Power, as - i the cultured Indian doctor, is the per- » somfication of that breeding and gentle- •; ness that have marked the true Indian ;: aristocracy; George Brent, hard-living ■ j and indolent remittance man, sought •! after m spite of himself by the in- ■ ; evitable snob section of the community, -j because his people at Home have a •i name to conjure with; and. Myrna \Loy, as the-sophisticated and rather >, bored Lady Esketh, acquaintance (and i lover) of the Englishman years before. i These players give fine performances. When the rains, prayed for by the natives, did come, they brought tragedy and disease, to which earthquake and fire added terror. It was then that ; i the white people sank their differences : i! to fight against the horor and death ;! that swept through the ruined State. Petty differences and jealousy were 'sunk in the struggle, and the film . moves to a powerful climax. It is ian excellent representation of an excellent book. The supporting programme includes the arival of New Zealand troops in Egypt. STATE THEATRE. The new programme at the State Theatre features two first-rate films, 'Reno" and "Mexican Spitfire." The first film, which stars Richard Dix and Gail Patrick, is a tale of the pioneers of the State of Nevada and in particular those who made the town of Reno. Richard Dix plays the part of a young lawyer who, on winning his first case, marries the daughter of his legal rival. He makes a name for himself in the field of mining law and grows rich and well known. However, when the silver mines which are the support of the town become worked out ruin faces the lawyer and his wife. Then he discovers an old law whereby exceptionally easy divorces are obtainable in Reno, and by publicising this, he builds the town into the "biggest little city, in the world." This is repellent to his wife, and they gradually drift apart, until finally she leaves him. The other feature, "Mexican Spitfire," is a fine comedy, starring Lupe Velez, i vivacious comedienne, and Leon Errol, I •■ whose burlesque characterisation of an'! English peer is outstanding. DELUXE THEATRE. Two different sides of American life are seen in the new films at the De Luxe Theatre. "These Glamour Girls" j presents a race amongst wealthy girls to secure "wealthy" husbands, whose parents are skating on very thin financial ice, though their sons are at an exclusive college. Smitten by the outstanding charms of Jane, a hire-out dancing partner, Philip invites her to the year's great weekend at the college, though he is booked to marry Carol, whose folks also have a bank roll, on paper. Jane has a rough time at the hand 3of the society girls at the weekend, and Philip's father is taken off to gaol for fraud. Joe, a steady fellow who is working his way through college, seems about to be getting on well with Jane, but she ends by comfort- , ing Philip. Young America enjoys life '. in many riotous scenes in which Lew : Ayres and Lana Turner shine. "Back . Door to Heaven" is a convincing tale of the case of the first downward step ; for Wallace Ford, as Frankie, the boy - who steals a mouth-organ and is a ! saddened young man when he comes ■ out of gaol. Patricia Ellis is his quid- [ ing star, and his self-sacrifice to keep • her from mixing herself up with a ; goal-bird is the keynote of a powerful story. EMPIRE THEATBE, ISLAND BAY. Samuel Goldwyn's production "The Real Glory," showing at the Empire i Theatre, is reported to be the best j action picture produced since "The . Lives of a Bengal Lancer." Gary Cooper and lovely Andrea Leeds provide the romantic interest in this stirring story of the Philippines. That mischievous hoyden of Hollywood. ■ Jane Withers, goes romantic in her newest picture, "Boy Friend," 20th J Century-Fox comedy, which is the as- « sociate film. George Ernest, familiar- ' ly known as Roger in the Jones Family J series, is Jane's first sweetheart. i < TUDOR THEATRE. i Dealing in delightful manner with \ the social life of a large hotel which caters exclusively for women,v "Hotel For Women," which, in company with I "Quick Millions," is showing at the Tudor Theatre, has as its leading player Elsa Maxwell, well known f( throughout the United States for the ] lavish entertainments given under her ■> charge. She acts as a directive force j to the production, and adds points to j its enjoyable plot by her witty commentary and experienced generalisa- , tions on the many unexpected situa- \ tions. Other players are Linda Dar- ] nell, a new actress of great ability. r Jean Rogers, Ann Sothern,- James El- \ lison, John Halliday. Lynn Bari. June Gale, Joyce Cqmpton, Katherine Aldridge, Alan Dinehart, and Sidney Blackmer.; "Quick Millions" is the jatest of the Jones Family comedies, j ASCOT THEATRE. j Jeanette vMacdonald appears in c "Broadway Serenade" at the Ascot r Theatre. It is a gay musical extrava- £ ganza, with Lew Ayres and Frank t Morgan in the cast. Also showing is > Gene Stratton Porter's "Romance of the Limberlost," with Jean Parker and Eric Linden rin a human drama of a girl whose love helped a boy find him- : self. The supporting programme is ex- 1 cellent. i ..-.,.. a REX THEATRE. t "Heart of the North," the Warner Bros, production in technicolor, which is showing at the Rex Theatre, is a. j thrill-packed and completely authentic ( tale of that famous law enforcement ] body of the Canadian north-west, the • Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The c associate feature is "I'm From Mis- U souri,"- starring Bob Burns. |'

TIVOLI THEATRE. Boasting a daring, timely, provocative story, and a great cast headed by four of the screen's most sensational performers—Akim Tamiroff, Lloyd Nolan, Mary Boland, and Patricia Morison—• Paramount's "The Magnificent Fraud" is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Briefly, the story tells is.ow, in a mythical South American country, an actor dares to take the place of a dictator who has been assassinated in a bombing. Infant charm, s hilarious comedy, and romantic mrr trigue are combined in a most effective „ manner in "Unexpected Father," which , will be the associate film. The infant '' charm is supplied by baby Sandy, moviedom's most sensational baby. The comedy comes largely from Mischa ° Aver, who proves for the second time 1 that he is a perfect running mate for 1 Sandy. The romantic intrigue is sups' plied by Dennis O'Keefe and Shirley - , Ross, with Donald Briggs always in c the offing as the "other man." s i RIVOLI THEATRE. a What happens when a courageous s nurse and her group of women friends s organise an underground system to r smuggle fugitive soldiers from Bel- • gium to Holland during the World - War is contained in R.K.O. Radio's - melodramatic factual document "Nurse '~ Edith Cavell," starring Anna Neagle, - which is showing at the Rivoli i Theatre. Edna May Oliver, May . Robson, and Zasu Pitts are seen £ as Edith Cavell's chief collaboral tors. "Broadway Musketeers," the associate film, is concerned chiefly with , the fortunes and misfortunes of a 3 trio of girls, portrayed by Margaret j Lindsay. Ann Sheridan, and Marie Wil- ] son. but there is another young actress ' who will also come in for a goodly share of the glory. That young miss is six-year-old Janet Chapman, who 1 scored so sensationally when she made ; her debut in "Little Miss Thorough- \ bred." • : OPERA HOUSE. • The new feature film at the Opera , House, the French production "Katia," presented under the title of "Catherine," is a photoplay worthy to be ranked among the very finest yet made. The 1 film is very nearly perfect, and it demonstrates once again the different techr«.que of American and Continental : directors. "Catherine" has its moments 1 of magnificence, but nearly all the most : moving sequences are filmed in simple j surroundings—a room, a bench in a ipark, a window looking on to the , I street, these are the sets the French director chose, but one feels that an American director would haye had these same sequences in lavish sur- , roundings. This restraint and simplicity are in evidence throughout the whole of "Catherine." The story is that of the romance of Alexander, Tsar of all the Russians, brilliantly played by John Loder, and Catherine Dolguruky, daughter of a Russian nobleman. Danielle Darrieux has this role, and her performance is one alongside which most other film star's dramatic portrayals seem shallow and artificial. The Tsar and Catherine meet at Catherine's home, and later at her school. He ■honours her by taking her for a sleigh ! ride. From this point, the lovers grow more and more in love. Katia is presented at Court, where the Tsar breaks all precedents by dancing with her to open the great ball, and dancing the. hitherto forbidden waltz, because she liked it. Finally, the Tsarina dies, and the Tsar and Katia are secretly married. She strives for the political reform of Russia, arid he promises her that the day she is crowned Empress he will promulgate a democratic Constitution, which will counteract the rising tide of revolution in Russia. Three days before her coronation, Alexander, the Tsar, is assassinated. Katia is not Empress, she must leave Russia. There the story ends. Throughout it is a moving, dramatic document. There are two magnificent scenes, the courtroom where Katia is presented to the Tsar, and the closing scene of the great cathedral where the body of the Tsar lies in state. In support of this great picture are latest newsreels, sports "shorts," and a musicaLfeaturette, "The Flying Dutchman" overture. KILBIRNIE KINEMA. Victor McLaglen, Basil Rathbone, and Sigrid Gurie' are starred in "Rio," showing at the Kilbimie Theatre. It is a story of a glamorous Parisian cafe singer. She is married to a wealthy crook, but falls in love with a restless, reckless American, engineer in Rio. i The second attraction. "The MagnifiIcent Fraud," starring Akim Tamiroff, tells the story of an actor who impersonated the dead dictator of a mythical South American country. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Following the success of "The Lady j Vanishes." the arrival of the second j production, "Climbing High," which is -showing at the Regal Theatre, is a matter of importance. This production is a fast-moving romantic farce, starring Jessie Matthews and Michaei Redgrave. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, and Ida Lupino, is the associate film. Also showing is a "March of Time" and Walt Disney's "The Beach Picnic." CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. The famous story of the great northwest, "Susannah of the Mounties," is showing at the Capitol Theatre. Starring Shirley Temple in the title role, the film depicts the struggle between the Indians and the Canadian Mounties at the time the Canadian Pacific railroad was pushing through to the west coast. Randolph Scott and Margaret Lockwood are featured. The associate feature, "The Hurricane," has Dorothy Lamour and Jon Hall in the leading roles. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. The double-feature programme showing at the Seaside Theatre is "Rio," with Victor McLaglen, Basil Rathbone, and Sigrid Gurie in the principal roles, and "The Magnificent Fraud," starring Akim Tamiroff. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. The thrills, romances, sorrows, and joys of those intrepid girls who have made aviation their career are graphically related in "Women in the Wind," the Warner Bros, picture featuring Kay Francis and William Gargan, which is showing at the Palace Theatre. The second feature, "Crime Takes a Holiday," stars Jack Holt in another thrill ing action story. Also on the screen are the "Petone Babies" entered in the St. John Ambulance Baby Contest. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Said to be even funnier than her re[cent "Bachelor Mother," Ginger Rogers's new R.K.0.-Radio starring vehicle, "Fifth Avenue Girl," is screening at the Grand Theatre. Discard- ( ing their torn shirts and tattered c trousers to put on the brass-buttoned ( uniforms of messenger boys, two of ( the "Dead End" Kids. Billy Halop and Huntz Hall, join forces with the "Little Tough Guys" in "Call a Messenger.'" the associate film. j STATE THEATRE, PETONE. I Irving Berlin's new songs. Sonja t Henie's sunny brilliance, Tyrone v Power's gay romancing. Rudy Val t lee's singing, and Edna May Oliver's s fun —one of the greatest combinations a of talent ever gathered for one show— ! makes Irving Berlin's "Second Fiddle," showing at the State Theatre, one of the finest films to come from Hollywood. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. J What happens when three British " Army sergeants discover a wholesale c religious murder plot flaming along t India's North-Western Frontier pro- t vides the dramatic action of the spec- t tacular film "Gunga Din," in which t Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and c Douglas Fairbanks, jun., are starred, c which is showing at the Vogue Theatre, i I Mary Boland, Charlie Ruggles. Donald O'Connor, Joyce Mathews, and Billy Lee, cast as members of that funny "Fitch" family which made its screen , debut in "Boy Trouble," return to the x screen in the new Paramount comedy, c "Night Work," the associate film. Jr

DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT.

A scintillating new comedy team is seen at the De Luxe Theatre in "Lucky Night," in which Myrria Loy and Robert Taylor make their first appearance together before the cameras. A stormy romance that flowers in the shadows of a man's tyranny on board an ill-fated steamship .is depicted in striking fashion in the second , attraction, "Pacific Liner," the associate film. Victor McLaglen and Chester Morris are co-starred.