CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE,

Those captivr1 -ij little creatures Who people the land of Lilliput are given life and form in a deligtuailly - l: e&4 stic manner in the second of the full-length animated cartoon films to *ome to Wellington, "Gulliver's .Travels." which is showing at the Ajtegent Theatre. Technically, the .. production is irreproachable, and in ■ addition the spirit of the imaginative '•: «tory is captured in a waj that would -. gave warmed the heart of old Jonathan owift if he were alive. The film is ■-' dona in technicolour. and the tiny folk -■- in their tiny homes coincide in a very . satisfying manner with the. mental'picture one has always had of them: Then there are the timid King Little and the. aggressive King Bombo, and the three spies, Sneak, Snoop, and the finger-headed Snitch. r MAJESTIC THEATRE. : *After the Thin Man," now in its Kecond week at the Majestic Theatre, marks the return of William Powell,' absent from the screen for two years, in one of the extremely popular "Thin Man" series. Co-starred with him is . Myrna Loy, associated with him in the earlier "Thin Man" pictures. "After •the Thin Man" seems to be the best of r tlie series. It provides a wealth of - Situstejr characters, the usual number of red herrings to annoy the serious ainateytf sleuth, and a satisfying drama- ~ tic anil unexpected denouement. Nick Charles (William Powell) goes to stay ; with a business associate. On the way, close to the house he is visiting, he ■ sees a corpse on the roadway. This is only the first of a series of mysterious happenings. The night he arrives his host is murdered, and the suspicion rests on a former employee, Church, who has dreamt of the murder three times. Church then tells Charles that he has dreamt of his (Charles's) death twice already and might have a third ; dream, with implied nasty consequ- - Nences to Charles. The "Thin Man," however, is not daunted and goes on in his inimitable detective work, mixing ■with it a generous dash of his own - peculiar wit. Finally, with all those • connected with the crime about him, he reconstructs the murder and dramatically denounces the criminal. Supporting programme items include latest Oversea riewsreels, a Fitzpatrick travel'talkV and one of the popular Pete Smith specialties. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. ■ The extraordinary thing about all ■ the Marx Bros/ pictures is that they • are,almost.convincing in spite of their .crazy craziness, and so when this mad trio, in "Marx Bros, at the Circus," at the Paramount Theatre, get properly into their mad stride it looks and sounds reasonable enough, in the circumstances. And that is buffoonery par excellence, of the kind invented by the Marx brothers and held by them on their own without need of copyright or patent rights, because no one else can climb (or fall, according to the point of view) to their level of - -entertaining absurdity. What they do at the circus is to save its owners from bankruptcy or worse, but it is how they do it that matters. They play .music, to people and to animals, they outdo the professional strong man, take the circus as a going concern to a really stately mansion as an afterdinner entertainment to the picked 400 of America's elite. And, of course, they- get the. money back. A Marx Bros, picture cannot be described sensibly, because none of them are sen-sible,-but they are good fun—"At the Circus" particularly so. The Paramount set out to make this programme all crazy, and so the companion picture is "Alt's Button Afloat," a sea version of the -army button of a few -yearS;<agQAf By* the -!time -six marines -have finished with the-button H.M.S. Invicta has, seen altogether new fun and'games and the slave of the lamp is entirely ready to get the button back and take another rest for ten thousand years. To make sure that ho.laughs are left unused a Walt ; .'Disney Donald ,Duck cartoon rounds , Off the programme. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Featuring the popular crooner and radio star, Bing Crosby, and the four-teen-year-old Linda Ware, the possessor of a remarkable soprano voice, the new picture at the St. James Theatre, "The Star Maker," fulfils its promise of bright and satisfying entertainment. It literally goes with a swing from start to finish, the whole story being carried along from one catchy tune to another. Linda Ware singing the "Dark Town Strutters' Ball" and "An Apple for the Teacher" are two of the high points of the picture, while the little lady provides a complete contrast in a fine operatic performance accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Dr. Walter Damrosch. Bing Crosby is heard with his usual effectiveness in several lively numbers, but his main job is to be guide and mentor to a squad of talented youngsters whom he builds up into a vaudeville act. The comedy is provided by Ned Sparks, who, as Crosby's Press agent, seems to have a chronic grouch about everything, but particularly about kids, and to see him reading bedtime stories to youngsters who will keep on asking him awkward questions is one of the finest sequences in the picture. The supporting programme is first-class, and there is good measure of it. REGAL THEATRE. KARORI. Ingenious means by which an underworld syndicate distributes counterfeit lottery tickets are graphically shown for the first time in "Missing Evidence," Universal's drama, with Pregton Foster and Irene Hervey, now at the Regal Theatre. The movies' first family make merry in Movieland in "The Jones Family in Hollywood," the associate film, and what a time they have! KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. One of the year's longest and strongest motion picture casts bring a refreshing assortment of music, comedy, and drama .to the King George Theatre where "The Under-Pup" is showing. Introducing the eleven-year-old singing and acting newcomer, Gloria Jean, and also starring, the romantic team of "Three SmarjT Girls Grow Up," Robert Cummings and Nan ' Grey, the. new film boasts top talent in all branches of production. A "March of Time" ("State of the Nations) is an added attraction. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Ruthless exploitation of a vast Western forest by selfish lumber interests and a cattleman's battle to save the area form the basis of "Timber Stampede," George O'Brien's newest R.K.O. j Radio offering, which is showing at the Palace Theatre. Allan Lane, Linda 'Hayes, and Robert Barratt have the leading roles in "Conspiracy," the associate film. • GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. - With Claire Trevor and John Wayne playing, the top roles, Walter Wanger's new -frontier drama, "Stagecoach," \is showing at the Grand Theatre. It . unfolds a gripping story of pioneer courage—of the brilliant heritage that has descended to young generations from men who fought and hewed a nation out of a wilderness. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. A new personality aimed for a debut similar to that of , her predecessor, Deanna Durbin, in "Three Smart Girls," reached the screen when Gloria Jean' appears in the title role of Universal's "The Under-Pup" at the State Theatre. The eleven-year-old singing ■ actress -shares starring honours with Robert Cummings and Nan Grey in the new film.' . '

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE.

i Based on the struggle of over twenty • years ago, but a grim reminder of the ' conditions of the world today, "U-Boat J 29," which is the new feature at the • King's Theatre, is a timely film deal- > ing with the menace of Germany's ' underseas fleet. With the background 5 of Scapa Flow during the war period, 1 the plot is clever and entertaining, : dealing with .a great gamble by the ' German naval heads to smash, once ; and for all, the power of the British ; Battle Fleet. Conrad Veidt assumes : with ease the character of the German U-boat officer to whom the dangerous espionage job is given, and I Valeric Hobson, Sebastian Shaw, June ; Duprez, and Marius Goring have other ; leading roles. The story is one ,of espionage and counter-espionage right in the heart of Britain's greatest naval base, and the convincing panoramas of a mighty fleet at anchor, the manoeuvres of speedy squadrons of destroyers, and the concussion of the great guns lend • reality to the film. Conrad Veidt is' at the same time sinister, efficient, and charming, but he meets his match in the attractive young woman who pits her brains against his own. . Exciting ; sections of the film include the shelling r of a small steamer by a U-boat, and I the subsequent hunting-out of the subi marine itself. Scenes of life inside the submarine and at the naval base [ add interest to the film. Amon? the supports is a "March of Time" dealing with Finland. PLAZA THEATRE. What have secretaries got 'that wives haven't? The answer will be • found in "Day-time Wife," the new main attraction at the Plaza Theatre. In this picture Linda Darnell is Tyrone Power's wife. Although she loves him dearly, all is not well in the nest, and when hubbie takes to working late at the office and coming home with powder and perfume on his collar, his loving wife has some grounds for her suspicions. Determining to find out why a secretary should be more alluring than a real wife, she takes a job as Warren William's secretary, and in parrying his advances, learns quite a lot. Linda makes her husband's life miserable by her veiled allusions to his carryings on with his secretary, but she is still intent on winning him back. The climax of a very hilarious story is reached when the two couples —each husband with his secretary, not wife —meet at a night club. The fat is in the fire with a vengeance, and Linda exploits the situation with much cunning, and by a daring expedient her errant husband is cured for ever of his taste for secretaries in preference to his lawful and loving wife. Binnie Barnes, Wendy Barrie, and Joan Davis are other stars in this mirth-provoking comedy. In the supporting programme is screened an amusing cartoon called "The Golden West," and there is also a comedy about the discomfiture of a magician. The scenic beauties of the- Isle of Wight are unfolded in a coloured film, and the gazette subjects include some interesting studies of soldiers and dogs being trained for warfare. STATE THEATRE. "I Was a Spy" is the main attraction at the State Theatre. The story tells the true emotional and factual history of the young Belgian woman, Martha McKenna, who was in the town of Roulers in 1915, after the Germans had occupied it. She is engaged by the medical authorities to serve in the hospital, but still she is a Belgian, and helps her aunt in furtive missions. Her immediate superior in the hospital is also in the service. ' She risks the fate of the thousands of soldiers whom she is among when they are caught unawares, and bombed by Allied planes. Then she and the doctor nurse those who are left wounded. Together they make a fruitless attempt to blow up a dump of poison-gas cylinders when they first came into use by the Germans; then they nurse the Allied wounded after the first gas attack.. The second film is "City of Chance." a thrilling story of adventure that encompassed the lives of a group of eight people DELUXE THEATRE; Ann Sheridan and the "Dead End" Kids are starred in "The Angels Wash Their Faces,'.' Warner Bros.' story of civic corruption in a New York suburb. It tells how a gang of "fire-bugs," who burn buildings for the insurance on them, frame a charge against one of the boys at the neighbourhood to divert suspicion from themselves, and ensure his conviction by false evidence. The boy's sister (Ann Sheridan), a district attorney's assistant (Ronald Reagan), and the boy's friends determine to free him and bring the crimes home to the real culprits. Their opportunity comes when one of their number is elected mayor for "Boys' Week," and they ransack civic papers and find evidence of corruption. Two members of the gang are convicted on breaches of archaic laws and a confession is wrung from them.' The leaders are then caught and the district is freed from criminal tyranny, j The supporting film is "Private Detective," featuring Jane Wyman and Dick Foran, in an intriguing murder mystery that is not without its touches of comedy. TUDOR THEATRE. Samuel Goldwyn's "Raffles" is the main attraction at the Tudor Theatre. Known as the American Cracksman, he has been baffling Scotland Yard with his daring and spectacular robberies for months, and then, just as he is about to withdraw from his dangerous career, he furnishes the Yard with its first and only clue David Niven as the Amateur Cracksman, gives a notable performance, and Olivia de Havillsnd's portrayal of the cracksman's fiancee proves that she is an actress of brilliant talents.. The associate film is "The First Rebel," starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne. REX THEATRE. "Hell's Kitchen," the Warner Bros.' drama, showing at the Rex Theatre, presents the "Dead End" Kids in brand-new types of roles. The "angels with dirty faces" haye all the sympathy on their side in this one, for they are shown as the brutally treated inmates of a so-called shelter for boys. How they reform the reform school and, incidentally, an ex-gangster as well, forms the novel plot of "Hell's Kitchen." The second attraction stars Tex Ritter, the - singing cowboy, in "Arizona Days." ASCOT THEATRE. Robert Donat, remembered for his. fine performance in "The Citadel," once again reveals his acting skill in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," showing at the Ascot Theatre. As the kindly schoolmaster, ideal of- his pupils, Mr. Chips gains a great human understanding and compassion. Also screening is "Disbarred," starring Otto Kruger and Gail Patrick. - It is a revealing story of the methods of crooked lawyers to defeat the law. Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," in technicolour, completes a splendid programme. NGAIO CITIZENS' PICTURES. "Hollywood Cavalcade," showing tonight at the Ngaio Pictures, is the story of Hollywood's own great romance. The associate feature, "Hold My Hand," stars Stanley Lupino. KHANDALLAH PICTURES. "Shipyard Sally," starring Grade Fields and Sydney Howard, Britain's greatest comedy pair, will be screened at the Khandallah Pictures. The picture centres around Clydebank, the birthplace of the world's big iiners. The supporting picture is "Heaven. 'With a Barbed Wire Fence."

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Yes My Darling Daughter" is the main film at the Tivoli Theatre. This great stage play has been brought to the screen most successfully. Plot, characterisations, and atmosphere of the play have been so well prej served that the film version is j certain to bring forth plenty of those "exactly like. the play" comments. Facts, however, reveal differences in nearly every angle of production—differences which tend to make the picture move faster and be more colourful and interesting than the play. There is a distinguished cast, including Priscilla Lane, Jeffrey Lynn, Roland Young, May Robson, and Genevieve Tobin. "Hawaiian Nights," the second picture, is a sparkling musical. It is a glamorous picture of the tropics, with melody, laughter, romance, and native dancers in new swing-hula routines. .... ! RIVOLI THEATRE. A sparkling new brand of film entertainment is offered movie-goers in R.K.0.-Radio's hilarious film, "That's Right—You're Wrong," showing at the Rivoli Theatre. The film introduces Kay Kyser and his noted dance band. Adolphe Menjou is co-starred in this • joyous story which depicts the , hectic Hollywood experiences of an ' orchestra leader whose colleagues talk him into making a picture. A love triangle in swingtime is the theme of "Naughty But Nice," hovel musical comedy, which is the associate feature. Ann Sheridan, Dick Powell, and Gale Page head the cast and are the parties of the hilarious triangle, with plenty of additional con.edy provided by Helen Broderick, Allen Jenkins, Ronald Reagan, Zasu Pitts, Max^e Rosenbloom, and Jerry Colonna. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Republic Pictures take screen audiences on a thrilling trip right into the " heart of north-west India in "Storm Over Bengal," the action-packed romance of the Bengal Lancers, showing at the Vogue Theatre. The story concerns the rebellion of fanatical tribesmen against the British Army in this far-flung outpost of Empire and skilfully interwoven among the thrills and action is the romance of two brothers —army officers —for the girl who is betrothed to the elder. Patric Knowles, more handsome than ever, and popular. Richard Cromwell, are the brothers, and lovely Rochelle Hudson the girl. Some of the screen's best-liked character players, Anna May Wong, Akim Tamiroff, J. Carrol Naish, Roscoe Karns, Anthony Quinn, Philip Ahn; and Sidney Toler, form the expert cast of Paramount's newest racket picture, "King of Chinatown," the associate film. WELLINGTON REPERTORY THEATRE. It may interest theatregoers generally and visitors to the Capital City in particular that the Wellington Repertory Theatre (Inc.) is just about to enter upon its fifteenth year. Its membership, limited to 950, has been full for some time now, and there is quite a considerable waiting list. Its major productions exceed 70, and include works by Shakespeare, , Ibsen, Shaw, Galsworthy, O'Casey, Barrie, Maugham, Pinero, Van Druten, Alvarez Quintero, Franz Molnar, Monkhouse, Ashley Dukes, Oscar Wilde, John Drinkwater, and Priestly, etc. It has also produced considerably more than one hundred one-act plays. The next name to be added to the list is that of Mr. Harley Granville-Barker, whose masterpiece, "The Voysey Inheritance," will be presented in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall tonight, at 8 o'clock. "The Voysey Inheritance," which is in five acts, deals with the moral problems that present themselves to Edward Voysey, when he hears that the solicitor's business which he inherits from his father and which the latter inherited from his father is based on a system of misappropriation of trust funds. Associated with the producer, Leo dv Chateau, are Cornelia McGreevy, Nona Goulding. Daisy Isaacs, Ulu Hancock, Natalie Whiteman, Pat Gledhill, Josephine Bailey, Margaret Gwynn, Ronald Kennedy, Cedric Gardiner, P. B. Benham, G. H. A. Swan, Cecil Burgess, G. O. Cooper, H. J. Steptoe, Lindsay Arlow, R. Gilkison, and Master David Lawson. Mary Richmond is the property mistress; Pauline Shotlander is in charge of the wardrobe, Nancy Potter the prompt book, and Colin Davidson is the stage manager. — | NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Without a doubt "South Riding," showing at the Princess Theatre, is one of the finest and most entertaining dramas ever made by a British studio. Based on the famous Winifred Holtby novel, "South Riding" tells a vivid story of life in a small Yorkshire town. The main characters are played superbly by an exceptionally strong cast, headed by Ralph Richardson, Edna Best, Edmund Gwenn, and Ann Todd. The associate feature is | "Code of • the Secret Service," Warner \ Bros.' thrilling film based on exploits of the United States Secret Service. ROXY THEATRE. The international comedian Will Mahoney is featured in "Ants in His Pants," showing at the Roxy Theatre. He plays the part of Barney O'Hara, the owner of an old-fashioned sideshow act, whose tenderhearted and kindly disposition leads him into mii numerable situations. His wife, Evie Hayes, makes her first film appearance in this picture. The associate feature is the mystery-thriller, "The Cat and the. Canary," starring Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard. I EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. The San Francisco World's Fair is the unusual' setting of "Charlia Chan at Treasure Island," the new 20th Cen-tury-Fox mystery thriller which is showing at the Empire Theatre, with Sidney Toler in the title role. "Sailing Along," the associate film, presents I Britain's No. 1 star, Jessie Matthews, i in one of the greatest roles of her | career. Unprecedented opportunities to display her famous singing and dancing talents and amazing versatility are vouchsafed the star in this brilliant new production. |