CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 8

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. Quaint characters of a quaint Village in a poignant human drama are seen in "Bad Little Angel," romance of childhood, which heads the new bill ■ at the Regent Theatre. Featuring: Virginia Weidler, of "The Women" and "Out West with the Hardys," and Gene Reynolds, of "Boys' Town" and "They Shall Have Music," as a new' juvenile team, the picture tells j the story of a little orphanage; waif whose faith and courage so affect | the lives of those about her \ that their problems are solved. Intimate details of family life, natural comedy, poignant dramatic I episodes, and the thrill of a rescue j from fire and explosion are elements in j the story which William Thiele direct-j cd. Players include Lois Wilson, justi returned to the screen from three i years on the Broadway stage, Guyj Kibbee, lan Hunter, Elizabeth Patter- j son, Reginald Owen, and Henry Hull.! The picture also marks the second ap-j pearahce of Toto, the famous little dog j of "The Wizard of Oz," now seen asi Miss Weidler's faithful pet. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Ninotchka," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is a vjry clever and amusing satire on the pre-war condition of Europe, with a final reference to Russia. The importance of dialogue in a film of this kind is such as to make or break the picture. "Ninotchka" in this respect is one of the bright- ■ est films to be released here for a number of years. The modern Russia is well parodied, and there are some brilliant patches where the long arm of the Soviet reaches out to its erring. envoys in Paris. In the leading role, Greta Garbo emerges from her characteristic shell of reserve to produce a really first-rate comedy role, Melvyn Douglas is in the male lead. A splendid supporting programme includes scenes of the second Battle of Narvik, taken from a participating destroyer. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The St. James Theatre will show "The Star Maker" for the last time tonight. "Espionage Agent," starring Joel McCrea and Brerida Marshall, opens tomorrow. DE LUXE THEATRE. "Girls on Probation" and "Young Man's Fancy" conclude tonight at the De Luxe Theatre. "Henry Goes Arizona" and "Honeymoon Deferred" open tomorrow. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Rulers of the Sea" and "Destry Rides Again" will be shown for the last time tonight at the Paramount Theatre. : "The Rains Came" and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" open tomorrow. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "This Man in Paris" and "Tropic Fury" conclude tonight at the New Princess Theatre. % Against the adventurous background of a South American jungle moves the exciting story of "Green Hell," which commences tomorrow at the New Princess Theatre. It is a strange romance . .'. a weird adventure behind a thrilling search for treasure in the forbidden depths of a lost civilisation. The associate feature presented by Warner Bros, is "Comet Oyer Broadway," starring Kay Francis, Donald Crisp, lan Hunter, and John Litel. ROXY THEATRE. "Manhattan Melodrama" and "Television Spy" conclude tonight at the i Rpxy Theatre. ■ :; One of the bloodiest and most drama- : vtic periods in all history, the fighting ; 15th century is depicted in "Tower of , London," which opens tomorrow. ■■■; A : ijrear in the making^ the new ; drama ' offers Basil : Rathbone in perhaps ~ his strongest role as the diabolic Richard 11, infamous "Crookback" king, and includes some of Hollywood's ablest dramatic players in its cast of hundreds. "Blondie Takes a Vacation," third of Columbia's delightful comedies based on the .popular Chic Young comic strip, will be the associate film with Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and little Larry Simms heading the cast. . . ASCOT THEATRE. A thrilling drama enacted in a real prison/ entitled "They All Come- Out," is showing at the Ascot Theatre .Rita Johnson and Tom Neal are starred. The stor£ discloses life in one of America's ■''big; houses." A b4ght college picture, Dollar Legs," is; also showing, with Betty Grable and Jackie Coogan. It is a fast-action comedy. Excellent supports complete the programme. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Boasting one of the greatest comedy casts ever assembled, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" is showing at the Empire Theatre. In the romantic leads are those two charming youngsters, Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn, who were such a heart-warming pair of young lovers in the memorable "Four Daughters." The associate film is "First Offenders," starring Walter Abel and Beverley Roberts. KING GEORGE THEAT7.E, LOWER HUTT. A double-feature programme is showing at the King George Theatre, the main attraction being "Code of the Secret Service." It is the story of men who take the risks "and not the glory when sacrificing their lives to protect their country. Ronald Reagan, Rosella Towne, and Eddie Foy, jun., play the feature roles. The associate attraction is "Escape to Paradise," starring Bobby Breen, who is supported by Kent Taylor and Maria Skelton. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Dealing with the scientific theory of bringing the dead back to life is the theme of "The Man' They Could Not Hang," showing at the De Luxe Theatre. A stormy honeymoon on wheels .that winds up in Reno and new-found romance, is threaded throughout "Next Time I Marry," the associate film. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. The news about "They Made Me a Criminal," the Warner Bros, picture which is showing at the State Theatre, is that it presents John Garfield as its co-star with the six "Dead End" kids. They head a fine cast which also includes Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson, Ann Sheridan, and May Robson, and contribute some of the best dramatic entertainment in years. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE* Surrounded by an excellent cast of dramatic and comedy favourites, Gene Autry and "Smiley Burnette enact their latest musical western romance for Republic against a spectacular rodeo background. The resultant film, "Rhythm of the Saddle," is showing at the Palace Theatre. The affection of an' orphan boy for a thoroughbred colt he has found makes the intensely dramatic plot of "Two Thoroughbreds," the associate film. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. . One of the most amazing real life dramas ever filmed—its entertainment qualities all the more gripping by virture.: of the fact that such a story is actually happening every day— "Damaged Goods" heads the bill at the Grand Theatre. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. "Heritage of the Desert," showing at the Prince Edward Theatre, is the filmisation of Zane Grey's western classic. The cast is headed by Donald Woods, Evelyn Venable, and Russell Hay den. The dramatic jcriss-crossing of events, in the lives of two pals from boyhood. who use their legal training for .opposite purposes is presented in Republic's stirring dramatic romance, "I Stand Accused," the associate film, starring Robert Cummings and Helen Mack

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S .THEATRE. ... ... ... i "U-Boat 29" will be shown filially tonight at. the King's Theatre. . "An Englishman's Home," starring ; Edmund Gwenn and Mary Maguire. : will open, tomorrow. PLAZA THEATRE. "On the Night of the Fire" concludes tonight at the Plaza Theatre. ! "For Freedom," highlighting the : Battle of the River Plate, opens to- \ morrow. STATE THEATRE. Varied entertainment is provided in ithe new programme at the State" i Theatre in two feature films, "The j Courageous Mr. Christian" and "Bullet i Code." Mr. Christian is an American i ! small-town family doctor —and more, \ ifor he champions the squatters of | jSwampville and in a one-man fight jagainst a "stuffed shirt" town council jhas them rehoused and given a decent j chance and outlook at once. The picture has its lighter side and a romantic side also. Jean Hersholt has the title role. Dorothy Lovett, Tom Neal, Robert Baldwin, and Maude Eburne play other leading parts. "Bullet Code" is an old-time western brought thirty years up to date and still as popular as ever. The villains are all discomforted and the bullets spare the righteous. George O'Brien and Virginia Vale play the leads. Interesting snorts arc also showing. TIVOLI THEATRE. "The Beachcomber" and "Maisie" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. TUDOR THEATRE. Sequences in the lives of some of London's ordinary, everyday people are followed in "A Window in London," which conclues tonight at the Tudor Theatre. Set beside the Thames, most of the action of "A Window in London" has for its background the building of the new Waterloo Bridge. Michael Redgrave is the star. The Ritz Brothers are a trio of out-of-work vaudevillians who enlist for service with the British in the World War and are sent to France on a transport as "nursemaids" to a herd of army mules, in "Pack Up Your Troubles," which is the associate film. RIVOLI THEATRE. An all but forgotten incident in American history, which contains more sheer drama, colour, and exciting action than one would at first imagine, is picturised by RKO-Radiq in "The First Rebel," which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Claire Trevor and John Wayne head a distinguished cast? which includes George Sanders, Brian Donlevy, Wilfrid Lawson, Robert Barrat. John T. Hamilton, Moroni Olsen, and Eddie Quillan. Columbia's "My Son is a Criminal" will be the associate film, with Alan Baxter, Jacqueline Wells, Gordon Oliver, Willard Robertson, and Joseph King in featured roles. The film tells of a young gang leader whose father is the newly retired chief of police. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Something entirely new in crime films, "Blind Alley" is showing at the Capitol Theatre tonight. It combines smashing action with a subtle mental conflict which has been hailed as unique in motion picture history. "Radio City Revels" is the associate picture, making a well-balanced programme. : REX THEATRE. The popular musical film "Ali Baba Goes to Town," starring Eddie Cantor, has returned to the Rex Theatre for a short season. Tony Martin and June Lang are also in the cast. The associate film is "Married Before Breakfast," starring Robert Young an'C Florence . Rice. • ::fe -'■:-'- -- •;■'■■&:;,• •' \ /'■■•: ■\ • ;v.f $: