CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 146, 21 June 1940, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE. It is not the lot of every performer to be able to compose his or her own songs, but this does not go for George Formby, England's famous comedian, starring in "Come On, George,"- the riotous horse-racing comedy, which is showing at the St. James Theatre. Of the sixty-six numbers Formby has recorded, he has written and composed thirty-eight himself. In "Come On, George," in which Formby has the role of a jockey, he is heard in several new song numbers, all of which he wrote specially for the picture, with ukulele accompaniment. Formby endeavours as far as possible to give, his public new numbers all the time, but they continue to shout for the old favourites. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Young Dr. Jimmy Kildare sets out to save a beautiful girl who would rather die than reveal the secret which would save her, in a gripping drama of mystery, romance, and medical wonders in "The. Sectet of Dr. Kildare," third of the scientific detective series, which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, with Lew Ayres as the young doctor and Lionel Barrymore as the veteran Dr. Gillespie, his scourge and mentor. The new picture deals with a weird mental malar of a beautiful heiress, which medicine fails to solve. Ayres turns detective to trail the mystery down to the machinations of a fanatical nurse and a quack doctor. Based on the popular story by Max Brand, the picture moves with rapid tempo. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. An unusual role as a world-famous player' whom circumstances cause to join a company at a small seaside resort is played by the veteran actor, Chye Brook, in "Return to Yesterday," which is the main attraction on the programme at the Paramount Theatre. Humour and drama are well combined in this production, which ends in a powerful climax. Anna Lee, Dame May Whitty, and David Tree also appear in the picture. How newspaper reporters often ferret out clues which lead to the arrest and conviction of dangerous killers is shown in Universal's_ new mystery drama, "Double Alibi," which is the associate picture, with Margaret Lindsay, Wayne Morris, and William Gargan. The film reveals how an innocent man is trapped through circumstantial evidence but saved through the aid of a clever reporter. REX THEATRE. ' With Don Ameche, as a singing, loving, fighting D'Artagnan, and The Eitz Brothers, as stupid musketeers more at home with a carving knife than a sword,'2oth Century-Fox, in the musical comedy version of "The Three Musketeers," which is showing at the Eex Theatre, has found a new way of presenting the Alexandre Dumas story which has captivated and enchanted audiences and readers from the day it was conceived almost a century ago. The associate film is "Top Hat," starring popular Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Stanley and Livingstone" is showing at the New Princess Theatre. It is another masterful performance by Spencer Tracy, twice winner of the Academy Award, as Stanley, man of super courage, the most heroic adventurer of all time. Starred with Tracy are Nancy Kelly and Richard Greene, heading an outstanding cast which includes Walter Brennan, Charles Coburn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke (as Livingstone), Henry Hull, and Henry Travers. The associate feature is the film adaptation of A. E. W. Mason's "At the Villa Rose," starring Kenneth Kent. v REGENT THEATRE. One of the finest films to be released in Wellington for some time is "The Light That Failed," now in its second week at the Regent Theatre. Rudyard Kipling's immortal story of the Sudan campaign and of the success and ultimate triumph of a young artist has always had the highest dramatic possibilities, but it remained for the screen to utilise them to the full. Competent casting and direction have made the story Tive again in its own bright colours. As the young artist, Ronald Colman is at all times convincing and sincere. The role is not of the usual type assigned to him, and he seems to act it with even more than his usual intensity. He is well supported by Walter Huston and Ida Lupino. TUDOR THEATRE. Bright and entertaining, and with a portion of drama to spice the main romance, "Everything Happens at Night," which is the main attraction at the Tudor Theatre, is a picture of unusually wide appeal. Sonja Henie, who has the leading role, proves herself an actress as well as a skater, though the story provides ample opportunity for her to show her superlative skill on the ice. Ray Milland and Robt. Cummings play opposite the star. Flanagan and Allen, Nervo and Knox, and Naughton and Gold—in short, the "Crazy Gang"—romp through "Frozen Limits,' 'the associate attraction, with delightful abandon. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "Scarface," which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre, tells of the rise and fall of a gangster. The leading role is played by Paul Muni, famous character actor, and Ann Dvorak, William Boyd, and Karen Morley are in the cast. "The Big Show," the associate film, is the first picture to introduce to New Zealand audiences Gene Autry, the. singing cowboy. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. Jackie Cooper and Freddie Bartholomew wear the smart uniforms of military school cadets for co-starring roles in "Spirit of Culver," showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. "Naughty, But Nice," starring Dick Powell, is the associate film. Ann Sheridan plays opposite Powell. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "The Marx Bros, at the Circus" concludes tonight at the State Theatre. "Wuthering Heights," starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier, opens tomorrow. The story of "Wuthering Heights" unfolds on the wild and desolate moors of Yorkshire. It is a tale of a high-spirited, quick-tempered, beautiful girl, who is loved madly by two men—one half-gipsy and half-gen-tleman, the other rich and well born. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Come Up Smiling" and "Sabotage" will be shown finally at the Grand Theatre tonight. "Unexpected Father," which opens tomorrow, brings bady Sandy to the screen for the second time, her initial "b^w being made in "East Side of Heaven." And it teams her for the second time with Mischa Aver, one of Hollywood's foremost comedians. The second feature is Warner Bros.' thrilling new release, "British Intelligence." Boris Karloff is starred. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Four Girls in White" and "The Crowd Roars" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. With Tommy Ryan playing the title role and starring Bruce Cabot and Ralph Byrd, "Mickey The Kid," which opens tomorrow, deals dramatically with the efforts of a waif to overcome the stigma of his father's reputation. Walter Connolly is featured in Columbia's "Those High Grey 'Walls," which fe the associate film.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. With Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine heading a cast of outstanding players and with a story filled with drama, suspense, and mystery, David O. Selznick's latest production, "Rebecca," is continuing for another week at the King's Theatre. "Rebecca" is the film version of the best-selling novel of the same name by Daphne dv Maurier. Laurence Olivier, who last year made a tremendous hit as the hero of "Wuthering Heights," plays the role of Maxim de Winter, the socially prominent owner of Manderley, the vast Tudor estate where most of the action unwinds. PLAZA THEATRE. What happens when a wealthy family is shipwrecked on a strange tropical island and left to its own devices for subsistence forms the basis of the exciting action in RKO-Ra\Jio's picturisation of "Swiss Family . Robinson," ■which heads the new bill at the I Plaza Theatre. Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew, Terry Kilburn, Tim Holt, and Baby Bobby Quillan head the cast. In the year 1813 Robinson Senior is taking his family from London to Australia, where he hopes to start life anew, and offer his sons a chance to make real men of themselves" away from the dissipating influence of London society. When their vessel is wrecked in a severe storm, the Robinson family is cast away on an uncharted South Sea island. Their thrilling experiences on this island paradise, the regeneration of the boys, the rebirth of love between the elder Robinson and his formerly apathetic wife, make for an abundance of human drama, comedy, and pathos. STATE THEATRE. Principal attraction on the entertaining double-feature programme at the State Theatre is "Slightly Honourable," a murder mystery in which the more gruesome side is quickly dismissed, while the greater part of the dialogue is taken up with clever persiflage between the lawyer-hero of the plot and the police and political bosses with whom he has to deal. Though essentially American, much of the humour consists of bright repartee. The well-chosen cast is headed by Pat O'Brien, supported by Edward Arnold, Broderick Crawford, and Ruth Terry. The second attraction is "The Overland Express," starring Buck Jones and his famous white horse. The story deals with the establishment of the historic "Pony Express," which connected California with the east before the advent "of modern highways and railroads. TIVOLI THEATRE. Celebrating his thirtieth anniversary in motion pictures with one of the outstanding characterisations of his career, Lionel Barrymore is at the Tivoli Theatre in the picturisation of the great Broadway stage success, "On Borrowed Time." As the lovable, old, outspoken grandfather, Barrymore marks a new milestone in his amazing record. It is grandfather who desperately fights death in order to prevent the young grandson he loves from falling into the hands of a scheming and unscrupulous aunt. That is the simple outline of the story which is full of warm humour and of thought-provok-ing and inspiring imagery. A Will Hay comedy is always an eagerly anticipated screen event. In "Old Bones of the River," the associate-film, this, beloved English comedian appears in one of his most popular starring roles, as Professor Benjamin Tibbetts, alias "Twist. DE LUXE THEATRE. Frank Craven has the leading role in "Our Neighbours—the Carters," Paramount's new drama of small town family life which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Craven, after many years of appearing in leading character roles on stage and screen, skyrocketed to fame and stardom when he appeared in the Pulitzer Prize play, "Our Town," a story of small town life in which he played the role of a smalltown druggist. His success in the play brought Craven a plethora of offers from every major studio, but Craven chose to play in "Our Neighbours —the Carters" because it gave him a chance to play his favourite character type. "Opened by Mistake," the associate film, gives Charlie Ruggles an opportunity: to portray again his most memorable characterisation, that of the drunken reporter. VOGUEI THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Twenty-four hours of life in a city street, paved with riches and poverty, comedy and tragedy, romance and heartaches, thunders across the screen in "Dead End," showing at the Vogue Theatre. Richard Arlen and Andy Devine are the co-stars in "Tropic Fury," associate film. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Dealing in joyous fashion with the troubles of a big film company trying to make a picture with a noted band leader, RKO-Radio's "That Right— You're Wrong," showing at the Empire Theatre, introduces on the screen America's dance band favourite, Kay Kyser, co-starred with Adolphe Menjou. "Broadway Musketeers," the associate picture, is concerned chiefly with the fortunes and misfortunes of a trio of girlsr'portrayed by Margaret Lindsay, Ann Sheridan, and Marie Wilson. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Capturing the behind-the-scenes romance, adventure, and excitement of life as it is lived at the United States Military Academy, Edward Small has lavished his talents of showmanship and entertainment on "The Duke of West Point," showing at the Regal Theatre. "Going Places," Warner Bros.' comedy with music, starring Dick Powell, is the associate film. ROXY THEATRE. "Dark Eyes of London" was one of the best products of the prolific pen of Edgar Wallace, and in the screen adaptation of the same name, now showing at the Roxy Theatre, this thriller has lost nothing and gained much; indeed, it can be regarded as a better film than a novel. Bela Lugosi heads the cast. The second full-length film on the programme is "Village Barn Dance," a hilarious film with a strong cast headed by Richard Cromwell. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Another excellent double-feature programme is showing at the Capitol Theatre. "Down on the Farm," with the incomparable Jones Family, is the chief attraction. The supporting feature is "Lady of the Tropics," with Robert Taylor and Hedy Lamarr. ASCOT THEATRE. Edward G. Robinson appears in his first Me tro-Goldwyn- Mayer picture, "Blackmail," at the Ascot Theatre. It tells a dramatic story of a hunted man who turns a terrible vengeance on his enemies. Also showing is "That Girl From College," with Anne Shirley and James Ellison. It is an appealing comedy-drama of college life and a secret romance. Entertaining supporting items complete a splendid programme. SUNDAY PICTURES. Patrons of Sunday night picture entertainments will be pleased to learn that attractive "programmes will be presented each weekend in future. Next Sunday, at the Rivoli Theatre, Newtown, a sparkling comedy, "It's a Grand Old World," will be the main feature. The proceeds will go to the ■ Mayor's Metropolitan Relief Fund. f