CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 2, 2 July 1940, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Come on George," which is screening for another week at the St. James a Theatre, is another George Formby c success. The story concerns the c troubles and cares of a stablehand who in all innocence makes :- friends with a particularly savage [. horse. He is encouraged in his d delusion that the horse is as quiet as a lamb, but the real trouble starts when someone enlightens him. How he is persuaded to regain confidence and ride the horse in a crosscountry race is a story in itself, with the race itself providing many amusing interludes. George and his banjoukulele are inseparable, and in the course of the picture he sings several new and witty comedy numbers. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "The Secret of Dr. Kildare" is con--2 tinuing to attract large audiences at 1 the Majestic Theatre. It has become 2 almost an axiom of dramatic art that i, sequels are never as good as the orig--1 inal, but in this case we have had 2 three stories ?about the same people in the same setting and each new one as - good as its predecessor. The secret 3 lies, of course, in the fact that these 2 "Dr. Kildare" pictures do not rely so - much on plot as on the appeal of the I characters that appear in them. Lionel - Barrymore as "Dr. Gillespie," a great r physician in spite of partial paralysis, r has achieved the rare feat of creating • a part that swamps the personality of - the actor. Lew Ayres, too, has given the screen another engaging personal--3 ity as "Dr. Kildare," assistant and per- > sonal friend of the great Gillespie. [ PARAMOUNT THEATRE. [ Playing the role which he considers ; one of the best he has ever filled, , Ronald Colman is ideally cast as Dick Heldar in Rudyard Kipling's great ! action romance, "The Light That . Failed," which is now showing at the . Paramount Theatre. Acclaimed as Kip- • ling's best novel, the story deals with ■ the period of the closing years of the • last century when England gained control of the Sudan. The battle scenes ! depicted in the production are thrilling i and dramatic, but they are no more • gripping than the other sequences, ■ when the scene shifts to London and i finally back to the Sudan. The.asso- • ciate feature, "Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love," portrays the hilarious adventures of a travelling salesman and a runaway heiress in a story which blends music with a gay romance. 'REGENT THEATRE. All of the finest elements of English comedy are preserved in the film adaptation of the popular play "French Without Tears," now showing at1 the Regent Theatre. Indications are that the film will be extremely popular, and it certainly deserves to be. Terr en cc Rattigan's play, from which the film has remarkably few differences, was seen by every member of the Royal Family, as well as by everyone who could get into the London theatre during the nurse of a long season. The film version loses nothing by its transcription. The huge French comedian Jim Gerald is cast to perfection as the professor and Ray Milland gives what is definitely his best performance to date as the rising young diplomatist and novelist who refuses to be vamped by the play's most designing blonde (Ellen Drew). TUDOR THEATRE. With amazing timeliness, Columbia's "U-Boat 29," which is showing at the Tudor Theatre, brings to the screen a wartime story of the struggle between German and British agents. Just as the English Secret Service is today manoeuvring to foil the machinations of the German Gestapo, the film graphically depicts the actions of two loyal agents as they work to prevent the torpedoing of a whole squadron of the Royal Navy. Conrad Veidt, Valeric Hobson, and Sebastian Shaw are featured in this thrilling film. REX THEATRE. Bruce Cabot is the star of the Republic picture "Tenth Avenue Kid," showing at the Rex Theatre. The picture affords Cabot one of the best roles of his career, and he has taken complete advantage of the opportunity. The Cockney comedy talent of Gordon Harker provides hilarious entertainment in the latest Herbert Wilcox* production, "No Parking," which is the associate feature. In the role of an apparent down and out who bluffs his way into making all and sundry believe him to be a master-crook, Harker has a characterisation entirely after his own heart. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Hollywood's newest baby star, Sandy, rises to great heights in Universal's "Unexpected Father," showing at the De Luxe Theatre. The romance is handled by Dennis O'Keefe and Shirley Ross, and Mischa Aver lends strong support. Somewhat sensational in its theme and treatment, "They Made Her a Spy," featuring Sally Eilers and Allan Lane, is the associate film. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Samuel Goldwyn's "The Cowboy and the Lady" is the main attraction at the Grand Theatre. It is a romantic love story richly endowed by the preence of two first-class cinema stars, | Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Mickey Rooney, who has played everything from Shakespeare down to slapstick comedy, finally got an assignment that worried him. He had to sing in "Babes in Arms," which is showing at the State Theatre. Mickey plays the piano and dances, but he has never sung a note on the screen, and he was scared to death of the outcome. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," with Gary Cooper, Claudette Colbert, David Niven, and Edward Everett Horton, is now showing at the King George Theatre. Also screening is a "March of Time," "Background for War," a startling, authentic story of the Mediterranean. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBUJJN. "Rio," showing at the Prince Edward Theatre, is a glorification of romance in the gayest city on earth. It stars Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen and brings Sigrid Gurie to the peak of her career. Jackie Cooper co-stars with Freddie Bartholomew-in Universal's dramatic film "Two Bright Boys," the associate feature. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "The Cowboy and the Lady" will be shown finally at the Grand Theatre tonight. A. E. W. Mason's name has recently come into prominence on the screen; on the heels of "Four Feathers" comes "At the Villa Rose," which opens tomorrow. It is a murder mystery, but one written by a master of the craft A warm, tropical romance, counterpointed by the thrills and suspense of a gigantic man-hunt on land and in the air, is unfolded in "The Marines Fly High," associate film. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "I Was a Convict" and "Man From Montreal" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre. Hailed as another Capra triumph, Columbia's screen version of "You Can't Take It With You" heads the double-feature programme tomorrow. Included in the cast are Jean Arthur, James Stewart, and Lionel Barrymore. The film deals with the lovable Vanderhof family, which believes in doing whatever it wants whenever it wants to. The second feature, "Call of the Rockies,'1 stars Charles Starett and Iris Meredit1-

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. A fine psychological drama with an s intense human interest appeal, "Rey becca" continues to draw big houses c at the King's Theatre. The picture '■- has character and quality that are diss tinctive, and the delicate theme has c been handled with consummate skill. It s tells of the joys and tribulations of a t young and unsophisticated second wife c who is constantly fighting the shadow 1. of the first wife, Rebecca, whose in- - fluence remains something real and a s- little terrible to the second Mrs. de li Winter. The two principals in this g adaptation of Daphne dv Maurier's absorbing novel. Laurence Olivier and c Joan Fontaine, excel in their roles. The 1 supporting programme is first-class. PLAZA THEATRE. Darryl F. Zanuck's production of L" "Drums Along the Mohawk" is show- * ing at the Plaza Theatre. Filmed in c the latest technicolor, with Claudette * Colbert and Henry Fonda in the star- ': ring roles, this 20th Century-Fox pic--3 ture contains unsurpassed action. The 1 story is based on the best-selling novel s by Walter D. Edmonds of the stirring * days of adventure and romance when 3 America was young. The action is set 3 in New York's peaceful, beautiful s Mohawk Valley, and depicts the colol nists under the onslaught of the savage t Iroquois. Battle scenes in this film ;- reach a pitch of realism and excite--5 ment seldom equalled on the screen. f Supports include, a New Zealand Gov--1 ernment film on wartime economy, " which was filmed in Wellington streets " a few days ago. STATE THEATRE. "Music in My Heart" and "Convicted s Woman" conclude tonight at the State I Theatre. 5 Cut to no familiar pattern, and made ; up in such a way as to surprise even £ the most cynical filmgoers, "The Man - Who Wouldn't Talk" will be the main ~ feature at the State Theatre from toa morrow. The audience knows almost '_ from the outset that Joe Monday is s guilty of murder —he admits it in open j court—but he absolutely refuses any = further information either to the polide ~ t or to his own lawyer. Never does he } give the slightest inkling of his actual . identity. Beautiful and enchanting [ women, a distinguished doctor and his . assistant, and a man of no fixed habits [ provide the fast and thrilling action I in the Twentieth Century-Fox mysterydrama, "Free, Blonde, and 21," the other feature. DELUXE THEATRE. I 1 Charlie McCarthy, ace of puppets, and his voice and partner, Edgar Bergen, make a welcome return to the screen in "Charlie McCarthy,- Detective," which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Charlie and Bergen, plus country-cousin Mortimer Snerd, become involved in the murder of a newspaper magnate. Quite apart from the antics of the trio, the story has a most interesting plot. It is perhaps the best Bergen-McCarthy picture yet filmed. The associate film, "Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President," is also hilarious entertainment. The stars are Ann Sothern and William Gargan. Another episode of "The Green Hornet" is also showing. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Epic screen entertainment, crystallised in a great story of the sea, the story of the triumph of steam over sail, is offered at the Princess Theatre where Frank Lloyd's great new production, "Rulers of the Sea," is presented. The distinguished cast is headed by Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Margaret Lockwood, and the noted Scottish actor, Will Fyffe. The associate feature is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "Four Girls in White," starring Florence Rice, Una Merkel , Ann Rutherford, and Mary Howard. ROXY THEATRE. James Cagney and George Raft are co-starred in "Each Dawn I Die," a stark, cruel, grim, and tremendously exciting picture of life behind prison bars, which is showing at the Rqxy Theatre. The spectacle from behind the scenes of the German nation being forged into a war machine on the Hitler anvil, brutally, soullessly, and without regard to God or man, is shown in "Hitler—Beast of Berlin," the associate film. ASCOT THEATRE. Lew Ayres and Lana Turner star in "These Glamour Girls," at the Ascot Theatre. It is a bright comedy-drama of a bevy of college beauties crashing into New York society. The accompanying attraction is "Bad Lands," with Robert Barratt and Douglas Walton. It is a vivid drama of courage and action in the West. The Supporting programme is excellent. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "On the Night of the Fire," which is showing at the Empire Theatre, with Ralph Richardson and Diana Wynyard starred, is from the book by F. L. Greene. The story covers a murder committed at the zenith of a huge fire and deals with the reaction of the murderer after he is discovered and is fleeing from the police. Warner Bros, showed rare judgment in making the associate film, "Secret Enemy," even before the present conflict broke out or appeared imminent. The exciting story is concerned with the espionage activities which were brought to such perfection by both the Allies and Germany during the Great War. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Edward Small's new romantic film drama, "King of the Turf," which is showing at the Regal Theatre, not only stars Adolphe Menjou but also introduces a young newcomer, Roger Daniel, whose great performance indicates that a new star has been born. Like the same studio's "Public Enemy," and "Black Legion," "Racket Busters," the associate film, starring Humphrey Bogart, is an absorbing, gripping tale fashioned around a topic taken from the front pages of the American newspapers. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. All the world is air-minded these critical days, and for those who like to see the inside of things, there is much revealed in "Spies of the Air," screening at the Capitol Theatre. The associate feature is "Call a Messenger," introducing again Billy Halop and Huntz Hall, of the "Dead End Kids," with the "Little Tough Guys." VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. "The Adventures of Marco Polo," a rollicking adventurous romance brings Gary Cooper to the Vogue Theatre. In the supporting cast are Basil Rathbone, Ernest Truex, George Barbier, Alan Hale, and Binnie Barnes. In' the matter of transforming a great mystery play to the screen—the play in quesItion being John Willard's famous "The Cat and the Canary"—Paramount has made every effort to make it the greatest conxdy-mystery of the year. The film is the associate attraction. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Presenting a colourful action story laid in the great north-woods country of Canada, Universal^ "Man from Montreal," is showing at the Palace Theatre with Richard Arlen and Andy Devine co-starred. Action, romance, and drama in liberal quantities are contained in "I Was a Convict," the second feature. TIN HAT CLUB DANCE. The Tin Hat Club of the Wellington R.S.A. will hold its first dance of the season at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the club rooms, 12 Victoria Street. There will be good music, an excellent supper, lucky spot, and other novelties. Particulars axe advertised.

RIVOLI THEATRE. Jean Hersholt, beloved film star, now conducts a one-man crusade against the twin evils of disease and bad housing. In "Courageous Dr. Christian," which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre, Hersholt portrays the kindly country doctor who perseveres to bring health and happiness to the poverty-stricken of his community. An important cast includes Dorothy Lovett, Robert Baldwin, Tom Neale, Maude Eburne, Vera Lewis, George Meader. Mysterious espionage activities, treachery in the underground fortifications, jealousy, and the most audacious spy plot yet, make "Double Crime on the Maginot Line," the associate film, a most startling spy drama. TIVOLI THEATRE. "Daughters Courageous," the Warner Bros, comedy of domestic life which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre, could be termed a first cousin to the same studio's highly successful "Four Daughters," but it is not a sequel to that picture. While the plot concerns different people from those in "Four Daughters," there is a basic similarity in that the new picture is also about the joys, the sorrows, the laughs, the tears in the lives of an ordinary family. There are the same four daughters in this family and again they are played by Priscilla, Rosemary, and Lola Lane, and Gale Page. Political intrigue in the Amazon jungle is the basic plot of the Richard Arlen and Andy Devine co-starring vehicle, "Tropic Fury," which is the associate film.