CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 5, 5 July 1940, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE.

Always amazing, and at times amusing, Universal's "The Invisible Man Returns," which is showing at the St. James Theatre, is definitely entertainment and it derives most of this quality from the weirdest camera I trickery ever employed. Its effects 'leave the audience literally breathless at many points during the story, which is ideally tailored as a new vehicle [for the unseen screen character. The I story was suggested by "The Invisible [Man," written by H. G. Wells. With Vincent Price in the title role, "The Invisible Man Returns" is the eerie tale of a man who is condemned to die for the murder of his brother. He is made invisible, thereby escapes the death cell, and is free to use the power of his invisibility to baffle, scare witless and finally trap the criminals actually responsible for the murder.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, and the rest of the famous Hardy Family come to the Majestic Theatre in '"Judge Hardy and Son." This time, instead of travelling the family stays home. Andy Hardy, son of the family, turns amateur detective to help his father in a law case, and becomes involved with three pretty girls who fill his life with trials and tribulations. The mother of the family' becomes ill; for a dark hour they fear they will lose her. It is in this episode that Andy inspires his father to a new courage in a poignaant dramatic scene. Andy turns hero and pilots his sister across a raging flood to her mother's bedside. But the crisis passes, the mother recovers, Andy extricates himself from the entangling girls, and all ends well. j

PARAMOUNT THEATRE

Under the title of good cheer week the Paramount Theatre is presenting two films which should prove popular with the public—"Follow the Fleet" and "Keep Smiling." The first film, "Follow the Fleet," has every element to make it first-class entertainment. It moves fast, has a grand cast, a good comedy story, haunting melodies, and fleet-footed dancing. It is tuned to the minute, and i comes at a time when it is most topical. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers head the cast. "Keep Smiling" is one of those screen tonics that come only once in a long while—an infectiously happy, lilting film with a perfect cast. Happiness is the keynote of the story. Gfacie Fields's role is one of the finest she has had—leader of a variety troupe, their guide, philosopher, and friend, a tower of strength in times of trouble.

REX THEATRE

Irving Berlin's new songs, Sonja Henie's sunny brilliance, Tyrone Power's gay romancing, Rudy Vallee's sinking, and Edna May Oliver's funone of the greatest combinations of talent ever gathered for one show, makes Irving Berlin's "Second Fiddle," which is showing at the Rex Theatre, first-class, entertainment. A thrilling dramatic picture of trans-oceanic air service with a glamorous romantic background, "China Clipper," is the associate film. Pat O'Brien, Beverly Roberts, and Humphrey Bogart head the cast.

ASCOT THEATRE,

Two outstanding British productions are screening at the Ascot Theatre. Firstly, "On the Night of the Fire," with Ralph Richardson and Diana Wynyard, is a thrilling drama of life and love amid catastrophe. Secondly, "Sword of Honour," starring Geoffrey Toone and Sally Gray, is an impressive and spectacular film of loyalty and devotion to a great service. The supporting items of the programme are well chosen. ..„..

VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN,

"Over the Wall," a gripping melodrama of a man falsely imprisoned for murder and his subsequent rise to fame by means of a beautiful singing voice is showing at the Vogue Theatre. "Swing Your Lady," the associate film, stars Humphrey Bogart and features Frank McHugh, Louise Fazenda, Penny Singleton, and Nat Pendleton. The second chapter of "The Lone Ranger" is also showing.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. Heralded as a sensational espionage and submarine drama torn from today's headlines, Columbia's "U-Boat 29" is showing at the Empire Theatre. Conrad Veidt, Valeric Hobson, and Sebastian Shaw are featured iv the thrilling story of a plot and counterplot during an Anglo-German war. Depicting in. hilarious fashion, the further hectic adventures of a Latin entertainer in New York, "Mexican Spitfire," starring Lupe Velez, is the second feature.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN.

Even the most hardened horror fans are in for an evening of suspense at the Prince Edward Theatre, where Boris Karloff is currently starring in Columbia's "The Man They Could Not Hang." In the supporting thriller, "The Gorilla," the Ritz Brothers come, to grips with a beast so ugly that it is described as "the thing snakes see when they get drunk."

DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. The "Dead End" boys are starred in "Hell's Kitchen," showing at the De Luxe Theatre. Stanley Fields, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Lindsay head the cast. "Oliver Quade," that popular fiction detective identified as "the human encyclopaedia," comes to the screen for the first time in "Death of a Champion," the associate film.

STATE THEATRE, PETONE

"Come On, George," showing at the State Theatre, is another George Formby success. The story concerns the troubles and cares of a stable hand who, in all innocence, makes friends with a particularly savage horse. He is encouraged in his delusion that the horse is as quiet as a lamb, but the real trouble starts when someone enlightens him.

GRAND THEATRE. PETONE,

"At the Villa Rose" and "The Marines Fly High" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre.

i The sensational musical extravaganza "Talking Feet" will be the attraction tomorrow. Mark Hambourg, who toured New Zealand some years ago, presents an unusual piano ensemble, William Heughan, also well known, to New Zealanders, presents "The Meeting of the Clans," and is supported by the Seaforth Highlanders Band. Novelty is added by the clever work of the Band of the Royal Marines. The second feature is "The First Rebel."

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE,

"You Can't Take It With You" and "Call of the Rockies" conclude tonight at the Palace Theatre.

Pathos, comedy, and melodrama are contained in "Broadway Musketeers," which commences tomorrow, with a cast of three leading women, Margaret Lindsay, Ann Sheridan, and Marie Wilson. Six-year-old Janet Chapman also comes in for her share of the acting honours. Thrilling gun-fights, comedy, and tender romance are interwoven in "The Marshal of Mesa City," George O'Brien's new out-door movie, which is the second feature.

KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER lIUTT.

Mickey Rooney appears in "Babes in Arms" at the King George Theatre. He sings, he dances, he gives imitations of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore, and he gives an acting performance in a truly human story that parallels anything he has ever done in the dramatic lin«.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

TIVOLI THEATRE

RIVOLI THEATRE,

KING'S THEATRE

PLAZA THEATRE

STATE THEATRE.

REGENT THEATRE.

ROXY THEATRE,

OPERA HOUSE

TUDOR THEATRE.

A new personality aimed for a debut similar to that of her predecessor, Deanna Durbin, in "Three Smart Girls," Gloria Jean appears in the title role of "The Under-Pup," screening at the Tivoli Theatre. The eleven-year-old singing actress shares starring honours with Robert Cummings and Nan Grey. Gloria plays the title role, that of "Pip-Emma,"' a poor girl from the East Side of New York who wins a trip to an exclusive-girls' camp. There her troubles begin. Faced with the animosity of the wealthy girls, "PipEmma" nevertheless wins not only their friendship but their envy through her loveable personality. The title role, which Jean Hersholt portrays in "The Courageous Dr. Christian," the associate film, is a strong one that concerns the lives of every character in the story. It is typical of the part that a small-town doctor plays in his community.

Flora Robson, star of "Wuthering [Heights" and "Fire Over England," 1 heads the cast of "Poison Pen," which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Her brilliant work is echoed in the supporting roles filled by Robert Newton, Belle Chrystall, Ann Todd, and Edward Chapman, in a picture of a kind not easily forgotten. Jack Holt soars to brilliant new heights with his performance in Columbia's "The Strange Case of Dr. Meade," which is the associate film. As a doctor fighting to bring modern medicine into a backwoods community, Holt is seen as a modern gladiator.

Romance between a loyal nurse and a humanitarian doctor, springing from their mutual consecration to the alleviation of suffering, is the stirring basis of R.K.O. Radio's "Vigil in the Night," showing at the King's Theatre. Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne, and Anne Shirley are starred in this picturisation of the sensational novel by A. J. Cronin, who wrote "The Citadel." The supporting cast includes Julien Mitchell, Robert Coote, Brenda Forbes, Rita Page, and Peter Cushing. Cast in the most dramatic role of her colourful career, Carole Lombard plays a courageous nurse whose love for her noble profession carries' her triumphantly through many sacrifices.

Darryl F. Zanuck's production of "Drums Along the Mohawk" is in its ' second week at the Plaza Theatre. Filmed in the latest Technicolor, with Claudette Colbert and Henry Fonda in the starring roles, this 20th Century-Fox picture contains unsurpassed action. The story is based on the best-selling novel by Walter D. Edmonds of the stirring days of adventure and romance when America was young. The action is set m New York's peaceful, beautiful Mohawk Valley, and depicts the colonists under the onslaught of the savage Iroquois. Battle scenes in this film reach a pitch of realism and excitement seldom equalled on the screen. Supports include a New Zealand Government film on wartime economy, which was filmed in Wellington streets a few days ago.

An unusual and absorbing idea in mystery films makes the 20th CenturyFox drama "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk," which heads the new bill at the State Theatre, splendid entertainment. From the outset of the film, when a murder is committed, the audience and the police know at once who committed the crime; the mystery is the identity of the killer and his motive. Confessing to the slaying, the murderer, who calls himself Joe Monday, refuses to speak another! word even in his own defence. The result is a highly exciting story well played by Llpyd Nolan, in the title role, Jean Rogers, Richard Clarke," Onslow Stevens, and Eric Blore. The Sherrington, metropolitan hotel for women, is the scene of vivid nights of drama in "Free, Blonde, and 21," the associate film. Lovely Lynn Bari heads the cast.

All of the finest elements of English comedy are preserved in the film adaptation of the popular play "French Without Tears," which is continuing at the Regent Theatre. Indications are that the film will be extremely popular, and it certainly deserves to be. Terrence 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 course 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).

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE,

Heralded as Deanna Durbin's most colourful motion picture, "It's a Date," which has its background in Hawaii, is showing at the Princess Theatre. The music, with Deanna singing four numbers, is again outstanding. Kay Francis, as Deanna's mother, a famous and glamorous actress, returns to high favour with an excellent performance and Walter Pidgeon, as romantic interest for. .both Deanna and Kay, has perhaps the most successful role of his career. "Honeymoon Deferred" is the associate feature. Edmund Lowe and Margaret Lindsay are starred.

"They Made Me a Criminal," showing at the Roxy Theatre, is a tense and exciting Warner Bros.' drama with a prizering background that co-stars John Garfield and the "Dead End" Kids. The romantic Argentine background of the new "Hopalong Cassidy" outdoor drama, "Law of the Pampas," which is the associate film, is enhanced by four new -songs with a strong Latin flavour.

The gallant Geste brothers, the principal characters of "Beau Geste," which is showing at the Opera House are convincingly played by Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston (as Beau, John, and Digby respectively). "Beau Geste," which is based on the famous novel of the same name by P. C. Wren, shows how the Geste brothers join the French Foreign Legion so that none ot them shall be thought guilty of stealing a valuable sapphire, the "Blue Water," from their guardian; it shows them standing together, fighting as one man against a brutal sergeant who believe thr one of them possesses the gem; and it shows them involved in desperate battles with desert tribes, loyal to death, holding among themselves —and another —to the last the secret of who stole the sapphire.

A fine psychol9gical drama with an intense human interest appeal, "Rebecca," has been transferred to the Tudor Theatre. The picture tells of the joys and tribulations of a young and unsophisticated second wife who is constantly fighting the shadow of the first wife. Rebecca, whose influence remains something real and a little terrible to the second Mrs. de Winter. Centring engrossingly on the efforts of the doctor in River's End to convince the local residents of their need for a hospital, "Meet Di\ Christian" is the associate attraction. Jean Hersholt gives a particularly convincing performance as Dr. Christian.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

Maisie is back on the screen again —this time in the jungles of Africa. With Ann Sothern in the title role. "Congo Maisie," which heads the bill at the De Luxe Theatre, makes the showgirl as lovable, as amusing, and as entertaining as in her adventures in the Wild West. It gives her., another dramaticaiiy adventurous story. Bob Burns has the best role of his career in "Our Leading Citizen," vivid new . Paramount drama dealing with the problems of contemporary America, which is the second feature. This time Bob is starred as a lawyer, a mellow philosophical fellow who believes that any problem can be settled by both sides sitting down at a conference table and discussing it, each side giving a little.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI.

The catastrophe now sweeping Europe is brought to vivid actuality on the screen of the Regal Theatre, where Columbia's "U-Boat 29" presents a stirringly dramatic picture of a warsmitten England desperately battling enemy spies and submarines. Conrad Veidt, Valeric Hobson, and Sebastian Shaw are in the featured roles. All the charm, all the humour, all the pathos, all the simple, human quality of last year's memorable "Four Daughters" have been recaptured by Warner Bros, in "Daughters Courageous," the associate film.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

A thrilling mystery-comedy, "The Cat and the Canary," opens tonight at the Capitol Theatre. The principal player is Paulette Goddard, who is well known to theatregoers. The audience is kept in thrilling suspense, as the "killer" is not disclosed before , the final scene. The associate features are "Blackmail," with Edward G. Robinson, and a new serial, "The Oregon Trail."