CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 9, 10 July 1940, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE,

The technical standard of film photography has become so excellent that remarkable effects are taken as a matter of course, but "The Invisible Man Returns," which is showing at the St. James Theatre, will cause the same astonishment as "'The Invisible Man some years ago. The star of the film. Vincent Price, cannot be critiIcised because he is not there in his best efforts He has been sentenced to death for the murder of his brother —which he did not commit—but escapes by the use of a drug supplied by his greatest friend, Dr. Griffin (John Sutton), which has the effect of making him invisible. There is a danger of madness if the antidote is not found, and it becomes a race between insanity and the finding of the real murderer. MAJESTIC THEATRE. The screen's most famous family return to Wellington in their best film I lo date, "Judge Hardy and Son," which ! is the current attraction at the Majestic i Theatre. Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy is, of course, the main attraction and; as usual, his love affairs are as numerous as they are unsuccessful. Lewis Stone plays the role of Judge Hardy, ' Fay Holden Mrs. Hardy, and Cecilia Parker, the daughter of the family. An aged couple in rather poor circumstances seek Judge Hardy's advice regarding their home which, owing to mortgages, is to be taken from them. They have a daughter rather well off from whom they are too proud to get financial assistance. It is Judge Hardy's task and Andy Hardy's, too. to find the daughter without the I parents knowing. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Gracie Fields, in "Keep Smiling," at the Paramount Theatre, is seen in a happy setting. Starting out as head of a troupe to give a free show for charity, she ascertains that it is proposed to give only 10. per cent, to the real object of the show, and that the greedy promoter is taking the rest. The ensuing row, when Gracie speaks' her mind, naturally leaves the troupe stranded, but Grade's father takes them to his farm. The humour here baffles description, especially in the contacts of the city-bred folk with the animals. "Follow the Fleet" supports the main picture. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, and Harriet Hilliard are seen in remarkable tap dances, and are heard in many catchy songs in company with the boys of the American Navy. 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. . TUDOR THEATRE. A fine psychological 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 Dr. Christian" is the associate attraction. Jean Hersholt gives a particularly convincing performance as Dr. Christian. VOGUR THEATRE, BROOKLYN. "Jezebel," a colourful and exciting romantic drama of the South of the U.S.A., shortly before the Civil War, is showing at the Vogue Theatre. Bette Davis is co-starred with Henry Fonda, George Brent, and Margaret Lindsay. Lovely little Betty Moran makes her screen debut as William Boyd's leading woman in the "Hopalong Cassidy" thriller, "Range War," which is the second feature. RIVOLI THEATRE. ! The barren mountain ranges of India's north-western frontier are the rugged background against which unfolds the spectacular story of R.K.0.-Radio's "Gunga Din," picturisation of Rudyard Kipling's beloved ballad of the same name, which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. With Gary Grant, Victor McLaglen, and Douglas Fairj banks, jun., in the stellar rales, this epic of India is reminiscent of the period when England struggled to crush a revolt of outlawed thugs who had resumed their weird religious practices of murder and torture. Universal's new mystery film, "One Hour ■ to Live," is the associate attraction. The picture features Charles Bickford as the detective who fights crooks with their own tactics. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. It is impossible to get more laughs on the one programme than that now showing at the King George, Laurel and Hardy in the "Bohemian Girl," and the Marx Bros, in "A Night at the Opera." PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. Foremost among fiction's detectives is Inspector Hanaud, and he is seen for the first time on the screen in A. E. W. Mason's "At the Villa Rose," showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. The stormy romance between a beautiful Mexican dancing girl, an American gambler, and a colourful Mexican bandit, forms the basis of R.K.O. Radio's "The Girl and the Gambler," the associate film. ASCOT THEATRE. The popular picture "The Lambeth Walk" is showing at the Ascot Theatre, with the . comical Lupino Lane and charming* Sally Gray starred. "The Bad Man of Brimstone," the second attraction, stars Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone, and Virginia Bruce. The supporting features are splendid. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Columbia's "Scandal Sheet" is showing at the Palace Theatre, with Otto Kruger as a relentless publisher of a newspaper which manufactures its own news. The determined efforts of a kindly old physician.to aid the impoverished residents of a' small town's "squatter" section provide the dramatic basis of "The Courageous Dr. Christian," the associate film, starring Jean Hersholt. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. Based upon the dangerous consequences of mistaken identity, Columbia's "Fugitive At Large" heads the bill at the Grand Theatre, with Jack Holt playing a dual stellar role. Patricia Ellis plays opposite Holt. "Cafe Society," 1940 version of the "Four Hundred," gets a good-natured pushing around in "Cafe Society," the second attraction. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. With star honours divided three ways, among Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell, "The Women" is showing at the State Theatre. It is unusual in its premise of presenting one of the strongest love stories to come out of Hollywood and yet never showing before the camera'the masculine objects of the various women's affections.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE,

PLAZA THEATRE

STATE THEATRE,

ROXT THEATRE.

TIVOLI THEATRE.

David Niven plays the title role and Olivia de Havilland provides the romantic interest in the new Samuel Goldwyn production, "Raffles," which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. "Raffles" is an exciting and fastmoving mystery melodrama about the famous amateur cracksman, a society leader, who leads a secret life of crime. There is a strong supporting cast. The queer mind that finds an outlet for its I repressions in writing scurrilous, uh--1 signed letters has provided much jmaterial for headlines of late. Now it has reached the screen. In "Poison Pen," the associate film, one sees the havoc caused by such letters in a tranquil English village. Flora Robson heads the cast.

"Vigil in the Night,"- screen adaptation of A. J. Cronin's novel, heads the programme at the King's Theatre. Two sisters enter the nursing profession, but through an -act of carelessness the younger nurse loses a patient. Her sister, however, takes the blame, and is dismissed from her post. She eventually finds another job in another hospital of a different type, where funds are short, work is hard, and where most of the patients are drawn from the working classes of Manchester. Here she builds up a new reputation for herself and awakens more than a professional interest in the young medical superintendent of the institution.

The stirring days when the American States were fighting for their independence are faithfully depicted in "Drums Along the Mohawk." the Technicolor film which is now showing at the Plaza Theatre. Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert are the central figures. After early struggles and disappointments during the (pioneering period of Mohawk Valley come a few months of happiness, but shrieking Indian hordes, with rifle and flaming torch, lay waste the valley Once again the indomitable settlers start out afresh, but in the War of Independence the Indians, descend once more on' the Mohawk, resulting in the most desperate battle of all. Included among the supports is a graphic film of the evacuation of Dunkirk, showing British naval vessels in action.

Adapted for the screen from Leonard Gribble's popular story, "The Crowd Looked On," which is the main feature at the State Theatre, is about a footballer who dies during an Arsenal match at Highbury ground. A considerable mystery surrounds the footballer's death, however, and Leslie Banks is cast and plays convincingly the detective who solves the mystery. Dad Jones turns playboy, Ma becomes a glamour girl, and the entire family steps out in style in "Young As You Feel," the other feature. Jed Prouty, Spring■■ Byington, and- George Ernest are prominent in their customary parts.

DE LUXE THEATRE.

Ann Sothern, whose first "Maisie" role brought her wide acclaim and many new admirers, gives lan even better performance in the title role in "Congo Maisie," which is one of the main features at the De Luxe Theatre. The setting is in the Congo and the story is one of masterful drama, adventure, and thrills.* relieved, by.; delightful .comedy of the" type which ; marked Miss Sbthern's original. appearance in the part of Maisie. The associate feature is "Our Leading Citizen," starring Bob Burns, in a vivid story of modern life. Woven into the plot is a tender romance involving Susan Hayward and Joseph Allen, jun. Gene Lockhart and Charles Bickford also fill important roles in this unusual drama.

"They Made Me a Criminal," showing at the Roxy Theatre, is a tense and exciting Warner Bros.' drama with a prize-ring 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.

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

Despite anything Bob Hope, at his gagging best, can do about it, lovely Paulette Goddard falls into the clutches of "The Cat," murderous, claw-handed creature, in the course of Paramount's great mystery-comedy, "The Cat and the Canary," showing at the Empire Theatre. "Daughters Courageous," the Warner Bros, comedy of domestic life, is the associate film.

j REGENT THEATRE. A bunch of grown-up men sitting at desks and learning their French, a temperamental French professor with a piquant brunette daughter, and a glamorous blonde interloper with designs on all men are the ingredients of "French Without Tears," •which is showing at the Regent Theatre. "French Without Tears," based on Terrence Rattigan's famous play of the same name, was directed by Anthony Asquith, and he has produced distinctly palatable fare, flavoured intriguingly with a little French mustard. Ray Milland and Ellen Drew are the wellchosen principals for this show. Jim i Gerald, a French comedian, plays a character role with Milland and his co-star.

REX THEATRE. Martha Raye, Bob Hope, Betty Grable, and Jack Whiting have the leading roles in "Give Me a Sailor," Paramount's madcap comedy about sailors'high jinks on shore leave, which is showing at the Rex Theatre. The story concerns a contract, made in childhood, by which two brothers promise to marry two sisters, and the efforts of one of the young men to evade its terms. A young girl's unreasoned love for a man who does not deserve it lands her in a brutal penal institution in the Paramount drama, "Prison Farm," the associate film.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR.

"Hell's Kitchen," featuring the "Dead End" Kids, Margaret Lindsay, and Roland Reagon, is showing at the Capitol Theatre. The associate feature, "Sing As You Swing," is a variety show and features such favourites as Clapham and Dwyer, Claude Dampier, and many other popular radio and vaudeville artists.

OPERA HOUSE.

"Beau Geste," feature attraction at the Opera House, is based on a book of the same name by T. C. Wren, and the screen adaptation loses little of the impelling story. Gary Cooper, Ray Milland. and Robert Preston fill the main roles. The story is centred round the adventures that befall the three Geste brothers when they decide to join the Foreign Legion in order to avoid suspicion over the theft of a valuable sapphire from their guardian. The picture forcibly illustrates the many hardships encountered in such an- adventurous life. In m^y instances the brothers are obliged, to fight together to counter the efforts of a dishonest sergeant to pin the theft of the jewel on any one of the three brothers.

REGAL THEATRE, KAROfI.

A new Marlene Dietrich, vastly improved and bearing little resemblance to her previous appearances except in glamorous beauty, returned to the screen in "Destry Rides. Again," showing at the Regal Theatre. Miss Dietrich's almost startling transformation features a picture notable in many other respects, chief among these being the presence of James Stewart. The drama of a mysterious murder is interwoven with the light-hearted comedy of life in a typical American town in Paramount's "Scandal Street," the associate attraction.