CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 39, 14 August 1940, Page 12

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE

"The Road to Singapore" continues its highly successful season at St. James Theatre. This Paramount production, directed by Victor Schertzinger, stars Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. There is an attractive background of Eastern native life, against which an amusing comedy is worked out. The hero, the runaway son of a shipping magnate, and his engaging mate have ideas about living the simple life away from the turmoil of business and the wiles of women. But when an attractive dancer appears upon their cloudless horizon there is trouble brewing and their determination is thwarted.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

"Broadway Melody of 1940," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is a spectacular musical and dancing film of Broadway show business well in the tradition of its popular predecessors. This time Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have surpassed themselves by assembling what is unquestionably the greatest tap-dancing team to be seen and heard on the screen. The principals are Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, and George Murphy, and they combine to give the public such a feast of dance specialties as it has never had before. In addition, the picture is studded with new songs by Cole Porter, of which the best is "Begin the Beguine," with its long and novel dance sequences.

PARAMOUNT THEATRE.

Gracie Fields, the acknowledged queen of motion picture comedy, is in her element, among the working class of England, in the 20th Century-Fox release, "Shipyard Sally," now screening at the Paramount Theatre. The production is one of the happiest in which Gracie has appeared, and shp sings and dances in her inimitable style, evidently relishing every moment of her role. As the unexpected proprietress of a tavern in Clydebank, Scotland's shipbuilding centre, she is on Ijhe friendliest terms with the customers, and against this homely background proceeds to justify her wonderful reputation as an entertainer and actress. The other feature film is the hilarious "Frozen Limits," starring the Crazy Gang.

ROXY THEATRE

The colourful career of Vernon and Irene Castle, world-famous dance team of pre-Great War days, is depicted m striking fashion in the R.K.O. Radio screen musical in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are reunited in "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle," which heads the bill at the Roxy Theatre. With Pat O'Brien, Ann Sheridan, and Gale Page in the leading roles, "Devil on Wheels" is the second feature.

OPERA HOUSE,

The renowned Jeanette Mac Donald. Nelson Eddy, James Stewart, and Allan Jones are together in "Rose Marie." that beautiful musical which is showing at the Opera House. Briefly, "Rose Marie" is the story of an opera star who, travelling incognito through the North woods in search of her brother, an outlaw, falls in love with the North-west "Mountie" whose inflexible job it is to capture the outlaw. The climax to the story is as dramatic as the finish is romantic. Such world-famous songs as "The Indian Love Call," "Rose Marie," "Song of the Mounties," and "Pardon Me" are sung against the majesty of glimmering lakes and tall pines.

KILBIRNIE KINEMA,

'"The Forgotten Woman," a gripping dramatic story starring Sigrid Gurie, heads the programme at the Kinema. Featured in the supporting cast are Donald Briggs, Eve Arden, William Lundigan, Elizabeth Risdon, and Donnie Dunagan. The story concerns an innocent young woman who is sent to prison by a district attorney as a result of circumstantial evidence. The associate feature is "Brother Rat," a gay, romantic comedy, starring Priscilla Lane, beautiful star of "Four Daughters," and Wayne Morris.

KEGENT THEATRE.

"The Earl of Chicago" concludes tonight at the Regent Theatre.

"The Great Victor Herbert," starring Allan Jones, Mary Martin, and Walter Connolly, opens tomorrow.

NEW PRINCESS THEATRE,

"Juarez," the Paul Muni-Bette Davis picture, which is showing at the Princess Theatre, is a powerful and moving film. It unfolds the turbulent pages of Mexico's history during the time it was under the brutal yoke of foreign dictatorship, and tells the inspiring story of the nation's struggle for democracy under the leadership of their president, Benito Juarez. "Opened by Mistake," the associate film, gives Charlie Ruggles an opportunity to portray again his most memorable characterisation, that of the drunken reporter.

REX THEATRE

An impressive cast was assembled by Paramount for its new comedy with music, "Double or Nothing," which is showing at the Rex Theatre. With Bing Crosby in the star position, the cast includes such popular entertainers as Martha Raye, Andy Devine, Mary Carlisle, William Frawley, Fay Holden, and Samuel S. Hinds. When a pretty usherette and a popular band leader fall in love while they work in the same theatre, trouble is apt to arrive, and it does in large and amusing quantities in "This Way, Please," the associate film.

DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT.

Revenge, romance, and dog training are interwoven in the plot of "Almost a Gentleman," R.K.O. Radio's film, which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. James Ellison heads the featured cast, with Helen Wood opposite him. Ace, the screen's newest canine sensation, also plays an important part in this exciting drama of small town rivalry. "Sabotage," starring Arleen Whelan and Gordon Oliver, is the second feature.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE

"The Women" will be the main attraction tonight at the Prince Edward Theatre, Woburn. The cast is particularly strong, being comprised of 135 women, with Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell holding the leading parts.

GRAND THEATRE, PETONE

"Hitler, Beast of Berlin," and "Heroes in Blue" head the bill at the Grand Theatre. "Hitler, Beast of Berlin," is a frank, fearless expose of Nazism, based on actual happenings and enacted by a cast of international players. "Heroes in Blue" is the thrilling story of two brothers, one a member of the police department and the other a member of a gangster mob.

STATE THEATRE, PETONE

The main feature at the State Theatre is "Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President." The leading parts are played by Ann Sothern and William Gargan, who are supported by an excellent cast. The second feature is a mystery play, "London by Night," featuring George Murphy and Rita Johnson, with a splendid supporting cast.

PALACE THEATRE, PETONE

Two big attractions are showing at the Palace Theatre. They are "Suez," with Tyrone Power and Loretta Young in the leads, and "Wild and Woolly," a popular comedy, with Jane Withers and Walter Brennan as the chief performers.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

TIVOLI THEATRE

RIVOLITHEATRE

KING'S THEATRE,

PLAZA THEATRE

STATE THEATRE

TUDOR THEATRE,

ASCOT THEATRE

"Vigil in the Night," A. J. Cretin's powerful human document of courage and devotion demanded of the girls who choose nursing a career, has been brought to the sc~#en by R.K.O. Radio with Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne, and Anne Shirley in the stellar roles, and it is showing at the Tivoli. Carole Lombard and Anne Shirley play sisters of contrasting character and temperaments. Can a person turn back the pages of the years and recapture a youth long past? This is the question facing Clive Brook, in his latest intriguing film, "Return to Yesterday," which is the second feature.

Nowhere on earth can be found a more cruel and savage people than the head hunters of the upper Amazon country, which is known as Inferno Verde (Green Hell). It is against such a background as this that Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Joan Bennett, costars of "Green Hell," which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre, create one of the most unusual romances ever recorded on celluloid. Victor McLaglen and Jackie Cooper co-star in Universal's "The Big Guy," the associate film. Featuring Ona Munson, Peggy Moran, and Ed Brophy. the dramatic story offers McLaglen and Cooper their most impressive screen roles in recent months.

The "Saint" novels by Leslie Charteris are among the most popular and widely-read thrillers of the day and the films based upon these books have achieved similar apppreciation. The latest film. "The Saint's Double Trouble," showing at the King's Theatre, is probably the most interesting and exciting of the series yet to come to the screen. In the title role as Simon Templar—the "Saint"—is George Sanders, suave, polished, and devil-may-care. Outstanding among the supports is the film "An Anzac Writes Home." It gives in considerable detail an excellent idea of what New Zealand soldiers and the Australians are doing abroad.

Events made familiar by description in many a soldier's letter home are brought to the screen with a wealth of detail in the principal supporting picture at the Plaza Theatre this week. Entitled "An Anzac Writes Home." the film shows the "secret" departure of the troops, and the life of Australians and New Zealanders on shipboard and in Egypt and England. The feature picture, "Swanee River," is now in its second week, such is its popularity. Depicting the career of Stephen Foster, the "American Troubadour," whose songs and melodies became traditional throughout the world and brought him posthumous fame, the picture is naturally full of song.

With loud "Yippees!" ringing in the air, Jane Withers and Gene Autry gallop into town in "Shooting High," the colourful action-romance of the West, which is showing at the State Theatre. In this gay film Hollywood's popular comedienne and "the screen's No. 1 cowboy star ride like demons and shoot like sixty to corral a desperate band of bank robbers, break up a family feud, arrange a love match for Gene, and sing as only they can. Five tuneful melodies are sprinkled through "Shooting High." The depression came late to the Jones Family, but it hit hard. Dad's laid up, their home is gone, and they have only their trailer and family car in the 20th Century-Fox film "On Their Own," which is the second feature.

DE LUXE THEATRE,

Twenty years afterwards, an escaped convict who has become a successful business man, stops his car and gives a lift to a man whom he subsequently discovers to be his partner in the crime for which he was imprisoned and who for years has been trying to contact him to levy blackmail. This is the background to "The Crooked Road," showing at the De Luxe Theatre. The story develops into a tangle of false evidence in a murder. The case is finally unravelled by the blackmailed man's fiancee and his lawyer. Edmund Lowe, Irene Hervey, and Henry Wilcoxon are starred. The associate film is "For Love or Money," a hilarious comedy-drama starring June Lang, Robert Kent, Edward Brophy, and Etienne Girardot have prominent roles.

A stirring example of stark realism in film production, "Drums Along the Mohawk," is showing at the Tudor Theatre. "Drums Along the Mohawk" is set against a background of colourful, romantic, and dramatic adventure, and heightened to breath-taking vividness by th° Technicolor process. Claudette Colbert has a role of unusual power as the delicately-reared girl who marries Henry Fonda and whom experience turns into a fearless pioneer woman who fights painted Indians by the side of her young husband. Syd Walker solves another of life's problems in the associate feature-length attraction, "What Would You Do, Chums?"

EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY.

Will Fyffe is the star of "For Freedom," the gripping real-life drama, which brings to the Empire Theatre screen the Navy's glorious triumph in the Battle of the River Plate. As the old Scots newsreel chief who works night and day to bring pictures of world events to filmgoers, it is all the same to him whether it is peace or war provided he has got a man "on the job." "They Made Me a Criminal," starring John Garfield and the "Dead End" kids, is the associate film.

REGAL THEATRE, KARORI

James Cagney and George Raft, the two champion "tough guys" of filmdon, are co-starred in "Each Dawn I Die," a stark, cruel, grim, and tremendously exciting picture of life behind prison bars, produced by Warner Bros., which is showing at the fiegal Theatre. Paramount's scholastic comedy-drama, "What a Life," starring Jackie Cooper. is the second feature.

Frank Capra's emotional masterpiece "Lost Horizon," starring Ronald Colman and Jane Wyatt, is showing at the Ascot Theatre. It is an amazing drama of unforgettable splendour. Also showing is "Parents on Trial," with Jean Parker and Johnnie Downs, an appealing story of two young lovers misunderstood by their parents and stalked by the law. Good supporting items complete the programme.

VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN,

The seventh Hardy Family hit, "Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever," is showing at the Vogue Theatre. And it's one of the maddest and merriest pieces of entertainment in years. In "Everything Happens at Night," the associate film, Darryl F. Zanuck presents Sonja Henie in a combined dramatic and comedy role. Sonja's acting ability makes her perfectly at home in the story and there are sequences in which Sonja disports not only on skates but on the sheer, shimmering ski slides of the alps.

CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR

Valeric Hobson and Barry K. Barnes appear in "This Man in Paris," showing at the Capitol Theatre. The film contains much sparkling comedy with thrills interspersed. "Fiye Came Back," the associate film, is a story enacted in the Brazilian jungle and centres around an accident to a'transport Diane.