CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 52, 29 August 1940, Page 8

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

"Young Tom Edison," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is a film of a most unusual type. It is a real-life story, of course, but does not follow the conventional line of portraying the rise of a great man to the pinnacle of his greatness. The story is one of the very early years of the great man, and the triumph in which it concludes is the obtaining by young Edison of a position as telegraph operator in a. railway company. More than anything else, the story is one of American! family life in the mid-nineteenth century. Mickey Rooney, George Bancroft, and Fay Bainter head the cast. It is not to be lost sight of that this film is the first of two covering the life of Thomas Alva Edison.. The lead in the second film is entrusted to.Spencer Tracy. : . PARAMOUNT THEATRE. • . ; The surprise programme at the Paramount Theatre concludes tonight; '.''Three Faces.West" and "Goldmine in the Sky" open tomorrow. ST. JAMES THEATRE. The St. James Theatre will show "Dad Rudd, M.P." for .the-last time tonight. ■•'.-.-...■• ■ ■ ••• nSafari," starring Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., opens tomorrow, DELUXE THEATRE. "'■' "On Dress Parade" and "Man From Montreal" conclude tonight at the De Luxe Theatre. "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Branded" open tomorrow. REGENT THEATRE. "The Old Maid," co-starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, had its first local shewing ■at the- Regent Theatre today. One feminine star— especially if she be that double Academy winner, Bette Davis —might be considered sufficient for a photoplay, no matter how great. But in "The Old Maid" there are two. Besides Bette Davis there is the lovely and highly capable Miriam Hopkins. The story deals with two cousins, Charlotte and Delia Lovell,. who live in the same old house in aristocratic Philadelphia, U.S.A., in the period between . 1861, when the Civil War broke: out, and the 1880's. Despite the luxury' and wealth with "Which they are surrounded, they hate aad envy each other for twenty odd years;. Then the daughter of "the sour old maid"—this young girl played ■byJarie Bryan—is able to.bring mutual,' ■■understanding to them as their grey J hairs and lined.faces tell they have n entered middle age. The picture is a - tense, gripping drama, with a charm- ■ ingly-picturesque period background. 1 "■ . .''.•' ' '""" ■ " ' ■ . i ■ ':" TUDOR THEATRE. V v." "Swanee River/ which concludes to- j night at the Tudor Theatre, is the story ) of Stephen C. Foster, the great Ameri- j can troubadour, a part played to. per- . fection by Don Ameche, and his varied ' and emotional life is pictured against ' the romantic days of river boats and } v coloured. minstrels. Though the Jones Family is practically without money* at the outset of "On Their Own," the I " associate attraction, that does not af- c feet their inimitable knack of pro- £ yoking laughter throughout. £ '■ ■■" V ' 3 ASCOT THEATRE. ••" Another bright family programme. ) headed by Frank Capra's "You Cant \ 'Take It With You," is showing at the • - Ascot Theare. The film stars Jean ' ■ Arthur, Lionel Barrymore, James Stew- \ -art -and Edward Arnold in a happy * story of human beings who dared to i live their own lives. Also showing is "Blondie," a. bright, laughable story I '"adapted-from-a famous comic strip, i The supports are splendid. 1 KItBIRNIE KINEMA. t . "Hitler—Beast of Berlin," and "The Day" the' Bookies Wept" will conclude ■ tonight at the Kilbirnie Kinema. ■ "With Bing Crosby singing a host of songs, old and new, Louise Campoell , -adding a note of romance, Ned Sparks i v as' Bing's Press agent, Laura Hope -Crews-as'an ex-opera singer, .Walter " Damrosch -conducting the. Philhar- '<■ monic Orchestra of Los Angeles, and < Linda Ware, sensational fourteen-year- i old singing discovery, ' making her < screen debut, "The Star Maker" opens '< tomorrow ■at the Kinema. The. associate attraction is the riotous comedy 1 "At the Circus," starring the Marx i brothers. . _■ ....~ " . j REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. ] A bored young society girl has the awakening of a lifetime when she steps off Park Avenue for a new thrill and marries a newspaper reporter to get her name in the gossip columns, in y Paramount's "Cafe Society," which is j showing at the. Regal Theatre. Made- ( leine 'Carroll is starred. "Stranded in . Paris," starring Jack Benny and Joan j . .Bennett, is the associate attraction. . CAPITOL THEATRE, MERAMAR. j Bing Crosby is no believer in.stick- i ing to the same leading lady in pic- ] ■-•lure after picture, and consequently j " a new one is featured with him in his latest Paramount offering, "The Star ■ Maker/ a singing cavalcade of show ' business, which is showing at the *- Capitol Theatre. On the same pro- ■ fcamme is Will Hay, the well-known ritish comedian, in a comedy extrava- 1 - ganza entitled "Ask a Policeman." j STATE THEATRE, PETONE. ] "Henry Goes to Arizona" and "Block- ' heads" conclude tonight at the State \ Theatre. , >■ Paramount's glorious, rousing new .. version of "Beau Geste," starring Gary J Cooper, Ray. Milland, and-Robert Pres- ' '.." .ton as the gallant brothers "Geste," " ""Beau," "John," and "Digby," opens ■ tpmorrow. Brian Donlevy plays the ■ role of sergeant "Markoff," the- brutal, ':■ power-crazed sergeant who- drives the v- legionnaires to mutiny in the picture's \ .-,-' closing scenes. . , d DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER • ■ HUTT.. . . ; > -: An unusual story bristling with in- ■ tense action is found . in "Hell's ". Cargo," showing at the De Luxe ■ Theatre. Robert Newton, an accomplished player, is seen in the role of A a Russian naval* officer whose heroism *■>•■ contributes to the rescue of hundreds ~- of- civilians on a doomed liner. .; GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. T." .William . Boyd appears in an- ~" other of the famous » Cassidy series, "Law of the Pampas," " 'which is showing at the Grand Theatre. ■: Cassidy wins a new badge of courage ,-'■' in this thrill-packed adventure of the ■-Argentine. The story ota young man who suffers all the trials and tribulations of a great love only to find that at seventeen he is not yet a man is told in "Seventeen," the associate film. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Bulldog prummond Escapes" is the " feature at the Palace Theatre. Murder ""• oh the fog-bound -moor, a kidnapping, ■-the machinations of a counterfeit band, * and the imprisonment of a beautiful «■ woman in a house of mystery are a -Jew things "Bulldog Drummond" has a to solve in this film. Gary Cooper and-CJaudette Colbert appear in "Blue« ."■" beard's Eighth Wjfe," the second at- ., traction. . . . '*■ KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER :■■■•■ ■ . HUTT., ~ ■ - - Beautiful Loretta Young and handgome Richard Greene, the screen's fast-est-rising favourite star, aro in "Kentucky," a thrilling racecourse film, which is showing at the King George Theatre.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

TIVOLI THEATRE. "Ninotchka" and "A Woman is the Judge" conclude tonight at the Tivoli Theatre. For the first time since the advent of talkies, a British fiction film is to have a sequel. The film claiming this honour is Paramount's "This Man is News," the story of English newspaper life which-became, one of the hit pictures of last year, and the sequel is "This Man In Paris." which opens tomorrow at the Tivoli Theatre. Barry K. Barnes ar.a Valeric Hobson as ''Mr. and Mrs. Drake,", the newspaper reporter hero and his. wife, continue their successful ■'screen partnership. Alastair Sim-is once again the harassed news' editor. - "Espionage Agent,'" starring Joel McCrea and Brenda Marshall, which is the second feature, is a powerful and sensational drama of the; unknown guardians, of America's peace during histofy!s most dangerous days. "Rebecca" commences^ a sear son at.the next Tuesday. '■:■' KING'S THEATRE. ] "Pinocehib" continues to be the magnet for both young and old at the King's Theatre/ This Walt Disney's latest full-length masterpiece, will naturally be compared with "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," and most people will agree that "Pinicchio" is in many respects better. Technique has been improved, and "Pinocchio" presents a most delightful fairy .tale which no other medium except the animated cartoon could-do-.justice to. "Pinocchio" is .with delightful. characters of all kinds, animals, birds, insects, and even fish, and its action ranges over land and sea and even under the sea. *. ■>■>. ;■■-'' V PLAZA THEATRE. \:.., . i The popular English comedian Sandy Powell is the star of "All at Sea," principal -attraction at the' Plaza- Theatre. Thinking he is offering to take part in an advertisement for a-picture theatre Sandy finds that he has really enlisted in the Navy. Through1 another accident Sandy finds himself as selfappointed saviour of a pretty girl (Kay Walsh)' on the track of two bold bad business men .who are trying to sell a secret, explosive, formula to a Continental firm. There are many amusing incidents in this rollicking story, and Sandy has. .the 'opportunity to sing two comedy- numbers; -"' Pictures of Australian . and New Zealand troops in England. and • Palestine are an interesting feature of the/newsreels. STATE THEATRE. The. enclosed world of a great penitentiary, filled with hopes, fears, and hates, is seen in "Men Without Souls," which is showing at the State Theatre; As the new chaplain John Lite! finds hundreds of comvicts, brutalised by the. petty trickeries and bludgeoning? of calloused, guards, making an armed gaol, break', which his courage ends witHout further loss of life.. There is grim,, humour, in the reception of his continued advances by,men and guards alike. He makes some progress, but fails to stop a planned boiler explosion and a second gaol break, though in the end, in the midst of death, something of the divine spark- in his: efforts brings the case-hardened black sheep of the gaol to .redeem himself. It is Litel's picture,.. but Barton ■ Maclane and Roch2lte Hudson cleverly bring in an atmch sphere.that seems unreal from the outside world. Sunlight, melody, fiery galloping, and a rustler plot are enipyed .in an artistically presented Western, "The Stranger from Texas," with Charles Starrett and the singing cow-punchers. Palatable comedy is seen, in the Three Stooges' burlesque of Nazi methods and traditions, capped by a truly British ..jvMctory,, How greyhounds are bred,; fed, trained, and raced is. seen in "There Goes Rusty." All the interest of kennel and track is presented, culminating in a big night race on a crowded Californian course t was announced by the. management that a community.sing will be held at loon .tomorrow, proceeds of the collection to go to patriotic purposes. ■','". OPERA HOUSE. i\/rH»- ge: B, arP -and Son" and "Swiss House conclude toni§ht at they; Opera iJ^^u9 i"? uch a biography: of Herbert 11 a,^ hly-successful- attempt to recall his widespread influence over the glamorous show world of his day "The Great Victor Herbert" will be shown at the Opera House from tomorrow. As Herbert, the late Walter Connolly has crowned a brilliant career with a masterly portrayal. Allan Jones Mary Martin, and the 14-year-old Susanna Foster are in excellent voice, and are heard in many of Herbert's most popular works. : ■* * VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. "The Man Who Wouldn't Talk" which is showing at the Vogue Theatre, ls told m.. such an unusual way that one is ma constant state of excitement and suspense and the unexpected twists provide one emotional punch after another. Lloyd Nolan plays the title role. - /'Dancing Co-ed.," starring Lana Turner, Richard Carlson, Artie Shaw, and Ann Rutherford, is; the associate 81m. Selected supports, including "The Lone Ranger," complete the programme; ■■•' .- ' EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. , The,..dramatic adventures of two sister nurses, one courageous and loyal, the other—younger, ■ frivolous, and neglectful—rfqrm. the • basis ■of R.K.O. Radio's' "Vigil in the Night,'' which is showing at the Empire Theatre. Carole Lombard and Anne Shirley . are starred. "Espionage Agent," starring Joel-"McCrea and Brenda Marshall, which is the second feature, is a powerful and sensational drama of the unknown guardians of a nation's peace during history's most dangerous days. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. "Calling Dr. Kildare" and "Naughty Marietta" will be shown finally tonight at the New Princess Theatre. Hollywood probably has had a surfeit of sophistication, and attempts to market "unspoiled children of Nature" have not always been successful. That was what the director of "Scatterbrain,' which opens at the Princess tomorrow, thought; his discovery had to come straight off the hillbilly turnips, dragged off the stern family plough. Of course, she had to be planted there in the first place, and her Broadway experience should have pulled her through. Unfortunately, a genuine, hog-yodelling mountain lass was picked up by mistake by the talent scouts, and her passage through Hollywood .is just one long riotous scream. The associate film is "Zanzibar," starring Lola Lane and James Craig. ROXY THEATRE. "Sandy Is a Lady" and "La Conga Nights" conclude tonight at the Roxy Theatre. Paramount's "Geronimo!" which opens tomorrow, brings to the screen one of the most thrilling Indian episodes of American pioneering . days. Preston Foster. Ellen Drew, and Andy Devine head the cast. A new Boris Karloff thriller, "Mr. Wong in Chinatown," is the second feature. Third of the "James Lee Wong" detective series, based on the Hugh Wiley maga-. zinc stories, "Mr. Wong in Chinatown" again concerns the adventures of the Chinese super-sleuth. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. "Maisie," with Ann Sothern and Robert Young, is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. The story centres around the adventures of a vaudeville showgirl who finds herself stranded in a Wyoming carnival town. "Beware Spooks!" which has been hailed as one of the funniest Joe E. Brown vehicles in years, is the. second feature,

RIVOLI THEATRE. "Angels Wash" Their Faces" and "Rhythm of the Saddle" conclude tonight at the Rivoli Theatre. . Based on the popular, best-selling Daphne dv Maurier novel, David O. Selznick's production of "Rebecca" opens tomorrow. Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine appear in the principal roles, while ttie featured cast includes Reginald Denny, Judith Anderson, George Sanders, C. Aubrey Smith, Gladys Cooper, Florence Bates, and Nigel Bruce. Hailed as one of the season's most entertaining comedies, R.K.0.-Radio's "Pop Always Pays," the second attraction, features Leon Errol, Dennis O'Keefe, Adele Pearce, Walter CatletV and Marjorie Gateson.