CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 72, 21 September 1940, Page 14

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE: Smart settings, smart dialogue, and ultra-smart frocking combine to make "Honeymoon in Bali," which is showing at the St. James Theatre, a firstflight comedy romance. With charming Madeleine Carroll as the level-headed business woman and Fred McMurray as a normal sort of person who believes in the sanctity of the hearth and all that, there is a conflict of interests that leads to the most intriguing situations. Fred, for the purpose of the, tale, happens to live in Bali and is strongly charged with romance, while Madeleine, a successful executive, refuses to let. sentiment interfere with a career, although- she confesses more than a tender feeling for the practical Fred. Little Carolyn Lee, aged four, is cast in the role of Cupid. The honeymoon wasn't held in Bali, though. The supporting programme is splendid. It includes actual pictures of a German bombing attack on a convoy in the English Channel, and the destruction of two enemy planes. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Florian," now showing at the Majestic Theatre, claims to be a picture that is "truly different." Just how splendidly it fulfils that claim can only be realised by.' those who have seen the film. In the first place, it tells the story of a horse—a. horse whose lineage is of the purest, and whose ancestors for centuries have been the mounts of royalty. "Florian," who at all times is worthy of the leading role is a huge white stallion, born and bred in the aristocratic seclusion of the Imperial Austrian stables of Lippiza. The Lippizan horse is probably the best-known breed in Europe, and carries with it a reputation almost legendary, born in the past in which the breed was developed to combat the invaders of the East. The film has some unrivalled pictures of the great stud farm, with its fields of matured white horses and comical dark-skinned foals. "Florian" is born at a time when the great Austrian Empire is tottering to its fall. The peak of his career is reached at the famous Spanish school in Vienna, under the eyes of the Emperor Franz Josef, when the great horse astonishes all with a remarkable exhibition of equestrian dancing in the traditional style. Robert Young gives his usual convincing performance as the young stud master and Helen Gilbert is successful as an 'archduchess. Irina Baronova, who was in Wellington not so long ago, has a prominent part as a prima ballerina. Supports include the latest newsreels and a cartoon, REGENT THEATRE. Not surprisingly, Warner Bros.' production "Four Wives" has been retained for ah extended season at the "Regent Theatre. The story begins where that other popular film, "Four Daughters," ended, but if the first picture was missed that will not matter. Past events are related by one of the characters, and this serves both to brush up the memory or as an introduction to the family, as the case may be. There is romance in "Four Wives," and altogether it provides bright entertainment. The title roles are played by Priscilla, Rosemary, and Lola Lane, and Gale, Page, and associated with them are members of the cast of the earlier picture. Eddie Albert is a new member of the cast, and he plays the part of/ a young doctor, who is one of the four husbands. The supporting programme includes "Cavalcade of Academy Award Winners," which boasts; a greater cast of stars than any other film to be produced. It features every star who has won the award and scenes from the winning films. *• OPERA HOUSE. It is some time since those idiotic experts, ,the Marx Brothers, whipped up audience enthusiasm with their wholesome, non-stop foolery. In "A Day at the Races, which heads the double-feature bill at the Opera House, they have all the scope they need for their craziness. Their doings are mixed up with a sanatorium and a race-track, and while the horse side of the business is useful for an intermittent background and an excellent climax the main fun is at the sanatoriujn, where the black-moustached brother is trying to save the establishment for the young owner (Maureen O'Sullivan) by attending to the whims of a rich and healthy female. He is Dr. Hackenbush, and happens to be a horse doctor, but that does not prevent intrusion into medicine, and the efforts of the three of them make fine entertainment. There is a leavening of the old "slapdash" comedy, and it is a welcome change. Several good singing numbers are given (by Allan Jones. The second feature is sufficient attraction by itself. It is that popular "Three Live Ghosts/ a production that has pleased millions. The cast is strong, headed as it is by Richard Arlen, Beryl Mercer, and Claude Allister, but the last two completely "steal" the picture. Claude, as. the soldier returned with loss of memory and kleptomania (he is really a lord) is brilliant. TUDOR THEATRE. I "Turnabout." one of the rp^* lightful comedies shown in Wellington for some time, has oetu ira, Ju i ... . to the Tudor Theatre. Thorne Smith has written several clever and fantastic novels, of which many have been transferred to the screen, but it- is doubtful if any previous film has the crisp dialogue and delightful comedy of "Turnabout." The story itself concerns the trials that befall a back-bit-ing young married couple who express a mutual desire to change places. An evil little god gets to work, and in the morning they find the change has actually taken place. "The Courageous Dr. Christian" is the second feature. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. Claire Trevor and John Wayne combine their talents in a historic epic, "The First Rebel," showing .at the De Luxe Theatre. The film deals with a stirring chapter in American history. Hal Roach's "Topper Takes a Trip," which is the second feature, is one of the gayest and most uproariously funny comedies to reach the screen. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. Dr. Jimmy Kildare sets out to save a beautiful girl who would rather die than reveal the secret which would save her, in a gripping drama of mystery, romance, and medical wonders' in "The Secret of Dr. Kildare," which is showing at the State Theatre, with Lew Ayres as the young doctor and Lionel Barrymore as the veteran Dr. Gillespie, his scourge and mentor. ' KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT: Music-lovers, regardless of their tastes, have a treat in store for them at the King George Theatre, where the new musical film "Balalaika," starring Nelson Eddy and Ilona Massey, is now showing. It is a brilliant production musically and dramatically, and serves as an excellent vehicle with which to introduce Miss Massey, Hollywood's newest singing star. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Framed" is the main feature at the Palace Theatre. Turning the spotlight upon a vicious and heartless type of criminal, the picture has drama and thrilling action scenes combined with a pleasing romantic story. The second attraction, "Millionaire Playboy" features Joe Penner. i' GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Sons of the Sea,"' the all-colour British naval espionage drama, is showing at the Grand Theatre. Leslie Banks heads a selected cast. Synthetic blood, murder, disappearance, ! chills, and thrills fill the thrilling picturisation of "The Return of Doctor X," the second feature.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. "Primrose Path," the main attraction at the King's Theatre, is unusual inasmuch as it allows Ginger Rogers, great dancing and singing star, one of her first dramatic roles. As the daughter of a shameful family, in a filthy neighbourhood, she has a difficult part to play. But she performs excellently. The story deals with the influence of this girl's family on her life. The| father, once a fine scholar, whiles away the hours with his eye on a gin bottle, the mother, because she has to support the family of two girls, accepts the attentions of other men. Eventually the family earns an astonishing reputation. Ellie May (Miss Rogers) comes in for considerable criticism from other families in the neighbourhood, but her one aim—to defy heredity and environment —is successful. She falls in lovp and marries. She is happy in her married life away from her family. Her* husband (Joel McCrea) is anxious to meet her people, and cannot' understand why, when he suggests it, his wife procrastinates so. Eventually the day arrives when Ellie May has 10 introduce him to the family. Five minutes afterwards the husband walks out and leaves her. In a drunken stupor the father shoots the mother. It is just as Ellie May, to support the remaining members of the family, sets out to follow in her mother's footsteps that the husband returns. The film,! though in the main highly dramatic, has an abundance of light moments. Included in a wide range of supports are shots, of New Zealand soldiers abroad and a Donald Duck cartoon. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. Two first-rate comedies of the sophisticated, slick-dialogue type are showing at the Paramount Theatre. They are "French Without Tears," starring Ray Milland, Ellen Drew, and "Lucky To Me," a hilarious farce, with Stanley Lupino and Phyllis Brooks in the leading roles. "French Without Tear*" tells what happens when the beautiful sister of one of the students at a French schobl for adults decides to sojourn at the school. She is a designing young woman, who likes to have all the available men at her feet. There is keen competition for her! company, and an amusing passage of jealousy between two men, one a British naval officer, who has to learn French for an interpreter's examination. The two rivals eventually decide j to fight it out in a wine cellar, but eventually adopt the more sensible j procedure of drowning their differences in wine instead. "Lucky To Me," the second attraction, gives Stanley Lupino another opportunity to provide more excellent entertainment on the lines of his well-remembered performance in "Lambeth Walk." In the new picture he figures as chief clerk of a stockbroker. He has secretly married a typist in the office, but their plans for a honeymoon are sadly interfered with when on their wedding night the- clerk is sent down to interview a wealthy client at whose home a large house party is in progress. PLAZA THEATRE. An intrinsically human drama, unrelenting in its frankness, "Grapes of Wrath" heads the new bill at the Plaza Theatre. The theme is faithfully adapted from John Steinbeck's book of the same name, and which in America is a best-seller. Excellent acting by the whole cast gives poignancy to the story of suffering, endurance, and bitter disillusionment in America during the world economic depression of the nineteen-thirties. The story concerns the. adventures that befall the Joad family. It opens with Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) released from prison after a sentence for homicide. On his arrival at -the family's farm he hears of the misfortunes and tribulations that have befallen his people. The family load all their possessions and personnel aboard a conveyance and a journey to California begins. Two members of the family die on the way. Poverty gradually breaks down the family unit, and brings despair, desperation, and finally crime and flight, with the story ending with only Mother Joad (Jane Darwell)' undefeated, repeating the keynote. "We are the people." The fpm naturally has its sad moments, but its ,entertainment value is undeniable. Henry Fonda and Jane Darwell carry the story, with John Carradine, Charlie Grapewin, Doris Bowden, and Russell Simpson ably filling the minor roles. There is a splendid supporting programme, including comedies and the latest newsreels. STATE THEATRE. Weird happenings in mysterious caves under a lake provide a succession of first-class thrills in "The Man With Nine Lives," which is featured on the new programme at the State Theatre. . The central figure is a scientist, played by Boris Karloff, who attempts to find a way of completing a new departure in medical science known as frozen therapy. Ten years (previously he is on the eve of finding the solution when he is placed under arrest, and to save his patient's life hp» forces the officials into an ice cave and locks them there. He is also trapped himself, and when released by a young scientist these men are restored to life. The supporting picture, "Cafe Hostess," deals with the operations of a night club, and provides a first-class riot when the -club is raided. - x DE LUXE THEATRE. Some of the best-remembered action stories of the screen have come from the studios of Warner Bros., whose latest offering of this type, "King of the Lumberjacks," heads an attractive double-feature programme at the De Luxe Theatre this week. The tall timbers of California's forest lands have provided the- setting for many pictures before today, but none have exceeded "King of the Lumberjacks" for sheer excitement and first-class character portrayal. John Payne and Gloria Dixon provide the romantic interest, and Stanley • Fields is responsible for much of the action as a hardbitten lumber-camp boss. The picture shows with, vivid detail the perils of a lumberjack's work. The other film is a Republic production "Smuggled Cargo," a story of the Californian orange-growing industry. Barry Mac-1 kay snd Rochelle Hudson are the stars, and the film shows the courageous fight' of a co-operative growers' association J against, the perils of frost snd the un- j derhand dealings of unscrupulous competitors. This picture, too, is packed with action from start to finish s NGAIO CITIZENS' PICTURES. | "Destry, Rides Again," a picture of ' the old West, is showing at the Ngaio i Pictures. It is full of excitement, j thrills, and laughter. The glamorous! Msrlene Dietrich is revealed as a wild woman of the West and James Stewart is the new sheriff who sets out to bring law and order to the raw frontier town. The second feature stars Charlie Chan in "The City in Darkness." KHANDALLAH PICTURES. "Too Hot to Handle," showing tonight at the Khandallah Pictures, is < an exciting story of daring newsreel j men who face death to bring the events / of the world to the screen. Clark ; Gable and Myrna Loy are .the stars.! The second feature, "Barricade." stars Warner Baxter, Alice Faye, and Chas. Winninger. ASCOT THEATRE. "Invitation to Happiness," starring Irene Dunne and Fred Mac Murray, is showing at the Ascot Theatre. It is a brilliant comedy drama that must appeal to everyone. Also showing is "Nick Carter, Master Detective." a mystery story of the breaking up of a ring of spies. Walter Pidgeon and Rita Johnson are starred. The supporting items are excellent.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Smashing its way through the censorship already clamped down by the warring nations of Europe, Columbia's "U-Boat 29" is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. Based upon actual incidents in the first World War, the sensational story of the film already has its counterpart in recent events. Conrad Veidt. Valeric Hobson, and Sebastian Shaw are featured in the stirring screen document, which has been acclaimed as one of the finest films of the year. The! amazing metamorphosis a wealthy," citybred family undergoes /when marooned on a tropical isle and pitted against the vicious forces of Nature, motivates the fascinating story of "Swiss Family Robinson." the associate attraction. j RIVOLI THEATRE. Lovely, golden-haired Madeleine Carroll, star of innumerable Hollywood hits, plays the role of Livia Vayno in Edward Small's great screen production of Howard Spring's international best-seller, "My Son, My Son!" which is the main attraction at the Rivoli Theatre. Miss Carroll shares honours in the production with Brian I Aherne and Louis Hay ward. ContinuI ous action thrills, romance, and comedy are the entertainment ingredients blended into Universal's "Danger on Wheels," the associate film. ROXY THEATRE. Unusual in theme and based upon actual incidents in the history of the United States Coast Guard, Columbia's drama "Coast Guard" is showing at the Roxy Theatre, with Randolph Scott, Frances Dee. Ralph Bellamy, and Walter Connolly heading the important cast. Zane, Grey's "Knights of the Range," a thrilling tale of gallantry in the wide open spaces, is the second feature. \ CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. "Another Thin Man," with William Powell and Myrna Loy, which is showing at the Capitol Theatre, presents the same stars in a new story, funnier and faster and more amazing than its predecessor, "The Thin Man." The associate feature is "Espionage Agent," in. which Brenda Marshall takes the lead and co-stars with Joel McCrea. The story is dedicated to the courageous exploits of men who battle for peace. REX THEATRE. . Glamorous Paris during the unforgettable days when powerful Burgundy hammered at the gates of the city and all France breathlessly waited on the commands of a vagabond poet, forms the epic setting for "If I Were King," Paramqunt's epic story of the life of Francois; Villon, which is showing at the Rex Theatre. Ronald Colman has the leading role. The story of how a crooked boxing racket is smashed is {told in Paramourit's "Golden Gloves," the associate film. i ' VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Distinctly on the side of good citizenship, though still tough and still aggressive, are the i'Dead End" Kids in their latest picture for Warner Bros., "The Angels Wash Their Faces," which is showing at the Vogue Theatre. Lupe Velez, vivacious screen star, portrays one of her famous firecracker roles in RKO-Radio's "Mexican Spitfire," the associate film, in which she, plays the title . part. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. Heralded as Deanna Durbin's most colourful motion picture, "It's a Date," which has its background in Hawaii, is showing at the Regal Theatre. Marking another important forward step in i the development of the Universal star into • more mature roles, Deanna's seventh film finds her surrounded by J an important cast. "Frozen Limits," the second feature, is the most riotous of all crazy domedies, featuring the Crazy.Gang and their exploits in search of a legendary gold cache in Alaska. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. , With Laurence Ollivier and Joan Fontaine heading a cast of outstanding players, and with a story filled with drama, suspense, and mystery, David O. Selznick's latest production, "Rebecca/ is showing at the Empire Theatre. "Rebecca" is the film version of the best-selling novel of the same name by Daphne dv Maurier. Lawlessness among a group of men sworn to oppose criminals is the theme of George O'Brien's latest action drama, "Legion of the Lawless," the associate film.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. WOBURN.

The latest evidence of what thrilling and dramatic screen material can be found in the private lives of men in white is "Disputed Passage," showing at the Prince Edward Theatre, with Dorothy Lamour, John Howard, and Akim Tamiroff in top roles. Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern cavort merrily .through "Fast and Furious," the second feature. .