CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 90, 12 October 1940, Page 7

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Adventure in Diamonds," which heads the bill at the St. James Theatre, lias an entertaining and refreshing theme written round the exploits of an illicit diamond ring and their aStorts to smuggle rich hauls from South Africa. The story is well handled and has many amusing interludes. The romantic angle is -provided by George Brent and Isa Miranda. International jewel brigands, fascinating adventuresses, romantic-minded army officers, and leaders of sophisticated South African society are incorporated in this film of high intrigue. One tense episode follows another as Miss Miranda tries to crack the world's most Sosely-guarded treasure hoard, as Brent suddenly joins up with the stoused Secret Service to break up the «ime ring, and finally as Miss Miranda and Brent become partners and fight lor their lives against the girl's past confederates. The supporting programme includes short newsreels, comedies, and travelogues. MAJESTIC THEATRE. Now in its third week at the Majestic Theatre, "Edison the Man" is still attracting large audiences. Like most truly great souls, Edison was as approachable as he was kindly, and though his mind broadened with the progress of the years he was always at one with his employees in sympathy and understanding. From the days when he commenced life as a country telegraphist to the crown of his career one fact is well brought out in the film, his thoroughness in perfecting and amplifying his discoveries. When pressed by creditors his fertile brain responded with yet another invention added to the long list of his triumphs. As a story, "Edison the Man" is attractive because of the loyalty of his wife and picked permanent staff. The newsreels show the fifty destroyers sold to Britain by the United States, and the Anzacs in Palestine. There are also stirring speeches by President Roosevelt and Lord Lothian. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. The entertaining adventures of a shipping magnate's son (Bing Crosby) and his mate (Bob Hope) who prefer the variety of the East to the dull routine of office work, form the material from which has been fashioned "The Road to Singapore," principal attraction on the double-feature programme at the Paramount Theatre. The real adventures of the pair begin at a party when the shipping man's son and his mate start a-fight on his father's private yacht. The two men disappear but land up in a colourful Eastern port and very soon have an attractive dancing girl (Dorothy Lamour) added to the bachelor establishment they have set up in a native bungalow. The story is told lightheartedly with plenty of humour and there are several catchy songs by Bing Crosby. The second big feature is the latest production in the "Dad and Dave" series. It is entitled "Dad Rudd, M.P.," and is in every respect a highly creditable entertainment capable of standing on its own merits in company with the best products of the American studios. There are patches of burlesque, notably the hilarious performance of the Rudville Fire Brigade, and a great deal of firstclass humour mostly contained in witty and smooth-running dialogue. Bert Bailey as Dad and Fred Mac Donald as. Dave head the cast. Yvonne East is a charming and talented leading lady. OPERA HOUSE. The sheer delight of brilliant singing, the splendour of the pre-revolution days in Russia, and the tragic effect of the revolution itself on the aristocrats are skilfully blended in "Balalaika," which is snowing at the Opera House. There is a polish about the film version of this popular play that comes only from expert and artistic direction and consistently high quality of acting. Nelson Eddy, of course, is alone sufficient reason for the success of "Balalaika," but with him is Ilona Massey to add her beautiful voice. Frank Morgan and Charles Ruggles are two old favourites, and behind -all the cast there is the atmosphere of exciting romance that is inseparable from the Cossacks—or, at least, the Cossacks the average person knows. Many excellent songs are sung as solos or in choruses, with beautiful settings and costumings. There is an entertaining and varied supporting programme which includes «n "Our Gang" comedy, "Nostradamus"—an illuminating story of the ©rophecies of Michael Nostradamus—a coloured travel talk on the exhibition at-San Francisco Bay, and a Picture Slowing something of the work of that brilliant American negro, Dr. G. w. Carver. KHANDALLAH PICTURES. In "Full Confession," starring Victor McLaglen and Sally Eilers, which is showing at the Khandallah Pictures, a. stubborn priest (whose lips were; sealed) tries to force a murderer to confess and save an innocent man from being electrocuted. The supporting feature is "Hold My Hand," a comedy starring Stanley Lupino. ASCOT THEATRE. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's comedy romance, "Remember?" showing at tne Ascot Theatre, stars Robert Taylor, Lew Ayres, and Greer Garson in a captivating story that disproves the theory that three makes a crowd. Also showing is Australia's popular comedian George Wallace in "Gone to the Dogs." The supports are varied and entertaining. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE. LOWER HUTT. Stirring drama, a warm romance, and a vast pageantry of the life of medieval Paris and its intrigues and treacheries, are disclosed m "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." which stars Charles Laughton, and which is showing at the Prince Edward Theatre. "Sons Of the Sea," all-colour naval espionage drama, starring Leslie Banks, is the second feature. STATE THEATRE, PETONE. The motion picture treatment of Eudyard Kipling's greatest novel, "The Light That Failed," starring Ronald Colman, and featuring Walter Huston, Ida Lupino, Muriel Angelus, Dudley Digges, and many others, is showing at the State Theatre. . Also screening is a film showing the evacuation of the B.E.F. from Dunkirk. KING GEORGE THEATRE. LOWER HUTT. As -stirring an action romance as the screen has ever seen, the unforgettable story of "Beau Geste" and his glorious, gallant brothers is the attraction at the King George Theatre. The film stars Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, and Robert Preston. ' PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. Set in a picturesque background, j "Mother by Proxy," which is showing at the Palace Theatre, is a sympa-thetically-told story of heartbreak and sacrifice which, because of the sincere quality of the acting and direction, manages to avoid the pitfalls of mawkish sentimentality. The second attraction is "Two-fisted Rangers," * stirring tale of the West. ftBAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Lucky to Me," the successor to "The Lambeth Walk," is the attraction at the Grand Theatre. Stanley Lupino •nd lovely Phyllis Brooks head the east "Women Without Names, the Paramount drama, is the second attraction, with Ellen Drew and Robert Paige in co-featured roles.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. I Something a little out of the ordinary in gangster pictures has been achieved in "Johnny Apollo," the attraction at the King's Theatre. Tyrone Power, Edward Arnold, Dorothy Lamour, and Roger Pryor are starred. It is dramatic, fast-moving, and not without romance. Tyrone Power plays the role of Robert Cain, son of a stock broker (Arnold). He is at college when his father is sentenced to five years' imprisonment for embezzlement. The only man whom he knows can get his father out of prison is a crook lawyer. Cain needs money for this and falls in with gangster Mickey Dwyer (Roger Pryor). Cam is soon known to the police as Johnny Apollo, the brains behind Dwyer and his gang. ( Languishing in gaol, the father, hears j of his son's downfall, not realising, of course, that his son is doing it for him. After a series of crimes, the gang, in-1 eluding Apollo, is sent to prison. Then ; follows one of the most exciting incidents in the film, an attempted prison break. Dorothy Lamour, as a cafe singer, plays her part impressively. Supports include shots of devastated portions of London and Empire soldiers overseas. There is a topical "March of Time." , DE LUXE THEATRE., The comedy team of Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris, Jane Bryan, Eddie Albert, Jane Wyman, and Ronald Reagan, which first made its bow m "Brother Rat," makes a welcome return in "Brother Rat and a Baby, the main attraction at the De Luxe Theatre. It relates further adventures of the six who, in "Brother Rat, played havoc with the descipline in j an American military college. The] infant son of Albert, whose impend-j ing arrival was the cause of most or; the mirth in the first picture, is now i about a year old and lands the sextet j into further difficulties when he swal- i lows a diamond ring worth 200 dollars. It is Wayne Morris who eventually solves all difficulties. Among j the other members of the cast are Arthur Treacher and Peter B. Good. The supporting film, "Tear Gas Squad, mixes music with a story of a policeman's revenge on the gangsters who murdered his brother. The cast includes Dennis Morgan, John Payne, and Gloria Dickson. The programme commences with a 15-minute community sing. PLAZA THEATRE. Unusual in its outlook is the dramatic film "Bill of Divorcement," which is showing at the Plaza Theatre. The story deals with an unusual theme —the disastrous effects that a streak of hereditary insanity has on the life of an otherwise normal English family. It is not a particularly cheerful subject, but it is so handled that the film has none of the morbidness which might be expected when such a topic is handled. The settings are modest and enter little into the film as a whole; it is made entirely successful by the excellent work of the small j group of artists who make up the cast. Maureen O'Hara, a relative newcomer, j but an attractive personality, has the leading role as the daughter of the family, and Fay Bainter, Herbert Marshall, Adolphe Menjou, Dame May Whitty, and C. Aubrey Smith are also in the cast. The story is human and appealing. For twenty years since the war the husband of the family has been in an asylum suffering, according to what the" daughter has been told, from the effects of shell shock. At last the wife seeks a divorce, and. in spite of the preachings of a malicious aunt, seeks to make a second and happy marriage. The daughter, too, becomes engaged to a young colonial. Before either marriage eventuates, however, the husband comes back home and demands, on his return, his former standing in the house. The climax is unusual, and a departure from the stereotyped style. Supports include newsreels and a^ Walt Disney cartoon. STATE THEATRE. "Cross-country Romance," starring Gene Raymond and Wendy Barrie, heads the programme at the State Theatre. The story opens in New York where Wendy Barrie, as an impetuous heiress, is preparing for her wedding to a fortune-hunting nincompoop, a union devised by the rich girl's mother, played by Hedda Hopper. At the last minute the would-be bride impulsively decides to run away before the ceremony commences, and she seeks refuge in the car trailer of a young doctor who is about to leave for San Francisco. This is the beginning of a series of uproarious events. The associate film is "Millionaires in Prison," an unusual story which blends comedy with drama. Lee Tracy heads the cast. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. The great advantage of a film series is the opportunity it gives its actors to "second-guess." Thus it is that Lew Ayres looks forward to many more appearances in the popular "Dr. Kil-i dare" group of pictures, of which he recently completed the third, "The Secret of Dr. Kildare," now screening at the Capitol Theatre. The associate feature, with Boris Karloff and Margaret Lindsay, is "British Intelligence." "Dark Victory," starring Bette Davis, commences on Monday. TUDOR THEATRE. The screen's loveliest new star, Linda Darnell, appears in "Star Dust." the 20th Century-Fox film which has been transferred to the Tudor Theatre. "Star Dust" tells of the two plucky small-town youngsters who love each other, sharing their ambitions and their heartaches in the great adventure that is Hollywood. Handsome John Payne is the boy. Laughter afloat and ashore is the keynote of the associate film, "Sailor's Lady." Nancy Kelly and Jon Hall head the cast, and an important role is played by "Skipper," the baby that scuppers the navy's war games. EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. "French Without Tears," starring Ray Milland, Ellen Drew, Janine Darcy, David Tree, and Ronald Culver, is the main film at the Empire Theatre. With Jane Withers and Gene Autry starred, "Shooting High," the 20th Cen-tury-Fox colourful action romance of the West, is the. second feature. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. The entertaining comedy, "French Without Tears," starring Ray Milland and Ellen Drew, heads the programme at the Regal Theatre. Packed with rol- j licking fun, trigger-fast action and plenty of songs, "Shooting High," a i colourful action romance of the West, which is the second feature, stars Jane Withers and Gene Autry. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Lusty outdoor drama of the pioneer west, "Song of the Plains," is showing at the Princess Theatre. The picture presents Nelson Eddy in his most virile characterisation to date, and surrounds him with such veterans as Virginia Bruce, Victor McLaglen, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Arnold, Guy Kibbee, and Charles Butterworth. The second feature is "Buck Benny Rides Again," Jack Benny's newest picture for Paramount and undoubtedly his funniest. REX THEATRE. Hal Roach's new romantic comedy, "Elephants Never Forget." is screening at the Rex with a cast which includes Oliver Hardy, Jean Parker. June Lang, Billie Burke, Alice Brady, James Ellison and Harry Langdon. "The Old Corral," the latest Western musical starring Gene Autry, is the associate film.

TIVOLI THEATRE. Stephen Foster's immortal romance and songs come to the screen at the Tivoli Theatre, in "Swanee River," starring Don Ameche and Andrea Leeds. It is a story of the origin of America's most beloved music, and the life of the man who wrote it told in beautiful technicolour. The associate feature is "Nick Carter, Detective." KIVOLI THEATRE. "French Without Tears," starring Ray Milland and Ellen Drew, is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. It is from Anthony Asquith, whose recent picture. George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion.'" proved one of the outstanding international hits of the season, and who directed "French Without Tears" for Paramount at Shepperton Sound City, London. One of the most unusual as well as entertaining pictures of the year, "Beyond Tomorrow," is the second feature. A brilliant all-star cast includes Charles Winninger, Richard Carlson, Maria Ouspenskaya, Jean Parker. Helen Vinson, C. Aubrey Smith, and Harry Carey. KINEMA, KILBIRNIE. "Wuthering Heights," starring Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, and David Niyen, is showing at the Kinema. The story unfolds on the wild and desolate moors of Yorkshire, ft is a tale of a high-spirited, quick-tempered, beautiful girl, who is madly loved by two men, one half-gipsy and half-gentle-man, the other rich and well born. The associate feature, "Henry Goes Arizona," stars the comedian Frank Morgan, and with him are Virginia Weidler, Slim Summerville, and Guy Kibbee. REGENT THEATRE. All the riotous colour and gorgeous beauty of the romantic South Seas are alive on the screen in Paramount's Technicolor production, "South of Samoa," which is showing at the Regent Theatre. More glamorous and j more gaily dressed than ever, Dorj othy Lamour is, the vibrant castaway 'on an uninhabited island, while her ; companion is a chimpanzee she has raised and trained. Then Robert Pres- • ton and Lynne Overman are forced jto abandon ship on her paradise shore. The tempestuous romance, and the traitorous actions of J. Carrol Naish, Polynesian chief, who is chasing the sailors, mount up with suspense to the climax of a tropical typhoon. SEASIDE THEATRE, LYALL BAY. "The Young in Heart," which is show-1 ing at the Seaside Theatre, is a gay i romantic comedy dealing with the Careltons, a happy-go-lucky family of society "gate-crashers." Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Paulette Goddard head the cast. Costarring Victor McLaglen and Jackie Cooper, "The Big Guy" is the second feature. j ROXY THEATRE. ! "On Your Toes," which is showing j at the Roxy Theatre, offers a double j dose of entertainment. It stars Zorina, an exotic dancer of extraordinary versatility and charm. But "On Your Toes" is not solely an exhibition of dancing. In a way the dancing is only incidental to uproarious comedy. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., and Madeleine Carroll are stars of "Safari." i NGAIO CITIZENS' PICTURES. • The daring exploits of a young Englishman who has dedicated his life to the abolishment of crime furnishes many thrilling moments in "The Saint in London," showing at the Ngaio Pictures. The second feature is "Fifth Avenue Girl," starring Ginger Rogers. "The Sea of Strife," a timely featurette of the Mediterranean, is also showing. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. "On Borrowed Time" is one of the most daring and unusual stories ever filmed. Very briefly, it is the story of an old grandfather who is afraid to die lest the grandson whom he adores fall into the hands of a scheming and unscrupulous aunt. Lionel Barrymore and Bobs Watson head the cast. "Calling Philo Vance," starring Margot Stephenson and James Stevenson, is the supporting feature. Selected supports complete the programme. BLAMIRES TRIO AT WALDORF. «, Beginning on Monday, selections from popular classics and extracts from operas, old and new, will be played in the Waldorf Restaurant from 2.30 in the afternoon by the Vivienne Blamires Instrumental Trio. The programme will be carefully chosen to appeal to all tastes. On Monday Miss Blamires will play several violin solos, including Hungarian Dance No. . 5, (Brahms), and Miss Marie Vanderwart will play, among other items, Civ's ever-popular 'cello solo, "Oriental." Apart from her ability as a violinist. I Miss Blamires has a charming soprano voice, and she will be heard every afternoon next week in "For Eng- , land" (Allan Murray) and "Speak to Me of Love" (Jean Lenorr). "HIAWATHA." ♦ Samuel Coleridge Taylor's masterly composition, "Hiawatha," which is to be performed in the Town Hall next Saturday evening, gives the Royal Wellington Choral Union another oppor-; tunity of proving.its prowess in what may be termed the dramatic field of! music. The public know that whatever i the society undertakes is given a true and faithful interpretation, and Coleridge Taylor's "Hiawatha" is. so pictorial in its music that the performance will almost appear to the listeners to be a drama. The public will note with pleasure the names of those engaged to take the principal parts. Mrs. Chrissie Barton, of Timaru, will sing the soprano solos, and Mr. Harold Prescott, of Greymouth, will take the tenor role. The baritone work has been allotted to Mr. Ernest Short, of Dunedin. The performance will be { under the direction of Mr. Stanley; Oliver. The box plan opens at the D.I.C. on Tuesday next. SARAH HURFORD AMES'S TRUST. Applications are again invited by the Public Trustee for grants from the estate of the late Sarah Hurford Ames, whose will directed that part of the annual income from the residuary estate is to be distributed' annually to homes and other institutions in the city and suburbs of Wellington established and conducted for the care and welfare of aged or infirm persons of either sex. The Public Trustee is administering the estate and applications should be submitted to him. An advertisement appears in this issue. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Laery and Co., Ltd., Townsend and Paul, Ltd., George Thomas and Co., D, Bowie and Co., Ltd., Thompson Bros., Ltd., A. Pope and Co., Ltd., and Turners and Growers (Wellington), Ltd., report values as follows:— Lemons, Meyers, 8s to 14s half-case; mandarins, 11s to 14s half-case; tomatoes, hot house, Is 9d to 3s 3d per 1b; tree tomatoes, 9s 3d to 11s 3d halfcase; grapefruit. 6s to 10s case; asparagus, 9d to Is Id per lib bunches; cucumbers, hot house. 9s to 15s 6d dozen; green peas, 7d to 9.d per lb; new potatoes, 2|d to 4d per lb; potatoes, 4s to 6s 6d per cwt; onions, 5s to 14s cental bag; kumeras, 16s to 18s 6d sugar bag; cabbage, spring, 2s 6d to 7s case; lettuce, choice 8s to 14s case, others 3<5 to 7s cs.se; cauliflowers, 11s 6d to 21s 6d sacfe silver beet, Is 6d to 3s 6d case; spinach, 3s to 14s 3d case; pumpkins. 33s to 40 s 6d sack; carrots, 4s to 8s 9d case; swedes, 4s to 11s case; parsnips, 3s to 6s case; beetroot, 4s to 9s 6d case; leeks. Is 6d to 5s 6d case; celery, choice 8s to 14s case, others 3s to 7s case; rhubarb, 6s to 11s dozen bunches.

Y.W.C.A. HOLIDAY CAMP. ♦ The Y.W.C.A. holiday camp offers an ideal two-week vacation for girls of Wellington. Two camps are to be conducted, one commencing on Boxing Day for business girls (over 16 years) and the other on January 6 for school girls. The camp at the Solway Showgrounds, Masterton, has large airy dormitories, tennis courts, and swimming pool. Hikes, sports, crafts, camp fires, and special instruction in swimming and tennis form the programme, j Of special interest to business girls will be the two-day trip to Napier, also an. overnight trip up Mt. Holdsworth. Prospective campers or parents wishing to make inquiries are invited to consult Miss H. M. Saunders, girls' work secretary, or Miss H. R. Macdonald, physical director, at the Y.W.C.A., Boulcott Street. SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. « ! Tomorrow the Wesley Methodist Sunday School, Taranaki Street, will celebrate its 99th anniversary. There will be special singing by Sunday school and Bible class members under the conductorship of Mr. H. F. Gardiner, with Mr. H. Kelly at the organ. The choice of hymns this year is somewhat unusual, in that the traditional anniversary hymn has, to a degree, given place to a special selection of hymns taken largely from the Methodist Hymn Book and the American Student Hymnal, the latter being a very fine collection of hymns specially suitable, both in sentiment and in setting, for young people. It is expected that many of the thousands of expupils of the Sunday school will be present at the anniversary services. Further details of the services will be found in the church notices. "AMPHITRYON 38." ♦ Last night a crowded house again greeted "Amphitryon 38," the delightful comedy by Jean Giraudoux which the Wellington Repertory Theatre is staging at the Concert Chamber under the direction of Mr. W. S. Wauchop. The witty points in the dialogue are quickly taken up by the audience. The stage settings and lightings, costumes, and make-up are extraordinarily good, and the company plays with skill and polish. The cast includes Mrs. Craig Mackenzie, Mrs. W. A. Marten, Misses Molly Cook and Mary Sladden, Messrs. W. S. Wauchop, P. C. Benham, Charles Johnston, W. F. C. Balham, N. V. Wotton, and Gordon Hooper. This lively and brilliant entertainment will be played for the last time tonight. A matinee for patriotic funds was held this afternoon. "HELL-FIRE TORMENTS." "The wages of sin is death." Thus does the Bible teach concerning the punishment for sin. How, then, can the doctrine of Hell-fire torments be true? That the true meaning of the Hebrew and Greek originals translated "hell" land "hell-fire" in the Bible does not support the doctrine of Hell-fire torments but agrees with plain Bible teaching that the punishment for sin is death will be demonstrated in the course of a lecture entitled "Hell-fire Torments —A Fallacy" to be given in the lOOF. Hall, Allen Street, tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock. Questions will be invited at the close of the lecture, particulars of which are advertised. RACE TRAINS. 1 __ «i In today's paper will be found the Railway Department's advertisement giving particulars of the cheap fares and special train arrangements in connection with the Masterton races at Otaki on October 17 and 19. SUNDAY CONCERT. ~~+ . It is anticipated that there will be a large attendance at the Town Hall tomorrow night when the band of the Trentham Military Camp, under Bandmaster Lieutenant C. Pike, will give a concert in aid of the Christmas Cheer Fund of the Mayor's Metropolitan Relief Committee. The band, which comprises some of the best instrumentalists in the Dominion, has had 'facilities for intensive rehearsals for some months past, and is now regarded by experts as one of the finest brass bands in the Dominion. An attractive programme will be presented, including marches, selections, hymns, instrumental solos, and duets, and the popular "William Tell" overture. In addition to the items by the band there will be community singing of popular songs and hymns, the latter with grand organ accompaniment. There will be two guest artists in the programme, Mr. H. F. Wood, the well-known baritone, and Mr. Val Jones tenor, a brother of the musical-comedy star, Mr. Lance Fairfax. The song leader for the community singing will i be Mr. Joe Shriner, formerly of the | Clem Dawe Company. Mr. Bob Hery will be at the piano, and Mr. W. H. Godier at the grand organ. A charge of one shilling will be made for adI mission. Seats may be reserved at Chas. Begg's or the State Theatre, and telephone reserves can be made between 7 and 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Town Hall (telephone 41-065).