CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 101, 25 October 1940, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. "The Middle Watch," a sophisticated comedy of errors on a British battleship, heads the new bill at the Regent Theatre. This is an English production, and it is the kind of thing in which English producers are miles ahead of their Hollywood rivals. The cast is headed by Jack Buchanan, supported by players who have all earned prominence in musical comedy on the English stage. The cleyerly-contrived story tells of the astonishing and altogether unexpected events that follow the action of a- captain of marines in inviting his fiancee and a girl cousin to have dinner with him in his ship. He is not to know that the pinnace that was to have taken them ashore will break down before the journey can be made or that the reluctant permission of a bachelor woman-hating captain will have to be obtained for the ladies to spend the night on the battleship. Nor is he to know that the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Hewett, will arrive on board for the night nor that the ship will be ordered to sea before its highly "contraband" cargo can be got rid of. The rich possibilities of this situation are made full use of in a manner that will long be remembered by 1 those who see the picture. The dia--1 logue is witty and polished. Jack Buchanan plays "Captain Maitiand." The young ladies who cause so much trouble and end up with a naval fiancee apiece are played by Greta Gynt and Kay Walsh. An excellent supporting programme includes a newsreel covering recent events of the war. MAJESTIC THEATRE. A stirring dramatic document comes ■to the screen in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's "The Mortal Storm," which heads the programme at the Majestic, with Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Robert Young, and Frank Morgan heading an impressive cast of ■ screen personalities. The screen play, adapt- . Ed from the novel by Phyllis Bottome, teils the story of a family torn asunder by political forces. It is a frank, truthful presentation, completely free from exaggeration or any attempt at 1 sensationalism. It is truth picturised, not fictionised. The picture brings together once again the star triumvate of "The Shop Around the Corner." Once again Margaret Sullavan and 1 James Stewart provide the love in--1 terest, although their background has 1 been changed from one of fantasy to stark realism. OPERA HOUSE. "Strange Cargo," an unusual and memorable drama of six desperadoes and a girl who escape from a jungle gaol, has been transferred from the Majestic Theatre to continue its season at the Opera House. The acting is of a very fine order. Clark Gable as Verne, a rebellious prisoner who will not submit to the rough discipline of a penal settlement in South America, gives a performance which is as good as anything he has done since "Mutiny on the Bounty." Joan Crawford as Julie, cabaret girl who finds herself in love-with Verne, is also remarkably good. But it is lan Hunter in the part of_ Cambreau, the man from nowhere, with the uncanny foreknowledge of events, and a strange facility for drawing out the best in the worst of men, who holds together the threads of interest from start to finish of the story. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. It is "spooky week" at the Paramount Theatre, and the main film, "The Ghost Breakers," give the programme a thrilling start. Action is the keynote of "The Ghost Breakers." From the very first moment when Paulette Goddard finds that she has inherited a haunted castle on an island off Cuba, until she finds out why it was haunted at the: end of the picture, not a mo- j ment is wasted. It is only, natural that two people (the other is Bob Hope) united in solving such a thrilling riddle should gradually drift into romance, although they are thrown together accidentally in the beginning, i Paul Lukas plays the villain, that is, one of the villains, and a very handsome one, indeed, Richard Carlson makes a dashing character come alive, and Willie Best, as Bob Hope's negro man-servant, is a great foil. The second film, too, has the spooky element, with sliding panels, groping hands, and other thrills. It is "Blondie Has Servant Trouble." To prove that life doesn't have to be complicated to become slightly hectic, this array of hilarity begins simply when Blondie insists on a maid for the house, which would be all right for all concerned if the house wasn't haunted. The film is a characterisation of the famous { Bumstead Comic strip. NEW PRINCESS THEATRE. Engineering and photographic problems never before encountered in a motion picture went into xhe filming of "The Wizard of Oz," which is showing at the Princess Theatre. The picture, one hundred per cent, musical, was filmed in Technicolor. One of the screen's most unusual mystery stories, "Hollywood Stadium Mystery," is the second feature, STATE THEATRE, PETONE. "Dad Rudd, M.P.," featuring Bert Bailey and the inimitable Rudd Family, is showing at the State Theatre. Since the days of "On Our Selection" the Rudds have prospered; the old man's in Parliament now and "Dave," "Mum," and the rest of the family are endeavouring to live up to Dad's new status. PALACE THEATRE, PETONE. "Gone to the Dogs" and "Storm Over Bengal" will be shown finally tonight at the Palace Theatre. "Tear Gas Squad," the attraction tomorrow, is primarily an exciting melodrama of the New York Police Force, packed with thrills, action, and dramatic tension. '"Nancy Drew—Trouble \ Shooter," third picture in Warner Bros, j popular film series based on the exploits of that youthful whirlwind Nancy Drew, is the second attraction. GRAND THEATRE, PETONE. "Private Detective" and "A Young Man's Fancy" conclude tonight at the Grand Theatre. "Invisible Stripes," a drama of afterprison life, based on a book by Lewis E. Lawes, will be the attraction commencing tomorrow. The year's wildest, whirlwind of romance with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell co-starred is "His Girl Friday," the second feature. DE LUXE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "Lawless Valley," a new R.K.O. Westei-n picture starring George O'Brien as a wrongly convicted criminal who, in a series of exciting adventures, runs down the real murderers and proves his own innocence, is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. "Tell No Tales" is the second feature. KING GEORGE THEATRE, LOWER HUTT. "Judge Hardy and Son" brings Lewis Stone, Mickey Rooney, and the rest of the entertaining Hardy Family to the King George Theatre in the eighth all-new adventures of the famous family. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE, WOBURN. William Boyd, as the dauntless "Hopalong Cassidy," and Russell Hayden, as. his old saddlemate "Lucky" ride into action again in Clarence E. : Mulford's "Range War" at the Prince Edward Theatre. Paramount's scholastic comedy drama, "What a Life" is the second feature. CAPITOL THEATRE, MIRAMAR. Robert Taylor and Greer Garson are the stars of •'Remember?" showing at {the Capitol. This is the season's most popular ;md timely romantic teaming of stars in a gay comedy of married | life. Also showing is "My Little Chickadee' 'starring Mac West and W. C. Fields, in a hilarious comedy with stirring action, romance, and music. j

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. A gay and vivacious comedy-rom-ance, set against a brilliant background, ["Irene," which is in its second week !at the King's Theatre, is all that was expected of it. In addition to being a glorious fashion show, it combines all that is best in light entertainment and it moves all the time at a lively, exciting tempo. The effervescent happiness of Irene O'Dare, played by Anna Neagle, is infectious. As the salesgirl who subsequently becomes the toast of a continent, she laughs and dances her way into the hearts of everyone, and, as Alice Blue Gown she is irresistible. Ray Milland, Roland Young, and Billie Burke are also in. the cast. STATE THEATRE. Ever since the unique character of Charlie Chan appeared on the films the steady stream of productions woven around the doings of the Chinese detective has found a ready audience. The excellent performances of Warner Oland, who for so many years played the part, created a great following, and the new Charlie Chan films, in which Sidney Toler takes the title role, are of equal calibre. "Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise," which is now showing at the State Theatre, combines the usual elements of excitement, suspense, and humour. The second film is "Manhattan Heartbeat." which traces the struggles of a young couple trying to find happiness against great odds. PLAZA THEATRE. "My Favourite Wife," reuniting lovely Irene Dunne and ingratiating Cary Grant for the first time since their Academy Award winner, "The Awful Truth," which, is showing at the Plaza Theatre, is a photoplay entertainment which, while vitally different in theme, has the same potentialities as the former sophisticated success. A scintillating marital comedy, written especially for Miss Dunne and Grant by Bella and Samuel Spewack, famous Broadway playwrights and screen writers, "My Favourite Wife" is a production by Leo McCarey, who brought Miss Dunne and Grant together in "The Awful Truth." Under his guidance, Garson Kanin, responsible for "Bachelor Mother," directed with a superb supporting cast headed by Randolph Scott and Gail Patrick. TIVOLI THEATRE. In the wildest, craziest, and most uproarious comedy of their careers, the Marx Bros, return to the screen after a year's absence in "Marx Bros, at thfe Circus," which is showing at the Tivoli Theatre. This time the mad Marxes invade the world of the Big Top for their riot of merriment, and are assisted by the strangest aggregation ever assembled for a carnival of comedy. Filmed against majestic backgrounds in the Canadian northwoods, and blending action scenes with romantic suspense, Universal's "Man From Montreal" is the second feature, with Richard Arlen and Andy Devine co-starred. RIVOLI THEATRE. A new Ginger Rogers makes her bow in the R.K.O. Radio offering, "Primrose Path," in which she is co-starred with Joel McCrea, and which is showing at the Rivoli Theatre. Radically different from the dancing, glamorously attired Ginger .of the past, she plays a girl who disowns her disreputable family and seeks to, live her own life in an escape from her former existence. Against a sinister Oriental background, Glenda Farrell steps into her Inost exciting adventure yet as the irrepressible girl reporter in "Torchy Blanc in Chinatown," the associate film. DE LUXE THEATRE. New songs performed in the irresistible Crosby manner, the second appearance of the gifted young singer Gloria Jean, and the addition of five of the most famous of old-time vaudevillians are features of Universal's new offering "If I Had) My Way," starring Crosby and Gloria Jean, which is showing at the De Luxe Theatre. In the matter of tuneful melodies, eight songs are to be heard. Good, fast action, culminating in a thrilling race between two stagecoaches, characterises the latest adventure of the famous cinema cowboy, "Hopalong" Cassidy, called "Stagecoach War," which is the second feature. William Boyd, Russell Hapden, Britt Wood, and the King's Men, of radio fame, head the cast. TUDOR THEATRE. One of the greatest musical pictures of the year, "Lillian Russell," starring Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Henry Fonda, Edward Arnold, Leo Carrillo, and Helen Westley, has been transferred to the Tudor Theatre. Based on the life of the glamorous Lillian Russell, the toast of America in the golden nineties, the film revives many fine old songs, and Alice Faye is admirably suited to the main role. The associate film is "Girl in 313," starring Florence Rice, Kent Taylor, and Lionel Atwill. ROXY THEATRE. A curse that persisted through the ages and a love that could not be defeated by misfortune and disaster are the outstanding dramatic features of Universal's "The House of the Seven Gables," showing at the Roxy Theatre. George Sanders and Margaret Lindsay are starred. "Private Affairs," a new Universal comedy, is the second attraction. REX THEATRE. Don Ameche has played a variety of roles in Hollywood, but never one as j colourful or unusual •as that of [Michael Linnett Connors, in the Tchnicolour film "Hollywood Cavalcade," which is showing at the Rex Theatre. The endeavours of a psychiatrist to play cupid and marry off his best friend to a noted actress is the ] theme of "Carefree," starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, which is the second feature. VOGUE THEATRE, BROOKLYN. Alexander Korda's "The Lion Has! Wings." 3 full-length feature which1 j dramatises the story behind England's ! defence measures, is showing at the Vogue Theatre. "Buck Benny Rides Again," starring Jack Benny, Ellen! Drew, Andy Devine, and Rochestor, is! the supporting feature. Selected sup-| ports include an Australian News. j EMPIRE THEATRE, ISLAND BAY. | The irrepressible stars of "Okay forj | Sound and "Alf's Button,"' the Crazy ! Gang, go to Alaska to find gold and tap' a mine of laughter, in "Frozen Limits," showing at. the Empire Theatre. The I motion picture treatment of Rudyard Kipling's novel, "The Light That Failed," starring Ronald Colman, and j featuring Walter Huston, Ida Lupino,! Muriel Angelus, Dudley Digges, and many others, is the second feature. REGAL THEATRE, KARORI. A love story told amid squalid, de-. pression-ridden settings, Columbia's "Man's Castle," starring Spencer Tracy, is showing at the Regal Theatre. A handsome young' tenor, temporarily a j man without a country, and a lovely j young woman, temporarily a bride-to-be without a groom, meet by chance in the sparkling musical comedy "Music in My Heart," which is the second feature. ASK YOUR GRANDMOTHER. Yes, grandmother will tell you that as long as she can remember Baxters : Lung Preserver has been the best '< '-emedy for coughs and colds, and still I is. If you really want to stop thai j cough, or get relief for that sore throat, j take "Baxters" as directed. Perfectly safe for children. Follow the directions. —Advt.