CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 32, 7 February 1941, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE. When the Australian, picture-making industry tackled the task, of making a great military picture of Light Horse desert tactics, it tackled a great nation-making effort which it has bravely carried out. If "Forty Thousand Horsemen," which opened at the Majestic today, had appeared two years ago, it could have been, described as an outstanding military spectacle, blending romance with history. But today, thanks to Hitler, •' the picture is very much more, for ■'it links past with present Today, as ' in 1914-16, we have the desert fighting, now bequeathed from sire to son, and becoming still more imperishably an Anzac tradition. "Forty Thousand Horsemen," in visualising war to a people at war, does not display its grimmer horrors. There are tremendous feats of horsemanship. There are : Australian soldiers who combine war with something of the spirit of Dumas's Three Musketeers. And there is romance in the form of a beautiful French girl (Betty Bryant). REGENT THEATRE. Deserting his more studious roles for something a little lighter, Spencer Tracy, in. "I Take This Woman," which is screening at the Regent Theatre, tries his hand at a little straight romance, and he makes a conspicuous success of it. With the charming Hedy Lamarr as the main attraction, he does not lack incentive, and the result is a delightful story of an East Side doctor's love for a rather pampered product of the fashion salons. With its generous dash of comedy, this sophisticated drama moves along to a very satisfying conclusion, and both the principal actors add lustre to their reputations. Sorely hurt over a love affair, the girl accepts the solace that the East Side doctor offers her, but both he and she know that her heart is somewhere else, until the ultimate test comes. This moment is one of the high lights of a fine picture. ' The supporting . programme includes shorts showing the attack on Bardia, and a - screen commentary of how England spent its last Christmas., ST. JAMES THEATRE. The glamorous Ann Sheridan and rugged James Cagney meet in Warner Brothers' "Torrid Zone," which heads the new bill at the St. James Theatre. Pat O'Brien, Andy Devine, Helen Vinsen, and George Tobias head the supporting cast. The first half of the programme includes a colourful featurette, "Quiet, Please," a cartoon, "Pied Piper Porky," an adventure film. "Playing With Danger," and newsreels. DE LUXE THEATRE. A story as simple, straightforward, and heartwarming as any to reach the screen, "We Who Are Young," featuring Lana Turner and John Shelton, is screening at the De Luxe. The new picture unfolds the story of a young couple, portrayed by Miss Turner and Shelton, who marry with high hope^ for conquering a large city. It moves from the courtroom where the marriage is performed through a rapid series of climaxes which finds the couple eventually forced to go on relief. Horror hits police headquarters and James Lee Wong, celestial sleuth, is called to find the culprit; right in the police, department, in Monogram's 1 "The Fatal Hour," the associate film. Packed with thrills and excitement, "The Fatal Hour" opens with the murder of a police officer assigned to a smuggling case, and Captain Street, broken-hearted at the death of his friend, calls in Mr. Wong to insure the killer's capture. OPERA HOUSE. "Convoy" is continuing for an extended Wellington season at the Opera House. Clive Brook makes the most of his part as a naval captain in command of a light cruiser, and the other main role is played by John Clements. The story deals with the convoy of a flotilla of merchantmen through the North Sea, and it is an eventful voyage if ever there was one. Navy co-operation makes the fights most realistic. TIVOLI THEATRE. There can be few who have not read pr, at least, heard of the popular story, "The Stars Look Down," by Dr. A. J. Cronin. This grand story of the coalmining' industry and of the men who toil and sweat below the ground made Cronin's reputation. This story has now been filmed, and it is showing at the Tivoli. It co-stars Michael Red- , grave, Margaret Lockwood, and Emlyn - Williams. The second feature is "Talk- ' ing Feet," starring Hazel Ascot.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

KING'S THEATRE. ; The March of Time's first full-length . feature, "The Ramparts We Watch" •is showing at the King's. Few reviewers will compare "The Ramt parts We Watch" with a Holly- ' wood niotion picture, for Holly- [ wood has never produced a film I which can be used in comparison. It • could not be done in fairness to the • industry from which we get our pictures of make-believe. "Ramparts" is , not a picture of make-believe, but an ' honest, undissembling picture of the > trials and tribulations of a small com- ■ munity prior to, • during, and after the i last World War. It is a picturisation ' of the events leading up to the current ■ war and a warning of the perils which J 1 might be ahead. The technique as well 1 as the theme is daring. , STATE THEATRE. ; Much beautiful colour photography, . particularly in scenes of Spanish danc- . ing during a fiesta at a South American "rancho,"- is an outstanding feature of "The Devil on Horseback," one of the two big features at the State Theatre. Lili Damita,. Fred Keating, ■ and Jean Chatburn head the cast. Del ■ Campo, described as a noted South American baritone, has a fine • voice which he uses effectively in four num- . bers.. Buck Jones and his famous horse Silver are the stars of a dashing Western story, "Outlawed Guns," the second big feature. Also showing is the British Ministry of Information film "Christmas Under Fire." PLAZA THEATRE. A colourful* page out of the early history of California, is pictured at the Plaza Theatre in "The Mark of Zorro." It stars Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Basil Rathbone, and Eugene Pallette, and it is a romantic, exciting tale of the days when California was still under Spanish domination. The acting throughout is superb, and the producer has developed to the full ;the rich background and atmosphere of the times. Linda Darnell makes a charming senorita. The supporting programme is very entertaining. TUDOR THEATRE. "The Doctor Takes a Wife," starring Loretta Young and Ray Milland, and "Babes For Sale," an expose of the American adoption racket, are the main films at the Tudor Theatre. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "It All Came True," Warner Bros.' film version of the famous Louis Bromfield story, is showing at the Paramount Theatre, with Ann Sheridan in the starring role, and Jeffrey Lynn, Humphrey Bogart, and Zasu Pitts featured with her. Louis Bromfield, author of such fine novels as 'The Rains Came" and others, now deals with the hopes and disappointments of a group of people living in a. New York boarding-house. With the intensity of plot and characterisation typical of Bromfield's stories, -he shows how these people, content to live in the reveries of their past, are suddenly thrown into a turmoil, when a gangster uses the boarding-house as a hideout. A film bubbling over with laughter and romance, "Ladies Must Live," is the second feature. Wayne Morris and Rosemary Lane are shown. REX THEATRE. "The Firefly," starring Jeanette MacDonald and Allan Jones, and "Viva Cisco Kid," starring Cesar Romero, are showing at the Rex. ROXY THEATRE. "You're Not So Tough," starring the "Dead End Kids," and "Little Tough Guys." and "Rhythm on the River," starring' Bing Crosby, head the bill at .the Roxy. PRINCESS THEATRE. . "The Roaring Twenties," with James Cagney and Priscilla Lane in the leading roles, and "The Girl From God's Country" are showing, at the Princess. SUBURBAN THEATRE.. Grand (Petone) .—Tonight, "The Ghost Comes Home" and "Sergeant Madden." Tomorrow, "Shooting High," Gene Autry and Jane Withers; "Secret Seven," Florence Rice. Palace (Petone). —Tonight, "Four's a Crowd" and "Heart of the North." Tomorrow, "Stage to Chino," George O'Brien; "Free, Blonde, and 21." State (Petone). —"Spring Parade," Deanna Durbin. » De Luxe (Lower Hutt). —"These Glamour Girls," Lew Ayres and Lana Turner; * "Quick Millions," the Jones. Family. Prince Edward (Woburn).—"Blackmail," Edwardr G. Robinson 'and Ruth Hussey; "Stage to Chino," George O'Brien and Virginia Vale. Vogue (Brooklyn).—"Mutiny on the Bounty," Clark Gable and Charles , Laughton; "The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady," Jean Muir and Warren William : Ascot (Newtown). —"Charlie's (Big- : hearted) Aunt," Arthur Askey and : Richard Murdoch; "Lucky Cisco Kid," ; Cesar Romero and Mary Beth Hughes. ! Empire (Island Bay).—"Gunner George," George Formby; "London : Can Take It," and "La" Conga Nights." : Kinema (Kilbirnie).—"lrene," Anna ! Neagle and Ray Milland; "Legion of the Lawless," George O'Brien. Rivoli (Newtown). —"Dust Be My i Destiny," John Garfield and Priscilla Lane; "Captain Caution," Victor Mature and Louise Piatt. Capitol (Miramar). —"Too Many Husbands," Jean Arthur and Fred MacMurray; "South of Samoa," Dorothy Lamour and Robert Preston. Regal (Karori). —"Gunner George." George Formby; "London Can Take It," and "Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love." King George (Lower Hutt).—"Convoy," Clive Brook and John Clements.