CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1941, Page 10

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. In "I take This Woman," which, is continuing at the Regent Theatre. Spencer Tracy tries his hand at a little straight romance, and makes a conspicuous success ox it. With the charming Hedy Lamarr, 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. Ths supporting programme includes shorts showing the attack on Bardia, and a screen commentary of how England spent its last Christmas. MAJESTIC THEATRE. One of the most heroic chapters in Australia's war achievements in 1914----18 is relived in "Forty Thousand Horsemen," which has been retained for a further week at the Majestic Theatre. It is the story of the operations of the Australian Light Horse Brigade in desert warfare. The, dash and stark courage of these "mad bushmen" at El Arish, Gaza, and Beersheba are reproduced with remarkable fidelity. To the principal players, Betty Bryant as Julie, and Grant Taylor as "Red" Gallagher, go the acting honours, and to Charles Chauyel the credit for producing a very fine picture. \ ST. JAMES THEATRE. A horror picture with a difference, "A Date With Destiny," featuring Basil Rathbone, Ellen Drew, and John Howard, is* the new attraction at the St. James Theatre. It is the story of an insane, wife-slaying, yet brilliant doctor from Vienna, who practises psychiatry in the United States. The picture differs from the usual run of horror films, however, for the madman's emotions and feelings are not overlooked, and Rathbone interprets them very capably. Chief among the supporting items is "North With the Springboks," the first official film of South African troops in action in East Africa. DE LUXE THEATRE. Broad Cockney humour of the type which is at present being displayed in Britain's hour of trial is portrayed perfectly by the cast headed by Gordon Harker and Mervyn Johnson in the British Empire film "Saloon Bar," showing at the De Luxe Theatre. A slice of luck. puts Gordon Harker on the trail of a murderer, and the suspense, in no way allayed by the humour, is maintained to the last minute. Universal Pictures' "They Asked for It," the associate feature, is an amusing tale of how three young friends improve their businesses and put a .small town on the map by announcing a normal death as a murder. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "The Sea Hawk," which is heading j the double-feature programme at the Paramount Theatre, takes one back to those unforgettable days of action in the silent films, but in action only. Modern technique has brought those tales of sea adventure to the peak of realism, and "The Sea Hawk" gives the irresistible impression of being: the best of its kind. With Errol Flynn, j Brenda Marshall, and Flora Robson in j the lead, it is a. brilliant slice of Elizabethan adventure. Charlie Ruggles gives another of his bright efforts in "The Farmer's Daughter," the second film. Martha Raye is the "daughter." PRINCESS THEATRE. "Convoy," starring Clive Brook, and "It's a Wonderful World." with Claudette Colbert and, James Stewart, head the bill at the Princess. REX THEATRE. "Dead Men Tell No Tales," star-1 ring Emlyn Williams, and "The Gorilla," with the Ritz Brothers, are showing at the Rex. ROXY THEATRE. "Tarzan Finds a Son," starring Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, and "Argentine Nights,"; with the Ritz Bros., are showing at! the Roxy. -

Crn and "suburban theatres

KING'S THEATRE. Among the new generation of film stars two who stand out highest in the public favour are Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, and it is these young people who are cast in "Twenty-one Days Together," the new film at the King's Theatre. Based c - a Galsworthy theme, the film contains the mixed elements of excitement, humour, suspense, and, above all, romance that triumphs over difficulties- Associate features include a colour cartoon and newsreels. . STATE THEATRE. "Charter Pilot" and "Street 'of Memories" conclude tonight at the State. Joe E. Brown's first comedy since a serious car accident which- put him into a hospital bed for four months, will open tomorrow at the State Theatre. "So You Won't Talk?" is said to leave no doubt that Brown is fully recovered, that his high comedy talents are unmarred, and his extraordinary ability as an athlete unimpaired. He plays the dual role of a timid book reviewer and a gang baron for whom* he is mistaken because they look alike. . Frances Robinson plays opposite him in her most important role to date. The associate feature will be "Fugitive From a Prison Camp," starring Jack Holt. TUDOR THEATRE. "The Ramparts We Watch," which is showing at the Tudor, is a production with one sole purpose—to depict the true story of what happened in the precipitation of the present cataclysm of. war. The associate feature is a murder mystery, "Sued for Libel," in which Kent Taylor, Linda Hayes, Lilian Bond, and Morgan Conway have the leading roles. , PLAZA THEATRE. In almost every'great star's career there is one outstanding role that seems made to order for his talents and his personality. For Tyrone Power this part has come in the Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox film, "The Mark of Zorro," showing with great . success at the Plaza Theatre. The brilliant featured cast is headed by Linda Darnell. The bright supporting programme includes a complete change of newsreels, which show, among other things, fire destruction in London. .

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON.

The whimsical and melodious opera, "The Pirates of Penzance," preceded by "Trial by Jury," will be presented tonight at the Opera House by J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Comic I Opera Company. This double bill will also be presented tomorrow afternoon and evening. Ivan Menzies •is excellent in the role of the major-, general, fathering a bountiful family of girls, patterising his song of the modern major-general, and joining in the general melody of. duet and trio. Viola Wilson, in the ' character of Mabel, is outstanding in her solos and concerted numbers. The romantic role of Frederic is portrayed by Maxwell Oldaker. He shares the musical honours with Miss Viola Wilson. Richard Watson's rolling ' bass voice is heard to great advantage in the music allocated to the role of the sergeant of police, and Bernard Manning will again delight with his picturesque representation of the pirate king. Miss Evelyn Gardiner is excellent in every character she portrays, and as Ruth she sings with yerye and sweetness in several duets. "Miss Sara Gregory is charming as Edith. Jean Battyle will appear as' Kate, Elva- Blair as Isabel, and Len Gotting as Samuel. On Thursday and four following evenings "The Yeomen of the Guard" will be staged, and on Tuesday next and two following evenings and on Wednesday afternoon, "lolanthe" will be staged. On Friday, February 28, and two following nights and on Saturday afternoon, March 1, "The Mikado" will be staged, arid on Tuesday, March 4, and the two following evenings, and on Wednesday afternoon, March 5, the season ' will close with four performances of "EM.S. Pinafore," which is preceded by "Cox and Box.'.' TTVOLI THEATRE.. Showing at the Tivoli Theatre is the film version of Emily Bronte's story "Wuthering Heights," in'which Merle Oberon, Laurence .Olivier, and David Niyen have the leads in a splendid cast for the strange love story. Also, showing is "South of Samoa," in which" Dorothy Lamour has the leading role. SUBURBAN THEATRES. Grand (Petone).—Tonight: "The Saint Takes Over" and "If I Had My Way." Tomorrow: "South to Karanga," Charles , Bickford; "International Crime," Rod La Roche. Palace (Petone).—Tonight: "Passport to Alcatraz" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Tomorrow: "Champion Chumps," Joe E. Brown; "The Texans," Randolph Scott. State (Petone).—"Convoy," Clive Brook and Judy Campbell. King George (Lower Hutt) .—"Spring Parade," Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings, and Mischa Aver. De Luxe (Lower Hutt).—"South to Karanga," Charles Bickford, Luli Destej^'Bulldog Sees It Through," Jack Buchanan, Greta Gynt. Rivoli (Newtown). —"The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Charles Laughton: "Blondie Brings Up Baby," Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. Capitol (Miramar).—"Music in My Heart," Tony Martin, Rita Hay worth; "Strange Cargo," Clark Gable, Joan Crawford. Ascot* (Newtown).—"The Ghost Comes Home," Frank Morgan and Billie Burke; "There Ain't No Justice," Gus McNaughton and Jimmy Hanley. Empire (Island Bay).—"Balalaika," Nelson-Eddy and Ilona Massey; "Scatterbrain," Judy Canbva. Kinema (Kilbirnie).—"The Roaring Twenties," James Cagney and Priscilla Lane; "Angels Wash Their Faces," Ann Sheridan and the "Dead End" Kids. Vogue (Brooklyn). — "Eternally Yours," David Niven and Loretta Young; "Comet Over Broadway," lan Hunter and Kay Francis. Regal (Karori).—"Another- Thin Man,"yWilliam Powell and Myrna Loy. ■ Prince Edward (Woburn).—"San Francisco," Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Jeanette Mac Donald.