CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1941, Page 4

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

TIVOLI THEATRE. For the first time in three years Clark Gable and Joan Crawford, who have co-starred with memorable succes? in five films in the past, team again in "Strange Cargo," showing ai the Tivoli. Picturisation of the Richard Sale best-seller, "Not Too Narrow, Not Too Deep," "Strange Cargo" presents Gable as convict Verne Andre, incorrigible iconoclast in a South American penitentiary, and Miss Crawford as Julie, cafe entertainer in the penal colony, who become fellow-fugi-tives after a prison break. The associate film is "The Secret Seven," starring Florence Rice, Bruce Bennett, and Barton Mac Lane. TUDOR THEATRE. Loretta Young and Melvyn Douglas are the comedy-starring combination of "He Stayed for Breakfast," which has been transferred to the Tudor. One of the season's most delightful love-on-the-run comedies, "He Stayed. for Breakfast" has a supporting cast which includes Alan Marshal, Eugene Pallette, and Una O'Connor. Set in a Paris background, the story hilariously describes the romance of a politicallyconscious cafe waiter and the estranged wife of a pompous banker. "Whispering Enemies," starring Jack Holt, is also showing. KING'S THEATRE. Darryl F. Zanuck again has captured a great tradition with his Technicolor production of ."Mawland " new 2ftti-Century-Fox picture, which heads the new bill at the King's Theatre. Packed with thrills, romance, and beauty, it is even greater than "Kentucky," and is solid entertainment all the way through. Walter Brennan heads an outstanding featured cast, including Fay Bainter, Brends Joyce. Join, Payne, Charlie Rueglps H;-»iti<- Mr Daniel, and .Marjorie Weaver. All the glory,, romance, and traditions of the South are captured in the development of,the intensely human story. "Maryland" is climaxed by Americas uiusi spectacular steeplechase—the Maryland Hunt Cup.race. ST. JAMES THEATRE. Thrills of the pioneer West mingled with uproarious comedy bring Wallace Beery to the screen in a fast-moving drama of the great-outdoors in "Wyoming," which heads the new bill at the St. James Theatre. Amid Indian battles, raids on .cattle thieves, and other exciting detail, played against the majestic Teton mountains in Wyoming, Beery engages in a courtship with Marjorie Main that provides him with his most comical romance since "Mm and Bill," serenades his lady love with a harmonica, and engages in comedy episodes with Leo Carillo. The young romance is between Ann Rutherford, of the Judge Hardy Family series, and Lee Bowman. • DE LUXE THEATRE. "" Laughs, mystery, and thrills strike home in rapid succession in Walter Pidgeon's latest adventure as Nick Carter in "Sky Murder," third of the detective "series which is showing at the De Luxe. As the noted fiction detective, Pidgeon walks the wing of a plane, fights international criminals, and between thrills gets into innumerable comic situations born of a penchant for flirting with pretty girls. No more fitting tale could have been chosen for Gene Autry's new Republican Western ' romance than "Public Cowboy No. 1," the associate film. Gene is seen as the Sheriff's deputy, an ultra-modern cowboy who uses his own technique in detecting and apprehending modern cattle rustlers—as well as in his love-making. PRINCESS THEATRE. "Feather Your Nest," featuring George Formby, and "Three Men From Texas," starring William Boyd and Russell Hayden, are showing at the Princess Theatre. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Pride and Prejudice," showing at the Majestic Theatre for another week, is one of the most entertaining films of the year. In a little English village not far from London is a family consisting of mother (Mary Boland), father (Edmund Gwenn), and five eligible daughters (Greer Garson, Maureen O'Sullivan, Ann dutherford, Heather Angel, and Marsha Hunt). To the village come two immensely wealthy and cultured young men, Mr. Bingley and isKv. Darcy (Bruce Lester and Laurence Olivier respectively). The plot Lies in the strenuous efforts of the village mothers to impress the newcomers with the charm of their daughters. PLAZA THEATRE. "The Return of Frank James," which is continuing at the Plaza Theatre, is a sequel to the nefarious exploits of the famous James brothers in America in the middle part of the eighteenth century. The first film dealing with the lives of these brothers was "Jesse James." but this latest film deals mainly with Frank, whose one aim is to avenge the death of his brother at the hands of the Boyd brothers. Henry Fonda plays the part of Frank James, the drawling, tobaccochewing desperado. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. An all-British programme is showing at the Paramount Theatre. The main film is "House of the Arrow," taken from the well-known book by A. E. W. Mason, who also wrote "Four Feathers." The stars are Kenneth Kent and Diana Churchill. The other feature film is "They Drive by Night," from the sensational book of the same name. The story deals with night lorry drivers and hitch-hikers. Emlyn Wililams heads the cast. SUBURBAN THEATRES. De Luxe (Lower Hutt).—"Rewi's Lasi Stand." "Blondie has Servant Trouble," the Bumstead Family. Grand (Petone) — "'Traitor Spy," Bruce Cabot; "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart.' Denis O'Keefe and Constance Moore Palace (Petone).—"Bachelor Mother"; Joe Penner and Betty Grable, "The Day the Bookies Wept." Vogue (Brooklyn)..—"Green Hell," Joan Bennett and Douglas Fairbanks, jun.; "Secrets of an Actress," Kay Francis and George Brent. Prince Edward (Woburn).—"Nick Carter, Master Detective," Walter Pidigeon; "Hawaiian Nights," Johnny Downs and Mary Carlisle. Kinema (Kilbirnie). —"Charlie's (Bighearted) Aunt," Arthur Askey and Richard Murdock; "In Old Monterey," Gene Autry. Rivoli (Newtown).—"Castle on the Hudson," Ann Sheridan and John Garfield; "The Boys from Syracuse," Allan Jones and Rosemary. Lane. Capitol (Miramar).—"lrene," Anna Neagle and Ray Milland; "Charlie Chan in Panama," Sidney Toler and Lionel Atwill. Regal (Karori).—"The Doctor Takes a Wife." Ray Milland and Loretta Young; "The Ghost Breakers," Paulette Goddard and Bob Hope. Ascot (Newtown).—"l Love You j Again," William Powell and Myrna Loy; "First Rebel," Clare Trevor and George Sanders. King George (Lower Hutt). —"The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," Bette Davis and Errol Flynn. Empire (Island Bay).—"The Mortal Storm," Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart; "The Saint's Double Trouble," iWendy Barrie and George Sanders.' State (Petone). —"New Moon," Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

REGENT THEATRE. Rachel Field's "Ail This and Heaven Too" is continuing a successful, season at the Regent Theatre. Rather than distort the story of the young French governess who unwittingly, caused a scandal which rocked the Parisian aristocracy to its foundations, the producers wisely chose to present as their version of the story the romance and intrigue of the European section of the lengthy book. Thus the tragic romance of the youthful governess in an embittered household is the theme of the film. Charles Boyer and Bette Davis head a notable cast. ■ OPERA HOUSE. Throughout its entire length, "Night Train to Munich," which is showing at the Opera House, contains a skilful mixture of romance, comedy, and drama: Starring Margaret Lockwood' and Rex Harding, with Paul yon Hernried heading the supporting' cast, this film presents a vigorous story in which several of the devastating political events of recent months are reenacted with almost frightening realism. The opening sequence of the picture shows Czecho-Slovakia as a prosperous, peace-loving country. Suddenly and relentlessly war clouds hover menacingly over the Czech peoples. The German armies cross the frontier. The invasion of Poland and the subsequent declaration of war by the Allies are announced in a drama-packed sequence. STATE THEATRE. The double-feature bill at the State Theatre is headed by "Pier 13," which is a combination of rollicking humour, satire, and romance. The film has an entertaining theme, which is interpreted by a. strong cast, with vivacious Lynn Bari and Lloyd Nolan at the head. The story concerns the adventures of Nolan, and Lynn Bari on New York's waterfront when the former sets out to arrest a. notorious jewel thief. In the supporting film, "The Gay Caballero," Cesar Romero is again cast in the role of the noted Mexican bandit, the Cisco Kid. ROXY THEATRE. "Torrid Zone," starring James Cagney and Ann Sheridan, and "Spy For a Day" are showing at the Roxy. REX THEATRE. "The Citadel," starring Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell, and "The Light of Western Stars" are screening at the Rex. ■ GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SEASON. _ - The presentation of "H.M.S. Pinafore" in the Opera House last night marked the conclusion of the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Company's Wellington season. The theatre was crammed to the doors, and at the final curtain there was a presentation of floral favours to the lady principals and chorus ladies. A feature of the evening was the raffling of a flag by Mr. Ivan Menzies, the prize going at six guineas. In the huge audience were three of the Victory Queen Carnival candidates—Movie, Transport, and Commerce—who occupied boxes and had a right royal reception. GREEK DRAMA. ♦ On Friday evening, March 14, the Maria Dronke Studio will present in the Town Hall Concert Chamber the "Hippolytus," by Euripides, the first love tragedy in world literature. The plot in this, world-famous Greek drama is most human and at all times alive. Professor Gilbert Murray, the translator of "Hippolytus," quotes Goethe as saying: "Have all the nations since his (Euripides) time produced one dramatist who was fit to tie up his boots?" A strong cast has been selected by the producer, Maria Dronke; it includes a chorus of 20 who sing the wonderful choric odes. As the drama is in aid of the Red Cross, it is hoped, and expected, that the performance will be well patronised. A HUNDRED TO ONE. There are a hundred ways of catching a cold, but only one effective way to deal with it. That is to take Baxters Lung Preserver promptly. This famous remedy prevents serious developments, and also quickly breaks up a cold that is hanging on. "Baxters" is as palatable as it is effective, and has a tonic action that further adds to its unique properties.—Advt.