CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 84, 9 April 1941, Page 12

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

REX THEATRE. A dramatic story of Federal operatives who risk their lives ■as soldiers of peace to eradicate espionage networks is presented in Columbia's "Smashing the Spy Ring," now showing at the Rex Theatre. Ralph Bellamy and Fay Wray are featured. Also showing is "Star of the Circus." TUDOR THEATRE. The story oj that unbelievable street where songs are corn is excitingly told in 'Tin ►-'an Alley," starring Alice Faye and Betty Grable, which is screening at the Tudor Theatre. "Tin Pan Alley* has a brilliant featured casl headed by Jack Oakie and John Payne. The associate feature is "The Gay Caballero." starring Cesar Romero. KING'S THEATRE. Mystery, suspense, and tense final moments throng "The Chinese Bungalow" at the King's Theatre. Paul Lukas and Jane Baxter excel themselves. A cafe singer new to Singapore dazzles a - Chinese millionaire into a marriage as hasty as it is mistaken, and the story moves swiftly to tragedy. Supports include scenes of the London Docks during a night raid. , ■ ■>, DE LUXE THEATRE. "The Man Who Talked Too Much," the main feature of the double bill at the .De Luxe Theatre, is a dynamic story in which the human and romantic elements have been excellently blended. The lead is taken by George Brent. The supporting feature is "Meet the Missus," latest of the Higgihs Family series. Findlay Robb gives two sessions at the Wurlitzer organ. ST. JAMES THEATRE. "Brother Orchid," which heads the programme at the St. James Theatre, is a tale of a hard-boiled gangster who seeks culture and "class" in the gilded capitals of Europe, but eventually finds it in a flower garden. The part is played by Edward G. Robinson with his customary artistry and polish. The supporting players include the vivacious Ann Sothern and Humphrey Bogart. There is an interesting programme of "shorts." MAJESTIC THEATRE. In the last Hew years Ann Sothern has built up a reputation of being one' of the most competent of Hollywood actresses in ■'scatty" roles. She justifies this reputation with a delightfully "dumb" performance in "Dulc>." the current attraction at the Majestic Theatre. Moving in New York society Dulcy causes havoc in a blissfully unconscious manner. The supports include several topical war items. PRINCESS THEATRE. "Meet, the Wild Cat" (Ralph; Bellamy and Margaret Lindsay) and "I Want a Divorce" (Joan Blondell and Dick Powell) will be screened at the Princess Theatre finally tonight. The new double-feature programme tomorrow presents the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production "San Francisco" (Jeanette Mac Donald, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and other notables), a wellestablished success, and "Drums of the Desert," an intimate depiction of conditions of life in the French Foreign Legion and finely presenting the most spectacular in military tactics, the landing of troops by parachute. Ralph Byrd has the leading role.

REGENT THEATRE. "North-West Mounted Police" is the main attraction at the Regent Theatre. Gary. Cooper, hard-bitten Texas ranger on a man-hunt, joins forces with the police and the drama trips along at unrelieved tension. Madeleine Carroll adds to her successes in the part of a heroic nurse, and there is an imposing list of supporting players. Also on the programme are a skiing film, a newsreel, and a fine musical short, "Moments of Charm," featuring an all-girl orchesI tra. [ ' ROXY THEATRE. "Three Cheers For the Irish," a warm-hearted,, captivating story of the ups and downs in the lives of a typical Irish-American family, starring Priscilla Lane, Thomas Mitchell, Dennis Morgan, and Alan Hale, is showing at the Roxy Theatre. A thrilling action drama, "South to Karanga," with Charles Bickford, James Craig, Luli Deste, and John Sutton, is the other feature. PARAMOUNT THEATRE. "Saturday's Children," the main item on the Paramount Theatre's programme this week, is an extraordinarily good film with a first-rate cast. John Garfield and. Anne Shirley are the leading figures. The associate feature, starring Richard Dix, is an outstanding Western picture, "The Indian Nation." PLAZA THEATRE. "Little Men," which has come'to the Plaza Theatre for a season, will probably achieve the same degree of popularity as did its predecessor, "Little Women." Filmed on a sumptuous scale, "Little Men" is a pleasing mixture of drama, romance. and comedy. The supporting programme includes an interesting travel film, a nigger minstrel show, and excellent views of the recent visit of the American fleet. STATE THEATRE. Will Hay. Moore Marriott, and Graham Moffatt dominate the comedy "Where's That Fire?" which will open at the State Theatre today. A huge conflagration at an oil refinery entails a general alarm and fire engines from all the important towns in the district speed to the scene. Hay's fire brigade, stationed at Bishop's Wallop, receives the call and dashes off to the blaze, collecting the firemen on the way. They arx'iye long after the blaze has been extinguished, only to discover that, in the meantime, the Bishop's Wallop Town Hall has been razed to the ground. Hay's explanations are accepted with misgivings, and he is told he must make his brigade efficient or retire. His adventures in this attempt reach a climax in an encounter with a gang of saboteurs. "Ride, Kelly, Ride," will be the associate feature.

SUBURBAN THEATRES. Rivoli (Newtown).—"Four Feathers," Ralph Richardson and C. Aubrey Smith; "Smashing the Money Ring," Ronald Reagan and Margot Stevenson. Kincnia (Kilbirnie).—"Mystery Sea Raider," Carole Landis and Henry Wilcoxon; "World in Flames." Ascot (Newtown).—"Suez," Tyrone Fowut and Loretta Young; 'Hollywood Cavalcade," Alice Faye and Don Ameche. ■ Vogue (Brooklyn).—"Spring Parade," |Dearma Durbin and Robert Cummings; "Double Alibi," Margaret Lindsay and Wayne Morris. I Tivoli (Thorndon). — "'Gunner George." George Formby; "Scatterbrain.'' Judy Can0ya.,.,..,,. Capitol (Miramar).—"Heirs Cargo," Walter Rilla and Robert ' Newton; "Brother Rat and a Baby,'' Wynn Morris and Priscilla Lane. Regal (Karori). — "The Middle Watch," Jack Buchanan; "The Saint's Double Trouble,"' George Sanders. King George (Lower Hutt). — "Juarez", Paul Muni and Bette Davis. Prince Edward (Woburn).—"Rose Marie." Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy; "Slightly Tempted." Hugh Herbert Vnd Peggy Moran. De Luxe ■ (Lower Hutt). —"Margie," Tom Brown and Nan Gray; "Marshal of Mesa City," George O'Brien, Empire (Island Bay).—"North-west Passage." Spencer Tracy and Robert Young: "King of Alcatraz," Lloyd Nolan and Gail Patrick. J

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

A BRIEF SEASON. «, The Savoy Operas. Last night a brief return season of Gilbert and Sullivan operas was commenced at the Opera House ■ under the J. C: Williamson management, "The Gondoliers" being the opening presentation. One of the most popular of the comic operas, "The Gondoliers'' combines spectacle and rich music with theinimitable sense of humour and satire which have made, the Savoy operas evergreen throughout the years. In the cast last night the characters were the same as for the February season, with the exception that Mr. John Fullard took the part of Marco in place of Mr. McMurray, who substituted for him in the earlier visit. "H.M.S. Pinafore" will be presented tonight, preceded by "Trial by. Jury."