CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 92, 19 April 1941, Page 14

CURRENT ENTERTAINMENTS

"Seven Sinners,1' with Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne, and "Fast and Furious," starring Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern, are showing at the Roxy Theatre.

"Destry Rides Again," starring Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart, and

'Invisible Stripes," with George Raft and Jane Bryan, are showing at the Rex Theatre.

Well-acted stones plentifully spiced with bright humour characterise the double programme at the De Luxe Theatre The first feature, "'Money and the Woman." starring Jeffrey Lynn and Brenda Marshall, tells the story of a bank 'teller who robbed the bank to meet the expensive tastes of his lady friend but while the story is a serious one in the main there are many bright flashes that cannot fail to raise a laugh , The supporting feature, "Melody and Moonlight," stars Johnny Downs and Barbara Allen. There is a considerable amount of bright dancing and good singing.

Any studio that puts Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell together in a dancing picture can't possibly go wrong in the field of entertainment. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer not only didn't go wrong on "Broadway Melody of 1940." which is showing at the Tivoh. but it has given the public the best "Broadway Melody" picture ever "World in Flames," a stirring picture of free people, is also showing.

Charles Chaplin has said that he made "The Great Dictator" for the same reason as he made all his other films—to make people laugh. But, while he succeeds in this object, he conveys a strong impression that his motive was to arouse people to a realisation of a ?ruel oppression, a senseless tyranny, and to sound a note of hope. This impression is gained early in the picture, which is continuing at the King's Theatre, and it grows stronger as the story progresses. "The Great Dictator" is the work of a man with a message, and the message is conveyed in that man's natural medium, the art of the comedian.

"All This and Heaven Too," starring Bette Davis and Charles Boyer, and "Joe and EtheJ Turp Call on the President." starring Ann Sothern and Lewis Stone, are showing at the Princess, i

A re-issue of the film success "I Was a Spy," the British film reproduction of the true life s'ory by Martha McKenna, starring Conrad Veidt, Madeleine Carroll, and Herbert Marshall, is showing at the Tudor Theatre. Will Hay's latest comedy. "Where's That Fire?" is also showing.

"North-West Mounted Police" is in its third week at the Regent Theatre. Gary Cooper, Hard- bitten Texas ranger on a man-hunt, joins forces wah the police and the drama trips along at unrelieved tension. Madeleine Carroll adds to her successes m 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 orchestra.

"The Great Plane Robbery" is showing at the State Theatre. The film, which is on purely American lines, deals with the efforts of an insurance officer, played by Jack Holt to keep alive a gangster whom his company has insured for half a million dollars. Like most gangsters, this particular one has some iriends who would like to see him dead, and the lot of the insurance man is not easy, calling for quick wit and plenty of muscle on occasions. The second fjeature, "Prairie Schooners," with Bill Elliott and Evelyn Young in the leading roles, is a typical Western film.

Teamed together for the first time, Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard give magnificent performances in the dramatic "They Knew What They Wanted," screening at the Plaza Theatre. Charles Laughton' plays the role of Tony Petucci, coarse, lovable, wealthy farmer; Carole Lombard is Amy Peters, a waitress in a San Francisco restaurant, who, by correspondence, accepts Tony's offer of marriage; William Gargan, as Joe. an assistant on the farm, with amorous tendencies, completes the triangle. Around these three—with a padre and a doctor completing the cast —centre a film, first humorous, later tragic, but throughout thoroughly entertaining. Included in the supports is an interesting commentary by the famous cricketer C. B: Fry on the physical standard of the young Briton today.

Kinema (Kilbirnie).—"The Middle Watch," Jack Buchanan, Greta Gynt.; "The Invisible Man Returns," Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Nan Grey.

Rivoli (Newtown).—-"Of Mice and Men," Burgess Meredith, Betty Field; "Slightly Tempted," Hugh Herbert, Peggy Moran.

Capitol (Miramar).—-"The Sea Hawk," Errol Flynn, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains.

Regal (Karori). —"Spring Parade," Deanna Durbin, Robert Cummings; "21 Days Together," Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh.

Ascot (Newtown). —"Night Train to Munich," Rex Harrison, Margaret Lockwood: "For Love or Money."

King George (Lower Hutt).—"4o,ooo Horsemen."

Empire (Island Bay).—"Florian," Roberi Young, Irina Baronova; "Climbing High." Michael Redgrave.

Stale (Petone).—"Pride and Prejudice," Greer Garson . and Laurence Olivier.

De Luxe (Lower Hutt). —"Saps at Sea," Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy; "Outside the Three-mile Limit," Jack Holt.

Vogue (Brooklyn).—"Brother Rat and the Baby," Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris; "The Ghost Comes Home," Frank Morgan. Billie Burke.

Prince Edward (Woburn)—"Balalaika,"' Nelson Eddy, Ilona Massey; "Bulldog Sees it Through," Jack Buchanan,

Grand (Petone). —"It All Came True," Ann Sheridan and Humphrey Bogart; "Diamond Frontier," Victor McLaglen.

Palace (Petone).—"Before I Hang," Boris Karloff; "Yodellin' Kid from Pine Ridge." Gene Autry,

Khandallah Pictures.—"French Without Tears," Ray Milland and Ellen Drew; "Mystery Sea Raider," Henry Wilcoxon and Carole Landis.

Ngaio Pictures.—"Rebecca," Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine.

CITY AND SUBURBAN THEATRES

ROXY THEATRE

ST. JAMES THEATRE,

REX THEATRE

DE LUXE THEATRE

PARAMOUNT THEATRE

TIVOLI THEATRE

KING'S THEATRE,

MAJESTIC THEATRE.

PRINCESS THEATRE,

PLAZA THEATRE.

BURNS AND CARLYLE

REGEN'i THEATRE.

MAORI CONCERT

STATE THEATRE

SUBURBAN THEATRES

TUDOR THEATRE

"One Night in the llvopics" now showing at the St. James Theatre, is a lighthearted comedy-drama with more than a mere sprinkling of the latest, and catchiest Jerome Kern melodies. Allan Jones displays new talent when he leaves behind his usual romantic role and plays the part of a gogetting insurance man who has thought up the entirely new policy idea of love insurance. He gives a first-rate performance in this light comedy role, and relieves it with several excellent songs in his characteristic manner Assisting in providing the comedy are Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, the inimitable radio tfeam; Leo Carrillo. Robert Cummings, and Mary Boland. Supports include the latest newsreels. a cartoon, and a travelogue on Wales.

The Paramount Theatre's doublefeature programme this week is headed by Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, in "Gaucho Serenade," a story which provides full scope for the genial hero's versatility. The inimitable Smiley Burnette supplies the comedy element and June Storey, as a runaway bride, the romance. Most of the action in the picture occurs in the course of a transcontinental motor trip made by Autry and Burnette in company with a boy who is the object of a kidnapping plot. The other feature is "Behind the News." a typical American newspaper film, showing in a mile-a-minute melodrama. Hollywood's idea of how newspapers deal with crooked district attorneys. Lloyd Nolan and Doris Davenport are the principals. There are good supports.

The remarkable poise and versatility of Hollywood's juvenile stars have rarely been so well demonstrated as in "Strike Up the Band." which is now in its second week at the Majestic Theatre. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, brilliant products of a talentsurfeited movie colony have each been a first-rank box-office attraction, but as a team they are excellent. Their adaptability is such that neither overshadows the other, although, naturally enough. Mickey provides most of the comedy. His clowning and wholesome fun are balanced by Judy's "straight" talent, and they make a good story a real tonic. There is a fine burlesque of a Victorian drama, but that is only one of the high lights. Paul Whiteman and his famous band are seen al their best, the connection between the fat orchestra leader and Mickey being that Mickey prefers band-leading to going in for medicine. Most inieresting item on a sound supporting programme is a short dealing with the prophecies of Nostradamus.

The monthly meeting of the St. Andrew Burns Club will be held on Monday evening in the Rechabite Hall, opposite the V.M.C.A.. Willis Street. The speaker will be Mr. H. H. Cornish, K.C. An invitation to be present is extended to all interested in Scottish literature and music. Supper will be provided by the ladies' committee.

On Monday and Tuesday of next week the Wellington public will have another opportunity of seeing the finest that can be offered in the way of Maori entertainment. On those nights concerts will be given in the Town Hall by the Ngati-Poneke Young Maori Club, probably the best-known Maori entertainment party in the Dominion at the present time. This party will be remembered for its performances in the Maori Court during the Centennial Exhibition and for the successful concerts staged in Wellington during the last four or five years for various charitable objects. The forthcoming entertainment is being fostered by the Native Department in aid of the Public Services Queen, Government Departments Princess, and an attractive and varied programme will be presented.