ENTERTAINMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1943, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

KING'S THEATRE. Those with a taste for adventure spiced with plenty of romance will find "Son of Fury," which started at the King's Theatre yesterday, well to their liking. In its class the picture is firstclass entertainment, and unlike many adventure tales, it does not strain one s credulity for the sake of effect. The stars are Tyrone Power and George Sanders, the former taking the part of Ben Blake, who flees from tyranny as represented by the suave Sanders, makes his fortune overseas on a tropic isle, and returns to claim his revenge and rights. The background is early England, and the period, with its boisterous modes and manners, is well reproduced. The supporting programme is outstanding. It includes some of the first pictures of bombing raids ever screened, and a short showing the Australians and Americans in action in New Guinea. OPERA HOUSE. The war has greatly increased the scope and possibilities of films in which aviation plays a prominent part, and "Dive Bomber," the main attraction at the Grand Opera House, is right up to date in its aerial thrills. ErroJ Flynn and Fred Mac Murray are the two chief stars in a strong cast. The former has the part of a surgeoninventor who perfects a flying sun which enables pilots to fly at extreme altitudes or to dive without risk or the usual discomfort. Mac Murray has the part of a seasoned pilot who at first scoffs at this new idea in flying kit. but an exciting sequence of events sees him test it out with tragic results In fact, there is a fair amount of tragedy in "Dive Bomber," which is produced in Technicolor, but there are thrills as well, and a blonde bomber provides t~e requisite love interest. The supporting programme is varied and i interesting. *.JR AMOUNT THEATRE. A programme of exceptional merit is now being screened at the Paramount Theatre. The always popular Gene Autry gives another of his bright cowboy films, but "Cowboy Serenade' is perhaps not the best title for it. True, he does a little singing, but the production's claim to distinction is that it has the best of cowboy ingredients —plenty of gunplay, other incidenta excitement, and more than the usual allotment of comedy. A young man assigned to taking the cattlemen s stock to market runs into a cardsharpers' ring, and when the l^w falls down on the job Gene Autry manages things his own way. There is a creep in every foot of "The Mummy's Tomb, the second feature. Lon Ghaney is a mummy kept alive for about 3001) years, and his destiny is to avenge the violation of an Egyptian tomb. He is not entirely successful, but he is responsible for horror of the ripest A good supporting programme includes "Convoy to Russia." TIVOLI THEATRE. All the thrills, danger, and romance of life on the North-west frontier of India are depicted in "The Drum," a technicolour production with Sabu, of "Elephant Boy" fame, well supported by Raymond Massey, Roger Liyesey, and other fine players. The picture is being screened at the Tivoli, with "Joe Smith, American," Robert Young and Marsha Hunt. ' The special programme for tomorrow presents "Gunga pin," the splendid film based on Kipling's famous lines of tribute to an Indian native. The figure in the film is every inch a soldier, and it is a heroic soldier he makes. Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen, Douglas Fairbanks jun., and Joan Fontaine are the starred players. DE LUXE THEATRE. Two murder stories in the best society thrill De Luxe audiences. "The Case of the Black Parrot," with William Lundigan, Maris Wrixon, Eddie Foy, jun., and Luli Deste, is a story of deep intrigue, and the killer is a genius of malevolence. A brilliant strategist, he hides his trail till the end. Starting on a palatial ocean liner, events move fast, and when America is reached the first murder is discovered. The police are baffled, because the only marks on the corpse are two small punctures on the back of one hand. Craftsman as well as criminal, the Black Parrot reproduces buhl cabinets which are mistaken for the originals, and this helps him to confuse his trailers. "Bullets for O'Hara," with Roger Pryor. Joan Perry, and a big cast, has a unique plot. Finding that her husband is a gangster and murderer, his wife transfers her affections to his legal killer. There are new thrilling serials. PLAZA THEATRE. Described as a drama of the upper crust of the underworld, "A Gentleman After, Dark," jiow screening at the Plaza Theatre, proves to be a thriller about a jewel thief who is not as polished in his morals as he is in his appearance. Brian Donlevy plays the part of the crook, familiarly known as Heliotrope Harry, and the scent of 'that flower plays no small part in the story. Miriam Hopkins and Preston Foster are two others prominent in the cast. The supporting programme is one of exceptional merit, one of its most interesting items being glimpses of the recent fighting at Buna. STATE THEATRE. The new programme at the State Theatre combines thrills and excitement with humour in a more satisfactory way. To start with there is "Canal Zone," in which planes play a prominent part. John Hubbard, a New York playboy, comes to the Canal Zone to be trained by Chester Morris But Harriet Hilliard is of more interest to him than the air. However, after a series of exciting incidents and an air smash, things smooth themselves out both from an aviation and from a matrimonial point of view "Parachute Nurse," another feature on the programme. stars Marguerite Chapman and William Wright, and provides good entertainment. MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Mrs. Miniver," Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon ST. JAMES THEATRE. "My Favourite Blonde." Bob Hone. Madeleine Carroll. Percy the Penguin. TIME THEATRE. "Brother Rat and a Baby," Priscilla Lane, Wayne Morris; "Lone *Star Ranger," Sheila Ryan. Jonathan Hale. ROXY THEATRE. "The Navy Steps Out," George Murphy. Lucille Ball; "Highway West." Brenda Marshall, Arthur Kennedy. TUDOR THEATRE. "The Gold Rush." Charlie Chaplin; "The Westerner." Gary Cooper. PRIN TCESS THEATRE. "A Yank on the Burma Road," Laraine Day, Barry Nelson; "The Doctor and the Debutante," Lew Ayres. Lionel Barrymore, Ann Aj^ars, Robert Sterling. SUBURBAN THEATRES. Rivoli (Newtown).—"lnternational Lady," Ilona Massey. Basil Rathbone. George Brent; "Fly by Night," Nancy Kelly,.Richard Carlson. Ascot (Newtown).-—"Trail of the Vigilantes." Franchot Tone, Warren William, Andy Devine; "The Man Who Lost Himself," Brian Aherne, Kay Francis. Kinema (Kilbirnie).—"Woman of the Year," Spencer Tracey Katherine Hepburn; "Flying Blind," Richard Arlen. Jean Parker. Capito! (Miramar).-—"The Vanishing Virginian," Frank Morgan, Kathryn Grayson; "Klondike 'Fury," Edmund Lowe. Vogue (Brooklyn).—"The Chocolate Soldier," Nelson Eddy, Rise Stevens; ":Diamond Frontier," Victor McLaglen Anne Nagel. Regal (Karori).—"The Men in Her Life," Loretta Young, Conrad Veidt; "West Point Widow," Ann Shirley Richard Carlson. Empire (Island Bay).—"Remember the Day,' Claudette Colbert, John Pavne; "Charlie Chan in Panama." Seaside. (Lyall Bay).—"Here Comes Mr. Jordan," Robert Montgomery. Claude Rains; "Tilly the Toiler." Prince Edward (Woburn).—"Lady Be Good," Eleanor Powell, Ann Sothern. Robert Young; "Danger in the Pacific," Leo Carillo. Andy Devine. De Luxe (Lower Hutt).—"Out of the Fog," John Garfield, Ida Lupino; "Freckles Comes Home," Johnny Downs. Gale Storm. King George (Lower Hutt). —"How Green Was My' Valley." State (Petone)v—"Blossoms in the Dust," Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon Palace (Petone).—"Honeymoon for Three." Ann Sheridan, George Brent, Chprlie Ru£gles; "Half-way to Shanghai." Khandallah Pictures.—"Under Your