ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE Dick Powell and Ruby Kecler appear together in " Colleen," the cheerful Warner Brothers musicnl film, which is being well received at the Civic Theatre. An amusing story of the efforts of a young man to straighten out the affairs of his eccentric undo keeps the audience continually amused, while there are many spectacular daneo ensembles and clever individual items. The tap dancing of Ruby Kecler and a particularly clever artist, Paul Draper, who makes his first screen appearance in this picture, is one of the outstanding features of the film.

RECENT THEATRE One of tho most entertaining musical films to bo seen in Auckland for some time, the Paramount picture "Anything (Joes" is being enthusiastically received by large audiences at the Regent Theatre. Ding Crosby and Ethel Merman, two talented musical players, are responsible for tho presentation of several tuneful songs, while the whole production is packed with spectacular dancing numbers, sparkling comedy and lavish ensembles. Ida Lupino, Arthur Treacher and Grace Bradley head tho supporting cast. ST. JAMES' THEATRE In a part which calls for the polished restraint of an experienced player, Edmund Lowe gives an outstanding characterisation of 8. S. Van Dine's debonair fictional detective, Philo Vance, in "The Garden Murder Case," at St. James' Theatre. Three baffling murders aro solved during the course of the story, while there is a pleasing subsidiary plot concerning a romance between the detective and a young society woman, charmingly portrayed by Virginia Bruce. There is an excellent selection of shorter films.

PLAZA THEATRE Warner Baxter gives ono of tho finest characterisations of his career in "Tho Prisoner of Shark Island," which heads the current programme at the Plana Theatre. In the part of Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was sentenced to penal servitude for life for assisting the murderer of Abraham Lincoln when he was fleeing from the police in Maryland, Baxter is given wide scope for his dramatic talents, and his portrayal is an intensely moving one. Gloria Stuart heads the supporting cast. " Ceiling Zero," a thrilling flying picture, is the next attraction. James Cagney and Pat O'Brien are the players.

STAR CINEMA Large audiences continue to'be attracted to the Star Cinema, where the impressive Loudon Films production "Things to Come" heads tho programme. Based 011 a scenario specially written for the screen by H. G. Wells, the film depicts the progress of civilisation during the next 100 years. Through the genius of the director, Alexander Korda, realistic scenes of the next war. the decay of civilisation as we know it and the building up of a new world by a race of scientists have been convincingly portrayed, and the film is at times almost frightening in its vivid conception of the future.

STRAND THEATRE An entertaining film depicting the efforts of anarchists to overthrow the young king of a Ruritanian State is presented in "Professional Soldier," at the Strand Theatre. The clever juvenile actor Freddie Bartholomew is seen in the part of the young sovereign, while Victor McLaglen gives a sterling performance in the role of an Irish-Ameri-can soldier of fortune who becomes the lad's firm friend. There is a pleasing undercurrent of humour which adds greatly to the appeal of the film, which should be enjoyed by young and old. EMBASSY THEATRE The first full-length outdoor film to be photographed entirely in natural colour, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine," at the Embassy Theatre, marks a definite advance in the science of motion picture making. AH the beauty of tho magnificent mountain lake scenery in which the action of the story takes place is perfectly transferred to the screen, while the entertainment value of the picture also is outstanding. Fred Mac Murray and Sylvia Sidney are the players.

NATIONAL THEATRE Wallace Beery is at his best as an American deserter in "A Message to Garcia," the main attraction at the National Theatre. John Boles is seen in the part of Lieutenant Rowan, who was entrusted with the task of taking the famous message through the enemy lines, while Barbara Stanwyck makes a delightfullv attractive heroine. "Champagne Charlie." in which Paul Cavanagh and Helen Wood appear, also is shown.

STATE THEATRE Interpreted by an excellent cast of first-class players, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film "David Copperfield," which is to be shown at the State Theatre tonight, was enthusiastically hailed by critics all over the world as one of the finest films of the year when it was first released. Admirably recapturing the spirit, and to a large extent the detail, of Dickens' novel, the film is notable for tho fact that it gave tho clever, juvenile actor Freddie Bartholomew his first major success. TIVOLI THEATRE A well-balanced double-feature programme which has an appeal for all sections of the community, has been arranged for the guest night at the Tivoli Theatre to-night. The main attraction is a highly diverting comedv film "You Said a Mouthful,'' in which the comedian, Joo E. Brown, has an important part. Those who remember his amusing performances in "The Circus Clown" and "Six-dny Bike Rider" will .enjoy his uproariously funnv antics in the present film. "Central Park," in which .loan Blondell is prominently cast, is tho second picture.

LONDON CINEMA Thoroughly enjoyable entertainment is promised patrons of the London Cinema to-night, when Edmund Lowe will be seen in "Her Bodyguard." Wynne Gibson lias the lending feminine role and there is a talented cast of supporting players. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA "When New York Sleeps" and "This Man is Mine" are the films tp bo shown at the State Theatre, Onehunga, tonight. TUDOR CINEMA An excellent double-feature programme comprising the films, "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" and "The Guv'nor," will bo presented at the Tudor Cinema to-night. VICTORIA THEATRE "Sitting Pretty" and "Hell and High Water" are the films to be shown at the Victoria Theatre to-night. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Entertainment consisting of the films "The Ghost Train" and "The Man From Toronto" will be presented at the State Theatre, Devonport, to-night.

MAJESTIC THEATRE " The Voice of Bugle Ann," a stirring outdoor film set in the fox-hunting district of Missouri, is the main attraction at the Majestic Theatre. With Lionel Barrymore cast in the role of a fine old sportsman who takes his revenge on a neighbour, whom he suspects of deliberately killing his favourite hound, Bugle Ann, tho film is at times highly dramatic. Maureen O'Sullivan and Eric Linden also are prominently cast. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Thoroughly enjoyable light entertainment is presented in the screen version of Shakespeare's immortal comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which heads the current programme at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres. Joe 10. Brown, Jean Muir, Victor Jory, Dick Powell and Olivia De Haviland head the large cast. There is a splendid selection of shorter films. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE An excellent double-feature programme will be presented at tho Prince Edward Theatre to-night, which will be guest night. "Miss Fane's Baby is Stolen," a highly entertaining film in which Dorothea Wieck and Alice Brady appear, is the main attraction. Baby Le Hoy also has an important role. One of the most polished actors appearing on the screen to-day, Edmund Lowe, has the lead in "I Love That Man," which also is being shown. Nancy Carroll heads the supporting cast.