ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE Hilarious comedy and romance aro well combined in "Cain and Mabel," the film which is drawing capacity audito the Regent Theatre. Produced by Warner Brothers, the picture has as its principals Clark Gable, of "San Francisco" and "Mutiny on the Bounty," and Marion Davies, heroine of several recent outstanding successes, fhe two are featured together for the lirst time. Full of melody and humour, the former ranging from grand opera to modern dance tunes, the film consists of a mixture of romance, sheer comedy, surprises and spectacle. The magnificent casting right down to the smallest part is a feature of the production, while the beautiful tenor voices employed in the presentation of a number of favourite songs also are worthy of mention,. An excellent supporting programme, which includes a colour cartoon, a musical novelty, a newsreel and a film of logging operations iu a lumber camp, also is being shown. ST. JAMES' THEATRE "Our Relations," tho screamingly funny Laurel and Hardy comedy, will conclude a very successful holiday season at St. James' Theatro to-day. " THE GREAT ZIEGFELD " "The Great Ziegfeld," which will commence a season at St. James' Theatre with a midnight matinee tonight, is a remarkable musical drama suggested by the spectacular career of Florenz Ziegfeld, America's greatest showman and glorifier of American beauty. Heralded as the most lavish show yet produced on tho talking screen, tho picture has a cast of more than 200 speaking roles, 200 American beauties and 5000 extras. Tho part of Ziegfeld is played by William Powell, hero of many recent screen successes, while M.vrna Loy appears as Billio Burke, the woman he loves, and Luise Rainer as Anna Held, the actress around whom was centred one of the most amazing publicity stunts in theatrical history. In preparing this remarkable production, the cast of which includes such outstanding stars as Frank Morgan, Fannie Brice, Virginia Bruce, Reginald Owen and Nat Pendleton, Motro-Goldwyn-Mayer used 16 reels and 15,300 feet of film. PLAZA THEATRE "Ladies in Love." with Loretta Young, Simone Simon, Constance Bennett and Janet Gaynor, will conclude a successful season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. " EARTHWORM TRACTORS " Joe E. Brown comes to the Plaza Theatre to-morrow in his new film, "Earthworm Tractors," a First National production that is said to be the most hilarious comedy he has made. The picture is based on a series of stories written by William Hazlett Upson and which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post. Brown brings to life on the screen the hero of these comedies, that blundering and in his own egotistical estimation, natural born super-salesman, Alexander Botts, who somehow always wins out at the end in spite of his mistakes. There is a talented supporting cast, including June Travis and Carol Hughes, who play the parts of Botts' two sweethearts. Guy Kibbee gives an hilarious performance as a cantankerous and partially deaf old man to whom Joe tries for long in vain to sell tractors. Dick Foran is excellent in his role as the successful rival of Brown in love, acting as a perfect foil for the latter's antics. MAJESTIC THEATRE Singing of a quality rarely heard on either stage or screen is offered patrons, of the Majestic Theatre, where "New Moon," starring Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore, is enjoying a most successful season. With lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and music by Sigmund Romberg, two of the greatest collaborators on Broadway to-day, this picture offers the best in musical entertainment. Adolphe Menjou and Roland Young head a strong supporting cast.

EMBASSY THEATRE David 0. Selznick's technicolour film, "The Garden of Allah," starring Marlene Dietrich and Charles Boyer. will be shown at the Embassy Theatre again to-day. Acknowledged as one of the most beautiful pictures ever screened, "The Garden of Allah" is reproduced in natural colour for which the desert scenes which it contains provide ideal settings. Against such a striking background is thrown a story somewhat deeper than the average screen story. It tells.of the love of a beautiful girl who is seeking peace in the desert after the loss of her cherished father, and a man unused to the ways of the' world, an escapee from a Trappist monastery. NATIONAL THEATRE Music, singing, dancing and comedy make "Show Boat," one of the most popular pictures yet shown in Auckland and at present enjoying a successful season at the National Theatre, an attraction well above the average. Irene Dunne, as Magnolia, and Allan Jones, as Kavenal, sing magnificently together and apart, their- voices being equalled only by that of Paul Robeson, who takes the part of the faithful Joe. PICTUREDROME New Year's Eve celebrations will be held at the Picturedroine Theatre tonight, when "Foreign Affaires," starring Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, will be Ihe main picture. Four hours' carnival jazz, presented by Molnman s orchestra, will follow, and hats, balloons, streamers and other novelties will be distributed. The programme is one of the most entertaining being offered in Auckland to-night.

STRAND THEATRE Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) again delves into deep and dangerous mystery in "Charlie Chan at the Race Track," the thrilling film which heads the current programme at the Strand Theatre. A film of spectacular and comical vaudeville acts, "Soft Lights and Sweet Music," featuring Ambrose and his orchestra, also is being shown. TUDOR CINEMA With Franchot Tone and Lorctta Young in the leading roles, "The Unguarded Hour," the entertaining film now screening at the Tudor Cinema, has an unusual plot with a thrilling climax. A well-varied supporting programme also is being shown. LONDON CINEMA Charles Laughton gives a convincing portrayal as Captain Blighin "Mutiny on the Bounty," the thrilling film of drama on the high seas which will conclude a season at the London Cinema to-day. Clark Gable and I<ranchot lone also are in the cast. ASTGR THEATRE "These Three," an entertaining film in which Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins and Joel MeCrea are the principals, is the main attraction at the Aster Theatre. "Last of the Pagans is the second picture. VICTORIA THEATRE "Thirty-Da v Princess" and "The Thundering Herd" are the films to be shown at the Victoria Theatre to-day.

CIVIC THEATRE The film of a. beautiful Indian romance in old California, "Ramona," will have its final screenings at the Civic Theatre to-dav. STATE AND STAR THEATRES The "Russian singer, Senia Chostiakoff, and the Australian comedian, Vincent Ryan, will make their final appearances at the State and Star Theatres to-night, when the main attraction on tho picture programme will be tho colourful film, "Hearts Divided." A special midnight matinee will commence at 11 o'clock, when the two popular artists also will appear. Some remarkably realistic scenes of the terrible earthquake which destroyed a largo portion of San Francisco in 1006 are presented in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, "San Francisco," the main attraction on the programme to lie presented at the State Theatre to-morrow. Errol Flynn is excellently cast iu the title-role of "Captain lilood," tho stirring adventure film based on the novel by Rafael Sabatini, which is to commence a season at the Star Cinema to-morrow. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES The preference shown by Auckland audiences for western films is indicated by the enthusiastic receptions being accorded the screening of tho two splendid pictures which comprise the current double-feature programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Beginning with a thrilling enactment of the climax to tho Spanish-American War, "End of the Trail," the first attraction, presents a story of exciting outdoor action and drama which provides firstclass entertainment. Jack Holt has tho leading role and he has seldom been seen in a part which suited him to better advantage. "King of the Mounted," the Twentieth-Century Fox production, which also is being shown, is an excellent screen adaptation of one of Zane Grey's most successful novels. The grandeur of some of its scenery, combined with the adventurous nature of the story, make it one of the finest films of its type to be seen in Auckland for some time.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO One of the most colourful musical productions to be shown in Auckland for many years, "Show 730 at," heads the entertaining programme to he shown for the first time to-night at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres. Irene Dunne and Allen Jones have the leading roles and they are heard in solos and duets worthy of high praise. Tho negro bass, Paul Robeson, also has a prominent role, while there is an excellent supporting cast. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are seen at their best in "Swing Time," the musical film which heads the current programme at tho State Theatre, Onehunga. GAIETY CINEMA "The Dark Angel," in which Fredric March, Herbert Marshall and Merle Oberon appear, is the current attraction at the Gaiety Cinema. "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town," with Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur, will be shown to-morrow.