ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22859, 14 October 1937, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE "Cafe Metropole," the delightful comedy with Tyrone Power and Loretta Young in the chief rples, will be shown for the last time at the Civic Theatre to-day. Paul llobeson, the popular negro singer, returns to the screen in "Big Fella," the Gaumont British film which is to commence a season iit the Civic Theatre to-morrow. Robeson's vital personality and magnificent voice are given full scope in the role of Joe, a dock-hand in Marseilles. When a boy, Gerald, ftiysteriously vanishes from a vessel in port, it is suspected that he has been kidnapped, and Joe's help is enlisted in finding him. Th© story, which has more than usual interest, is made even more attractive by the six songs that doe sings. Elizabeth Welch takes the leading feminine part. REGENT THEATRE The musical picture "The Singing Marine" will have its final screenings at the Regent Theatre to-day. What is considered by overseas critics to be one of the greatest boxing films ever made, "Kid Galahad" will commence a season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The story tells of a bellboy, played by Wayne Morris, who succeeds in the boxing world mainly through the instrumentality and management of a "racketeer," interpreted by Edward G. Robinson; The first step in his rise to fame came through his trainer's jealousy of his liking for his fiancee. He obtained a bout for the boxer with the intention of having him soundly beaten, but to his surprise the reverse occurred. As a result, his trainer incurs the enmity of another "gangster," played by Humphrey Bogart, and. during the rest of the film, added excitement is found in the hostility of those two characters. A feature of the film is the realistic fashion in which all aspects of boxing in America are transferred to the screen.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE "Saratoga," the clever comedy which is now being screened at St. James' Theatre, tells an original story in an entertaining manner. Dealing for the most part with the people who frequent the great racecourses, "Saratoga" has two well-chosen players, Jean Harlow and Clark Gable, in the chief parts. Gable makes a colourful personality of the bookmaker who gains control of the stables owned by Clayton, grandfather of the girl, who is played by Jean Harlow. PLAZA THEATRE "Rose of Tralee" will be shown for the last time at the Plaza Theatre today. A novel idea on the part of the R.K.O. Radio Company is responsible for the film "New Faces of 1937," which will be shown at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow All the members of the cast were chosen from_ wellknown vaudeville and radio artists in America who had rarely or never before appeared on the screen. As a result the picture is of a highly original kind, blending comedy with singing and dancing in a manner that should appeal to most audiences. A leading part is taken by Harriet Hilliard. who was previously seen in "Follow the Fleet," and Parkya Karkus, formerly with Fddie Cantor, supplies some of the humour.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES An admirably selected programme, with music and comedy in one film and mystery and excitement in the other, will be screened at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The chief picture, entitled "Sing and Be Happy," is a fast-moving story based on the rivalry between two radio advertising firms. In one of them, owned by Thomas Lane, one of the most capable agents is his daughter, Ann, played by Leah Ray. The other business is controlled by John Mason, and an unwilling assistant is his son, Buzz, who would prefer touring the country with his orchestra to working for his living. He is in love with Ann, but finds that he cannot progress in her affections until he settles down and becomes an energetic business man. The picture, which includes a number of tuneful songs, was made by Darryl Zanuck, who was responsible for the successful pictures "Girl in a Million" and "On the Avenue." Of an entirely different nature is the second film, "The Great Gambini," a mystery story with Akim Tamiroff in the most important role. He is seen as an attraction at a night-club, where, together with a blindfolded lady assistant, he reads messages sent up by the audience. When he prophesies a death which later occurs, suspicion is cast on most of the characters in the film, and the unravelling of the crime forms a thrilling and cleverly worked out story. Others in the list of players arp Genevieve Tobin, John Grant and Marian Marsh.

STRAND THEATRE The technicolour picture "Wings of the Morning" will continue its successful season to-day at the Strand Theatre. An appealing story from one of Donn Byrne's "Destiny Bay" series and excellent acting combine "to make the picture one of the finest seen in Auckland for some time and the French actress Annabella gives an outstanding performance in the principal part. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Drama and comedy are combined in the double programme to be presented to-day at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres. Two full-length pictures are contained in the programme, the first beitig entitled "The Woman I Love" and the second "Call It a Day." Both films, although of a different type, are excellent entertainment and will prove an attraction to patrons. STATE THEATRE Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor take the leading parts in. "Man in Possession," which will be shown finally today at the State Theatre. This entertaining comedy, in which both principals give excellent performances, is preceded by a supporting programme of equal quality. i STAR CINEMA A double programme will be presented to-day at the Star Cinema. The chief attraction is "Song of Freedom." the negro actor Paul Robeson taking the main part and singing several songs. The second picture is "Stowaway," featuring Shirley Temple. TUDOR CINEMA The famous Wodehouse character Jeeves comes to life in the comedy "Thank You, Jeeves," which will be given its last screening to-night at the Tudor Cinema. Arthur Treacher takes the leading role. ASTOR THEATRE ' Patrons at the Astor Theatre to-day will Ik? entertained with an excellent programme, the main feature of which is the dramatic production "The General Died at Dawn." CAPITOL THEATRE The two full-length attractions "Polo Joe" and "Criminal Lawyer will be shown- to-day at the Capitol Theatre BRITANNIA THEATRE "Love From a Stranger" and "Don't -Tell the Wife" are the'two attractions to he shown to-day at the Britannia Theatre.

MAJESTIC THEATRE •'Nobody's Baby" and "I Promise to Pay" will be shown for the last time at the Majestic Theatre to-day. Another entertaining doable-feature programme, headed by the British picture "Kathleen Mavourneen," will open at the Majestio Theatre (to-morrow. Tom Burke, a well-known, tenor, who made his debut at Covent Garden with Madame Melba, heads a strong cast that includes Sally O'Neil and a Dublin boy, Rory O'Connor, who, at the age of 14, is holder of the All-Ireland step dancing championship. The story, which deals with smuggling on the Free State border, is of an unusually realistic type, and incorporates a number of popular songs. The second attraction, "Hitch Hike Ladv," has Alison Skipworth in the- chief part, others in the cast being Arthur Treacher, Mae Clark and Jimmy Ellison. Alison Skipworth is seen as an old lady in England who decides to visit her son in America, not knowing that his_ address, "Rancho San Quentin," is in reality the San Quentin gaol. The film toils of her adventures on the way across America. EMBASSY THEATRE The romantic though tragic life of N Stephen Collins Foster, famous composer' of negro melodies, forms the theme of "Harmony Lane," the entertaining film which will commence a season at the Embassy Theatre to-day. Foster, who had spent his youth among the negroes, made it his mission in lite to put in enduring form the songs that they sang at their work, and in which their every mood was caught. 'I he popularity of such songs as "Old Black Joe," "Nelly Bly" and "My Old Kentucky Home," which are included in the many numbers sung in the picture, shows how well he succeeded. In the role of the chief character Douglass gives a sensitive portrayal of a man whose life, containing many twists of fate, makes a difficult subject for screen presentation. Evelyn Venable and Adrienue Ames are others in a strong supporting cast, and manv of the songs are rendered by the Shaw Choir. MAYFAIR THEATRE The brilliant comedy "Three Smart Girls" will conclude its season to-day at the Mayfair Theatre, where it is being screened in conjunction with "That's My Story," a film of newspaper life. Deanna Durbin is seen in the former production.