ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE "Angel's Holiday," in which the talented child actress Jane Withers has a leading role, will have its final presentation at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The screen version of Erich Maria Remarque's famous sequel to "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Road Back," will commence a season t . at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. 11. ' C. Sherriff, author of "Journey's > End," collaborated with Remarque in - the writing of the screen play, and ] their united efforts have, resulted in a film, which preserves with unusual success the atmosphere of the original work. Just as "All Quiet on the • Western Front" dealt with the war in , the trenches, "The Road Back" desI eribes in an equally vivid and realistic manner the light which the three heroes had to make in order to win - i for themselves a. place in the civilian . ; world. The picture, although it is set in post-war Germany, and takes much iof its material from life in that 1 ; country, is an indictment of war in . general rather than of the conditions I that ruled in that troubled land. John King and Barbara Bead head a strong ; 1 oast of players. I . MAJESTIC THEATRE • The double-feature programme now " j being screened at the Majestic Theatre, ' I which comprises "Pick a Star" and "League of Frightened Men," will be ' presented for the last time at to-day's • j sessions. NEXT ATTRACTIONS • i The entertaining programme to open ija sccson at tho Majestic Theatre toi j morrow is headed bv "Tho Street , j Singer's Return," in which the popular , j singer Arthur Tracy appears again in the rolo which he lias made famous , i on the screen as well as on the wirej less. The new film is said to equal in j interest and in the beauty of its songs i the earlier picture, entitled " Street i Singer's Serenade." Tracy is seen as Richard King, well-known player of musical comedy roles, who. after a . quarrel with his leading lady, Gloria Weston, abandons tho production in tho middle of a rehearsal. Dressed as a beggar he is walking home when ho is offered a lift by a girl named Jenny, who thinks that ho is penniless. He joins Jenny and her uncle, Sam Green, played by Arthur Riscoe, in a street act._ no one knowing that he is in 1 reality one of the most popular singers in the citv. The story is complicated when Gloria's agent, searching for a new leading man, hears him singing in the streets and offers him his old position. Richard King, not wishing , to abandon the free life that he has learned to like, refuses, but Jennv finally persuades him. In the final scene he is once more to sing with Gloria, who refuses to go on the stage with him. Jenny takes her place, and the act proves a triumphant success. Jack Holt appears in the second film, "Roaring Timbers." This picture has for its setting the forest country of the Rocky Mountains, and there are many thrilling scenes of work in the lumber camps. CIVIC THEATRE "Shall We Dance," the musical film with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in leading roles, will have its final screenings at the Civic Theatre to-day. "The Toast of New York," a story of the days that followed the Civil War in Anierica. when the financial .world was in a state of confusion, will commence a season at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. Several ambitious figures emerged from obscurity at that time, ; wielding power until over-ambition . brought, about their ruin. Among these one of tho most colourful was Jim Fisk, an ex-pedlar who later became . one of the wealthiest men of his generation. Played in. the picture by Ed- . ward Arnold, Fisk is seen as a dynamic personality, _ coarse but with an unexpected vein of sentiment in his i character. Carv Grant and Jack Oakie take the parts of his two partners in fortune, and Frances Farmer gives an 1 attractive portrayal in the chief feminine rolo. REGENT THEATRE "Another Dawn" will have its final screenings at the Regent Theatre today, after a popular two weeks' season. Humphrey Bogart appears in "San Quentin," a powerful Warner Brothers picture, which is to commence a season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Bogart's performance in "The Petrified singled him out as ono of the few actors who can invest the character of a gangster with humanity and nevertheless preserve a realistic atmosphere. San Quentin, a huge American penitentiary, is the scene of much of the action in this film, and its cold grey walls are in keeping with the nature of the plot. Opposite Humphrey Bogart appears the attractive young actress Ann Sheridan, in a part that gives her more scope for acting than many of her earlier films. Pat O'Brien and Barton Mac Lane are seen in minor roles. The associate programme includes a technicolour film, a musical revue and several news reels. MAYFAIR THEATRE "The Last.Train From Madrid" and "Blonde Trouble" will conclude their season at the Mavfair Theatre to-day. Another interesting programme will commence at the Mayfair Theatre tomorrow, headed by the spectacular musical production "Wake Up and Live." Alice Faye and Ben Bernie appear together in this film, and humour is supplied by two talented comedians, Patsy Kelly and Walter Winchell. Nine songs are presented in the course of the film. Tho second attraction on the programme is entitled "The Lady Escapes," and is an exciting drama with Claire Trevor in a leading role. EMBASSY THEATRE "Stella Dallas," the brilliantly produced film made by Samuel Goidwyn, will continue its season at the Embassy Theatre to-day. Barbara. Stanwyck appears in the title role, and gives a portrayal of character that is expected to win for her tho Hollywood Academy award. As her husband, Stephen Dallas, John Boles repeats the successful interpretation that he gave in "Craig's Wife." STRAND THEATRE Charlie Ruggles has an important part in "Turn Off the Moon," a musical comedy which heads the programme at the Strand Theatre to-day. The second film is entitled "Her Husband Lies." BRITANNIA THEATRE - The Olympic skating champion Sonja Henie appears in the musical film "Girl in a Million," which, together with "Criminal Lawyer," comprises the programme at tho Britannia Theatre to-night.

STATE THEATRE "Let's Sing Again," in which the talented young singer Bobby Breen heads a strong cast, will again be presented at tho State Theatre to-night. The second film on the programme is "Two's Company." STAR CINEMA Roscoe Karns and Eleanore Whitney are to be seen in "Clarence," an entertaining comedy which is to be screened at the Star Cinema to-day, together, with "Along Came Love." ASTOR THEATRE The double-feature programme to bo screened at tho Astor Theatre to-night includes "My Man Godfrey" and "Bar 20 Hides Again."

ST. JAMES* THEATRE "Captains Courageous," the screen version of Kipling's well-known story, will continue a successful season at St. James' Theatre to-day. Spencer Tracy gives an outstanding performance as Manuel, the Portuguese fisherman who rescues a boy, Harvey, played by Freddie Bartholomew, from drowning in the Atlantic. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Two thrilling mystery films head the programme to be screened at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The suave detective Philo Vance, who first appeared on the screen portrayed by William Powell, takes the main part in the ' first picture "Night of Mystery," from one of S. S. Van Dine's well-known novels. The story is set in the Greene household, composed of a number of ill-assorted relatives who are forced to live together through the terms of a will. One of them is mysteriously killed, and, even after Philo Vanco turns his attention to the solving of the mystery, two more members of the family ar.e murdered. The climax of the film is tensely drawn, and the solution, although unexpected, is •well devised. Grant Richards takes the leading role of Philo Vance, and his methods are well contrasted with those used by a police detective ably played by Roscoe Karns. Ruth Coleman is seen in a minor role. The film was made by the Paramount Company. The second full-length film on the programme is entitled "Fly-away Baby." Glenda Farrell takes the part of a young girl reporter, known as "Torchy" Blane, who will be remembered for her feats of detection in several earlier pictures. She follows a criminal across the country in an aeroplane, and, after many exciting and amusing adventures, manages to track him down. Barton Mac Lane takes the chief masculine part. * CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO A double programme will be presented to patrons at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-day and will comprise the two full-length pictures "The Go-Getter" and "Top of the Town." TUDOR CINEMA Cary Grant and Grace Moore take leading roles in the musical comedy entitled "When You're in Love," which heads the programme to-night at the Tudor Cinema.