ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 15

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE An hilarious plot and plenty of good music are combined in New Universal 1 s "Merry-Go-Rountl of 1938," which will be offered to patrons to-day at the Regent Theatre. The story concerns four poverty-stricken vaudeville actors who are faced with the task of helping their adopted daughter, who is in love with a young man, heir to the wealth of an eccentric aunt. The aunt objects to the girl because of her theatrical'background and tho actors, parts taken by Mischa Auer, Billy House, Bert Lahr and Jimmy Savo, set about winning her favour. They obtain entrance to the aunt's house and gain her favour, one as a titled Englishwoman, supposed to be an aunt of the girl, two as an Kastern mystic and his assistant, and the fourth as a former sweetheart of the eccentric lady. From this point the plot moves at a swift pace and abounds in extremely funny incidents. The romantic roles are taken by Joy Hodges and John King, and Alice Brady appears as the aunt. ST. JAMES* THEATRE Picturesque settings, sincere acting and delightful singing make the film "Maytime," which will commence a season to-day at the St. James' Theatre, particularly attractive entertainment. A screen version of the operetta by Sigmund Romberg from the Metro-Goldwyn-Maver studios, the main roles are taken by the well-known players Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddv. Tho production opens with the former giving advice to a young girl, who wants to pursue an operatic career in preference to romance. The old star tells her story and the film Hashes back to the time when, a girl with similar inclination, she allowed her career to ruin romance. Married out of gratitude to the impresario responsible for her success, she had but one day of real romance with the right man and this led even to murder. The picture is finished with polish and the settings are colourful, showing mainly Paris in the spring, with scenes in the students' quarter and the blossoming countryside. John Barrvmore has an important part in the film as the opera star's husband and Herman Bing also appears PLAZA THEATRE Rider Haggard's most popular story, "King Solomon's Mines," makes stirring and adventurous cinema entertainment in the film of the same name which is to have its first screenings at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Paul Robeson is the leading player of this spectacular Gauinont-British Dominions production and he employs his fine singing voice magnificently. Sir Cedric Hardwicke appears as AJlan Quartermain, the hunter, and makes the character highly convincing. Thejre aro some particularly exciting sequences in the mines in which the party of white people, having eluded the witch-doctor who is intent on their destruction, narrowly escape death in a volcanic eruption. Humour is liberally supplied by Roland Young as the inimitable Commander Good, while the romantic interest is provided by John Loder and Anna Lee. In conjunction with "King Solomon's/Mines" an attractive programme of shorter features is to be presented. MAJESTIC THEATRE Two Paramount presentations will be given their first screenings to-day at the Majestic Theatre. Both are fulllength productions and combine to form an attractive double programme. The first picture is entitled : 'The Thunder Trail" and is a screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by the popular Western writer Zane Grey. The main roles are taken by Charles Bickford, Marsha Hunt and Gilbert Roland and the supporting cast is headed by J. Carrol Naish, James Craig, Monte Blue and Barlowe Borland. The picture has a thrilling theme and depicts the rush to a newlydiscovered goldfield, together with the bitter hostility of two men who. carry on a feud as the result of a murder committed years previously. The second film, "On Such a Night," features Karen Murley fand Grant Richards and tells in graphic fashion the story of refugees from a flood in the Mississippi valley.

EMBASSY THEATRE Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's startling dramatic production "Night Must Fall" is now in its second week at the Embassy Theatre and is continuing to attract large and appreciative audiences. Tho principal role is that of a murderer in search of further victims and the part is handled in masterly fashion by Robert Montgomery. Rosalind Russell gives a convincing portrayal of a girl fascinated by a man whom she know 3 to be a homicidal maniac. Dame May Whitty heads the supporting cast. A Pete Smith oddity is the main feature of the associate programme. This film, which is in technicolour, is an amusing sketch of cooking hints. STRAND THEATRE The double-feature programme comprising the spectacular and appealing "Heidi of the Alps" and tho musical comedy "52nd Street" will again b« offered to-day at the Strand Theatre. Shirley Temple takes the title role in the first film, which is a 20th CenturyFox production, and she is supported by Jean Hersholt and a strong cast. "52nd Street" depicts the fortunes of some families of this famous New York street and the film has an interesting night club background. BERKELEY THEATRE A talented list of players headed by Miriam Hopkins and the noted actor Paul Muni are featured in "The Woman I Love," a dramatic and entertaining film which will bo shown to-day at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay. CAPITOL THEATRE Jean Arthur and George Brent are the leading players in the comedy "More Than a Secretary," which is the chief attraction on the current programme at the Capitol Theatre. "We're on the Jury," the second film, features Victor Moore. PRINCESS THEATRE "Angel's Holiday" and "Kid Galahad" are the two full-length pictures which will be shown to-night at tho Princess Theatre. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT A programme comprising "Rustlers' Valley" and "His Affair" will be presented to-night at the State Theatre, Devonport. STATE THEATRE. ONEHUNCA Sentiment and drama are combined in "Rose of Tralee" and "Flight from Glory," the current attractions at the State Theatre, Onehunga. Binkie Stuart appears in the first film. BRITANNIA THEATRE Joan Crawford, Robert Young and Clark Gable take the leading parts in "Love on the Run," which will be shown to-day with '/Laughing Irish Eyes" at the Britannia J heatre. CIVIC THEATRETTE Thrills in plenty are to be found in the programme to be presented to-day at the Civic tfheatrette. The main film is the detective mystery "Counterfeit."

CIVIC THEATRE Many highly spectacular sequences are included 111 "The Hurricane," the Samuel Goklwyn production which will commence its second week at the Civic Theatre to-day. The beautiful young actress Dorothy Lainour, who will be remembered for her brilliant characterisation in "The Jungle Princess," is prominently cast. Opposite her Jon Hall makes a very promising screen debut. Others in the cast are Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith uiul Raymond Massey. There is an attractive supporting programme. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES An attractive double-feature programme comprising the films "Super Sleuth" and "Counterfeit Lady" will be presented to-day at the ltoxy and Tivoli Theatres. Jack Oakie and Ann Sothern appear in the first production, the former as a complacent actor who, from playing detective roles on the screen, believes himself a detective in reality and he sets himself the task of tracking down the writer of a series of threatening letters. For his own safety Ann Sothern, who plays the part of the publicity director of the studio for which lie works, has him arrested and but for the girl's efforts lie would have become a victim of his quarry, who provides bail so that he can be released from prison. Ralph Bellamy and Joan Perry take the leading roles in "Counterfeit Lady," an exciting story of a woman jewel thief, portrayed by Miss Perry, with Bellamy as the detective employed by a firm of detectives to apprehend her. The story has many thrilling incidents and is brought to an exciting climax. MAYFAIR THEATRE The English dramatic production "Action for Slander," .which will begin a season to-day at the Ma.Vfair Theatre, has an unusually fine cast headed by Olive Brook. The film is founded on the novel by Mary Borden and the story concerns an Army officer who is accused in his own house of cheating at cards by a brother officer and -a stock broker. His domestic affairs prevent him from taking action to clear his name until finally his friends urge him to take the matter to court, where the film is brought to a climax and he is successful in reconciling his wife. STATE THEATRE Comedy in the typical rollicking style of the main players is provided in "Way Out West," which will be shown for the first time to-day at the State Theatre. The picture features the popular comedians Laurel and Hardy and is a Hal Roach production prosented by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer company. The adventures of the two main players in a wild western town form the thome of the film and their efforts to have the title to a large property delivered into the right hands in spite of a great deal of opposition are the cause of a great deal of humour. STAR CINEMA Two full-length comedies of contrasting types are to be screened to-day at the Star Cinema, where the main attraction will be the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production "The Man in Possession." Robert Taylor and the late Jean Harlow give a brilliant performance in the leading roles. The associate feature, ''Back to Nature," stars the Jones Family. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Ronald Colinan gives one of the finest performances of his career in "Lost Horizon," which is the main attraction on the current programme at the Prince Edward Theatre. The film is based on a well-known novel and in finely dramatic style it tells, of a diplomat's adventures in a Utopian land in an inaccessible part of Tibet. A talented cast supports the main player, Jane Wyatt supplying the romantic appeai. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO "You Can't Have Everything," the main attraction to-day at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres, is a musical comedy production of an exceptionally high standard. A large number of versatile artists appear in the film, the chief parts being taken by Alice Faye, Don Ameche, the Ritz Brothers, TonyMartin and Charles Winninger. The associate feature is the air mystery "Reported Missing." LONDON CINEMA An attractive double-feature programme will be offered to patrons today at the London Cinema. The main attraction is the entertaining production "King Solomon of Broadway" and this will be supported by the TOrama "Yellow Dust." TUDOR CINEMA Humour and romantic appeal are successfully blended in "Romance in Paris, which will be presented this evening as the main attraction at the Tudor Cinema. MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM The dramatic film "Michael Strogoff" heads the double programme to be offered to patrons to-day at the Mayfair Theatre, Sandringham. The second attraction is "A Family Affair." VICTORIA THEATRE The drama.tic British production "Farewell Again" will be screened tonight in conjunction with "1 Promise to Pay" at the Victoria Theatre. ASTOR THEATRE A notable film of a Hollywood actress' rise, "A Star is Born," will head the programme to-night at the Astor Theatre. "Guardians of the Air" will also be shown.