ENTERTAINJMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 23

ENTERTAINJMENTS

§ ,V. /is# " '■ I v PLAZA THEATRE I 1 The Twentieth Century-Fox prodncf •Hnti ''Lancer S P>V 'an exciting story I of espiounge d'.ring tho Great War, ■ ! l ■ is continuing its season at the Plaza P-- 'l'heittro to-day. .Rased on a novel writI ' +<itlbv Martha McKenna and adapted fof'tne screen by Philip Dunne, the Lij briskly narrates tho amazing exploits of ' l British naval lieutenant, Michael Bruce, played by George Sanjoined the secret service and ktjs entrusted with a dangerous mission to Berlin. Sanders has recently attracted considerable attention by his acting in "Lloyds of London" and "Slave Ship," and his work in "Lancer v gn?"''leaves no doubt'as to his acting ' ability.- Tho film is notable for the fact ' that "it i s the first to In directed by Gregory Hatoff. noted Hollywood charter actor and screen author. There Jjpn impresive east of plnvers, including Dolores del Rio, Peter Lorre, Joseph Schildkraut.and Maurice Moscovjtcb. There is an excellent supporting programme.

I! MAJESTIC THEATRE The dynamic actor, Clark Gable, blftogs to the screen in forceful style t]ie ragged strength of character, tho idealism and sincerity ol the great liish and politician, Charles gtewart ParnelL in the screen version of tlio play, by John van Drutcn, "Paraellr" which opened a season at tho Majestic Theatre yesterday. The picture depicts the tremendous struggle made by Parnell for the introduction iol Home Rule and how his .»arly efforts jft this direction failed because of false "accusations that he was implicated in the Phoenix Park murders. It tells of lis great love/for th<» charming, sclfgacrificing Katie O'Shea, excellently portrayed by Myrnn Lov, and how she nursed him through an illness back to health. i Finally the picture reveals the failure which rewarded his struggle, when success was so near at hand, through his being cited as co-respondent in divorce proceedings instituted by the time-serving Willie O'Shea. There is an exceedingly, well bah. need associate programme to bo shown in conjunction. It includes a coloured Fitzpatriek Travel talk, the subject being Ceylon; a humorous Pete Smith specialty, and the third of the series of Government publicity pictures, "Here and There in New Zealand." A Pathe Gazette also will bo screened.

. •/' CIVIC THEATRE, One of the most hilarious pictures to be seen in Auckland for some months, '•Ali Balm Goes to Town," tho latest Eddie Cantor extravaganza, is to continue screenings at the Civic Theatre today. With mtisic anil mirth as the main objects of the film the producer, Darrvl has succeeded admirably in obtaining these. Many new songs are introduced, including several by the popular composers Gordon and Reval, among them being "I've Got My Heart ''Sot on You," "Vote For Hoaest Abe," "Swing is Here to, Sway," and "Laugh Your Way Through Life." "'Twilight'in Turkey" is another of the catchy tunes ;in the picture. Eddie Cantor, as an "extra" at Hollywood, finds lie has been allotted a small part in a production and is required to hide in f n earthen jar until he is to'come on to the sot. He falls asleep and his subsequent travels through dreamland, in this case a modernised Bagdad, and his effort's to reform 9 sultanate otfer any amount of opportunities for hearty a ugh sequences. Tho Sulfan. Hnlnrd Younir. is troubled over affairs of Stale, and, to go)ve his difficulties, Eddie Cantor suggests he forms a republic and stands for president. The sultana, Louisa Hovick, 6farts a movement to make Eddie president, nCthe : liope that tho sultan will suspect him of treason. Eddie wins the . clectiorutof &tremenci!cus maprity and / the sultan jortfers him to be boiled in oil. Slaking his escape the newly-elected president.runs Into a. rug shop, where he finds a magic carpet, bat ty an unfortunate accident he sets it alight and plunges earthward, falling into a jar. /.He awakens to find hintself oice more on the movie set and is dismissed. The conclusion is full of fun. Number 4 of the 19$; series of the March of. Time pictures also is on the programme.

VICTORIA THEATRIC "Stella Dallas" and "Dmgerous Adventure" ard the two pictures which comprise the current programme at the ' Victoria Theatre. Barbara Stanwyck and John Boles take the leading roles • in the first film. MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM The programme at the May fair Theatre, Sandringham, to-day, includes "Wings of the Morning" and "She Had to Eat." . * STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Paul Robeson, the popular negro actor, appears in the film version of "King Solomon r ß,Mines," whim is to be 3hown with "Charlie Chan on Broadway" at the State Theatre, Devonport. to-day. - .. .. BERKELEY THEATRE - ITie engaging child actress Hhirley ■Temple heads the cast in "Stowaway," which is to be presented to patrons at , Berkeley Theatre,' Mission Bay, to-day. There is an attractive .issocip ate programme. ,• • STATE THEATRE The drama "Night Must Fall," with Bobert Montgomery in the leading role, heads an attractive programme at the State Theatre to-day. There is a good associate programme which includes a lete Smith feature. :' _ STAR CINEMA ( i WokTWll is the leading player in 'he Singing Marine," the first pictiire on the programme at the Star v to-day. The second film is , 'j- I l3th Chair." ___ ■ ( ADELPHI THEATRE ■ ■ "Rose oif Tralee," featuring Binkie is to he presented to-dav at the Adelphi Theatre. The film version sl2 .Clarence E. Mulford's "Rustlers' • alley" is the second picture. EMPRESS THEATRE . I. Conrad Voidt is the principal plavor Antler the Red Rone," which wilt °e screened to-day at the Empress •theatre, "That's My Story" is to be shown in conjunction. j; ALEXANDRA THEATRE 1 V'l* ake 8 Wish," with Bobbie Bnien. ~, e bo.v soprano, in a leading role and •j; , A Doctor s Diary" will be shown in '.conjuiHition at the Alexandra Theatre to-day. H;, REGAL THEATRE ' Robert Young gives a pleasing perli{. orm , anf>c ,n "His .Affair." which will If?® s hown to-day at the Regal Theatre ila conjunction with "Rustler's Valley." / REGENT, EPSOM f'lll-lpngtli pictures, "Love on n ?' nil( l "Wake Up and Live," Ink P r O v i<lr» excellent entertainment at ■ e Regent Theatre, Epsom, to-day.

flf, T PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE ?ifii» * * attractions to be shown at tie Edward Theatre to-day include •*5? t*'° films "Captains Courageoun" Happened iu Hollywood.''

ST. JAMES' THEATRE J Making laughter its object and fantasy its instrument, "Topper," a i\ 1 etro-G old wyn-M aye r picture which opened a season at St. "James' Theatre yesterday, delighted liirge audiences hy its excellent acting, unusual theme and brilliant trick photography. The story i« sheer lantasy, depending .on tlio premise that spirits of dead people remain earth-bound for a time and possess tho giit of materialising at will before passing into the next world. The humorous possibilities of the idea have been cleverly exploited in a picture which abounds in hilarious situations, lhe story tells how two young people, Mr. and Mrs. Kerby, are killed in a motor accident and are kept in a state of variable density—now invisible, now transparent, now solid—until they have performed a good deed. They recall their frieiid Mr. Topper, a staid banker utterly under the thumb of his fussy wife, and decide to show him how to enjoy life. The transformation of Mr. Topper under then 1 direction occupies tho major part of tho picture. When the Kerbys are to be seen on the screen, they are entertaining; when thov decide to mako themselves invisible, they are etill more amusing, and tho sight of disembodied spirits walking through walls, pens standing up and writing under their own power, hats leaping from their pegs and driverless motor-cars careering through space becomes* richly amusing when it is so brilliantly depicted by the camera technicians. Roland Young gives a delightful performance as the bewildered Mr. Topper, and be receives excellent, support from Gary Grant and Constance Dennett, as Mr. and Mrs. Kerb.v, llillie Burke as Mrs. Topper and Alan Mowbray as a conventional butler. An excellent- selection of supporting items includes immvstools and a most amusing Robert Uenohle.v oddity entitled "A Night at tho Movies." ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES With a wealth of hilarious situations, ,yet containing many tenso scenes, '/Crashing Hollywood," an RKORadio comedy drama, will again head the programme at tho Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The story deals with the adventures in the film capital of an author, Lee Tracy, and an actress, played by Joan Woodbury. Lee Tracy ' writes the story of an unsolved bank ' robbery in collaboration with Guil- i foyle, who is actually an ex-convict, but who poses as a criminologist. Guilfoyle i supplies all the inside details of the rob- j bery in which he was involved, with the i result that when the story is filmed as I "The Trail of The Hawk," the film- j studio is invaded by tho police, who suspect Tracy of implication in tho robbery, and by The Hawk, who is still at large, and who thinks that the author knows tod much about him and must be killed. There follows a number of tense encounters before the exciting picture is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The second picture on the programme. also an RKO-Radio film, is "Saturday's Heroes."

MAYFAIR THEATRE Tho popidar actor Franehot Tone takes tho leading role in the exciting comedy-drama "Exclusive Story," which is the first picture on tho programme to be presented at the Mavfriir Theatre to-dav. Tho tenseness of tho story, which is based on the ever-last-ing war waged against crime in the underworld of America, is relieved by many amusing situations. The second picture to be screened is the uproarious comedy-farce "A Night at the Opera." The three Marx Brothers appear in this attraction. In addition to these films will be shown an excellent associate programme of selected short features. STRAND THEATRE Clever- acting by a large cast and smooth directing by David 0„ Selznick j are features of the technicolour production "Nothing Sacred," a United Artists picture, which heads the nrogranime at the Strand Theatre to-day. Frederic March gives an excellent portrayal as Wallace Cook, chief reporter 011 the Now York Morning Star, who unwittingly perpetrates a hoax 011 his editor, played by Walter Connolly. Carole Lombard repeats her success of "My Man Godfrey" in the leading feminine role, that of a girl who is allegedly suffering from an incurable disease,'and who is feted through New York for her bravery in the face of death. Charles Winninger also is prominently cast. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Loretta Young and Don Ameehe head a lar«e cast in the picture "Love Under Fire," a story of war in Spain. The second attraction is "Wild and Woolly," in which the entertaining child actress Jane Withers is prominently cast. There is an excellent associate programme, which includes the Empire Games finals. TUDOR CINEMA Walter Wanger's technicolour production "Vogues of 1938" heads the programme to be screened to-day at the Tudor Cinema. Warner Baxter and Joan Bennett are the leading players, with Mischa Auer in-the main supporting role. GAIETY THEATRE, OTAHUHU The outstanding British production "Fire Over England" will head the programme to be presented to-day at the Gaiety Theatre, Otahuhu. An attractive programme of supporting items will also bo screened. ORPHEUS THEATRE, OTAHUHU An entertaining double-feature programme will be offered to patrons today at-the Orpheus Theatre, the main pictures being "Western Gold ' and "Kid Gallahad." Edward G. Robinson takes the leading role in the latter production. CAPITOL THEATRE Two full-length pictures are to be screened at the Capitol Theatre to-day Thcv are 'Wake Up and Live" and "China Passage." Selected features also will be screened. WINDSOR THEATRE An * excellent programme at the Windsor. Theatre to-night includes the Australian production "Tall Timbers and "Green Light." GREY LYNN CINEMA To be shown patrons at the Grey Lvnn Cinema to-day are tho two pictures' "Pick , a Star" and "Angels Holidav." Laurel and Hardy are 111 the first attraction and Jane Withers is in j the second BRITANNIA THEATRE "Michael Strogoff," the screen version of the novel by .Jules Verne, will be shown at the Britannia Theatre today. "Pick ft Star" is tho second attraction. PRINCESS THEATRE Tho boy soprano Bobby Breen appears in "Make a Wish," which heads the programme at the Princess Theatre to-day. A second full-length film, "Hoportecl Missing," also will be shown. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA The Academy Award winner Paul Muni takes the leading role in ',' The Life of Emile Zola," which will be shown with "Empty Holsters" at the State Theatre, Ouehunga, to-day.

REGENT THEATRE Hilarious comedy and catchy songs are successfully blended in "You're a Sweetheart," tho latest Xcw Universal musical "production, starring Alice Fayo and George Murphy, which began at the Regent Theatre yesterday. An additional attraction on the programme is the .singing of Miss June Ihirson, winner of the New Zealand Deanna Durbiti' voice quest. "You're a Sweetheart" fully sustains the reputation that Xcw Universal has already established for first-class musical films. Tbero is an interesting and iimusiug story, some of the most tuneful melodies of the year, outstanding dancing numbers, and several new comedians. Tho story of the film, unlike that of some musical pictures, is full of interest. It concerns an hotel waiter who becomes a millionaire for a week in order to provide publicity for a Broadway musical comedy, His antics in this rolo are productive of some laughable scenes, and there are many hilarious situations and surprise twists in the plot. "You're a Sweetheart" provides perfect vehicle for the talents of Alice Pa ye and George Murphy, who prove themselves a perfect; singing and dancing team. Alico Fnye unnees for the first time on tho screen, and also sings soveral numbers in attractive fashion. Two of the best are the theme song of the picture "You're a Sweetheart and "Scraping the Toast" in which she is associated with George Murphy. Dancing is one of the principal features of "You're a Sweetheart" and George Murphy, who plays the part of the pseudo-millionaire, is outstanding in tap and comedy numbers. Comedy is Brovided in full measure by Andy evine as a bodyguard for the "millionaire, and Ken Murray and Oswald and i Frank Jenks and Frances Hunt. A | chorus of pretty girls adds to the atI tractions of the picture. Tho main feaj turo of tho supporting programmo is | the singing of 3iiss .June Barson, who i had an enthusiastic reception from the I audieneo at both the afternoon and I evening screenings. A Universal newsreel, a Strange as it Seems feattiro, and a New Zealand travel film showing life in Samoa, are also included in the programme. EMBASSY THEATRE Sparkling comedy, with witty dialogue and splendid acting, is to be enjoyed at the Embassy Theatre to-day, i when "It's All Yours," a film from i the Columbia Studios, will be presented. Madeleine Carroll, as the secretary | who unexpectedly inherits a million- i aire's fortune, and Francis Ledcrer, as j the disinherited heir, are the leading players, but it is Mischa Aucr, a for- | ■ time-hunting foreign count, who sup- j plies most of the comedy. His acting is ! brilliant. There is an exceptionally ■ interesting programme of short features j to be shown in conjunction. It includes j a Charlie Chase comedy, a beautiful j colour rhapsody, an 'aquatic sports ' feature and the latest news reels. • ASTOR THEATRE Fred Mac Murray .and Jack Oakie head the cast in "Texas Rangers," which is the first film 011 the doublefeature programme at tho Astor Theatre to-day. The second picture will bo "All American Chump." LONDON CINEMA Jack Holt appears in the exciting film "Storm in the Andes," the first picture on the programme at the London Theatre to-day. The second attraction to. he shown is the action picture "Silent .Valley."