ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23026, 2 May 1938, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

- REGENT THEATRE s To continue its highly-successful season at the Regent Theatre to-day is the outstanding musical production "Mad About Music," the New Universal picture with the girl soprano Deanna Durbin in the main role. The singer is ably supported by Gail Patrick and Herbert Marshall. Apart from Gounod'B "Ave Maria," the numbers rendered by Miss Durbin are more of the popular modern ballad type than the songs presented in her earlier successes, "Three Smart Girls" and "100 Men and a Girl." They are "I Love to Whistle." "Serenade to the Stars" and "Chapel Bells." The associate programme includes a number of selected short features. ST. JAMES* THEATRE "Broadway Melody of 1938," a bright musical production from the studios of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is to continue its season at St. James' Theatre today. Included in its strong cast of players is Eleanor Powell, who gives her usual versatile performance, while Robert Taylor plays the main romantic part. A feature of the film is the outstanding collection of comedians ami singers, who contribute largely to make "Broadway Melody" a brilliant entertainment, equalling the success of its predecessors. As Miss Powell's dancing partner, George Murphy, an international stage favourite, gives an accomplished display of tap-dancing, while the popular Robert Benchley and Robert Wildnack provide much of the humour. The usual fine supporting programme is being shown. PLAZA THEATRE A spirited romance between a young American orchestra leader and a French girl who is employed by him as a singer, forms the basis of the plot of "Hitting a New High," now screening at the Plaza Theatre. Lily Pons, who scored an outstanding success in "I Dream Too Much," is the principal player, while cast opposite her as the orchestra leader is John Howard. The popular comedians, Jack Oakie and Edward Everett Horton introduce most of the comedy into the picture, being assisted in this direction by Eric Blore. Produced for R.K.O. Radio by Jesse L. Lasky, "Hitting a New High" was directed by Raoul Walsh. MAJESTIC THEATRE The Chinese film actress Anna May Wong makes a return to the screen in the main part of "Daughter of Shanghai," the first picture on the current programme at the Majestic Theatre. The story deals in an exciting way with the operations of alien smugglers in America. Also in the cast are Philip Ahn, Charles Bickford and Larry Crabbe. The second attraction is "Cafe Colette," with Paul Cavanagh and Greta Nissen prominently cast. x EMBASSY THEATRE An entertaining story serves as the vehicle for a pleasing romance and a display of Grace Moore's outstanding acting and singing taelnts in the Columbia picture "I'll Take Romance," which is the current attraction at the Embassy Theatre. The film tells of the predicament of an impressario, James Guthrie, played by Melvyn Douglas, when an opera singer, Elsa Terry, a role taken by Grace Moore, refuses to fulfil her- contract to open his new opera house in Buenos Aires. Stuart Erwin gives an excellent performance as Guthrie's faithful retainer, "Senor Pancho," Brown, a one-time taxidriver. The associate programme includes a comedy, a coloured picture and a sports feature. STRAND THEATRE The outstanding musical romance ' Happy Landing," with the Olympic figure-skating champion Sonja Henie in the leading role, is to be presented at the Strand Theatre to-day. Don Ameche, who appeared opposite Miss Henie in her earlier success "Girl in a Million," is again cast in the leading male role. Cesar Romero and Ethel Merman take secondary roles, while the supporting players are headed by Jean Hersholt, who will be remembered for his characterisation in <! The Country Doctor." Among the associate features to be screened is one of the March of Time Series, "Inside Nazi Germany," which gives an interesting account of the political and civil conditions in that country. TUDOR CINEMA Ronald Colman, in a dual role, gives an excellent performance in "The Prisoner of Zenda," a story of romance and intrigues in the courts of Europe, which is to be shown at the Tudor Cinema to-night VICTORIA THEATRE The Laurel and Hardy comedy "Way Out West" will be screened to-night at the Victoria Theatre in conjunction with "The Man Who Cried Wolf."

CIVIC THEATRE Cast in leading roles opposite each other for the fourth time, Loretta Young and Tyrone Power give outstanding performances in "Second Honeymoon," the romantic comedy now enjoying a season at the Civic Theatre, fcathryn Scola and Darrell Ware wrote the screen play for the picture, which was produced for Twentieth Century-Fox by Darryl F. Zanuck. Tho clever comedian Stuart Erwin gives one of his best comedy characterisations in the part of a weakminded valet. Also -included in the cast of players are Claire Trevor, Marjorie Weaver, Lyle Talbot and J. Edward Bromberg. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES A well-balanced double-feature programme, comprising the films "Double Danger" and "Dancing Feet," is to be presented to patrons of the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The first picture, which treats the familiar story of the "gentleman burglar" in an unusual manner, has Preston Foster in the main role, as a writer of mystery books whose real source of income is his ability as a thief. While working on a scheme to obtain possession of a particularly valuable collection of gems, he is astonished to find that Whitney Bourne, who supplies the romantic interest in the storj', is also interested in securing them. An amusing battle of wits between them is waged throughout the picture, the struggle eventually going to Foster, who, in the meantime, has fallen in love with the girl. As the title of the second attraction, "Dancing B'eet," implies, the story is set against a background of music and dancing. The principal parts are filled by Ben Lyon, Joan Marsh, Eddie Nugent and Isabel Jewell. MAYFAIR THEATRE Based on the popular old Irish ballad "Father O'Flynn," which is being shown in conjunction with "Credo" ai; the Mayfair Theatre to-day, tells of the ronfance between an Irish girl, Ma-, cushla, and Nigel Robertson, the son of Sir John Robertson, who is the squire of the village in which the girl livee with Father O'Flynn and his sister Bridget. The title role is excellently played by Tom Burke, while Jean Adrienne portrays Macushla. In the part of Nigel, Robert Chisholm gives one of his best performances to date. Louis Goodrich is seen as the old squire. The second attraction is a film of the spectacular play "Credo," which was 6taged at the Western Springs Stadium as part of the Catholic centenary celebrations held in New Zealand in March. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO In the title role of "Victoria the Great," the story of England's greatest queen, Anna Neagle gives the best portrayal of her screen career. The lavishly produced picture is the main attraction on the current programmes at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres. In the leading male role Anton Walbrook is seen at his best. LONDON CINEMA The double-feature programme to be screened at the London Cinema to-day includes the pictures "Sweet Surrender" and "Escape from Devil's Island." The singer Tamara appears in the principal part of the first film, and Victor Jory and Florence Rice are featured in the second. STATE THEATRE The delightful comedy "My Dear Miss Aldrich," in which Edna May Oliver. Walter Pidgeon and Maureen o'Sullivan appear, will be screened tonight at the State Theatre. Also on the progammet is the entertaining film "Romance in Paris," with Fernand Gravet and Joan Blondell featured. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE The highly dramatic film "Night Must Fall" will be screened to-night at the Prince Edward Theatre. Robert Montgomery, as the murderer, gives an accomplished performance. The second attraction, "Can You Hear Me, Mother?", features Sandy Powell. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The popular dancing team, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, heads the cast in "Shall We Dance," which will be screened to-night at. the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay. « STAR CINEMA Spencer Tracy is responsible for a fine performance in '"Captains Courageous." a drama of the seas, which will be screened to-night at the Star Cinema. The second attraction is the gay comedy "Ever Since Eve."