ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 21

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES* THEATRE Robert Taylor gives one of the best performances of his career in the entertaining film "A Yank at Oxford." which will continue its successful season at St. James' Theatre to-day. The story deals with the adventures of a young ,American undergraduate who wins a scholarship taking him to Oxionl. where? he immediately encounters opposition in the form of English tradition and custom. Maureen O'Sullivan, Griffith Jones and Vivien Leigh are also included in the cast.

MAYFAIR THEATRE The drama "International Settlement" concludes a season at tho Mayfair Theatre to-dav. Included in the cast of this picture, which has as a background the present Sino-.lapanese conflict, are Dolores Del Rio and George Sanders. With glamorous Marlene a cast which includes Herbert Marshall, Melvyn Douglas, Edward Everett Horton and Herbert .Mundin. "Angel" will be shown in a New Zealand premiere at the Mayfaiiv Theatre to-morrow. MAJESTIC THEATRE Concluding a season at the Majestic Theatre to-day is "Something to Sing About," with James Cagney ana Kvelyn Daw, and the drama "State Police." A splendid programme will be presented to-morrow, headed by the brilliant Irish tenor, Dan Foley, who, on the stage, will sing numbers from his extensive repertoire. Mischa Auer, as the flighty "Count" Sandor, is prominently , cast in " Prescription for Romance," .with Wendy Barrie and Kent Taylor in tho romantic leads. The coniedv proceeds at a merry pace, dealing with a courtship carried to a happy conclusion under unusual conditions. A vivid portrayal of life under the "big top" is given in the associate feature, "Tho Shadow." in which Charles. Quigley and Rita Hayworth are prominently cast. A double murder plot adds to the suspense of the stocv, which is played against the background of aerial trapeze artists, the roar of wild animals excited to a frenzy, and the general offstage life of circus stars. In making his Auckland stage debut, Dan Foley will sing Irish traditional numbers, including the famous songs "Shall My Soul Pass Through Ireland, "Father O'Flynn" and "Danny Boy." Mr. Foley is one of the most popular singers to tour New Zealand in recent ; years and has received as many as 1200 I requests prior to a recital. j

' CIVIC THEATRE Merle Oberon makes a welcome return to the screen in the Alexander Korda production "The Divorce of Lady X." which will he presented today at /the Civic Theatre. Good performances are also given by Laurence Olivier and Morton Selton in the supporting roles. The entertaining conwdv ' Joy of Living" will commence a season at the Civic Theatre to-morrow. The story deals with the attempt by the ortn'cr of a tropical island (Douglas Fairbanks') to induce a New York singer, portrayed by Irene Dunne, to live a simple life. From a trifling story the main players have built up an enjoyable production by clever acting, together with witty dialogue and highly amusing situations. ]n addition. Miss Dunne is heard in several songs, which are sung in a pleasing manner.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES The enjoyable double-feature programme which will be presented to-dav at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres includes, the films "Battle of Broadway" and "Go Chase Yourself." The convention meeting of 400.000 members of ►he American Legion forms the basis tor the story in the first attraction, in which Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy have the main roles. The visit of the legion always produces a carnival spirit, to which citizens and members alike ccjntribute, and many of the humorous episodes of their stay are depicted in this production. McLaglen and Donlevy give amusing performances as two of the visitors who engage in a continual feud. A feature of the picture is the singing of Louise Hdvick, who. will be remembered for an enjoyable performance in "Ali Baba Goes to Town." The second film, "Go Chase Yourself." is an exciting and humorous comedy, in which Joe Penner and Lucille Ball appear. Penner is cast as a rather unsuccessful bank clerk who is continually buying tickets in raffles. To his great surprise h»3 discovers one day that he' has won a handsome trailer, but, as he has no car, he is at a loss to know how to make "use of his prize. At the suggestion of " his wife, he decides to sleep in it. Unfortunately, a gang of criminall! who have just robbed the bank attach the caravan to their car to disarm suspicion, and the amazed owner awakens to find himself far from home in the hands of a band of robbers. His attempts to inform the police of his whereabouti produce many hilarious situations.

STRAND THEATRE The story of a champion sheep dog, "Owd Bob"" is the first attraction to be shown at the Strand Theatre to-day. Will Fyffe. well-known character actor, is the leading, player. The second picture on the programme is the screen adaptation or one of P. G. Wodehouse's novels, "Step Lively, Jeeves, with Arthur Treacher in the title role. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO An outstanding exhibition is gh'cn by the Olympic skating champion Sonja Henie in the entertaining production ."Happy Landing," which heads the programme to be presented at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-night.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE The enjoyable production "Too Many Parents." in which Frances Farmer and Billy Lee appear, will be shown to-night at the Prince Edward Theatre with 'the film "Gentlemen of the Navy." BERKELEY, MISSION BAY Entertainment at the Berkeley Theatfe, Mission Bay, to-night, includes the films "Keep Fit, ' with George Form by in the main role, and "Criminal Lawyer." VICTORIA THEATRE The o.vfjtiiig production "The Lone Wolf Returns" will bo presented tonight at the Victoria Theatre. The second attraction is the film "She Couldn't T;ike It." ' STATE THEATRE 'lhp excellent modern comedy "The Awful Truth," in which Irene Dunne and Cnry Grant give amusing performances, heads the programme to bo presented to-night at the State Theatre.

STAR CINEMA Ilio entertaining programme to be presorted to patrons of the btar Cinema to-day includes the thrilling western production, "The Texas Rangers," and "China Passage." TUDOR CINEMA Lrrol Flvnn and Kay Francis give hue performances in "Mother Dawn," to be shown at the Tudor Cinema to-night. . BRITANNIA THEATRE. holjort Taylor appears in "His ~jur, which, with "Racing Lady," M., , be presented at the Britannia "°atre to-night.

REGENT THEATRE The delightful modern comedy "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," in which Gary Cooper and Claudctto Colbert have the leading roles, will continue a sueeessful season at tho Regent Theatre to-day. The film is concerned with the final matrimonial venture of the much-married millionaire- Michael Brandon (Gary Cooper), who is only brought to a more reasonable attitude toward the problems of his married life by his eighth wife, Claudetto Colbert. Not only docs she demand from him a life settlement .before they marry, but she determines to force him, for his own good, out of tho conceit which had made his life a succession of visits to the divorce court. After ho has divorced her, as he finally does, he retires to a sanatorium to rostoro his shattered nerves. His wife follows him there, and, when he refuses to seo her. buys the institution. Tho film has a laughable ending. An entertaining series of shorter features makes up the lirst half of the programme.

EMBASSY THEATRE Excellent acting is a feature of "Dead End." a powerful drama which commences a season at the Embassy Theatre to-day. The setting for the film is the squalid waterfront district, of New York, where the slums are adjacent to wealthy apartment houses. The film exploits this contrast, vividly depicting the lives of the slum people, whose _children are almost foredoomed to crime. There is a leavening of romance in this setting of squalor in the attraction between the poor architect (Joel .McCrea) and the girl from the smart apartment (Wendy Barrie) and his ultimate reunion with Drina (Sylvia Sidney), the courageous poor girl who loves him. The moral of the story is implied, if not. over-emphasised, in scenes of slum children grimly playing at gang wars and carrying on petty thieving. The queer psychology of the killer and the strange sentimental streak which takes a murderer back to his birthplace to see his mother and his old sweetheart are given in Humphrey Bogart's brilliant characterisation. The dialogue, which is the argot of the slums, is vivid and racy. While this is not a picture for over-sensitive people, it will appeal to most as a near-masterpiece of reality.

ASTOR THEATRE ttonald Colman gives an outstanding performance in the entertaining production "Lost Horizon," to be shown at the Astor Theatre to-night.