ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23085, 9 July 1938, Page 23

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE A feature of tho programme to be presented to patrons of the Maiestic Theatre to-day will be the appearance on the stage of the noted Irish tenor Dan Foley, at both the afternoon and evening sessions. Mr. Foley, who has recently completed a tour of New Zealand, will be heard in several wellknown Irish melodies including "Kilj larney" and "Mother Machree." The hilarious comedy "Prescription for Romance," is included on the entertaining picture programme which will also be shown. The principal roles are taken by Kent Taylor and Wendy Barrie, while Mischa Aner gives one of tho most humorous performances of his career as a masquerading count who becomes involved in a diase to capture an embezzler. One of the most amusing scenes is when A tier, who has volunteered to drive Taylor and Miss Barrie from a railway station, becomes so interested in the courtship which is taking place in the back seat, that he lets the car go off the road to stop in a large pool of mud. The second attraction is the thrilling mystery film "The Shadow," in which the chief roles are well portrayed by Rita Hayworth and Charles Quigley. The story concerns tho murder of a man employed at a circus owned by Miss Hayworth, and many exciting episodes occur before the mystery is finally cleared after some clever detective work by Quigley. Good performances are given by the supporting cast, which includes Marc Lawrence, Arthur Loft and Dick Curtis.

CIVIC THEATRE A new theme for a comedy with music is presented in "Joy of Living," the delightful RKO production which began a season at the Civic Theatre yesterday. The subject of this amusing picture is the pursuit of happiness, and it is treated in a truly light-hearted fashion. The result is that "Joy of Living" is one of the best of the extraordinarily popular "crazy" comedies to be screened in Auckland for some time. It is a whirlwind of fun, amusing dialogue, romance, song and gaiety, acted by a splendid cast. One reason for its success is a brilliant performance by Irene Dunne, whose musical talent and ability as a comedienne are merged for her role opposite that popular actor Douglas Fairbanks, junior. She sings a number of catchy songs in her most engaging manner, and acts gaily in many hilarious situations. Douglas Fairbanks, jun. is ideally cast as an unconventional pleasure-seeker who conducts a laughable campaign to bring happiness into the life of the heroine. The story of "Joy of Living" is a trifling one, but it provides numerous opportunities for comedy. It is all about the rich adventurer who believes that the best thing in life is "to do what

you want to do whenever you want to do it." The results of his philosophy are sometimes rather startling, particularly when he tries to persuade a beloved opera singer to marry him and share a tropic island. Irene Dunne plays the part of the singer. Some of the best scenes include visits to a beer garden and a roller skating rink, which have most laughable results. The fact that the singer has a selfish family living luxuriously at her expense provides some more hilarious episodes to round off the appeal of the story. Alice Brady and Guy Kibbee play the parts of the mother and father, and Eric Bloro is seen ns the family butler. The supporting programme for "Joy of Living" is of a high standard, and includes one of Walt Disney's best Silly Symphonies to date, "The Moth and the Flame." There is also a newsreel showing incidents of the first tost match between England and Australia.

MAYFAIR THEATRE In "Angel," showing at the Mayfair Theatre to-day, the glamorous star Marle'ne Dietrich is prominently cast. Directed by the famous Ernst Lubitsch, this production has in its cast such prominent players as Herbert Marshall, Melvyn Douglas, Edward Everett Horton and Herbert Mundin. As the neglected wife of a prominent business man, Marlene Dietrich sees the opportunity for romance outside her home. She travels to gay Paris, where she meets and falls in love with Melvyn Douglas. He returns her affection and in one evening together she answers all of his questions about herself, with the exception of who she really is, on the condition that he never sens her again. After a period of indecision she returns to her husband, who does not know of her journey to Paris. Unexpectedly Douglas comes into her life again and the resulting complications provide stirring scenes. The film has a somewhat unusual finale. EMBASSY THEATRE Sylvia Sidney and Joel McCrea are prominently cast in the powerful drama "Dead End," which is to be shown at the Embassy Theatre to-day. Tho story deals with the people of Dead End, the squalid slum section which is New York's waterfront. Bred in an atmosphere of gun smoke and gunmen, the children in this place of vice and crime are almost destined without choice to be criminals. Tho tragedy of this slum life is relieved to some extent by tho romance between McCrea, who appears as a poor architect, and the daughter of a wealthy family, and Drina, the courageous poor girl, who loves him. The associate programme includes an Australian scenic film, "Song of the Bush," an amusing coloured cartoon. "Little Boy Blue." an alpine travel film, and a British Paramount newsreel. GREY LYNN CINEMA The bright comedy "Keep Fit," with George Formv in the main role, and the tense drama "Between Two Women," will bo shown to-day at tho Grey Lynn Cinema. REGENT, EPSOM Anna Neagle and Anton Walbrook appear in the brilliant production "Victoria the Great," which heads tho entertaining programme at the Regent Theatre, Epsom, to-day. MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM The interesting programme td be Presented to-day at the Mayfair heatre, Sandringham, includes the films "Married Before Breakfast" and "Behind tho Mike." WINDSOR. PAPAKURA Excellent entertainment is offered to-day at the Windsor Theatre, Papakura, when the films "Artists and Models" and "Lovers and Luggers" will be shown. ASTOR THEATRE Ronald Colman appears in the epic Sroduction "The Lost Horizon," which eads the programme to be presented to patrons of the Astor Theatre to-day. LONDON CINEMA "Don't Be Personal" and "Wanted Jane T.urner" are the attractions at the London Cinema to-day. Leo Tracy and Gloria Stuart are prominently cast in tho second production. BRITANNIA THEATRE "I'll Take Romance" and "My Dear Miss Aldrich" comprise tho doublefeature programme to bo shown at the Britannia Thcatro to-day. Ncwsreels are included in the supporting programme. .

ST. JAMES' THEATRE Excellent entertainment is offered today at St. James' Theatre when the outstanding production "A Yank at Oxford," will be presented. Robert Taylor gives one of the best performances of his career in a role which is wellsuited to his talents —an athletic young American student who conies to Oxford to continue his studies. As he is rather conceited, the Oxford undergraduates waste no time in initiating him through the various ceremonies with rather more vigour than usual. Gradually, however, he wins the respect of the students and shows his worth by his prowess on the playing fields. Maureen O'Sullivan gives a charming performance as the sister of one of tho undergraduates, whilo the other roles are well portrayed by Vivienne Leigh, Edmund Gwenn and Griffith Jones. STRAND THEATRE Tho brilliant Alexander Korda production, "The Divorce of Lady X," will continue its season at the Strand Theatre to-day. This film is noteworthy for the many beautiful scenes of tho English countryside, which are included in it, and which are seen to advantage through the medium of technicolour. Merle Obcron makes a welcome return to the screen in the role of a debutante who attempts to give a, young lawyer, a role well portrayed by Laurenco Olivier, a lesson in chivalry. Witty dialogue and amusing situations make this film a most enjoyable entertainment. The supporting cast includes Binnie Barnes, Morton Selton and Ralph Richardson. Ona of the latest "March of Time" films will also bq presented. TUDOR CINEMA Gary Cooper, Francis Dee and George Raft give good performances in the gripping drama, "Souls at Sea," to bo shown to patrons of the Tudor Cinema to-day. The supporting programme includes a "Popeye" cartoon, "Four Smart Dogs," British air news and a "Sportlight." STATE THEATRE Two splendid films, "Cafe Metropole" and "Angel's Holiday," are to be shown at the State Theatre to-day. In the first attraction tho cast iucludes Loretta Young, Tyrone Power and Adolphe Menjou. Jane Withers is prominently cast in "Angel's Holiday." STAR CINEMA A popular double-feature programmo is to be shown at the Star Cinema today. Tho film "Danger! Love at Work" has a strong cast headed by Ann Sothern and Jack Bailey. "Charlie Chan at the Olympics" is the second attraction. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The emotional drama, "Another Dawn" is to be shown at tho Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay, to-day. The cast is headed by Errol Flynn and Kay Francis. A combination ticket admits for pictures, supper and dancing. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE The famous vocal combination, Jcanette Macdonald and Nelson Eddy, are cast in "Maytime," to bo shown at the Princo Edward Theatre to-day. Tho programme includes "March of Time" and newsreels. VICTORIA THEATRE • Tho inimitable Marx Brothers appear in "A Day at tho Races," which is to bo shown at the Victoria Theatre to-day. Bing Crosby sings in "Double or Nothing," tho second film of tho programme.

REGENT THEATRE Continuing a phenomenal season at the Regent Theatre, "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" will be shown at three sessions to-day. Gary Cooper, a muchmarried American millionaire, falls in love with Claudette Colbert (Nicole) over a pair of pyjamas and a bathtub. Winning her is not as easy as he anticipates and this modern Bluebeard is led a merry chase before he convinces her that his affection is genuine. Even then she demands a promise of a 100,000-dollar alimony payment if he tires of her when he tells her that previous wives had been satisfied with 50,000 dollars. When they are married the re.il fun begins. She calls tho tune and leads the bewildered Gary a chase over all Europe before a happy conclusion is renched. To prove her love she ultimately has to have him put in a strait-jacket. ADELPHI THEATRE George Sanders, Peter Lorre and Dolores Del Rio appear in "Lancer Spy." the main attraction at the Adelphi Theatre to-day. The associate feature is "Fight For Your Lady." A "March of Time" is included in the supporting programme. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA Baroness Orczy's "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel," is tho leading attraction at the State Theatro, Onehunga, to-day. Miriam Hopkins and Ray Milland appear in "Wise Girl." There are comprehensive supporting features. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Don Ameche and Sonja Henio head the cast in "Happy Landing," to be shown at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-day. Miss Henio, worldfamed skater, appears at her best in this high-class production. A splendid series of shorter films are included in an entertaining programme. CIVIC THEATRETTE George O'Brien has tho main role in the thrilling film "Whispering Smith Speaks," which will be shown to-day at the Civic Theatrette. The second attraction is "High Tension," in which Brian Donlevy and Glonda Fariell give good performances. EMPRESS THEATRE Tyrone Power and Loretta Young take leading roles in "Second Honeymoon," the attraction at the Empress Theatre to-day. High-class vaudeville is provided in "Calling All Stars," the second film on the programme. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Fredric March and Carole Lombard are cast in . "Nothing Sacred," which will be screened at the State Theatre, Devonport, to-day. The associate film is tho thrilling production "Crack-Up." REGAL THEATRE The clever comedian Eddie Cantor gives an outstanding performance in the hilarious comedy "Ali Baba Goes to Town," which, with "Condemned Women," will comprise the programme at the Regal Theatre to-day. PRINCESS THEATRE A splendid programme is provided for patrons of the Princess Theatro to-day in "Second Honeymoon" and "Tarzan's Revenge." Glenn Morris and Eleanor Holm are prominently cast in the latter film. CAPITOL THEATRE A high-class programme including tho drama "Stage Door" and "Wild and Woolly" is to be presented at the Capitol Theatre to-day.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Splendid entertainment is provided by the films "Battle of Broadway" and "Go Chase Yourself," comprising the double-feature programme showing at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. In "Buttle of Broadway" the story is provided by a convention meeting of 400,000 members of the American Legion. Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy fill prominent roles. As two visitors to the city these two engage in a continual feud during the carnival which holds swny when the legion meets, providing the basis for many humorous episodes. "Go Chase Yourself" is an exciting and highly amusing comedy, in which Joe Penner and Lucille Ball take prominent roles. Penner, an unsuccessful bank clerk, has a mania for buying raffle tickets and one day he wins a handsome car caravan. He is at a loss to know how to make use of his prize and decides to sleep in it. When a gang of escaping criminals wishing to disarm suspicion attach the trailer to their car the tempo of the comedy increasos. The unfortunate owner awakes to find himself many miles from home in the hands of a robber hand. A series of hilarious incidents transpires before the comedy is brought to a climax.

ALEXANDRA THEATRE The films "Dinner at the Ritz" and "Hitting a New High" will be shown at the Alexandra Theatre to-day. A Walt Disney cartoon, "The Clock Cleaners," is included in the programme.