ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23200, 21 November 1938, Page 14

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE Reversing tho usual procedure of.< having the play presented before the picture, "Three Blind Mice," which will continue a sdason at the Civic Theatre to-day, is an instance of a story being presented first on tho cinema, , The piece is by Stephen I'owys, and has Loretta Young and Joel McCrea in the main roles. Anion" the featured players, David Niven and Binnie Barnes are prominently cast. An excellent supporting programme includes newsreels and other features. REGENT THEATRE i Crowded audiences on Saturday testified to the success of the latest Laurel and Hardy comedy production "Swiss Miss," .which will again be shown today at the Regent Theatre. In the roles of two mouse-trap salesmen who go to Switzerland believing that they may make their fortunes in so large a cheese-producing country, the pair have parts admirably suited to their e a liabilities, and they make tbe-most of the opportunity in a film which for sustained merriment has seldom been excelled in Auckland. ST. JAMES' THEATRE Mvrna Loy, Walter Pidgeon, Rosalind' Russell and Franehot Tone have the leading roles in "Man-Proof, the sophisticated drama which is to be presented again to-day at St, James Theatre. The story is an entertaining one with a four-sided romantic interest between the main characters. It begins with the determined effort of a bridesmaid to capture for herself the bridegroom after the wedding, . and is carried through with just the right touch of polished satire to ensure success. The final solution should please everyone. To follow "Man-Proof" at the St. James' is "Letter of Introduction, in which the popular ventriloquist fOdgar Bergen again presents his dummy Charlie McCarthy. George Murphy and Andrea Leeds provide the romantic interest, while there is some "subtle humour from Adolphe Menjou. film holds out a promise of deligntlul entertainment. MAYFAIR THEATRE The English comedian Will Hay, who has gained a deserved world-wide reputation through his recordings in "schoolmaster" roles, has one of the best roles of his career to'date in the hilarious "Convict 99," which -will be shown with "Bank Holiday at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. The comedian is mistaken for the governor of Blackdown prison, a gaol for prisoners with life sentences. His arrival to take up his duties coincides with the ™itbreak of a mutiny at the prison in which the bogus governor is • mistaken . a prisoner and. thrown into the cells, liis reform of prison conditions while a prisoner is the source of many laughable situations. "Bank Holiday is having its first screening in New Zealand. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES No more suitable vehicle for Clarence E. Mulford's cowboy character Hopalong Cassidv has yet been devised than "Bar-20 Justice," which is on the current programme at the Roxy and liyoli Theatres. Events move with thrilling Sliced throughout the film as Cassidy, played by William Boyd, and his two inseparable friends, Lucky Jenkins and Windy\Halliday, roles taken by Russel Hayden and George Hayes, round up a gang of thieves after an exciting scries of tussles against the forces of crime and disorder. The film captures the true spirit of Western pictures with riding and shooting scenes which should thrill tho most hardened of cinema audiences. Briefly, the story tolls of the killing of "Denny" Dennis, a friend of Hopalong Cassidy and the owner of a gold mine, in suspicious circumstances. There follows an investigation by his friends, which ends with the arrest of a neighbouring mine owner on a charge of murder. Buck Jones, who was the hero of many a thrilling serial film in the silent days, returns to the screen in "Border Brigands," the second attraction on -tho programme. Jones has tho role of Tim Barry, an intrepid young lieutenant in tho Canadian North-west Mounted Police, -who is out to avenge tho death of his brother, a victim of tho bullets of border brigands. Barry finally achieves his object, though not before tho film has gone through a thrilling series of dramatic scenes. Lona Andre, Fred Kohler, Frank Rice and Edward McKeane are included in tho cast. The programme should appeal to the theatre-goer with a taste for the thrill of outdoors adventure. EMBASSY THEATRE A period picture which captures admirably the polished spirit of the 18th century is "Tho Great Garrick," which continues to attract large audiences to tho Embassy Theatre. In tho rolo of the actor David Garrick, Brian Aherne is quite at home, and gives a performance wliioh for studied brilliance of characterisation is worthy to rank with "tho best •of his earlier achievements. Olivia do Havilland has the rolo opposito Aherne, and is perhaps the perfect typo for tho part. A note of comedy relief is introduced by Edward Everett Horton, who has made so many successes in featured parts, while tho remainder of the cast, ably supports the leading players. STRAND THEATRE Claudotte Colbeft has "the role of the wife in "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife." which will again bo shown at the Strand Theatre to-day. Gary Cooper plays the part of the much-married husband and proves that comedy of the modern kind is not beyond tho rango of his histrionic talent. Tho story of their marriage is told with a speed that eliminates tho possibility of dullness and incidentally provides one of tho most amusing sophisticated comedies yet to bo screened. STATE THEATRE Margaret Sullavan and Robert Young have tho leading roles in "Three Comrades," which will continue a successful season at the. State Theatre tonight. Robert Taylor and Franehot Tone also appear. > STAR CINEMA John Barrymoro,' Louise Campbell and Charles Bickford have loading roles in "Night Club Scandal." which will bo showi to-day at the Star Cinema. "Renfrew of the Mounted" also ia being screened. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Gary Cooper Rive a fine performance' , opposite Claudette C°lbert in "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," which will bo shown with "Crimson Romanco" at the PVince Edward Theatre to-night, CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO "House of a Thousand Candles" is to be shown to patrons of the Crystal Palaco and Rialto Theatres to-night, together with "Keep Fit." ALEXANDRA'THEATRE Peter Lorre has the main rolo in "Mr. Moto Takes a Chance," which will bo screened to-night at the Alexandra Theatre. "* The, second feature is "Four Men and a Prayer." ' . . " : . . ' , * ■ '' t STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA Loretta Young -and Richard Greene are the leading players in "Four Men and a Prayer," which is to be shown to-night at the State Theatre, Onehunga. "Mr. Moto Takes a Chance" also is on the programme.

MAJESTIC THEATRE 4 George Baft and Sylvia Sidney are responsible for brilliant performances in Fritz Lang's "You and Me, .. the -dramatic story which is the mam .attraction at the .Mastic Theatre today. Dealing with the lives of two convicts, one a man and t,be other a woman, the film traces the history of their successful fight against a return to a life of crime. The growth °f a romance between the pair is portrayed with rati fcelin"' by the players. Also on the programme is the thrilling Bulldog Drummond art Africa," with John Howard in the title role. In the role of Drummond's close friend. Algy Longworth, Reginald Denny is good, and Heutbor Angel performs well as Phjllis Clavcring. ' TUDOR CINEMA "Sailing Along" is the title of the featured film to be .shown at the lucior Cinema to-night. Main roles _are taken by Roland Young and Jessie Matthews. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY Jeanette Macdonald and kelson .'Eddy appear in "Maytime," which is at tho head of the programme to be presented to-night at the "Berkeley lheatre, Mission Bay.