ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23266, 8 February 1939, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Two entertaining films make up the new programme to be shown to-day at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. They are "Springtime in the Rockies" and "Blondes at Work." The'singing cowboy Geue Autry is tho leading player in the former picture' and he is cast as foreman of the Knight ranch, owned by young Sandra Knight (Polly Howies). He also owns a worthless parcel of laud known as "Poker Ranch," because lie won it in a poker game. Sandra Knight, newly graduated from a course in agriculture, goes to put the ranch on a scientific basis, taking with her three classmates. Their first blunder on arrival is to buy sheep from Thorpe (Edward Hearn), who has just been forced to get rid of them by cattlemen on the ground that they ruined the grazing for steers. Sandra takes a liking to the foreman and decides to stay on and make the ranch a paying proposition. Meanwhile Thorpe forms the idea of buying the_ ranch, making her believe sliei is selling the worthless land, when in reality she will be selling her own valuable prouerty. In order to get the foreman and his friends out of the way Thorpe has the former connected with a shooting affray and arrested. Frog (Smiley Burnette), a friend of the foreman's, learns of the plan and helps him to escape from prison by pulling down a wail with a motor-truck. The film ends with a satisfactory settlement of the several threads involved. The popular actress Glenda Farrell has the main role as Torchy Blanc, the girl reporter in "Blondes "at Work," while Barton Mac Lane appears as Steve Mcßride. This is the fourth picture dealing with the adventures of the pair, and is a thrilling murder mystery. By adroit questioning of the policeman the girl gets an exclusive story on the case in hand and secures a lead over her masculine competitors.

PLAZA THEATRE A comic story of a society girl's masquerade as a servant and her romance with a cowboy is told in "The Cowboy and the Lady," which is to have it's first screenings at the Plaza Theatre to-day. The part of the girl is taken by Merle Oberon and that of the cowboy by Gary Cooper, and the new combination proves a very able one. Good performances in minor roles are given by Patsy Kelly and Walter Brennan. Varied supporting features make up the first half of the programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE An interesting double-feature programme, comprising the films "Swing Your Lady" and "Daredevil Drivers" will be screened to-day at the Majestic Theatre. Main roles in the former production are taken by Humphrey Bogart, who has a part different from his usual type, and Nat Pendleton. Louise Fazenda also has a comedy part in the production. "Daredevil Drivers" has Beverley Roberts and Dick Purcell in the leading roles. -Maureen O'Sullivan, who has had some more suitable roles in her latest films, is east in the lead in "Spring Madness." opposite Lew Ayres. The film is to open at the Majestic Theatre on Friday with " Woman Against Woman." The latter attraction has Herbert Marshall, Virginia Bruce and Mary Astor in the main roles. As the title implies, the film is one of dramatic conflict, and good performances by the leading players., make it a noteworthy production of its kind. CIVIC THEATRE Tyrone Power, Loretta Young and Annabella have leading roles in the dramatic film "Suez," which is again the main picture at the Civic Theatre to-dav. As the name implies, the production uses the building of the Suez Canal as a background, and the possibilities inherent in this theme have been exploited to the utmost. In the part of the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, Power has a great chance and he makes the role a good one. A varied supporting programme also will be shown.

REGENT THEATRE Errol Flynn gives a clever performance in ''The Adventures of Robin Hood," the main item of entertainment at the Regent Theatre to-day. The film is made entirely in colour and its technical brilliance eclipses even that, of "Wings of the Morning," usually acknowledged as the previous best in colour. Basil Rathbone gives a good performance as the villain of the piece. EMBASSY THEATRE The three main players in "It's Love I'm After," which is to continue at the Embassy Theatre to-day, ' Leslie Howard, Bette Davis and Olivia de Havilland, each give brilliant comedy performances. The film is supported by a number of outstanding shorter features. The melo-dramatic film "The Rat." is to commence a season at the Embassy Theatre to-morrow. Main roles in the production are taken by Anton AValbrook and Ruth Chatterton, each of whom gives a good performance. Included in the cast is the English actress Rene Ray and she makes an appealing figure as a member of "the Rat's" entourage. The film deals with the life of the criminal elements in Paris

MAYFAIR THEATRE An entertaining dduble-feature programme, comprising the films "My Lucky Star'' and "Gateway" will bo shown to-day at the Mavfair Theatre. Sonja Henie has the leading role in the former attraction, with Richard Greene opposite her, and the principal roles in the second are taken by Don Ameche and Arleen Whelan. STRAND THEATRE The girl actress Deanna Durbin demonstrates that she is an accomplished actress as well as singer in her latest film "That Certain Age," which is to bo shown again to-day at the Strand Theatre. Melvyn Douglas gives a fine performance in a supporting role, and John Halliday is good as the parent. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO The entertaining comedy "Said O'Reilly to McNab," in which one of the main players is Will Mahoney, who recentlv appeared on the stage in Auckland, will be presented at the Crystal Palace and Rial to Theatres tonight. The second attraction is the romantic drama "Racing Lady." LONDON CINEMA The well-known Australian comedians Bert Bailey and Fred Mac Donald have the main roles in the amusing film "On Our Selection," which will be shown with "Luckiest Girl in the World" at the London Cinema to-day. TUDOR CINEMA The splendid United Artists' film "Love from a Stranger," in which tho leading roles are successfully played by Ann Harding and Basil Ratnbone, is included on the programme at the Tudor Cinema to-night. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The delightful comedy "The Baroness and tho Butler," in which William PotfeU and Annabella are the principal players, heads the attractive programme to be shown at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay, to-night. ASTOR THEATRE Edmund Lowe is prominently cast in the thrilling spy film "Espionage," which will be shown at the Astor Theatre to-night. The second film is "Klondyke Annie," in which Mae West has the main role.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE " Norma Shearer returns to the screen after a somewhat prolonged absence" in "Marie Antoinette/' the historical drama which is to continue a success-, ful season at the St. James' Theatre to-day. Tyrone Power has the main role opposite Miss Shearer. In the role - of Louis XVI., the English actor Robert Morley gives a brilliant, restrained performance, while John Barrymore is good in a minor role. STATE THEATRE The child actress Shirley Temple has the leading role in "Heidi of.the Alps," which is to bo shown with "Dark Journey" at the State Theatre to-day. The associate feature is a dramatic film in striking contrast to tho lighthearted tone of the Shirley Temple production. STAR CINEMA The Thorne Smith comedy "Topper" is the main feature to be presented to-day at the Star Cinema. Main roles are taken by Roland Young, Cary Grant and Constance Bennett. Also on t)io programme is "Married Before .Breakfast." PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE An amusing performance is given by Edward Everett Horton in the comedy "Let's Make a Million," which will be presented at * the Prince Edward Theatre to-night with the drama "King of the Gamblers." Akini Tamiroff appears in the second attraction.