ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 17

ENTERTAINMENTS

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES , A thrilling motor racing story is brought to the screen in " Road Demon," which is the principal attraction at the Boxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Henry Arthur takes tlie role of a voting racing driver, Jimmy Blake, who loses his position driving a truck and is trying to secure employment as a racing driver. At the .speedway he meets Ted Rogers, who is experimenting with 'i new machine. Later the car crashes and the inventor decides to discontinue the trials. Rlake induces soi.ie fi-i'-nds to buy the machine and lie himself commences to recondition it ill preparation for an important race. In the meantime, three unscrupulous drivers, witc were responsible for the death of Rogers' father, plan to prevent the new car winning the race. They force Rogers into a crash, but he emerges safely and alter a thrilling contest is first past the finishing post. Other roles in tlie film are played with success by .loan Valerie. Henry Armetta, Tom Beck and Bill Robinson. An unusual murder mystery is offered in "The Patient in Room 18," which will also be presented. Lance O'Leary (.I'atrie Knowles\, a private detective, is recuperating from a nervous breakdown in room 18 at a private hospital. During O'Leary \s convalescence, a wealthy patient is murdered and a valuable supply of radium, with which he is being treated, is stolen. The detective suspects that the murdered man's son is responsible, as the young man has failed in business. During their investigations, the police discover the body of the hospital superintendent concealed in a bedroom wardrobe. The missing radium is recovered and O'Leary sets a trap for the murderer bv placing it where he knows the guilty person will steal it again. Alter the radium disappears for a second time, O'Leary calls the suspects together, and. armed with an electroscope. passes from one to the other until the electric needle betrays the holder of the radium. Among the supporting players in the film are Ann Sheridan, Eric Stanley and John Ridgelv. Selected short features will also be presented. MAJESTIC THEATRE Fine entertainment is offered at the Majestic Theatre to-day. when a programme comprising the Metro-Goldwvn - Mayer productions ''Spring Madness" and "Woman Against Woman" will he presented. The first film has its setting in an American college and contains an entertaining romantic story. Maureen O'Sullivan and Lew Avres are the principal players. The second attraction. in which Herbert Marshall, Virginia Bruce and Mary Astor appear, deals with the struggle between a man's divorced wife and his second wife.

CIVIC THEATRE A brilliant cast headed by Tyrone Power, Loretta Young and Annabclla appears in tlie spectacular production "Suez." which will continue its third week at the Civic Theatre to-day. The film depicts the magnificent achievement of Ferdinand de Lesseps in buildin"- the canal to join the Mediterranean and Red Seas, in the face of every type of opposition. David Selznick, the producer of "A Star is Born', and "David C'opperfield." has another outstanding film in "The Young in Heart." which will be shown at the Civic Theatre on Friday. Adapted from a popular serial which appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, the film unfolds an entertaining story of a family living by their wits. An outstanding comedy cast includes Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks, jun.. Paulette Goddard, Roland Young and Billie Burke.

REGENT THEATRE England during the reign of Richard the Lionheart forms the setting for Warner Brothers' brilliant film "The Adventures of Robin Hood." which is now in its fifth week at the Regent Theatre. The leading players are Errol Flynn. Olivia <'e Havillaml, Clawd Rains and Herbert Mundin. George Formby continues his successful screen career in his seventh film, "It's in the Air." which is to be shown at the Regent Theatre on Friday. The comedian takes the part of a despatch rider in the Royal Air Force. He discovers a letter in one of his pockets addressed to headquarters, and when he delivers the message he is mistaken for an airman. Many amusing scenes follow, and the film is brought to a hilarious climax when the despatch rider finds himself flying a machine ol which he has absolutely no working knowledge. Formhv introduces several attractive new songs in his inimitable manner, one of the numbers taking its name from the title of the picture. Polly Ward, .Garry Marsh and Julien Mitchell are prominently cast.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE Norma Shearer emerges from her retirement with a brilliant portrayal as the ill-fated Queen of France in "Marie Antoinette," which heads the programme at St. .Tames' Theatre to-day. Next to Miss Shearer's performance comes that of Robert Morjey, as the awkward, nnhappv Louis XVI. Other roles are capably played by John Barrymore. Tyrone Power. Anita Louise and Gladys George.

EMBASSY THEATRE A stirring drama of the Paris underworld is provided in "The Rat." which is the chief attraction at the Embassy Theatre to-day. Anton Walbrook has the main role as a criminal, and the leading feminine parts are played by Ruth Chattorton and Rene Ray. Bette j)avis, who was recently seen in a comedy role in "It's Love 1 111 After, returns to dramatic roles in the Warner Brothers' picture "Jezebel.'' which will commence a season at the Embassy Theatre to-morrow. She is supported bv Henry Fonda, Margaret Mitchell and George Brent. STAR CINEMA One of the finest coined;, programmes to be offered in Auckland for some time will be shown at the Star Cinema to-day, when "Double Wedding," in which William Powell, Myrna Lov, .John Beal and Florence Rice appear, will be presented with "M.v Dear Miss Aldrich." The cast in the second film includes Walter Pidgeon. Maureen O'Sullivan and Edna May Oliver. STRAND THEATRE Joel MeCrea gives one of the best performances of his career in the part of a young man from the country, extremely bashful in . the presence of women, in "Youth Takes a Fling," one of the full-length .productions 011 the programme at the Strand Theatre today. Among the other members of the cast are Andrea Leeds and Frank Jenks. The second attraction is an entertaining comedy, "His Exciting Night," in which Charles Ruggles gives an amusing portrayal. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The popular singer Allan Jones is teamed with Jeanette Mat-Donald in "Firefly," the magnificent musical production which is to be shown at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay, tonight.

LONDON CINEMA •Teanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddv appear in "Hose Marie." the outstanding musical film which is to be shown at the London Cinema to-day. TUDOR CINEMA The hilarious comedy, "Oh, Mr. Porter," will be the main item of entertainment 011 the programme to be shown at the Tudor Cinema to-night.

PLAZA THEATRE Gary Cooper and Merle Oberon appear together for the first time in Samuel Goldwvn's splendid film "The Cowboy and he Lady," which will be shown at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Cooper takes the role of a cowboy who falls in love with a society girl who is spending a holiday on a near by ranch. Among the interesting associate features are one of the "March of Time" series and "Eternal Fire." STATE THEATRE The successful screen version of the famous play "Dodsworth" is to be presented at the State Theatre to-day. Features of the film are the outstanding acting performances of Walter Huston. Ruth Chatterton, David Niven and Mary Astor. Also on the programme is the musical film "Coconut Grove." the story, of which deals with the efforts of a Irand of musicians to obtain employment. Fred MacMtirray, the Ritz brothers and Harriet Billiard are prominently cast. MAYFAIR THEATRE A bright musical comedy is provided in "Up the River," the 20th CenturyFox picture which will be shown at the Mavfair Theatre to-day. Tony Martin introduces a number of new songs and the other players include Preston Foster, Phyllis Brooks. Slim Summerville and Arthur Treacher. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO The popular guest night session will be observed at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-night when the films "Banjo on My Knee" and "There Goes My Girl" will be shown. Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea appear in the first film, while Gene Raymond has the leading role in the second attraction. PRINCESS THEATRE The comedian Will Mahoney, who recently appeared in Auckland personally, appears in "Said O'Reilly to McXab. which is to be shown with "Land Beyond the Law" at the Princess Theatre to-night. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA The thrilling films "Pigskin Parade" and "Behind the Headlines" are the main items of entertainment to be shown at the State Theatre, Onehunga, to-night. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE The entertaining double-feature programme to be shown to patrons of the Prince Edward Theatre to-night comprises the films "Nobody's Baby" and "Sinner Take All." ASTOR THEATRE "Poppy'' and "The Girl on the Front Page" are the two full-length films to be shown at the Astor Theatre to-night. BRITANNIA THEATRE The thrilling film "Tip Off Girls" is to be shown .with "Sinners On Parade" at the Britannia Theatre tonight.