ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23280, 24 February 1939, Page 16

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE The hilarious comedy "It's in the Air" will commence the second week of its season at the Reg cut Theatre to-day. The popular English comedian George Formby, gives an amusing* performance in the main role as a young man who joins the Royal Air Force by an accident. Ho is soon involved in a series of humorous escapades and finally finds himself Hying in an unpiloted aeroplane. Polly Ward, Frank Leighton and Garry Marsh aro among the supporting players. ST. JAMES' THEATRE Outstanding entertainment is offered in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film "Too Hot to Handle," which will commence a season at St. James' Theatre "o-day. The leading players of "Test Pilot," Clark Gable and Myrna Loy, aro onco ajiain cast together, and their performances aro as enjoyable as those of their former success. Gable and Walter Pidgeon appear as rival newsreel photographers in Shanghai during the hostilities between Japan and China. Chris Hunter (Gable) is continually outwitting his competitor by sending to the United States sensational but unauthentic photos. His rival retaliates bv engaging a famous woman flier (Miss Loy) to pilot an aeroplane to Shanghai, presumably to bring a serum to the victims in the city. Hunter hears of the scheme, and by driving his newsreel truck 011 to tho aerodrome prevents his rival from obtaining exclusive pictures of the machine landing. As the aeroplane is landing, tho girl tries to avoid the truck and crashes. The two men feel they are responsible for the girl's misfortune and sell their equipment in order to finance an expedition which she is taking to South America in search of her lost brother. The cameramen follow, and their continued rivalry leads to many humorous situations. Among the enjoyable associate features is a Fitzpatrick travelogue, "Sydney, Pride of Australia." PLAZA THEATRE Alexander Korda's latest film, "Prison Without Bars,' 1 in which a new French actress, Corinne Luchaire, makes her first appearance in Englishspeaking films, will be shown at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Miss Luchaire takes the part of Suzanne, an inmate of a girls' reformatory, where the treatment is harsh. Because she is innocent, the girl makes many attempts to escape, but each time she is captured and brought back to the reformatory. A new superintendent, Yvonne (Edna Best), introduces sweeping reforms and wins the gratitude of Suzanne, for whom she is trying to arrange a pardon. When Suzanne is given a more congenial task, helping the reformatory doctor in his work, she falls in love with him, unaware that he is engaged to Yvonne. The picture is brought _to a dramatic conclusion with an inquiry at which her affection for the doctor is revealed. Fine supporting performances are given by Barry K. Barnes, Martita Hunt and Mary Morris.

MAJESTIC THEATRE The well-balanced programme to be presented at the Majestic Theatre to-day includes tho bright comedy "Second Best Bed" and tho thrilling film "The Vampire Bat." In the first attraction, which is adapted from a play by Ben Travers, tho main role is played by Tom Walls, who gives one of his most amusing performances m recent years. He is cast as Victor Garnett, a wealthy and attractive bachelor who falls in love with a temperamental and self-willed girl, Patricia Lynton. Because she has always acted as she pleased, she is at first fascinated by the novelty of his domination. but soon discovers that he refuses to tolerate any of her foolish whims. After their marriage, Garnett is forced to resort to strategic measures to win back the fascination of his wife, but at this stage complications ensue. Garnett_ finds himself in an awkward situation when he befriends a village girl and arouses the jealously of his wife. The story continues in an j amusing manner and is brought to a hilarious climax. In the second film' "The Vampire Bat," Melvyn Douglas appears as the police inspector in a small European town, where a number of murders have been committed. In each case the victims have been found dead in their beds with tinv wounds m their throats, and the inhabitants believe that it is the work of a vampire. There are many thrilling scenes before the mj-stery is solved. STATE THEATRE One of the greatest adventure pictures yet brought to the screen, "The Prisoner of Zenda, 1 ' will commence a return season at the State Theatre to-day. A brilliant cast includes Ronald Colman, who gives an outstanding performance in a dual role, Madeleine Carroll, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Raymond Massey and p. Aubrey Smith. The second attraction is the screen version of Edgar Wallace's well-known story "Sanders of tho River.'' STAR CINEMA "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry." which heads the programme at the Star Cinema to-day, is of special interest to rxew Zealand audiences, as the young Dunedin actor Ronnie Sinclair is prominently cast. _ Other roles are capably played by Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, C. Aubrey Smith and Sophie Tucker. George Murphy and Claire Dodd are the principal pi avers 'in the second attraction, "Tho Women Men Marry." MAYFAIR THEATRE Samuel Goldwyn's entertaining comedy "Tho Cowboy and the Lady" will be shown at tho Mayfair Theatre to-day. Gary Cooper takes the chief role as a cowboy who falls in love with, the daughter of a United States senator. There is an outstanding supporting programme. CIVIC THEATRETTE. Two entertaining western films, "Rocky Mountain Mystery" and "Wanderer of' the Wasteland," are to be shown at the Civic Theatretto today. The programme is one that will suit lovers of action pictures. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA The skating champion Sonja Henie has the leading role in "My Lucky Star" which is to be shown with "Safety In Numbers" at the Stato Theatre, Onehunga, to-night. LONDON CINEMA Some fine singing is heard in "Maytime," the outstanding musical production which is to be shown at the London Cinema to-day. There is an excellent supporting programme. TUDOR CINEMA The Indian boy Sabu gives a fine portrayal in "The Drum," which is the main item of entertainment on the current programme at the Tudor Cinema. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Fred _ Astaire and Ginger Rogers appear in "Carefree," which is to be shown at tho State Theatre, Devonport, to-night. "Speed to Burn" will be a second attraction. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Jane Withers has the leading role in "Miss Fix It" which is to be shown with "Up the River" at tho Crystal i Palace and Rialto Theatres to-nigut.;

CIVIC THEATRE A splendid cast, headed by Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Roland Young and Billio Bum), appears in David Selznick's delightful comedy "The Young in Heaii;" which will commence the second week or its successful season at the Civic Theatre to-day. Paulette Goddard, who was last seen in "Modern Times," makes her first appearance in talking pictures. A "March of Time" and one of the "World Window" series are among the supporting features. Charles Tuckwell will be heard in a number of items on the Wurlitzer organ. EMBASSY THEATRE Brilliant 1 acting by the principal players "and an entertaining story which holds the interest throughout make the Columbia production "Holiday," which opened a season at the Embassy Theatre yesterday, one of the finest comedies to be seen m Auckland for some time. In the play from which the film is adapted Philip Barry sets out to prove that temperamental affinity is more important for a successful marriage than the strange, inexplicable thing called love. A penniless jsoung man, Johnny Case, falls in love with the daughter of an industrial magnate at a pleasure resort. They become engaged and Case returns to meet the father of Julia Seton. his fiancee. Case confides to his future father-in-law that lie hopes to arrange a successful deal which will give him sufficient money to take a holiday for a few years. His plan dumbfounds Julia and her father, for Soton has already mapped out Case's future life. The young man attempts to adapt himself to their way of life, but the process is fraught with difficulties and quarrels break out daily. In every domestic crisis, Case falls back on the sympathv of Julia's sister, Linda, an attractive girl who really understands and appreciates his way of living. When Seton commences to outline a honeymoon itinerary, Case realises that compromise is impossible and makes a last plea to Julia to marry him and sail that night. The girl and Case realises that Linda is _ the ideal conig anion for a man of his temperament, ary Grant is well known for his performances in comedy roles and he puts abundant gaietv into the part of Case. Ho and Katharine Hepburn, who has the leading feminine role, make a hilarious pair as two carefree people who fail to see the ultimate importance of wealth and position. An excellent supporting cast includes Edward Everett Horton, Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres and Binnie Barnes. In keeping with the high standard of the mam feature, there is a splendid associate programme, including a novel short, "Golf Magic."

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES An interesting story of the boxing ring is brought to the screen in Warner Brothers' picture "The Kid Comes Back," which is to be shown with the comedy "Twenty-Three and a-Hali Hours' Leave," at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Wayne Morris appears as a cowboy, Rush Conway, who is out of work in New York. In order to make enough money to buy a ranch of his own, he signs a boxing contract with a well-known boxer, "Gunner Malone. Under Malone's guidance, he rapidly wins distinction in the ring and when tho world's heavy-weight champion retires, Conway and Malone are the leading contenders for the title--11l the meanwhile, Conway has fallen in love with Malone's sister_ and he has promised her that he will never fight lier brother. Malone. however, is eager for the contest, and by a ruse forces the vounger man to a«p-ee to the bout. The fight between the two men brings the film to an exciting conclusion. The main parts in the second attraction are capably played by James Ellison and Terry Walker. STRAND THEATRE Now in the fifth week of its Auckland season, the spectacular production "Suez," will be presented at the Strand Theatre to-day. The film depicts the achievement of the great irench engineer Ferdinand do Lesseps in building the canal between the Mediterranean and Red Seas. Tyrone Power, Loretta Young and Annabella are the leading players. ASTOR THEATRE v The American comedian Joe E. Brown gives a hilarious performance in "Wide Open Faces," the main item of entertainment on the current programme at tho Astor Theatre. "Of Human Hearts" is a second attraction. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The inimitable Charlie McCarthy has the principal role in "Letter of Introduction," which is the main item of entertainment on the current programme at tho Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay. BRITANNIA THEATRE The talented young singer Judy Garland is heard to advantage in "Everybody Sing," which is to be shown at tho Britannia Theatre to-night. "Lady in the Morgue" is a second attraction. STAR, PAPAKURA Spencer Tracy has the main role in "Big City," which is to be shown with "Panamint's Bad Man" at the Star Theatre, Papakura, to-night. VICTORIA THEATRE The two full-length films, "Letter of Introduction" and "Yellow Jack ? " are to bo shown patrons of the Victoria Theatre to-night. MAYFAIR THEATRE "Live, Love and Learn" and "The Man Who Cried Wolf" are to be shown at the Mayfair Theatre, Sandringham, to-night. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE George Formby, the English comedian, appears in "I See Ice," which is to bo shown with "Arsene Lupin Returns" at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. PRINCESS THEATRE Tho dramatic film "Always Goodbye" is to be shown with "Alf's Button Afloat" at the Princess Theatre to-night.