ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23319, 12 April 1939, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES Fresh from his triumph in "Young Dr. Kildare," Low Ayres appears in tlio drama of tenement life "King of tiio Newsboys," which, together with the exciting film "Convicted," will begin a season at the Rosy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Lew Ayres is cast as Jerry, an ambitious, but carefree, youth who rises above his environment in the slums of New York to control the distribution of all metropolitan newspapers. The story begins with Jerry leading a rather vagabond existence in the teeming tenements of New York. Here, he comes into contact with criminals and potential murderers. The one refining influence in his life is his love for Mary Ellen (Helen Mack). Although she loves him, however, Mary will not allow him to marry her, as she is afraid that such a step would merely bind them both more securely to the sordid environment from which they are trying to escape. Spurred on by this knowledge, Jerry settles down to the serious business of trying to make an honest living and rise above his environment. Ho becomes a newspaper seller. Soon his sales increase at such a rate that he is able to engage other • boys to work for him. A successful newspaper distribution business eventually materialises and Jerry finds himself growing wealthy and influential. A rival, Wire Arnold (Victor Varconi), who operates a race card syndicate, comes between Jerry and Mary Ellen, and breaks up their romance. Jerry, trying to delude himself that he does not care, spends freely and breaks into society. In the course of his fashionable new life he meets a glamorous blonde, Connie (Sheila Bromley), and thinks lie has fallen in love with her. Seeking revenge 011 Wire Arnold, Jerry establishes a rival race sheet in an endeavour to drive his rival out of business. The attempt fails and Jerry is almost ruined. Broken and disillusioned, he is ready to relinquish the struggle when a swift and unexpected culmination of events turns the tide, and tho outcome is a fitting climax to this excellent entertainment. The second production, "Convicted," is a Columbia picture featuring Charles Quigley and Rita Hayworth. ST. JAMES' THEATRE The latest glorious melodies of Victor Herbert sung by Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy are a feature of the technicolour production "Sweethearts," which is the current attraction at St. James' Theatre. The two leading players are ably supported by such well-known comedians as Frank Morgan, Mischa Auer and Herman Bing. Florence Rice also has a small role. The story concerns the efforts made bv Frank Morgan, as the manager of Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy, to keep his two leading players in "Sweethearts," a successful Broadway musical show, from leaving the stage and going to Hollywood. The complications which arise provide many amusing situations. The second of the popu- ' lar "Audioscopiks" is a feature of the fine supporting programme. PLAZA THEATRE The brilliant 20tli Century-Fox technicolour production "Kentucky," with Lorettn. Young and Richard Greene in the main roles, will continue its successful season at the Plaza Theatre today. Included in the supporting cast are Karen Morley, Walter Brennan and Douglas Dumbrille. Walter Brennan has been given an Academy award for his performance in this picture. Set against all the colourful splendour of the Kentucky blue-grass lands, which are strikingly portrayed in the beautiful- tecliriicoiour, story tells of .1 long-standing feud between two old families and how it was broken by the love of a girl for a member of the other household.. Short films comprise the entertaining associate programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE After a lengthy absence from the screen, Rudy Vallee makes a welcome return in the bright musical coined}' "The Gold Diggers in Paris," which, together with the thrilling crime drama "Gang Bullets/' will again be shown at the Majestic Theatre to-day. Supporting Rudy Yallee are Rosemary Lane, Hugh Herbert and Allen Jenkins. Robert Kent appears in the second production. CIVIC THEATRE Joan Bennett and Fredrie March have the leading roles in Walter Wanger's United Artists' production "Trade Winds," which will continue its successful season at the Civic Theatre to-day. Ann Sothern is particularly outstanding in a strong supporting' cast. Fredrie March has the role of an aniorously-inclined detective who is given the task of arresting a girl wanted for murder, but who has fled overseas. His chase takes him halfway round tho world, and provides the director with the opportunity to include some spectacular Eastern backgrounds. A "March of Time" news reel is included in tho associate programme. EMBASSY THEATRE An amusing modern comedy, "Three Loves Has Nancy," with Janet Gaynor as Nancy, and Robert Montgomery, Franchot Tone and Grady Sutton as the three loves, will again be shown at the Embassy Theatre to-day. Nancy is an unsophisticated girl in a small country town. Robert Montgomery, as a distinguished novelist, comes to stay in the town and, in an unguarded moment, offers to help the girl if ever she needs help in Now York. Some time later, when Montgomery and his publisher (Franchot Tone) are giving 1 a party in their city flat, Nancy arrives to take advantage of the novelist's ' idle offer. Both men fall in love with tho girl, but, while they aro arguing as to who shall marry her,-her fiance from home arrives to further complicate matters. An hilarious climax is the result. STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT Arthur Treacher has a prominent role in the film version of P, G. Wodehouse's farce, "Step Lively, Jeeves," which, together with the drama, "Bohind the Headlines," will bo shown at die State Theatre, Devonport, to-night. LONDON CINEMA Jack Haley appears in the humorous coihedv "F-Man which is the main film 011 the entertaining double-feature grogramme to be shown at the London inema to-dav. Tho second picture is "The Sky Parade." TUDOR CINEMA Tho unusual drama "Four Men and a Prayer," with Loretta Youn" and Richard Greene in tho leading roles, is the main item on the enjoyable programme at the Tudor Cinema to-night. C. Aubrey Smith has a supporting part. BERKELEY. MISSION BAY Edward G. Robinson plays the title role in tho thrilling drama "The Last Gangster," which is the principal film to be khown at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay, to-night. CRYSTAL PALACE. ALEXANDRA The entertaining, programme to be shown at the Crystal Palace and Alexandra Theatres to-night includes the films "To Mary with Love" and "King of Hockey." Guest-night concessions will be patron3.

REGENT THEATRE Ronald Colman gives one of the best performances of his career in the Para- ; mount production "If I Were King," I which is attracting largo audiences j daily to the Regent Theatre. He is cast , 1 as tho vagabond poet Francois Villon, ' ' who is overheard by Louis XL, of , France, proclaiming what he, would do if he were king. The snrdonicrand aocen- I trie Louis makes Villon his Chief Constable and prepares to enjoy himself j watchihg the poet's efforts to carry out { his ideas. Villon falls in love with one of the Court ladies, Katherine de Vaucelles, and she inspires him to greater efforts. 'Tho picture reaches a thrilling climax when Villon leads the infuriated Parisian populace to battle against tho besieging Burgundians. STRAND THEATRE The popular American juvenile actress Jane Withers is prominently cast in the amusing comedy "Always in Trouble," which, together with th* J jmusical production Follow Your Star," will bo shown at tho Strand Theatre to-day. Jane Withers is cast as a little rich girl who longs for the days S when her father was not beset by investment worries and her mother was , ; not a social climber. When a messenger ? arrives at the house with some legal papers for her father to read, and she ! finds that parent asleep, Jane per- 1 sustdes him to take her father's place at the helm of the family yacht, which < is just about to leave on a fishing holi- ! dsy. In quick succession she manages ■, to wreck the yacht, get the family cast away on an island and chased by a gang of smugglers. But even the smugglers find the young practical j joker more than they can manage, and she is successful in eventually ; saving her family. • MAYFAIR THEATRE" Bernard Shaw's much-discussed mod- ; ern comedy "Pygmalion," and the humorous Damon Runyon farce, "Straight, Place and Show," are the two films to be shown to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. Leslie Howard and a - new Lancashire actress, Wendy Hiller, appear in the first production. Tho . ; popular Ritz Brothers are featured in the second film and Ethel Merman sings several songs. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Rosalind Keith and Allen Brook appear in the thrilling story of speed boat - ' racing, "Motor Madness," which is the j main, film on the entertaining programme to be shown at the Prince Edward Theatre to-night. The second production is an unusual drama, "The Man Who Lived Twice," featuring -j Ralph Bellamy and Marion Marsh. STATE THEATRE j The thrilling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer i drama "The Crowd Roars," with : : Robert Taylor and Manreen O'Sullivan '-•* in prominent roles is tho main film on ao ' tho entertaining programme to be 1 shown at the Stato Theatre to-day. { STAR CINEMA .0 Featuring the more famous of Irving P Berlin's dance numbers, the entertaining musical film "Alexander's Rag- fj, time Band," with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche prominently u cast, will be shown with the drama ?s "Three Comrades," at the Star Cinema I to-day. -.-y • ASTOR THEATRE William Gargan and Binnie Barnes appear in the entertaining film "Brsez- ' ing Home," which is the main item 011 the programme at the Astor Theatre to-night. "Someday" is the second picture.