ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES* THEATRE Brilliantly filmed in glorious technicolour, the Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer production "Sweethearts," with the two popular singers Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddy in prominent roles, will continue its successful season at St. James' Theatre to-day. A feature of this musical comedy is the latest melodies by Victor Herbert, who was responsible for the music in previous films featuring those two players. Included in the talented supporting cast are such well-known comedians as Frank Morgan, Mischa Auer and Herman Bing. The associate programme includes the latest of the popular "Audioscopiks," narrated by the inimitable Pete Smith, and a fine M.G.M. Miniature entitled "City of Little Men." , PLAZA THEATRE The new English actor Richard Greene and Loretta Young, who last appeared together in "Four Men and a Prayer," have the leading roles in the fine 20th Century-Fox technicolour production "Kentucky," which will again be shown at the Plaza Theatre today. Walter Brennan, who gained an Academy award for his work in this film, is prominent in a supporting role. All the glories of the Kentucky blue-grass lands are vividly portrayed in the beautiful colour in which the picture is filmed. A thrilling climax to an exciting plot is the running of the great Kentucky Derby. Interesting short films comprise the associate programme.

MAJESTIC THEATRE The . hright , musical .comedy "Tlu> Gold Daggers in Paris," featuring Rudy Vallee and Rosemary Lane, and the exciting crime drama "Gang Bullets" are the two films to be shown at the Majestic Theatre to-day. "THE STORM" A thrilling action drama "The Storm," with Barton Mac Lane, Charles Bickford, Preston Foster, Tom Brown, Nan Grey, Andy Devine and Frank Jenks in the main roles, and the film version of one of the late Edgar Wallace's stories "Mr. Reeder in Room 13" comprise the entertaining programme which will commence a season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. In the first film Charles Bickford is cast as Bob Roberts, a pugnacious wireless operator on the liner Astoria. Roberts' friend. Preston Foster, is the radio operator on a rival ship, the Capricorn. Capricorn, captained by Barton Mac Lane, tries to race the Astoria across the Atlantic. Through faulty navigation it strikes an iceberg. Picking up survivors, Roberts learns that the captain abandoned ship while the wireless operator was still sending out S.O.S. messages, leaving him to drown. When Roberts learns that his young brother, whom he is determined to keep from going to sea, has secured his dead friend's post on. Mac Lane's new ship he puts to sea on her also. The story reaches a thrilling climax in a great storm which gives it its title.

CIVIC THEATRE Fretlric March and Joan Bennett have leading roles in Walter Wanger's "Trade Winds," which will again be shown at the Civic Theatre to-day. Ralph Bellamy and Ann Sotliern give fine performances in supporting parts. Joan Bennett is cast as Kay Kerrigan, a girl who, believing she is responsible for the murder of a millionaire, flees to Honolulu. An amorously-inclined detective, portrayed by Fredric March, is sent to arrest her. His chase takes him from Honolulu to Japan, from Japan to China, from China to Indo-China, and thence to Singapore. This swiftlymoving background gives the director the opportunity to include some spectacular Eastern scenes. A March of Time newsreel is prominent on the fine supporting programme. EMBASSY THEATRE Janet Gaynor, Robert Mongomery and JFranchot Tone have the leading roles in the bright modern comedy "Three Loves Has Nancy," which continues to attract large audiences to the Embassy Theatre daily. Gaynor, as Nancy, is an unsophisticated girl in a small country town, who takes advantage of an offer of help tendered her in an idle moment by a distinguished novelist, played by Montgomery. She arrives at his city flat, which* he shares with his publisher (Franchot Tone), just in time tb Unknowingly help him out of an awkward predicament. The publisher and novelist both fall in lovo with Nancy, and, while they are arguing as to who shall marry her, her home town fiance arrives, to provide an hilarious climax.

MAYFAIR THEATRE George Bernard Shaw's brilliant modern comedy "Pygmalion," with Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard in the leading roles, and an uproarious >: farce by Damon Runyon, "Straight, Place and Show," featuring the Ritz Brothers, comprise the excellent programme to be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. Ethol Merman is heard singing the latest songs by Lew Pollack and Lew Brown in the second production. CRYSTAL PALACE, ALEXANDRA Coriune Luchaire, a new French' actress, Barry K. Barnes and_ Edna Best have the leading roles in the dramatic Alexander Korda production "Prison Without Bars," which is the main film on the programme at the Crystal Palace and Alexandra Theatres to-night. It presents the story of an unusual romance in a girls' reformatory. The second picture is the musical comedy "Hold That Co-ed."

TUDOR CINEMA The dramatic story of four men's search for the murderer of.their father forms the basis of the unusual drama "Four Men and a Prayer," to be shown at tho~Tudor Cinema to-pight. Loretta Young, Richard Greene and David Niven are prominently cast. ASTOR THEATRE Wallace Beery and Frank Morgan appear in the absorbing drama of the Marseilles waterfront "Port of Seven Seas," which, together with the film version of an Edgar Wallace novel, "The Squeaker," will be shown at the Astor Theatre to-night. STATE THEATRE. DEVONPORT The story of the construction of tho Suez Canal is graphically told in the film "Suez," with Tyrone Power in a prominent part, which is the principal picture oil the programme at the State Theatre, Devon port, to-night. A comedy "Next Time 1 Marry," will also bo shown. PRINCESS THEATRE The celebrated "Dead End Kids" give another series of characterisations as slum voutlis in the powerful drama "Crime School," which, together with the entertaining comedy The Great Garrick," will bo shown at the Princess Theatre to-night.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Ralph Bellamy appears in the unusual drama "The Man Who Lived Twice," which, together with the action film "Motor Madness," dealing, with speed boat racing, will be shown at the Prince Edward Theatre to-night.

REGENT THEATRE j Ronald Column plays the part of the j' vagabond poet Francois Villon with •; virile vigour in the outstanding Para- «'■ mount production "If 1 Were King," £ which will have further screenings at }' the Regent Theatre to-day. Included j; in the fine supporting cast are Basil Rathbone and Frances Dee. A Popeye s; cartoon is prominent in the associate programme, which includes an unusual % musical production, "Moments of jij Charm," featuring Phil Spitalny and ,*■ his All-Girl Orchestra. ! |gv. }< ROXY AMD TIVOLr THEATRES Fresh from his triumphs in "Holi- b day" and ' Young Dr. Kildare," Lew Ayres appears in the title role in the §; tlirilling drama of tenement life, "King j; of the Newsboys," which is the main Sim on the entertaining programme to *' be shown at the Roxy and Tivoli "Theatres to-day. The second feature is a ].] crime drama, "Convicted," with «• Charles Quigley and Rita Hey worth j iji prominent parts. The story of the ' first film begins with a romance be- $ tween Jerry (Lew Ayres), a carefree | youth in the New York slums, and Mary Ellen (Helen Mack), who will not allow him to marry her, because ,j[ she considens that such a step would ;■ only bind them more firmly to the | sordid environment above which they ii are trying to rise. Determined to make j a career for himself, Jerry sets to work selling newspapers. Soon his sales in- | crease at suoh a rate that he is able ; ; to engage other youfhs to work for j him. A successful newspaper distribu= f tion business materialises from these J humble beginnings, and Jerry grows wealthy and influential. The manager r.. of a rival (syndicate, Wire Arnold j' (Victor Varoani), comes between Jerry and Mary Ellen and breaks up their .|j romance. Jerry, trying to delude him* self that he does not ' core, spends '' lavishly and breaks into society.. In the course of his fashionable new life jhe meets a glamorous blonde, Connie £ (Sheila Broniley), whom he thinks he - loves. Seeking revenge on Wire Arnold, he establishes a rival race ,j sheet to compete against one already ?, published by the opposite syndicate. It J is a failure, and Jerry is almost mined. j' Added to his trouble, is the discovery *' that Connie does not love him. Bitter and disillusioned, he is ready to relraquish the struggle when a totally un- V expected culmination of events turns the tide, and the outcome is a fitting climax to this fine entertainment. [.

STATE THEATRE j* A thrilling drama of the boxing ring, "The Crowd Roars," with Robert Taylor, Maureen O'Sullivan and Frank Morgan in the leading roles, will have its final screenings at the State Theatre. £ to-day. Commencing to-morrow are two ; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films, "Woman "• Against Woman" and "Springy Madness." Herbert Marshall, Virginia I Bruce and Mary Astor are the featured If players in the first production, while lj Lew Ayres, Maureen O'Sullivan and I Burgess" Meredith aire prominently cast £ in the second film. > I STAR CINEMA The outstanding musical film "Alex- . j ander's Ragtime Band," with Tyrone Power, Alice Fayo and Don Ameche in : the principal roles, and a fine human drama, "Three Comrades," are the two films to be shown at the Star Cinema to-day.

STRAND THEATRE The popular juvenile actress Jane Withers appears in the hilarious comedy "Always in Trouble," which, together with 'the musical production "Follow Your Star," will be shown' at the Strand Theatre to-day. Arthur Tracy has a prominent _ role in the second production, which includes several of his most popular songs. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY Dealing with an angle of criminal life not usually seen on the screen,- tha thrilling drama "The Last Gangster," with Edward G. Robinson in the title role, will be shown at the Berkeley Theatre. Mission Bay, to-night. LONDON CINEMA Jack Haley has a leading role in the hilarious comedy "F-Man," which will be shown with the entertaining film "The Sky Parade" at the London Cinema to-day. '• > •