ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23333, 29 April 1939, Page 21

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE Large audiences enjoyed the opening screenings of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's romantic drama "The Shopworn Angel" at the Regent Theatre yesterday. While lias a war theme, being set in w ' "' lon America entered the Great ar, it does not go into the battle scenes, but deals with the loves of three people in various walks of life, •fames Stewart is cast as a young soldier, Jim Pettigrew, who is knocked down by the car of a beautiful showgirl, Daisy Heath, when returning to camp after a parade in New York. He pretends to his comrades that he knows the showgirl, who is played by Margaret Sulla van, and is forced on his next visit to the city to prove his claim. The girl proves delightfully understanding of his difficulty and ' Pottigrew falls deeply in love with her. Daisy Heath, however, has not had a blameless past and oil the advice of Walter Pidgcon, who loves her in spite of her faults, is compelled to refuse to see Pettigrew when next he comes to town. How the soldier will not be denied and finally succeeds in winning the girl's heart is a moving story, behind which ever lies the threat of the stormy battlefields from which Pettigrew will probably not return. Miss Sullavan does some of her finest emotional acting in this moving role of indecision, and Jam«s Stewart convincing as the naive young Westerner. A revealing picture is presented by Nat Pendleton, Alan Curtis and Sam Levene, who are cast as three typical soldiers, purposely nameless so as to depict the average American who fought in the war. In spite of its grim and tragic_ background of destruction the film is relieved by touches of humour and deft coined v.

EMBASSY THEATRE "Fools for Scandal," the gay comedy of romantic adventure, will again be the main feature at the Embassy Theatre to-day. It tells of the pursuit of a wealthy American actress, on tour •on tho Continent, by a penniless but charming French baron, Carole Lombard and Fernand Gravet taking these roles. Gravet is a comparative newcomer to the screen, but lie shows himself at home in a part that demands the utmost of his personality. As well as having many beautiful and lavish scenes, the film is provided with a witty dialogue worthy of the humorous complications of the plot. Ralph Bellamy again appears as solid but extremely dull lover, and makes hopeless attempts to obstruct the rather scandalous progress of his fiancee's affair with her cook. The Oxford and Cambridge boat race is seen in the Pat he Gazette 011 the supporting programme.

CRYSTAL PALACE, ALEXANDRA Few pictures are so full of ;he spice' of danger as the outstanding production "The Adventures of Robin Hood," which will be shown at the Crystal Palace and Alexandra Theatres to-day. Errol Flynn is cast as the dashing outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor and helped to keep England safe for King Richard. Olivia de Havilland has the feminine lead.

REGAL THEATRE The accomplished young actors "The Dead End Kids" he seen in the drama "Crime School," which will be the main attraction at the Regal Cinema to-day. The Marx Brothers appear in "Room Service," the other film to be shown.

ASTOR THEATRE Robert Montgomery, Virginia Bruce and Henry Hull have the leading roles in an unusual drama of the fight against disease "Yellow Jack," which is the main film at the Astor Theatre tonight. A comedy, "Married Before Breakfast," will also be shown.

CIVIC THEATRE The stirring talc of Indian adventure "Gunga Din" continues to prove popular at the Civic Theatre. Marching gaily through its many dangers are three sergeants, played by Carv Grant, Victor McLaglen and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., who invest their parts with customary dash. Alter so many campaigns together, it can be imagined how dismayed the other two are when they learn that Douglas Fairbanks, jun. is proposing to leave the army and get married, and their subsequent efforts to dissuade him provide much of the humour, and lead 'up to the dramatic climax of this fine production. As the water-carrier Gunga Din, who wanted to be a soldier and finally justified his claim, Bam Jaffe gives a splendid characterisation, and proves a worthy pivot for the theme. Mickey Mouse appears in "Brave Little Tailor," a Disney coloured cartoon.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES One of the most popular of screen detectives, Mr. Moto. is again portrayed by the Hungarian actor Peter Lorre, in the thrilling mystery melodrama "Mr. Moto's Last Warning," which, together with a crime drama, "X'umbered Women." will continue its season at the Rosy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Supporting Peter Lorre in the first film are John Carradine, George Sanders, Ricardo Cortez and Virginia Field. Mr. Moto is engaged in tracking down a group of conspirators who are engaged in engineering an international crisis by causing a catastrophe near the Suez Canal. The plotters are aware that the Oriental detective is on their trail so they set an ingenious trap to murder him. They believe that their trap has ♦succeeded, but actually Mr. Moto has been able to escape. Believing that they are free to go ahead with their plans, the conspirators hit upon an ingenious way of transmitting their orders to criminals in their employ. The messages are sent through the mouth of a ventriloquist's dummy in a theatre. Mr. Moto trails one of the criminals into the theatre and solves tho manner in which the messages are delivered. Using knowledge gained from this source, he warns a member of Scotland Yard (John Carradine), who is posing as a member of the gang, that he is suspected. Before he can take advantage of Mr. Moto's warning, however, the detective is caught and sent to his death in a diving bell to the bottom of the Mediterranean. Mr. Moto is himself caught while rendering the conspiracy harmless, and he is dropped into the sea tied up in a sack. The climax to this picture is both unusual and exciting.

•TUDOR CINEMA Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie and Hedy Lamarr are prominently east in Walter Wanger's thrilling production "Algiers," which will be screened at the Tudor Cinema to-day. The setting of the film is the Casbah, a notorious criminal-infested section of the city of Algiers.

BRITANNIA THEATRE A dramatic story of the struggles amid the elements at sea is told in "Spawn of the North.". This, together with "Exposed." will be screened at the Britannia Theatre to-day.

LONDON CINEMA Lionel Barrymore takes an unusual character role in "The Devil Doll," in which he appears with Maureen O'Stillivan at the London -Cinema today. The amusing comedy "General Spanky" completes a fine programme. ADELPHI THEATRE "Suez," the mighty story of the building of the great canal, with Tyrone Power and Loretta Young, and "Mr. Doodle Kicks Off,'' comprise the programme at the Adelphi Theatre to-day.

MAJESTIC THEATRE The latest comedy made by the Cinesound studios in Australia, "Mr. Chedworth Steps Otit," featuring Cecil Kellaway, began a season at the Majestic Theatre yesterday before enthusiastic audiences. Cecil Kellaway is cast as a mild and unassuming little clerk, underpaid and over-ridden by everybody, who is-suddenly dismissed by his firm to cut down expenses. In order to soften the blow he is given a job as caretaker of ail empty factory, fn the factory lie finds a bag of counterfeit money, secreted there temporarily by a gang of forgers. Ignorant of the fact that the money is worthless. Mr. Chedworth takes it home and hides it in the laundry, intending later to hand it over to the police. He wins £IOOO at the races, changes a note of large denomination for some of the counterfeit money, and attempts to pass it in a hotel. An amusing series of adventures is the sequel to this innocently performed act. Kvents become really complicated when some "confidence crooks'' sell him some apparently worthless shares in a goldmine. The mine turns out to be really valuable and the little clerk becomes rich. Jn the meantime his son has discovered the counterfeit money and spent some of it. thereby revealing its whereabouts to the infuriated criminals .who had hidden it. in the factory. Mr. Chedworth and his son are both kidnapped by these men and held for ransom. The subsequent happenings make an exciting climax to this great Australian film. The second picture to bo shown is "The Terror," adapted from a story by the late Edgar Wallace. Wilfred Lawson, recently seen in "Pygmalion," and Linden Travers have leading roles in this English production. It deals with the theft of a large amount of bullion under eerie circumstances.

STRAND THEATRE Bringing all the mighty drama of a primeval world to the screen, Metro-Goldwyn-Maver's lengthy jungle epic "Trader Horn" commenced a j-eturn season at the Strand Theatre yesterday. One of Hollywood's most prominent veteran actors, Harry Carey, plays the indomitable old trader, while Edwina Booth has the role of a savage jungle princess. Of special interest is the performance given by a native, Mutia Omoolu, who plays one of the biggest roles in the picture with all the assurance and skill of a trained actor.*' The film begins with Trader Horn progressing up an African river to trade with natives. Accompanying him is the son of an old friend whom he has promised to look after. This young man, Peru (Duncan Renaldo), unused to the country, regards the trip as a joke, until wild animals, crocodiles and evidence of barbarities of natives in the jungles give him a new idea. They meet with a woman missionary who is searching for her daughter whom she lost in a tribal war when a child. Rumours have reached her of a beautiful white girl who rules over a savage tribe in the interior. When the missionary is killed Trader Horn takes up the quest with thrilling consequences.

CAPITOL THEATRE A wealth of music is provided in the splendid film "Alexander's Ragtime Band," the main attraction for the Capitol Theatre to-day. "Living on Love" is the other feature. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA The entertaining programme at the State Theatre, Onehunga, to-day is "The Lady Vanishes," with Michael Redgrave and Margaret Lockwood, and "It's a Grand Old World." MAYFAIR, SANDRINGHAM The delightful romance "Girl of the Golden West," in which Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Mac Donald continue their success, will be shown at the Mayfair Theatre, Sandringham, to-day.

PLAZA THEATRE The Twentieth Century Fox production "Kentucky" is now in the fourth week of its Auckland season, and should again attract largo audiences to the Plaza Theatre to-day. As two people separated by a long-standing feud between their families Loretta Young and Richard Greene repeat their successes in "Four Men and a Prayer." Taken in teclinicolour, the film reveals the beauty of the blue-grass lands of Kentucky, and reaches a climax with the running of the celebrated Kentucky Derby.

MAYFAIR THEATRE Sidney Toler takes the place of the late Warner Oland in the role of Charlie Chan, one of the most popular of all screen detectives, in the mystery drama "Charlie Chan in Honolulu," which began a season at the Mayfair Theatre yesterday. The story begins when Chan rushes from his home to the hospital to await the birth of his first grandchild. Just as he is leaving the telephone rings and is answered by his second eldest son, James Chan (Sen Yung). He learns that a .murder has been committed on a steamer which has just arrived in port. Eager to make a name lor himself as a detective, and so follow in bis father's footsteps, the youth decides not to bother his father, but to investigate the mystery himself. His enthusiasm is greater than his skill, however, and he only succeeds in complicating matters still further. When m danger of being thrown overboard by the irate crew of the vessel, James is relieved to see his parent boarding the vessel to take over from him. Numerous complications are speedily introduced, including a second killing, an attempt on Chan's own life, a scientist with a human brain preserved in alcohol, two criminals wanted for murder in Shanghai and a cargo of wild animals carried on board. The solution is unusual and convincing.

STATE THEATRE All the splendour of the French Court and all the moving drama of the times are vjvidlv caught in "Marie Antoinette," the splendid production which will be presented at the State Theatre to-day. As the hapless queen who is caught in the overwhelming flow of events, Norma Shearer again proves herself a great actress, and Tyrone Power wins further laurels. Robert Morley and John Barrymore give realistic portrayals as "the slow-witted and pathetic Louis XVI. and his father Louis XV.

STAR CINEMA The comedy of a man who breaks loose after being brought up as an ideal, provides the entertaining theme of "The Perfect Specimen," which will be shown at the Star Cinema to-day. In the second film Bette Davis rises to new dramatic heights with her performance in the'moving picture "That Certain Woman." The serial "The Secrets of Treasure Island" will be continued. EMPRESS THEATRE A further fine performance is given by "The Dead End Kids" in the dramatic production "Crime School," which, with "The Great Garrick," provides the attraction at the Empress Theatre to-dav.

STATE THEATRE, DEVONPORT The main feature at the State Theatre, Devonport, to-day is the thrilling comedy "The Mad Miss Manton," which will be shown with "West of Shanghai," with Boris Karloff. PRINCESS THEATRE Don Ameche and Arleen Whelan appear in "Getaway," which will be presented with the hilarious comedy "Room Service" at the Princess Theatre to-day. The Marx Brothers are in the second film.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE One of the most popular of teams on the screen to-day, Jeanette Mac Donald and Nelson Eddv ? have the leading roles in the beautiful teclinicolour production "Sweethearts," which entered the fourth week of its season at St. .Tallies' Theatre yesterday. The two main players are cast as the principals of a Broadway musical production "Sweethearts," which has been running continuously for six years. They are happily married, but badly overworked, and eventually decide to leave the show and go to Hollywood, where they believe they will have more time to themselves. The efforts of their bombastic and ineffectual manager, portrayed by Frank Morgan, to keep them from leaving the legitimate stage, and the help supplied him by Miseha A tier, one of the authors of "Sweethearts," form the basis for the remainder of the plot.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE The outstanding film of medieval Paris "If L were King" should attract large audiences to the Prince Edward Theatre to-day. Ronald C'olman plays the part of the dashing French poet Francois Villon, who rises to be Chief Constable of France, while Frances Dee is also cast in the production. The associate feature will be the melodrama "Flight Into Nowhere," in which Jack Holt has a typical principal part. GREY LYNN CINEMA Deanna Durbin sings charmingly in the refreshing comedy "That Certain Age" at the Grey Lynn Cinema to-day. Other roles in the'film are taken by Melvyn Douglas and Jackie Cooper. "Think Fast, Mr. Moto" is also on the programme.

VICTORIA THEATRE Once again patrons will have a chance of seeing the excellent Australian comedy "On Our Selection" at the Victoria Theatre to-day. Charles Bickford and Nan Grey are in "The Storm," which is also being presented. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Robert Benchiev and Mickey Boone.v are the chief comedians in the hilarious Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr film "Live, Love and Learn," which will be shown at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay, to-day.