ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 24

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE A large attendance was present at the re-opening of the new Majestic Theatre last night, when the two attractions were the hilarious comedy "Littlo Tough Guys in Society" and ih'e musical film "St. Louis Blues." Ihe first picture tells how a band, of boys from tho slums contrives to be invited "to a beautiful country home wliero "the owner's son is in need of the company of other boys as part _ot psychological treatment. The only thing "wrong with thw ""patient ' is that 110 lias been badly spoilt, and the gang, .which has been sent by a notorious criminal to help, in a projected robbery, soon /takes control of the estate and wakes tho spoilt youth from his sollsatisfiecl cynicism. The story goes on to show, however, that in spite of their devastating methods of enjoying themselves", the slum boys benefit considerably from thoir new environment and •when the criminals finally arrive to ransack tho house they arc no longer in a mood to help them. Headed Frankie Thomas and David Gorcey, the six "little tough guys" dominate tho action with their fine performances, while Jackie Searl is also prominent With a clever portrayal of the overprivileged" son. Other roles are taken bv Edward Everett Horton, as a rather superior butler, Miseha as a psvcho-analyst, and Mary Poland, as the rich owner of the property, tilled with music and the fun of a showboat, on the Mississippi "River, the second film has Dorothy Lamout 111 a very pleasant part as a famous Broadway singer who runs away because she is wearv of appearing as a South Sea maiden. Stumbling upon the. St. Loma Blues," a showboat which 1: as been cast up high and dry by the floods, she deaides to try and start, a tresh life here, but finds that she is regarded as nn amateur in the art of entertainment and is refused a part in the presentations giveu on hoard the boat. Lloyd'Nolan and Tito Girnar are on the' supporting cast, while strengthening the musical side of tho production are "Tho King's Men," Matty Malneck and his orchestra, and the famed negro combination, the Hall Johnson Choir. CIVIC THEATRE The popular Lancashire comedienne Gracie Fields is featured in the hilarious 20th Centrv-Fox production Keep Smiling," which is enjoying an extended season at the Civic Theatre. In addition to its absorbing plot, the him contains many bright songs and comedy numbers. Miss Fields is cast as the leader of a group of players, who loso their employment through a quarrel with their 'dishonest manager. Their slender resources exhausted, they accompauv Gracie to her crotchety old grandfather's farm in Kent where they proceed to eat the old man out ol his home. When Gracie refuses to desert her friends to live with her grandfather, he turns them all out, but bv a stroke of luck they manage to earn £IOO. With this sunv they set out to establish themselves as a revue companv. How they' succeed in the face of illegal obstruction by thoir erstwhile manager makes an entertaining climax to a most enjoyable film. REGENT THEATRE The' delightful young singer, Deanna Durhin, is brighter than ever in her latest picture "Three Smart Girls Grow Up," which will continue i:s season at the Regent Theatre to-day. Again cast in a • part ,ideally selected lor her refreshing personality," she shows herself in all "the enthusiasm of youth, and embarks with splendid optimism on the task of getting right the muddled romantic affairs of her two sisters, one of whom seems to have an; unfair advantage over the ptlier. Th? plot, with nil its -complications, provides unceasing laughter, while tlie voice of the principal, which is heard in'four typical eolos, shows a new maturity and sweetness. Nan Grey and Helen Parrish have Bupporting roles. STRAND THE A TIKE The intrepid young aviauor Douglas Corrigan, who recently startled the ■world-by his daring flight across the Atlantic in a cheap, antiquated aeroplane, appears in the film version of his own adventurous career, "The Flying Irishman," which opened its season before large audierees at the Strand Theatre yesterday. The picture traces the heart-breaking struggles the .voting man made to support his family by working as a newspaper seller, a carpenter and a mechanic, while he dreamed and studied to achieve his one ambition —to become an air line pilot. He was, however, repeatedly frustrated in his, efforts to obtain a licence, his lack of experience and small stature barring him from consideration. With grim determination Corrigan overcame the obstacles in his way, and the film reaches a gripping climax as he achieves fame and happiness. CRYSTAL PALACE. ALEXANDRA Showing in all their glory the bluegrass .lands of' that southern State, the splendid racing film "Kentucky" will be shown to-day at the Crystal Palace and Alexandra Theatres. The picture is taken in beautiful technicolour. and the romantic story of the struggle of two young people against an old feud is brilliantly told by a fine cast headed by Loretta Young and Richard Greene. : LONDON CINEMA The popular Yorkshire comedian gniidv Powell causes much amusement by his adventures as a racehorse owner in the hilarious comedy "I've Got a Horse," which is to continue its season at tho London Cinema to-day. Another bright film "Thank's for Everything." is also 011 the procramme. Jack Haley has the leading role. ' CAPITOL THEATRE "Breaking the Ice," in which Bobby Breen appears, and the sea story "Our Fighting Navy," are the two pictures to be shown on the fine programme at the Capitol. Theatre to-day. Richard Cromwell is in the second attraction. -WINDSOR. PAPAKURA A splendid cast, headed by Errol Flynn, ' Olivia de HnviMand, Patric Knowles and Rosalind .Russell, appears in the entertaining comedy "Four's A Crowd," which will be shown: .with "Army Girl", at the Windsor Theatre. Papakura, to-day, BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The entertaining musical comedy "Stranded in Paris" heads the programme to be presented at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Ray, to-day. Joan■ Bennett, Jack-Benny and Mary Boland are seen with -several groups of well-known variety artists. A splendid selection of short films will be shown. PRINCESS THEATRE Tin; poignant drama "Prison Without Bars," with Corinne Luehaire am Barry K. Barnes in leading roles, ant "Always in Trouble," in which Jam Withers appears, comprise the. attractive programme at the Princess Theatre to-day. BRITANNIA THEATRE Tlie accomplished dramatic actress Luise Rainer appears in "The Toj Wife," tho film which heads the pro gramme at the Britannia Theatre to day.- The brilliant comedy "House master" is also to bo shown.

PLAZA THEATRE The heroic story of the frail, but formidable little "craft which often battered their way through seas they were never built to withstand, to encounter the submarines ami their protecting "U" boats in the last war, is dramatically unfolded in the thrilling film ".Submarine Patrol," which was screened for the first time before large and enthusiastic audiences at the .Plaza 1 heatro yesterday. Much amusement is caused by the varied reactions of the motley volunteer crew when they are first introduced to life in the navy, but tlfe picture later becomes sternly realistic when the patrols are ordered to attack the enemy vessels and the men show that in the face of fearful odds and manifold dangers they have learnt the value of coolness and resource in emergency. A night attack 011 a submarine which has been a scourge to the allies throughout the war is made in the Adriatic, when the patrol vessel is towed by a row-boat through a minefield to sink the submarine at its base. The atmosphere of tension is well sustained throughout this and other dramatic scenes, and is a credit to the fine acting of the cast and the genius of the producer, John Ford, lor producing realistic effects. The picture ot life on board the diminutive, and therefore often despised, patrol-boat is extremely interesting, and full of briglit comedy which heightens the effect of the stark drama of battle-scenes. Richard Greene, the popular young English actor, plays the part of the engineer with his usual charm and manliness, and Nancy Kelly, whose romance with Greene is continually interrupted by the war, is eminently attractive In her part. The crew comprises several well-known actors of rugged male parts, notably .John Carradine. Warren Hymer and the former famous boxer, Ataxic Rosenbloom. Preston Foster is excellent as the quiet, resolute captain of the submarine chaser.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES The fine Western drama "Trouble in SundoWn" and the thrilling story of adventure amid the scenes of conflict in China "North of Shanghai," will be presented again 011 the programme at the Roxv and Tivoli Theatres to-day. The first attraction has as its principal the well-known player George O'Brien, who appears as a rancher who reaches the little town of Sundown just in time to save the father of his sweetheart from being lynched by an angry crowd. This man is the president of the local bank and when a robbery occurs and the watchman is killed suspicion immediately falls upon him because he is supposed to be the only man who knows the combination of the safe.. O'Brien hides him away, however. and, although a stern struggle develops between the rancher, the forces of the law and the gang of the real criminal, the banker is kept safe until the climax brings the true story of the robbery to light. Set against the grim background of the conflict in the East and filled with thy terrors and mysteries of war. the second film. "North of Shanghai." provides excellent entertainment The two principals are James Craig and Betty Furness, the former being a fine new actor with a forceful personality. They take .the roles of a newsreel cameraman and a girl reporter trapped in the danger zone. A fine atmosphere of suspense is kept up throughout. VICTORIA THEATRE Mickey Roonev is incomparably amusing in the most popular of the Judge Hardy series of films, "Love Finds Andy Hardy." which is to be screened at the Victoria Theatre today. The associate feature is the thrilling drama "Exposed." ASTOR THEATRE The attractive young actress Deanna Durhin gives a delightful performance in the comedy "That Certain Age," which, together with "Making the Headlines," comprises the programme to be presented at the Astor Theatre to-day. Jack Holt appears in the second film. TUDOR CINEMA The briglit and enjoyable comedy "Merrily We Live" will again be screened at the Tudor Cinema to-day, leading roles being taken by Constance Bennett," Brian Aherne and Billie Burke. Included in the supporting items are pictures of the Royal visit to Canada. GREY LYNN CINEMA The film version of lan Hay's amusing comedy "Housemaster," with Otto Kruger and Phillips Holmes in principal parts, will head the programme to be presented at. the Grey Lynn Cinema to-day. "Service de Luxe" will be the second film. REGAL THEATRE A. new player, Sidney Toler, appears as the famous Chinese detective in "Charlie Chan at Honolulu," which will be presented with the drama "Jezebel" at the /Regal Theatre to-day. Bctte Davis appears in the second film. ■ ADELPHI THEATRE Michael Whaleu and Jean Rogers are seen in "While New York Sleeps," which will be screened, together with the bright comedy "The Young in Heart." at the Adelphi Theatre today. Janet Gaynor has a leading role in the second film. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA The fast-moving story of adventure and romance in the far corners of the earth, "Trade Winds" is the chief attraction at tlu- State Theatre. Onehunga, to-dav. The associate film is the thrilling drama of the jungle "Dark Rapture."

ST. JAMES' THEATRE The medical profession with its fine tradition of service to mankind should welcome equally as much as the public the' condemnation of incompetency in medicine which forms the main theme of "The Citadel." which will be shown again at St. James' Theatre to-day. Now in its fourth week, the picture has continued to attract groat attention, for it is not only taken from tin; famous book of the same name by Dr. A. J. Cronin but it has two very fine actors, Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell in the leading roles ol Dr. Andrew Mai.sou and his wile, Christine. The story of their moves from the diliiculties of a practice in a mining district to the ease of a city appointment and finally back to their true work as benefactors of tho human race provides a most enthralling theme. Special supporting features include pictures of the Thetis submarine disaster. EMBASSY THEATRE Few screen roles have been so flawlesslv acted as that of the twin sisters in "Stolen Life," the dramatic film which is to continue its season at the Embassy Theatre to-day. In an unusually 'difficult part Elisabeth Bergner. aided bv her wonderlul flair for emotional acting, her restraint ami subtle emphasis ot minor details, her neat differentiation between the two characters. and her smooth and polished style, is responsible for a magnificent performance. The twins are identical to the casual observer, except for the fact that they choose to part their hair on different sides. However, their characters and outlook 011 life arc the opposite in every way, and it is in this respect that the great actress is called upon to exercise all her wide array oi talent. The plot takes a novel and intriguing turn when one girl attempts to assume the personality ol her sister with the change of her hair parting. This transposition of character is splendidly handled by Elisabeth Rergner, who sustains the high level of her acting throughout the entire film. Michael Redgrave and Wilfred l.awson are convincing in supporting roles. MAYFAIR THEATRE The enjoyable film of a famous militarv academy, "The Duke of \\ est Point.'"' in which Louis Hayward has the leading role, was presented for the first time at the Mayfair Theatre yesterdav. It relates, on similar lines to the successful "A Yank at Oxford." how a young man who has just completed a course at Cambridge University comes to the military college at West Point to find that his ways make him unpopular in spite of his excellence at sport. His only two friends are his room-mates and when be attempts to help one of these he further infringes the code of the college and becomes a virtual outcast. The story of his return to favour is bound up in the splendid sporting sequences of the film. STATE THEATRE "The Baroness and the Butler," in which the French actress Annabella and William Powell have main parts, and ••Stolen Heaven" comprise the entertaining programme to be presented at the State Theatre to-day. The second film has a most unusual theme, showing the influence of a master musician on the minds of a gang of criminals, and tracing the gradual turning of their purpose. Ihe principal players are Gene Raymond and Olympne Bradnn, while Lewis Stone also has a prominent role. STAR CINEMA Clark Gable. Fratiehot Tone and Charles Laughton are the principal players in the outstanding historical drama "Mutiny 011 the Bounty." which will head the'fine programme at the Star Cinema to-day. The splendid supporting items include "Every Sunday Afternoon," a delightful in which Deanna Dur,bin and Judy Garland appear, the first chapter of a thrilling new serial. Wild Bill HickokJ" a noveltv short, "What do You Think?" a comedy and a newsreel. PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Splendid light entertainment is offered at the Prince Edward Theatre to-day, when two comedies. "1* ast C.oinpanv" and "Wide Open Faces." will be shown. Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice give polished performances in the first, feature, while the inimitable .Joe E. Brown heads the cast in "Wide Open Faces."