ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23394, 10 July 1939, Page 7

ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE Some of tho best racing scenes ever presented on the screen are seen in the colourful and moving human drama "King of the Turf," which will again be shown at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Adolphe Menjou contributes one of the best characterisations of his career as a drunken racecourse tout who was once a popular and wealthy owner. A juvenile player, Roger Daniel, acts with all the enthusiasm of youth iji the role of a jockey, making the character real and the personality attractive. Dolores Costello heads tho supporting cast. MAJESTIC THEATRE Stark terror forms the theme of the first of a new cycle of thrilling films, "Son of Frankenstein," which heads the programme at the Majestic Theatre to-day. Produced by New Universal, this picture is a sequel to "Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein," and again has Boris Karloff in the ingenious and eerie make-up of tho monster. The accomplished character actor Basil Rath bone is cast in the title role, that of Wolf Frankenstein, who, 25 years after his notorious father's death, returns to the grim ancestral home of the Frankensteins with his young wife (Josephine Hutchinson) and baby son (Donnio Dunagan). Bela Lugosi gives an amazing portrayal as a cra/.od broken-necked shepherd, cut down from the gallows after he had been hanged for grave robbery, while Lionel Atwill appears as an officer who had had his arm torn out by tho monster.

CIVIC THEATRE An exciting drama based on tho life of one of America's most colourful outlaws, "Jesse James" is the current attraction at the Civic Theatre. One of the most popular actors 011 the screen to-day, Tyrone Power gives an outstanding portrayal in the title role, while Henry Fonda a true to life characterisation as his equally notorious brother. The story opens with the death of the James brothers' mother brought about by an unscrupulous hireling of the new railroad which was cutting ruthlessly across the rich farming lands. The James brothers swear vengeance 011 the railroad and begin their colourful reign of terror. The film is photographed in technicolour. RECENT THEATRE Courageously produced by Warner Brothers, "The Confessions of a Nazi Spy" is at present attracting large and enthusiastic audiences to tho Regent Theatre. Inspired by recent exposures in the United States of the existence of a large and efficient spy ring, this remarkable film deals faithfully and directly with the ingenious methods used to break the ring and imprison its leaders. Actual names are used where necessary, an unnamed German refugee playing Goebbels. Newsreel scenes have been used where it was necessary to portray Hitler. Striking portrayals are given by Edward G. Robinson, as the Federal agent, George Sanders, as the chief spy, Dorothy Tree, as the latter's assistant, Francis Lederer, as a Nazi informer, and Paul_ Lukas, the the director of the spy ring. Their performances are even more remarkable when it is realised that they received numerous threats against their lives while the film was in course of production, and were forced to live in the studio under an rtrmod guard until the photography was finished.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES One of the most popular Western players on the screen, Gene Autry, i the singing cowboy, has the leading I role in "The Old Barn Dance," which i heads the entertaining programme to jbe shown at the Roxy and Tivoli j Theatres to-day. He is cast as the I leader of a band of entertainers, who j earn their living by auctioning horses | at the various rodeos they visit. They i meet with a setback, however, when j they come into contact with a harj vester company which is selling farm : tractors, and they sell very few horses j at what would otherwise have been a profitable rodeo. Before leaving town I they accept an offer to broadcast from a small radio station, only to find that their sponsors will be their enemy, the harvester company. Naturally they leave at once, only to discover that the station continues to present a number of records of the cowboys. The local farmers believe that the cowboys -have therefore thrown in their hand with the tractor dealers, who now begin to foreclose on the farmers when they are unable to keep up with the_ payments on their machines. The manner in which the cowboys vindicate themselves provides an exciting climax to an enjoyable film. The second attraction 011 the programme is a Western melodrama. "The Land of Fighting Men." with Jack Randall and the Colorado Hillbillies in the main roles. MAYFAIR THEATRE One of the best known characters in modern fiction, The Saint, hero of a series of novels by Leslie Charteris, appears in the film version of "Angels of. Doom." adapted as "The Saint Strikes Back," which will again be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. George Sanders is cast as The Saint, a modern Robin Hood, whose signature, feared by criminals and polico alike, is a little lino drawing of a man with a halo. This unique figure fights crime with crime, murder with murder and breaks into houses to secure incriminating evidence, his unorthodox methods evoking the hostility of the authorities as well as the underworld. Other prominent players in this swiftmoving drama of baffling mystery and breathless adventure are Wendy Barrie, Jonathan. Hale and Jerome Cowan, but they are all overshadowed by the figure of the lean, hard-eyed Saint.

LONDON CINEMA Dealing with the exploits of the small boats which were engaged in hunting clown submarines during the war. an exciting drama. "Submarine Patrol." is the main attraction at the London Cinema to-day. Richard Greene and Nancy Kelly have the leading roles. RIALTO THEATRE Filmed in glorious teclmicolour, tho racing film "Kentucky" heads the entertaining programme at the Rial to Theatre to-night. Leading roles aro taken by "Richard Greene and Loretta Young, while Walter Brennan appears in the cast of associate players. GREY LYNN CINEMA The talented young singer Judy Garland and the popular juvenile actor Mickey Roonev are teamed in the hilarious comedy of modern youth, "Love Finds Andy Hardy," which heads the programme at tho Grey Lynn Cinema to-night. "Exposed" is the associate attraction. STATE THEATRE Tracing the history of aviation from the days of the Wright brothers, the Paramount teclmicolour film "Men With Wings" is the principal attraction to bo shown at the State Theatre to day. Fred MncMurray, Louiso Cam libel I and Ray Milland have the leading roles. An entertaining associate programmo will ulso bo shown. BRITANNIA THEATRE Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice have the main roles in the entertaining mystery comedy "Fast Company," which, with "The Baroness and the Butler," will be shown again to-night at tho Britannia Theatre.

ST. JAMES* THEATRE Exotic Hawaii and the • languorous music of steel guitars form the colour-) ful background to,-the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer romance "Honolulu," which will continue its season at St. Jaines' theatre to-day. Eleanor Powell has never been seen to better advantage as a dancer. There is a variety and ingenuity m her dances which has been missing in some of her earlier films. A sensational native dance shows her emotional capabilities as a dancer, while a hula—a clever blending or, Hawaiian with Western tap dancing—illustrates her grace of arm movements. Robert Young is seen in an amusing dual role, while the inimitable Gracio Allen and George Burns head the talented supporting cast. STRAND THEATRE A stirring and dramatic story of tho courage of tho rising generation is contained in the British Empire films picture "Gangster's Boy," "which, together with the hilarious Met.ro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical comedy "Fra Diavolo," with Stan Laurel and Oliver. Hardy, will bo shown at the Strand Theatre to-day. Jackie Cooper, who was responsible for a convincing performance in "White Banners," again proves his natural ability as a talented player in the title role of the first film. Tho second production, "Fra Diavolo," is a new production of a film which was shown hero several years ago, and which is considered by many to beLaurel and Hardy's greatest comedy triumph. The inimitable couple aro. shown as a pair of would-be bandits in medieval Europe. EMBASSY THEATRE Amazing characterisations in a dual, role are given by tho talented Continental actress Elisabeth Bergner in the outstanding drama "Stolen Life," which will continue its successful season' at the Embassy Theatre to-day. Sha plays twin sisterS, identical in appearance, but vitally different in character, and the manner in which she dis-, tinguishes between them by some inner"' spark, and shows how difficult it is for' one to try to assume the character of" the other, is a remarkable feat of acting. Michael Redgrave, who achieved recent success in "The Lady Vanishes,"' and Wilfrid Lawson, of "Pygmalion, 1 ' head the supporting cast. STAR CINEMA ' A thrilling drama of the lives of men who test new aeroplanes. "Test Pilot" will head the fine programme to be shown at the Star Cinema to-da%'. Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Myrna Loy have the principal parts. The second feature is a drama ol' the Marseilles waterfront, "Port of Seven Seas," in which sincere characterisa-; tions are given by Wallace Beery, Frank Morgan, John Beal and Maureen O'Sullivan. The third chapter of an exciting serial, "Wild Bill Hickok, 1 ' heads the associate programme. - -

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE Deanna Durbin appears in the bright comedy "Three Smart Girjs Grow Up," which, together with the farce "Little Tough Guys in Society," will be shown at the Prince Edward Theatre tonight. Frankie Thomas, who played: the youthful Mayor in "Boys Town," heads the cast in the second production, while Jackie Searle and Mischa Auer have prominent roles.

TUDOR CINEMA A gripping drama of the conflict of a man, his divorced wife and his second wife, "Woman Against Woman," will again be shown at the Tudor Cinema to-night. Herbert Marshall, Virginia Bruce and Mary Astor are the principal players. CRYSTAL PALACE THEATRE A bright musical comedy. "Golddiggers in Paris," is the principal at-: traction at the Crystal Palace Theatre, to-night. An interesting selection of enjoyable short subjects comprises the supporting programme. BERKELEY, MISSION BAY Mickey Rooney, Franchot Tone and. Gladys George appear in the bright, comedy "Love is a Headache,"- which heads the current programme at the Berkeley Theatre, ' Mission _ Bay. A March of Time is included in the supporting programme CAPITOL THEATRE An entertaining musical film, "Sing. You Sinners," with Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurrav and Ellen Drew, is the main attraction at the Capitol Theatre to-night. A drama, "Alcatraz Island," is the associate film.