ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23470, 6 October 1939, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

PLAZA THEATRE

The iriiulic - but futile eflorts of a shop girl to deny the parent-hood of an abandoned bnby form tlie basis of the comedy ".Bachelor Mother," which will commence a season at the Plaza Theatre to-day. Ludicrous complications develop when her employer s father, owner of the department store in which she works, grows convinced that the child is his grandson, and tries to persuade his son to marry the girl. The situation's produce gay entertainment as the various characters try to untie the entanglements of the whole affair. Ginger .Rogers appears as the shop girl who adopts ,the 'foundling baby, while David Niven plays the paVt of her handsome employer. In spite of Miss Rogers' embarrassing position, David Niven falls in love with her and the progress of their romance, coupled, with their hectic battles concerning the proper rearing of the baby, provides delightful comedy. Famed for her dancing talents as Fred Astaire's partner in many films. Ginger. Rogers confines her dancing to one routine with Frank 'Albertson in this production. Frank Albertson appears as Miss Rogers' admirer, while Charles Cob'urn appears as David Niven's sentimental father. The film maintains throughout the standard of a polished and witty comedy rather than of the boisterous farce it might have become.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

A modernised version of a play that was little short of a sensation in New York a generation ago, is presented in the Metro-Gold wyn-Mayer production "Within the Law," which begins a season at the Majestic Theatre to-day. The powerful story, which shows a girl condemned to prison for a crime she never committed spending her sentence studying law to provide lier with a means of vengeance on her accusers, offers admirable scope for the principals, Ruth Hussey, Tom Neal, Paul Kelly and William Gargan, to display their dramatic talent. All interpret the most, gripping situations with perfect understanding, and the result is a film which has seldom been equalled in sheer dramatic intensity and force. Two popular players appear together for the first time in the comedy "Hard to Get," which completes the programme. They are Olivia de Havilland, who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, and Dick Powell, who has long been a favourite actor in musical comedy. In this film Dick Powell sings two songs in interludes which have been deftly woven into the thread of the light-hearted plot. Leading members of the supporting cast are Charles Winninger, Bonita Granville and Melville Cooper.

NEWSREEL THEATRE

Selected from the productions of several leading film companies, newsreel films depicting the latest developments overseas will be shown with other short features at the early sessions at the Majestic Theatre today. Based on the lines of newsreel theatres in London and Australia, this news service has attracted wide public patronage since its inauguration a week ago.

CIVIC THEATRE

The well-known violinist Jascha Heifetz takes the part of himself in the musical film "They Shall Have Music," which will enter the second week of its season at the Civic Theatre to-dav. The joys and sorrows of boys and girls whose precarious lives are brightened by this musical artist are delightfully blended, and all lovers of good music cannot fail to appreciate this picture. Heifetz's playing of the violin is supplemented by a charming story, and an orchestra of amazingly talented children, the Peter Meremblunl California Junior Symphony Orchestra, which was specially engaged by Samuel Goldwyn for the film.

REGENT THEATRE

A rousing melodrama sot in the colourful "fifties" _ of last century, "Stand Up and Fight," which opens its season at the .Regent Theatre today, brings Robert Taylor to the screen in a now type of part, which, however, lie interprets with his usual success.' Such a wide divergence of characters as he played in "Magnificent Obsession," "Cnmille," "A Yank at Oxford" and "The Man in Possession," have established this promising young player as a truly accomplished actor, and his partnership with the veteran Wallace Beery in this picture of virile action and idealistic romance should ensure his lasting popularity. Taylor is faultless as ail aristocratic gentleman of the South who,, the last in the line of an impoverished country family, becomes entangled in a quarrel between the old stalwarts of the coaching trade and the ambitions promoters of a new invention. the railways. Impetus is given to the forceful action of the film by Wallace Beery's masterly portrayal ns the fighting, blustering, bullying Starkey. manager of an old-established coach line. The business is owned by a young girl, attractively presented by Florence Rice. A particularly entertaining supporting programme has been selected, an outstanding feature being "Angel of .Mercy,'' the biography of the founder of the American Red Cross.

EMBASSY THEATRE

The large crowds which thronged the Embassy Theatre yesterday were proof of the "wide appeal of the delightful human comedy drama "Four Daughters," which entered the second week of its season. Priscilla Lane is seen in a very successful interpretation of her most* important role, while Claude Rains and May Robson give their usual impressive portrayals. -John Garfield, a newcomer to the screen, is always convincing in an unusually difficult part.

STAR CINEMA

One. of. Britain's most popular comedians, George Formby, becomes involved in a typical tangle in the merry farce, "It's in the Air," which heads to-day's programme at the Star Cinema. In this film, the inimitable comedian finds himself in the ranks of the Royal Air Force, and the results, especially when he puts on an impromptu' flying display, are truly hilarious. "Spy Giants" is the associate attraction.

STATE THEATRE

"My Lucky Star," in which the popular skater Sonja. Henie appears with Richard Greene, will commence n season in conjunction with "Vivacious Lady" at the State Theatre to-night. Ginger Rogers and James Stewart are the principals in the second picture.

TUDOR CINEMA

Constance Bennett, as a "ghost," is responsible for much of the noval liiimour of the comedy "Topper Takes a Trip," the current attraction at tlm Tudor Cinema. Poland Young and Billie Burke are other leading players.

GREY LYNN CINEMA

Singing and acting with her usual infectious gaiety, Dea'nna Durbin heads the cast of the light-hearted .film "Three Smart Girls Grow* Up," which is to be shown with "Disbarred" at the Grey Lynn Cinema to-night.

BERKELEY, MISSION BAY

The glamour of horse-racing is vividly captured in the teehnicolour picture "Kentucky." the main attraction at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay, to-night. Loretta Young and Richard Greene are the principals.

ST. JAMES' THEATRE

Nelson Eddy has a new singing partner in Virginia Bruce in "Song of the Plains,'' which will commence ii season at the St. James' Theatre to-da.v. When the script of "Song of the Plains" was written, it provided that the singing should bo done only by Nelson Eddy, except for one male chorus to bo heard in."l've Been Working 011 the Railroad," hut the producer, Mr. Harry Rafp, decided that it would be a shame to waste Virginia Bruco's rich soprano voice, and she joins in singing with Eddy "Drigo's Serenade," refilled "Love's Serenade" for the picture. "Song of the Plains" is a lusty outdoor drama of the pioreer west, written by Ben Hoeht, one of America's foreniost humorists. A distinguished cast has considerably aided the production. _ The era of the story is that in which the railroad was gradually spreading its tracks across the American continent. Enough time has elapsed since then for some of the Wall Street barons of tlie day to be exposed as predatory gunmen, and MetroGold wyn-Mayer lias spared no pains to make the invading horde as unsavory a bunch of riff-raff as possible. Nelson Eddy sings with his accustomed radiance as the leader of the hometown folk, and Virginia Bruce acts with the charm and realism the part of the heroine demands. Picturesque in setting, stirring in its patriotic motive and authentic in detail, "Song of the Plains" offers memorable scenes, and the picture, from a number of viewpoints, is above anything presented in Auckland in recent months.

ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES

• A thrilling story of revolt in the desert is unfolded in the fast-moving film "Chasing Danger," which heads to-day's programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres. Preston Foster baa a leading role as a newsreel cameraman, whose calling leads hhn into many a desperate adventure. In this picture he is hot on the trail of an unscrupulous financier, who is inciting the Arabs to revolt with money ho has stolen from his investors. Harold Huber is appropriately crafty and sinister in this role, while a delightful feminine note is introduced by Lynn Bari in her part as an erotic spy. Wally Vernon, as Foster's assistant,_ is responsible for some very amusing interludes which offer relief to the dramatic trend of the main plot. An< other exciting film with an outdoor setting, "On the Great White Trail," is the second attraction. A popular singer, James Newill, heads the cast, which also includes Terry Walker. Silver King, described as the "wonder dog," takes part in many scenes.

STRAND THEATRE

The influences which a philosophical country storekeeper exerts on the progress of two young romances in his community are threaded into the dramatic story*of "Career," which will commence a season at the Strand Theatre to-day. Alice Eden and John Archer, finalists of Jesse L. Lasky's first "Gateway to Hollywood'' talent search, make their film debut in this picture, Anne Shirley and Edward El lis "having the principal roles. Edward Ellis is seen as the country storekeeper, who tries to hide the memory of his first love, a girl who married his rival, while lie endeavours to smooth out a similar romantic trouble of his own son. a part played by John Archer. The conflict is heightened by the fact that -Miss Shirley, whom Archer wants to marry, is the daughter of the village banker, the man who won Ellis' first love. Full of homely philosophy and poignant drama, "Career" is an entertaining story of real life.

MAYFAIR THEATRE

The Ritz Brothers turn detectives in "The Gorilla," the Twentieth Cen-' tury-Fox Films' production that will have its-initial presentations in Auckland at the Mavfair Theatre to-day, and the thrilling and humorous situations in which they in turn find themselves make the picture one that should appeal to all theatregoers. The action takes place in a house that is a maze of sliding panels. When a note from "The Gorilla" t-hrcatcns murder at midnight, at which time rages a thunderstorm, the Hit/ Brothers wander into the scene, and their experiences are the cause ol hilarious moments. They are ably supported hv Anita Louise, Lionel A twill, Patsv Kellv, Bel a Lugosi and .Joseph Calleia. "It Could Happen to \ou, the associate picture, has a complicated plot that maintains the interest throughout. The leading roles are taken bv Stuart Erwin and Gloria Stuart. The film is an excellent murder mystery, with plenty of humour.

PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE

The popular English comedian George Formbv is featured in the comedy "Trouble Brewing," which heads the programme to be shown at the Prince Edward Theatre to-night. George Form by is cast as a compositor in a newspaper office, with a penchant for amateur detective work. Aided bv two follow employees, played by Gus McNanghton and Googie Withers, he sets out "to discover a gang of forgers, with many amusing consequences. "Romance in the Dark." with Gladys Swarthout and John Boles, is the associate attraction. " The Warning " heads the supporting programme.

CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Selected by public vote as the most popular actress 011 the screen to-day, Shirley Temple gives a delightful portrayal in the title role of the teclinicolour picture "The Little Princess," which heads to-night's programme at the Crvstal Palace and Rialto Theatres. Included on a strong supporting programme is the latest of the March of Time series, "Japan, Master of the Orient," which is a striking revelation of the spread of Japanese imperialism.

VICTORIA THEATRE

A stirring cavalcade of man's achievement in the field of aviation is unfolded in "Men With Wings/' the technicolour production which will be shown with "The Last Express" at. the Victoria Theatre to-night. Fred MacMiirrav, Rav Milland and Louise Campbell give fine portrayals .in the first film.

CIVIC THEATRETTE

An exciting Western melodrama entitled "The Revenge Rider," with Tim McCoy in a leading role, and a thrilling crime drama, '-'The 'Man Who Lived Twice," comprise the entertaining double-feature programme to he shown at the Civic Tlieatrette to-day. Ralph Bellamy appears in the second film.

BRITANNIA THEATRE

Two polished and entertaining films, "The Shining Hour" and "The Ware Case," comprise the programme to he shown to patrons of the Britannia Theatre to-night. Clive Brook appears in the second film.

ASTOR THEATRE

Robert Taylor and Maureen O'Snllivfin hiivo the ninin roles in "The Crowd Roars," which, together with n "comedy, "His Kxciting Night," will bo shown" at the Astor Thontro to-night.

STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA Throe popular actresses, Alice Kayo, Constance Bennett and Xancy Kelly, appear in the dramatic aviation film "Tailspin," which, with "King of the Turf," will be shown at the State Theatre, Onehunga, to-night.