ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23512, 24 November 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE England's ever-popular comedienne Grade Fields is back in a new film, "Shipyard Sally," which will be shown for the first time at the Civic Theatre to-day. In this 20th Century-Fox film she goes back to the type of role which made her famous. Directed by Monty Banks, tho film gives her the background she- likes best, the working class of England. She is the unexpected proprietor of a public house in Clydebank, the shipbuilding centre of Scotland. Unexpected because, until her erratic father, played by tho inimitable Sydney Howard, invested all her savings in the tavern, he and Gracie were touring the isles as a music hall team. She soon becomes the fast friend of tho shipyard workers. When production is halted for reasons of economy, the workers send their favourite to London to plead for them. During the film she sings many new songs, including "I've Got the Jitterbugs" and "Annie Laurie." Of general interest is the opening scene which shows. tho actual launching ceremony of the Queen Elizabeth. REGENT THEATRE "Union Pacific," one of the most heralded pictures of the year, will bo presented for tho first time in Auckland at tho Regent Theatre to-day. Produced by that master of spectacle Cecil B. de Mille, "Union Pacific" is a saga of tho building of the first railroad across tho mighty American continent. Its drama remains fresh because de Mille has pitched his story in a key of adventurous enterprise and filled it with the most vivid incident. His opic careers across the screen in stirring manner with its busy engineers, buck-skin-clad scouts and yelling Indians. His most thrilling scene is an Indian attack on a train traversing a newlybuilt section of the track. As savage as any braves in "wild west" books, the whooping Indians ride parallel with the train shooting and shouting at the gallop. They topple a water tower on to the engine, and in the wreckage the three survivors face a long and desperate siege. The three besieged are Joel McCrea, as tho scout fighting for law and order; Barbara Stanwyck, as Mollie, the Irish postmistress at the "end of the track"; and Robert Preston, as a devil-may-care adventurer and suitor to Mollie. The film has an unusually lonpj cast, even for a production of this kind, while the marshalled violence of the mob scenes provides some of the most stirring sequences ever seen on the screen. ST. JAMES' THEATRE Singing more delightfully than ever, Jeanette Mac Donald has the leading role in the entertaining Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production "Broadway Serenade," which will be shown to-day at St. James' Theatre. Opposite Miss MacDonald is Lew Avres, while Frank Morgan and lan Hunter also are in the cast. Tho supporting programme includes a Pete Smith Specialty and an M.-G.-M. Miniature. PLAZA THEATRE Although Sherlock Holmes was created by the late Sir Conan Doyle over half a century ago, his name is as well-known to-day as it was to the adults of a generation ago. and those who see "Hound of tho Baskervilles." which will begin its season at the Plaza Theatre to-day, will realise that he is a character which never seems to dim with the passing of time in attractiveness and sheer magnetic appeal. The best part of this 20th Century-Fox production is its excellent atmosphere. The chill loneliness surrounding the Baskervillo mansion, set in the heart of the eerie, mist-enshrouded fens of Dartmoor; the ghostly appearance of the moonlit moor, with its treacherous ! mires and weird, crumbling roclc formation; and the mournful wail of the giant savage hound whose howl always foretells the doom of a Baskerville, all set the note of taut suspense. The chief appeal of the film is, of course. Slierlock Holmes himself. Basil Rathbone makes an ideal portrait of the character, and the part is dressed to perpetuate a fascinating tradition as regards the sleuth's famous cap and cape, his pipe, and large magnifying glass, while Mr. Rathbone's appropriate facial likeness to the now accepted conception of the detective's features coulcf not be improved upon. Others in the cast include Richard Greene, Nigel Bruce, Wendy Barrio and Lionel A twill. STAR CINEMA "Little Miss Broadway" and "Thanks for Everything" are the two films to be presented, to-night at the Star Cinema. The principal player in the former film is the child actress Shirley Temple, and she is said to give one of her best performances in the part. Supporting roles are taken by Phyllis Brookes, George Barbicr and Jane Car.well. In the second picture the comedian Jack Oakie appears, with Binnie Barnes in tho role opposite. Warren Hvmer provides humour of a different typo in a minor part. STATE THEATRE Myrna Loy and Robert Taylor are the leading players in the modern comedy " Lucky Night," which is to be the main attraction at the State Theatre to-night. A full programme of shorter pictures makes up the first half of the entertainment, the latest newsreels being included. GREY LYNN CINEMA Spencer Tracy gives a brilliant performance in the leading character role in "Hoys' Town," which is at the head of this evening's programme at the Grey Lynn Cinema. Mickey Rooney also has an important role in the production, which is supported by "Persons in Hiding." PRINCE EDWARD THEATRE " The Great Waltz" and " Fast and Loose" are the films to be shown tonight at the Prince Edward Theatre. The principal players in the first film are the Academy award winner Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravut and the opera singer Miliza Korjus. The second film offers a delightful change from the first. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Included in the cast of " The Story of Alexander Graham Bell," which is to be presented at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-night are Henry Fonda, Don Amecho and Loretta Young. The associate film is the thrilling " Tho Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse." Edward G. Robinson has tho main role in the production. VICTORIA THEATRE Elisabeth Bergner has a dual role in "Stolen Life," which is the main attraction at the Victoria Theatre tonight. Michael Redgrave also appears. The second film on the programme is Lhc melodrama "Good-bye, Broadway." TUDOR CINEMA "Sweethearts" is the title of the feature production to be presented tonight at the Tudor Cinema. Main roles in the film are taken by Jeanette Mac*-, Donald and Nelson Eddy. BRITANNIA THEATRE " The modern comedy " Fast and Loose" is' on the programme at the Britannia Theatre,to-night. The second film to be shown is the English comedy " This Man is 'News," with Barry Barnes in the main role.

MAJESTIC THEATRE The exploits of men of the United States secret service form the basis for a nen- series of Warner Brothers' films, the first of which, "Secret Service of tho. Air," will be shown to-day at the Majestic Theatre. The central figure of the series is Lieutenant Bancroft, played by Ronald Reagan, who was seen recently in the comedy "Brother Hat." The story of "Secret Service of the Air" is based upon material supplied by 31 r. W. H. .Moran, who was formerly chief of the United States Secret Service, and the plots of all subsequent films in the series, will come from the same source. The story begins with Hamrick, an agent for a smuggling ring which has murdered a secret service man, in prison. ]n order to try to extract information from him, the authorities decide to place a pseudocriminal in his cell in the hope that he will let slip some vital clue while off his guard. They choose Lieutenant Bancroft (Ronald .Reagan), a pilot in the China Clipper service, as he is unknown to the underworld. The Secret Service gets Bancroft dishonourably discharged and imprisoned for "smuggling." Not even Bancroft's fiancee, played with considerable charm by 11a Rhodes, is aware of the true facts. In prison, Bancroft soon -worms his way into Hamriek's confidence and learns that an air-taxi business in Los Angeles is run by the smuggling ring. He is transferred to Los Angeles, where lie gets a job on the suspected air line, and this is the start of many thrilling and hazardous adventures. The second attraction on the programme is an English comedy entitled "Jane Steps Out." The main roles are taken by Diana Churchill, Jean Muir, Peter Murray Hill, Fred Emnoy and Judy Kelly. Jano is a quiet girl whose family look upon 1 her more as a servant than a daughter. After a quarrel with her sister she is goaded into threatening to captivate Basil, her sister's boy friend, when lie comes down for the week-end. Her sister scoffs that she has nothing to fear from plain .Jane. But granny suddenly comes to light and, under her guidance, Jane "steps out," with hilarious complications. The first chapter of "The Lone Banger Bides Again" will also bo shown. EMBASSY THEATRE The screen version of Myron Brinig's best-selling novel "The Sisters" had its first Auckland screenings yesterday at the Embassy Theatre before large and appreciative audiences. Leading roles are taken by Bette Davis and Errol Flynn. When Arnold Bennett wrote "The Old Wives' Tale" he set out to show how two sisters nurtured in the same household, followed each the bent of her own temperament. They both grew old, one in Paris, the other in London. When they met again at the end of the book they were like the inhabitants of different worlds. The author of "The Sisters" has drawn almost exactly the same situation, only in an American setting, For these three siters grow up together. One elopes, one marries for money, and the third make.s a good small-town match. They live their divergent lives for a while until a crisis brings them together, displaying the influence circumstances nave had upon them and the change in their characters. Although "The Sisters'' has no large scale dramatic pretensions, it gives a mosaic of beautifully glowing and sympathetic details. The admirer who later becomes the husband with whom Louise (Bette Davis) elopes, is, surprisingly enough, played by Errol Flynn. It is easily the most sincere and satisfying piece of work Mr. Flynn has done for a long time. Gone are the self-satisfied rollickings of "Robin Hood" and the slick gaiety of sophisticated comedy. In t.hoir place is a penetrating portrait of a character in decay. The young man loves freedom. His life so far has been a procession of adventures and affairs. So, much as lie loves his wife, and manfully as he struggles against the hard facts of the case, he feels that domestic life cramps and confines him. Flynn presents the imprisoned bird of passage in appealing style, suppressing nothing and exaggerating nothing. Other players in the cast include Dick Foran, Alan Hale, Jane Bryan, Anita Louise, Beulah Bondi and lan Hunter. An entertaining associate programme will also be shown. ROXY AND TIVOLI THEATRES The popular singing cowboy Gene Autry appears in the latest musical Western film, "Root-in' Tootin' Rhythm," which heads the entertaining double-feature programme at the Roxy and Tivoli Theatres to-day. Smiley Burnette, the comedian who has appeared in most of the Autrv films, is also prominently cast in this picture. Gene and "Frog" (Smiley Burnette) are two friends who become mixed up in a comedy of errors. They don the clothes of two dead outlaws, only to find that the outlaws were really sheriffs dressed in outlaws' clothes. The real outlaws are at large and roaming the country in the sheriffs' clothes. The cattlemen mistake Gene and "Frog" for the bandits and the bandits for the sheriffs. The two friends have many hilarious and exciting adventures before they finally clear their names and straighten things out generally. The associate attraction is an absorbing melodrama entitled "Outside These Walls," in which the main players are Michael Whalen and Dolores Costello. The talented young juvenile Virginia Weidler also appears in the cast. STRAND THEATRE The comedy drama "Clouds Over Europe," in which the main roles are taken by Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Robson, will commence the third week of its Auckland season at the Strand Theatre to-day. The plot concerns the mysterious disappearance of .secret English bombers while on test flights, and the efforts of Scotland Yard to solve the mystery. STATE THEATRE, ONEHUNGA Victor McLaglen and Brian Aherne are the main actors in the thrilling film " Captain Fury," which is the main picture at the State Theatre, One-, hungn, this evening. The Oliver Hardy comedy " Elephants Never Forget" is also on tho programme. ASTOR THEATRE Norma Shearer has the title role in "Marie Antoinette," which is to be the main item of entertainment at the Astor Theatre toriiight. Tyrone Power and Joseph Schildkraut are among the leading players in the film. REGENT THEATRE, EPSOM Robert Taylor has the leading role in tho boxing film "The Crowd Roars," which is tho chief attraction at the Regent Theatre, Epsom, to-night. Also to bo shown is "Nearest Thing to Heaven." BERKELEY, MISSION BAY The entertaining melodrama " Rich Man, Poor Girl" is the main production to be presented to-night at the Berkeley Theatre, Mission Bay. Varied short items make up the first half of the evening's programme.