ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23602, 11 March 1940, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

ST. JAMES' THEATRE Comedy merely veils a scathing attack on the malicious, narrow gossip which is the principal delight of many women of New York's leisured class in "The Women," Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer s adaptation of Clare Booth's famous play, which is to continue its season at St. James' Theatre to-day. Norma Shearer heads the cast. PLAZA THEATRE "The Rains Came," a turbulent drama unfolded amidst the havoc wrought by the Indian monsoon, is the current attraction at the Plaza Theatre. Myrna Lov, Tyrone Power, Brenda Joyce and George Brent are the leading members of the cast, and without exception they contribute vivid and convincing character portrayals. MAJESTIC THEATRE Warner Brothers' gay musical comedy "Naughty, But Nice," and the enthralling melodrama "Big Town Czar" comprise to-day's programme at the Majestic Theatre. Ann Sheridan, Dick Powell and Gale Page are the three popular players who fill the main roles in the first production. Photographs of entrants in the St. John Ambulance Baby Contest will be screened at all sessions.

CIVIC THEATRE There is a wealth of humour and light-hearted romance in the Paramount film "Honeymoon in Bali," which heads the current programme at the Civic Theatre. Fred Mac Murray is perfectly cast as a carefree adventurer who is the suitor of Madeleine Carroll. Allan Jones appears in the appropriate role of nn opera singer, while another important member of the cast is the charming juvenile actress Carolyn Lee. EMBASSY THEATRE John Garfield and Priscilla Lane appear together once more in the absorbing human drama "Daughters Courageous," which is to continue a successful season at the Embassy Theatre to-day. CRYSTAL PALACE AND RIALTO Two accomplished players, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, appear with Flora Robson and Leslie Banks in "Fire Over England," the main attraction at the Crystal Palace and Rialto Theatres to-night.

REGENT THEATRE The powerful emotional drama "Disputed Passage" heads to-day's entertaining programme at the Regent Theatre. Akim Tamiroff gives a realistic portrayal of a brilliant surgeon, so devoted 'to the ideals of his profession that he bitterly opposes the marriage of his most promising student, contending that a true doctor is the servant of humanity and cannot share the pleasures of the usual ordered lile. With Gary Cooj>er, Kay Milium! and J. Carrol Naish included in the largo cast, the (screen version of P. C. Wren's famous novel "Beau Geste" will open a season ftt the Regent Theatre shortly. CENTURY THEATRE Merle Oberon, England's most attractive actress, proves her versatility after dramatic roles in "Wuthering Heights and "The Lion Has Wings" with a delightful performance as a wilful young heiress in the comedy "Over the Moon," to-day's attraction at the Century Theatre. Brilliant dialogue and the direction of Alexander Korda lift the standard of the film far above the average, and very natural technicolour is another outstanding feature. In his best role since he appeared as a wealthy doctor in "The Citadel," Rex Harrison is responsible for a. pleasing portrayal as Merle Oberon's fiance. Ursula Jeans heads the remainder of the cast. Finland, the country which holds the attention of the whole world, is the subject of a detailed and graphic survey in the latest "March of lime heading the supporting programme.

OXFORD THEATRE Splendid acting by the young Englishman Richard Greene marks the livid human drama "Here I Am a Stranger," the main attraction of the entertaining double-feature programme now showing at the Oxford Theatre. Brenda Joyce, Richard Dix, Poland Young and George Zueco are also good in the chief supporting parts. One of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most intriguing stories is brought to the screen in "Sherlock Holmes," the second feature. STRAND THEATRE Social problems are discussed with Impressive frankness in the compelling drama "Damaged Goods," which is to be shown again at the Strand Theatre to-day. With as little alteration in the storv as possible the film has been adapted" from a famous French play by the forthright reformer and novelist Upton Sinclair. Leading roles are interpreted with feeling and restraint by Douglas Walton, Phyllis Barry and Esther Dale.