ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23996, 20 June 1941, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

Century Theatre.—-Adapted from a magazine story by Erich .Maria Remarque, author of "All Quiet on the Western Front," the arresting production "So Ends Our Night" will he shown for the first time at the Century Theatre to-day. The film focuses ntten tion on one of the gravest problems confronting the world to-day —the hordes of refugees from Nazi Germany's political and racial oppression, who wander from capital to capital in Europe socking a haven of peace and happiness, hut finding none. The central figure of the story is Steiner, a former oflieer in the German army, who is driven from the country of his birth because he dared to oppose the political views of the ruling caste. Learning that his wife is critically ill, he makes a bargain with the Gestapo to yield up the names of his friends, who are "supposed members of a secret political organisation, if lie is allowed to return to Germany to see her. The .scene in the market place where Steiner, brilliantly portrayed by Frederic March, furtively talks with his wife is unforgettable. Ut her important roles are played bv Margaret Sullavan, Glenn Ford and Frances Dec. A long and wellchosen supporting cast furnishers some excellent characterisations, which help to sustain the realistic atmosphere and poignancy of the production. These include Anna St en, as .Lilo, Leonid Kinskey, as the refugee who lovers chicken, and Josch Cawthorne, as the amusement park proprietor. One of the most important factors contributing to the success of the film is the direction of John Cromwell, who has to his credit such classic films as "'I be Prisoner of Zenda" and "Of Human Bondage." Plaza Theatre.—Produced on a lavish scale, 20th Century-Fox's spectacular tecbnicolour musical comedy "Down Argentine \\ av, ' will have its initial screenings to-day at the Plaza I heat re. Directed" by Irving Cimailings, the picture took 10 months to produce, many scenes of South America being filmed to form the colourful background. Splendid dance sequences and a number of {tuneful songs are the main features of I the production, which makes delightful and well-balanced entertainment; The story tolls how Don Amoeba as Kieardo Quintana, son of an illustrious Argenj tine horse owner, is sent to New York i to sell some of his fathers horses. While !at a show he meets attractive Betty I Grablo. who appears as G lend a (.. rawj ford, and romance follows. Later lie learns that she is the daughter oi his father's enemy and refuses to sell a I horse to her. "After _ disposing of it to Glenda Crawford's rival, he returns to Argentina. She become infuriated and sets out for Buenos Aires with her aunt, portrayed by the comedienne Charlotte Greenwood,"who appeared recently in "Young People." Alter a tour of the night clubs in the city the girl again encounters Rieardo and pretends that she lis in love with him. He reciprocates and is slapped on the face. How the romance continues is told against the background of a colourful and big horse-race in the Argentine. The film is notable for the screen debut of Carmen Miranda, a Brazilian singer and dancer who has been successful on the stage in New York. Latest air mail news and a him entitled "Homo Guard" head an outsta nd ing support! ng program me. Majestic Theatre. —The adventures of the irrepressible showgirl Maisie Ravier, played by Ann Sothern, are continued in ' Metro-Goklwyn-Mayor's production "Maisie Was a Lady," which will be screened to-day at the .Majestic Theatre. Maisie loses her job as the headless woman in a sideshow when her performance is ruined by Rob Rawlston, an inebriated voting man who caused her to upset the mirror apparatus and reveal the trick, Rawlston tries to make amends by taking her home to the Rawlston mansion, where for the first time in her life she consorts with the cream of society. Low Ayres. who first, won recognition as the idealistic boy in "All Quiet on the Western Front" and recently has appeared as the principal in the "Dr. Kildare" series, has the role of Bob Rawlston. A strong supporting cast includes the veteran Anbrev C. Smith as the staid familv butler'. Walpole, and Maureen O'Suilivan, who had a p v om'.nent part in "Pride and Prejudice." Also to be shown is Universal'? bright musical fomcdv "Where Did You Get lhat Girl," dealing with the trials and tribulations of an amateur swing band, which is so poor its members have to practise on the instruments in a pawn shop. Apart from the theme song "Where Did You Get That Girl," the film introduces two now numbers, "Rug Cuttin' Romeo" and "Sergeant Swine;." The cast is headed by Helen Parrish. who began her screen career in "Our Gang" comedies and latterly scored in "Mad About Music." Other pi avers are Loon Errol, Charles Lang. Eddie Quilkin. Franklin Pangborn and Stanley Fields.

St. James' Theatre.—Replete with witty dialogue, original story and some particularly fine acting by a prominent cast Mctro-Goldwvii-Mayer's sophisticated comedy "The Philadelphia Story" will continue a successful season at St. James' Theatre to-day. .lames Stewart appears as Macauley Connor, a reporter who is unwillingly assigned to write gossip for Spy, a picture magazine, which is anxious to obtain news of an exclusive society wedding. Ho won this year's Academy Award for his performance in this role. Equally convincing is Katharine Hepburn as the temperamentally aloof and pampered society woman," Trnev Lord, a character well suited to her' personality. Her voice is appropriate for the brittle smart talk, which is the essence of the production. The part was especially written for her by the American playwright Philip Hnrrv when she appeared in the stage version, which had a year's successful season in New York. It was adapted to the screen by Donald Ogdoti. Tracy Lord is to ijnietlv marry George Kettoridge, a self-made'man oi quite different character, portrayed by John Howard. Gary Grant lias a rugged and cynical role as the ex-luisband nonchalantly trying to publicise the wedding and win back his ox-wife. When Tracy Lord becomes involved with Connor dramatic complications result. Ruth Llussey appears as a girl photographer in love with Connor, who accompanies him to obtain intimate pictures of the wedding, while Virginia Weidler is outstanding as the voting mischievous sister of Tracy Lord. An Academy award i.eehnieolour cartoon entitled "The Milky Way" heads the supporting programme. Civic Theatre. —Paraniount's "Second Chorus." which is to he presented for the lirst time at the Civic, Theatre to-day, brings Fred Asiaire and vivacious Pauleile Goddard to the screen as a dancing couple. Long associated with his previous dancing partner, ' Ginger Rogers, bred Astaire reveals a brilliant agility and versatility when teamed with clever and dainty I'aulefte Goddard, whose personal charm and sound screen technique have already won her | many varied roles. Artie Shaw and his I band brighten the production with lively I music. Prominently cast are Burgess Meredith, who has lately been successful in light roles, and Charles Mutterworth, whoso impish humour enlivens the plot by his portrayal of a tone-deaf ■millionaire music-lover. A gay story relates how two young college cornet players vie with each ether to win the affections of a charming girl after a novel and amusing introduction to her. Catastrophe strikes when the two senior students, who have been avoiding study for a number of years !o keep the college hand together, suddenly graduate and the hand is then broken up. When the girl becomes manager of Artie Shaw's hand, she tries to get them work, but they ruin each other's chances with practical jokes. The climax comes when Shaw eventually puts the baton into Astaire's hand, who. however, loads the orchestra by dancing. A selection of shorter items includes a newsreel, a cartoon and another popular community singing film. Howard Moody will present some Fred Astaire melodies on the Civic grand organ.

Regent Theatre. —Making her ninth screen appearance, the vivacious .Canadian actress Doanna Durbin lias her most mature role to date in Universal'g entertaining comedy ''.Nice GirlP" which will begin a sea von at the Regent 'I iieaire to-day. J a spite of the fact that she is rapidly growing up, she retains all the youthful charm that won her a host, of admirers when she made her debit in "Throe Smart .Girls'' over lour years ago. "Nice Girl?" is produced by ,Joe Pasternak, who first sot the young actress on the road to success. The story relates the romantic escapades of Jane Dana, the daughter oi a small-town scientist, who becomes, imbued with an impulse to kick over the traces. When she returns o'no morning at dawn from a visit to a young scientist, the .iorn on her motor-car jams and attracts .horrified neighbours to their windows. .Jane- immediately becomes the centre of gossip and scandal. The supporting players include Franchot Tone, Robert Bench ley, Robert Stack, Helen Broderick and little Ann Gillis, seen with Tommy Kelly in •'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,-" whose performance is one of the highlights of the film. Also outstanding is Walter Brennan in the role, of a postman. Deanna Durbin is hear.] in several songs, both old and new, including

"Beneath the .Lights of Home." "Perhaps," "Love at Last," "Thank You, America" and Stephen Foster's imperishable "Old Folks at Home," A real treat is her singing, of "There'll Always .lie An England" in the final scene. A feature of the associate programme is a "March of Tine" entitled "Australia at War."

Embassy Theatre. —True to the spirit of Margaret Mitchell's famous novel, David (). Selznick's technicolour screen production of "Gone With the Wind." which is now showing at the Embassy Theatre, captures the desolation and misery brought about by the American Civil War. The main character against this panorama is Scarlett O'Hara. a pretty coquette to whom the war brings depletion of lands, money and friends, and who afterward becomes a woman of cold and selfish resolution, determined to succeed even at the expense of others. This difficult role is vividly arid emotionally portrayed by Vivien Leigh, who until wFccntly was a littleknown British actress. Clark Gable matches her in his great performance as the rough, cruel and shrewd Rhett Butler, hut whose heart could bo tinusuallv faithful and tender. Lovely Olivia" do Havilland is brilliant as the noble and sweet Melanie, who appears even more selfless when contrasted with the two chief characters. Good performances are also given by Leslie Howard as the highminded Ashley Wilkes, and Hattie McDaniel as the faithful negrcss servant. The phenomenal length of the film has done justice to the extremely long and wide yread novel. Photography, especially the arresting and impelling colouring, and technical parts of the production are excellent and offset to advantage the fine acting of the players. Rows of mutilated and wounded men lying upon the ground outside the station at Atlanta without sufficient doctors, and other necessities is a vividly presented scene. The picture won 10 Academy awards. Oxford and Avon Theatres. —Filmed in the tradition of Alexandre Dumas famous novel, Edward Smalls The Son of Monte Cristo" will open a season at the Oxford and Avon Theatres today. Directed by Rowland V. Lee, the picture combines mystery, drama and romance against a nineteenth century Continental background. The plot unfolds in the mythical ducal principality of Lichtenburg, between the Russia of the Tsar and the Germany of Bismarck. Louis Hay ward appears in the title role, while Joan Bennett is seen as a grand duchess, held captive by a villainous dictator, portrayed by George Sanders WTion the grand duchess Zona decides that it is time she used her influence to overthrow the rule of the scrupulous dictator, she inadvertently enlists the aid of the son of the Count of Monte Cristo, a fabulously wealthy banker, who is struck by her charm and beauty. Cristo conceals his identity when ho joins the conspirators and becomes one of the most daring enemies of the Lichtenburg dictator. He climbs up chimneys, down sewers, fights several duels with" his sword, pretends to be a fop at certain times, and becomes a romantic man of action at others. Drama never flags, and the naivete of the proceedings keeps the audience constantlv entertained. Florence Bates, Lionel Rovce and Montagu Lore are included in the cast.

Strand Theatre.—England's- popular entertainer George Form by appears as a war reserve policeman with ambitions to become a member of the Flying Squad in Associated Talking Pictures' amusing film "Call a Cop, ' which will continue its Auckland season to-day at the Strand Theatre. .His chances of promotion are seriously jeopardised when, drugged by an unscrupulous rival, he runs amok in a motor-cycling test and careers over springboard jumps, through hoops and into blazing buildings with the Chief of Police seated on the handlebars. He earns more displeasure when he a couple of desperate saboteurs for plainclothes detectives and helps them in a plot to destroy one of Britain's latest battleships as 'it is wearing completion. The film is interspersed with a number of Formby's catchy songs, including "Ukelele Man," "On the Beat." "Back on the Farm" and "I'm Shy." Dorothy Hvson has the principal feminine role. "Britain's R.A.F.," one of R.K.O. Radio's "March of Time" series heads the associate programme.