ENTERTAINMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24050, 22 August 1941, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

Century Theatre.—Comedy, mystery and romance are blended in the swiftlypaced story unfolded in the new Hal Roach production "Topper Heturns," which continues to delight audiences at the Century Theatre. J.his latest Topper picture is based on an original .story by Jonathan Latimer and includes all the well-known characters created by the late Tliorne Smith. I'he story concerns the invsterious death ot Gail Kichards. (<ail lias the power to mat"'lialise and disappear at will, and, n he:) she forces Cosmo Topper to accompany her to the scene of the (•rime, hilarious situations arise. Gail haunts the Carrington mansion, a gloomy old place abounding in secret trapdoors, chairs that tip up on the slightest movement, and sliding panels, but not in the approved lashioti ot ohosts. She has a peculiar weakness for champagne and practical jokes and gets Topper into awkward situations. W hen Topper is suspected of her murder, however. Gail gallantly comes to his rescue and unmasks the murderer. Roland Young appears at the head of a strong cast as the browbeaten Cosmo Topper, and Millie Burke is cast as his artless wife, the two roles in which they appeared in "Topper" and "Topper Takes a Trip." Carole Landis, who appeared in "Turnabout" and "Roadshow." has the romantic feminine load of Ann Carrington, and opposite her is Dennis O'Keofe, who is cast as a taxicab driver, .loan Blondell gives a splendid performance as the lovely spirit that haunts Cosmo Topper. Much of the humour in the film is provided by Eddie Anderson. Jack Benney's famous Rochester. who displays a healthy dislike of ghosts even although his master. Cosmo, displays a fascination for spirits, especially the ghost of Gail Richards.

Strand Theatre. —Portraying with remarkable fidelity the life story of Julius Renter, founder and originator of the first world-wide news gathering and news disseminating system, Warner Brothers' "A Despatch From Reuters" will continue a season at the Strand Theatre to-day. Edward G. Robinson. whose performance in "Dr. Ehrlieli's Magic Mullet" won him worldwide acclaim, is cast as Renter, while Edna Best portrays his wile. Ihe story begins back in the early I','tli century in Germany, where a young lad named Router is working in a bank as a messenger boy. He dreams of expediting the delivery of news and later establishes a pigeon post, suffering ridicule, abuse and financial difficulties like all dreamers until 110 finally emerges as the great Renter, whose name became a byword. While the young man was developing bis unique transmission system, the communications field was being revolutionised by the telegraph and so Renter launched his plan for a large-scale news service—a scheme that was to bring him fame. The feature of the film is the speedy despatch of an important speech by Eoui.s Napoleon on the specially-leased Paris-Lon-don wire, a feat of news transmission that brought Renter the- previously withheld patronage of the great Delany, of the Times. It was on this occasion that the famous phrase "According to a despatch from Reuters" was used for the first time. A strong supporting east is headed by Eddie Albert, whose insouciant charm in the role of Renter's associate injects a bright note of gaiety into the story. Others in the cast include Albert Masserman, 70-year-old actor, and Gene Lockhart, who contributes one of his most realistic performances as a conniving hanker.

Plaza Theatre.—The hilarious circumstances which attend the unusual marriage of a South American mineowner. Tico Collins, and his young wife, formerly Ann Winters, form the main theme of Columbia's screen adaptation of the play by Kdwin Burke, ' This Thing Called Love." which now enters the second week of its season at the Plaza Theatre. Melvvn Douglas and Rosalind Russell are the man and wife of the piece. Mrs. Collins has her own peculiar ideas 011 the marriage question, and her husband chooses the most unfortunate methods of making her see it bis way, with dire results. His matrimonial affairs take up so much of Collins' time that his interest in mining projects wanes, causing much concern to liis associate. Harry Bertrand, portrayed by Allyn .loslyn, Bertrand, in an effort to interest a South American millionaire in the mine, persuades Tico to invite him for the week-end. From a business point of view the visit is a huge success, Mrs. Collins entering into the spirit of the gatne. for the good ot her husband's mine, and the millionaire is well pleased. Fortunately, however. he is forced to cut his vacation short, and in the end the pair are no nearer to solving their problem than before Sophisticated comedy pervades the whole production, which, after many misunderstandings and misinterpretations, results in a happv union. A strong leminine loading cast includes, besides Rosalind Russell. Binnie Barnes and (Jloria Dickson. A prominent part is taken bv l.oe .1 Colih as the millionaire.

St. James' Theatre.—Playing her first adult role, into which is infused nil the lite and vitality of her earlier juvenile parts, Judy Garland heads the cast of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer's screen presentation of the George M, Cohan musical "Little Nellie Kelly," which still attracts large and appreciative audiences to St. James' Theatre. In this sentimental Irish-American production. Miss Garland adds to the fame she achieved in "The Wizard Of ()/..' "Strike Up The Band'' and "Babes In Arms." She enacts the dual roles ol Nellie Noonan. who. marrying against the wish of her father, dies when hei daughter is horn, and ol Nellie Kelly the daughter When Nellie Noonan marries, her lather resolves never again to -peak to her husband The whole family travels to America, where Jerry joins the police force, and. although all are living under the same roof, he stands by his resolve. Both the mother and the daughter are dominated by the selfishness of the stubborn old Irishman. Eventually, however, the untiring efforts of Little Nellie Kelly prevail, the picture concluding in a happy vein. Among the many songs introduced are "It's a Great Oav for the Irish." "Singin' in the I? a in." "Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" and "Nellie Kelly 1 Love You." Heading Ihe strong supporting cast are George Murphy as Jerry Kelly and Charles Winninger as old man Noonan The director was Norman Taurog. who made ' Boys Town " Oxford and Avon Theatres.—All the impelling beauty and dignity of Charles Bonner's novel "Lagncv." from which it is adapted, are embodied in Columbia's dramatic' (ilm "Adam Had Four Sons," which will head the doublefeature programme at the Oxford and Avon Theatres to-day. A strong lead ing cast features Warner Baxter and Ingrid Bergman. Susan Hay ward, a comparative newcomer to the screen, gives a good account ol herself in the dramatic role she is called upon to play The story deals with Emilie. portrayed bv Miss Bergman, a talented young foreign governess who in her own fpiiet way helps Warner Baxter in bis '2O- - struggle to bring up four motherless sons. All the family's troubles, domestic, romantic and otherwise. are capably dealt with by Emilie as they occur, a moving story being presented. Others in the cast are Kay Wrav, Helen West ley, Richard Denning and Johnny Downs. The associate feature is "Escape To Glory," also a Columbia production, in which Constance Bennett and Pat O'Brien have the lead. A stirring narrative has to do with a cosmopolitan group of Americans returning home when war threatens in Europe, and who are attacked in mid-Atlantic by a submarine shortly after the declaration._ Moments of suspense and romantic incidents are admirably blended to make this one of the greatest action dramas of recent times.