AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22779, 15 January 1936, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE She Married Her Boss,” which, with Claudette Colbert at the head of the cast, is the current attraction at the Empire Theatre, tells its story in its title. She was an efficient secretary —so efficient that when she wanted to leave the firm the boss proposed to her and followed it up by eloping with her in the same halfhour, in order to keep her “within reach.” But her decision to become a woman and to let office life drop creates something of a business upheaval. Much more momentous, however, is the upheaval created in her husband’s tradition-bound home, where his hypochondrical sister, havin'? turned his little child by a former marriage from an imaginative little girl into a lying and spiteful fiend, has made the place an abode of dislikes, jealousies, petty thefts and suspicions. Claudette has a high old time reforming not only her “dumb-bell” husband —as his own chil&so aptly puts it—but in bringing life and colour back to the mansion and into the cheeks of those who inhabit it. In a rather elemental climax she imagines that the signs of her success are signals of failure, and promptly goes “on the loose.” “ Hubby ”is forced to realise his share in the failure of the romance, and proceeds to do not a little “busting on his own account, with totally unlocked for, but most felicitous, results. There are excellent supports. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. -

“BROADWAY MELODY OF 1936.”

“ Broadway Melody of 1936,” wdiich will be shown at the Empire for its Dunedin season, commencing with a midnight matinee to-morrow, is said to be unlike the first “ Broadway Melody,” and also different from any other musical comedy. A new leading lady, Miss Eleanor Powell, makes her debut in this film. She is an actress of charm and personality, added to which she is rated as the world s greatest tap dancer. Writing of this film a critic said: “Perhaps the most impressive feature of the productioh is the subtle and novel manner in which the various dances and songs are introduced. Each one comes as worth-while embellishment of the central story. Nothing is obviously staged or thrust upon the audience, and the various musical scenes sparkle through the piece as gems of entertainment. A talented cast of artists interprets the principal roles. The comedy is largely in the capable hands of Jack Benny, noted American radio entertainer. As a newspaper columnist who achieves success through notoriety, he is vastly amusing, and he is well supported by Una Merkel, Sid Silvers, Robert Taylor, and June Knight.” ST. JAMES THEATRE

Humour and romance are skilfully blended in “One New York Night,”which is now being shown at the St. James Theatre. Murder mystery played in the vein of comedy has proved very successful on previous occasions, notably in “The Thin Man.” and “One New York Night” has exactly the same qualities to ensure its popularity. The story deals with the adventures of a wealthy ranch owner from Wyoming, who goes to New York in search of a wife, hie one stipulation being that she must be a brunette. How the ranch owner becomes involved in a murder case, a hunt for a lady s braclet, and several fights forms an exciting and diverting series of episodes. Finally, he stumbles on the solution to the crime and departs for Wyoming, taking with him not a brunette, but a blonde. Franchot Tone has never been better than he is as the well-to-do cattle owner. Hie portrayal of an intensely serious young man who prefers to act first and think afterwards is real’y brilliant, and the dry, naive nature of his remarks causes hearty laughter. Una Merkel gives excellent support as the telephone operator at the hotel in which the action of the plot takes place. Her air of pathetic helplessness, which is a direct contrast to her shrewd capability, provides an effective foil to the complacency of Mr Tone. There is an unusually entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs e, M Craeken and Walls’s, and the D.I.C. " SPECIAL AGENT.” That there is always something new in motion pictures has again been proved by Warner Pros., w-hose special features based on the workings of various governmental departments have been features ol the entertainment . world for the past year. It was this company that filmed the “ G Men ” the first time the operatives of the Department of Justice were made the subject of dramatisation. Now Warner Bros, have made another picture, “ Special Agent.” which opens at the St. James Theatre on Friday. The work of these agents is revealed in a motion picture said to be as gripping and dramatic as “ G Men,” to which has been added a stirring romance between Bette Davis and George Brent. Brent in tho role of a newspaper reporter falls in love with Miss Davis, who plays the part of the confidential secretary of a supercrook, and between them they finally get the evidence which lands the “ killers ” behind prison bar’s. The girl, trying to help the Government, is in deadly fear of her life, which she knows will be forfeited if the criminals find her out. Ricardo Cortez is the villain, and others in the cast are Henry O’Neill, Joseph Crehan, Jack Laßue, Robert Strange, J. Carroll Naisli, Joseph Sauers and William Davidson. REGENT THEATRE One of the funniest films to emerge from England is “ Boys Will Be Boys,” starring that brilliant comedian, Will Hay, which is now at tho Regent Theatre. It achieves this distinction partly through the performance of Hay and his excellent supporting cast, and partly through the story based on “ Beachcomber’s ” famous skits on English public school life at Narkover. Will Hay is absolutely in his element as Dr Alex Smart, the bewildered headmaster of a school where all the boys are embryo crooks. His dubious grimaces, his muttered admonitions, his embarrassed gestures —all make him the living conception of “ Beachcomber’s ” famous character. _ When ho arrives at the school to which he has been appointed on a reference “ faked " by an ex-convict, Brown, lie is welcomed by the boys in truly hilarious fashion—with a bomb, a ride on a carpet behind his taxi, and a merry toss in a blanket. But the film is only beginning, and before long Dr Smart is soon hopelessly involved in attempting to prevent his young charges from exercising their pilfering talents upon any subjects who unwarily come their way. The real crisis develops when a valuable necklace is stolen and secreted in a football on the eve of a match between the School and the Old Boys. The climax is one of the most riotous seen in comedies for some time. Claude Dampier, Gordon Harker, Jimmy Hanley, and Nonna Varden are prominent in the supporting cast. There is an interesting programme of short films, which includes a coloured cartoon. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. “THE CRUSADES.” No name in British history has more romantic significance than that of King Richard I, whose courage and prowess as a fighter won him the title of ‘ the Lion-hearted.” According to popular traclition he was the embodiment of all the manly virtues. This is tho character round whom is centred the filin' The Crusades,” which will start on Friday at the Regent Theatre. The director may have taken liberties with history, but he is said to have presented Richard the Lion Heart as everyone must have liked to imagine him —strong in body, fearless noble, and chivalrous in mind. The part which Richard played in leading the hosts or Christendom in the Third Crusade against the followers of Mohammed, and the romance of the English king wita Berengaria, princess of Navarre, make a film story which is said be spectacular, exciting, and human. The young British actor, Henry Wilcoxon, who takes the role of Richard of England, has the necessary physique, and his acting ability is eueb that be suggests the character of a man who is idolised by his countrymen and respected by bis foes. Loretta Young plays the part of Berengaria. lan Keith is cast as Saladin, Sultan of Islam. History seems to show that Saladin was, in inanv wavs, a finer character than several of the Christian kings who opposed him, and his nobility, tolerance, and generosity is, in the film, effectively contrasted with the petty bickerings and jealousies that often threatened to shatter the unity ol the Crusaders. Every other character in the very long cast has been filled with

care. On the spectacular side, “The Crusades ” is claimed to beggar description, for in this department ot film-making Da Mille is the acknowledged master of all other directors. The scenes of the armoured hosts of Christendom assembling, of the night attack on Acre, and of a cavalry charge before Jerusalem are worthy of being numbered among the greatest moments of the screen. STATE THEATRE Excitement, wit, good photography, and distinguished acting are the qualities of ‘•'The 39 Steps,” which is now being shown at the State Theatre. This is a Gaumont-British production of outstanding merit; there is surely no one who could come away from it feeling disappointed in its entertainment value. It is not a particularly close version of John Buchan’s well-known novel, “The 39 Steps,” but it is a very successful film adaptation of that exciting story. The dialogue prepared for the film by lan Hay is sufficient, witty, and consistently suitable — and therefore natural —for each character The acting of the leading parts is splendid. Robert Donat as Richard Hannay is quite as good as he was in “ The Count of Monte Cristo ” and his new part is much less grim than that of the count. As the suspected murderer and as the amateur detective he proves that he can be stern or swift or cunning according to the circumstances. Madeleine Carroll, as Pamela, the girl in the train, the informer and later the accomplice, is as sudden and as persistent as the hero. Lucy Mannheim is desperate, keen, frightening, and beautiful as the pursued agent who is murdered. The Highland crofter and his wife who gave Hannay uneasy shelter for part of one night can well be believed as they* are portrayed by John Laurie and Peggy Aschcroft. Godfrey Tearle, the sinister man with the short finger, plays an important part well. The supporting pictures are of a high standard. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’e. OCTAGON THEATRE The chief attraction at the Octagon Theatre this week, “ The Virginia Judge,” provides Walter G. Kelly with an excellent opportunity to display his ability as a character actor, and the result is that the entertainment provided is of a very high standard. The story tells of a kindly old country judge, who is called upon to rescue his stepson, who despises the old man for not allowing him the money he desires, from a serious position arising out of a motor accident and a shooting affray! The story is extremely interesting, and the parts are well enacted. Exciting action is the keynote of the supporting film, “Two-fisted,” which features Spencer Tracy in the leading role. The box plans are at the theatre, Begg’s, and M'Cracken and Walls’s. STRAND THEATRE An exciting story is told in “Men Without Names,” which is now showing at the Strand Theatre. The film deals with the activities of the agents of the Department of Justice in the United States, men who have been responsible for the successes which have been achieved in the war against American crime. The particular agent with whom the film is concerned is charged with the responsibility of tracking down a gang who have been responsible for a series of truck robberies. In the course of his hunt he is brought into contact with a young newspaper woman and a romance develops between them. Eventually after a series of thrilling situations the gangsters are brought to book, and the picture ends on a happy note. In the other film on the programme, “In Spite of Danger l ,” Wallace Ford and Marian Marsh are the featured players in a story of the racing track. The box plan s for the season will be found at the theatre and the D.I.CX DOUBLE-FEATURED PROGRAMME. Mignon G. Eberhart’s “ While the Patient Slept ” will have its local premiere at the Strand Theatre on Friday. Thrill upon thrill, horror upon horror, mystery upon mystery, are said to follow in rapid succession as the plot unfolds. But, in addition, there are so many ridiculous situations, so much subtle humour, and so much action that the comedy almost overbalances the drama. Guy Kibbee has the role of a small town detective, as bungling in his professional activities as he is in the wooing of acrimonious Miss MacMahon. But, for the first time in many a picture, he finally wins the lady. The second attraction on the programme is “Mr What’s His Name,” starring the ever-popular Selmour Hicks, with a host of well-known English players in support. Sir Seymour Hicks in this picture plays the role of a millionaire sauce manufacturer who loses his memory, He secures a job with a ladies’ hairdressing firm, and here and there are many scenes in typical Micks style, his manner with the ladies always being a strong feature of this popular comedy actor. The cast includes Garry Marsh, Olive Blakeney, Enid Stamp Taylor, and Martita Hunt. A special attraction to boxing fans will be a film record of the Max Baer-Joe Louis fight, which -mused a sensation some mouths ago. The whole fight is screened, the running time of the film being about half an hour.

GRAND THEATRE When Shirley Temple caused so great a stir it was only to be expected that other child stars would be acclaimed. Jane Withers, who has the mam part in “ Ginger,” which opens at the Grand Theatre to-day, follows directly in the way blazed by the other child. However, she has not been held up as another Shirley Temple, for she is no imitation, and while she may appeal in the same way, her methods are different. Jane js almost a girl Jackie Coogan. She is naturally a little urchin, while Shirley Temple, in spite of her mischief, is always “ nice.” and uses more extraneous means, like singing and dancing to attract attention. These children would not be able to act successfully similar roles. This film is set first amid the poverty of New York slums. There Ginger lives—an irrepressible, insolent, aggressive child, who breaks shop windows, obstructs policemen, and plays truant from school. Her guardian is a broken-down actor, who speaks the language of Shakespeare’s plays, knowing it so well that he always finds from the great writings some line which will express his thoughts. Changed circumstances move Ginger into a new home. She i a under the guardianship of a woman to whom she is a kind of guineapig—a subject for experimentation. The manner in which Ginger changes the routine of her new home provides excellent comedy. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. MAYFAIR THEATRE “ Kid Millions.” Eddie Cantor’s fifth annual screen musical extravaganza for Samuel Goldwyn, will commence a season at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. As a boy Cinderella of the Brooklyn waterfront who becomes the heir to a fortune in buried treasure in the land of the Pyramids, the well-known comedian is said to be at hiti best. Ann Sothern, Ethel Merman, Block and Sully, George Murphy and the latest group of Goldwyn Girls prance along the Nile -with Eddie in this tuneful tale of adventure in the harem of the Sheik and the tombs of his fathers. The story and dialogue were written by Arthur Sheekraan, Nat Perrin and Nunnally Johnson, while Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn, Burton Lane and Harold Adamson contributed the tuneful song numbers. “Mandy,” the Irving Berlin hit which Eddie Cantor originally introduced in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1919, is revived in one of the elaborate song and girl numbers staged aboard the liner en route to Egypt. Roy Del Ruth directed the film, and the dances and ensembles were under the direction of Seymour Felix. The elaborate “ ice cream fantasy/’ a poor boy’s dream come true in which Eddie, the millionaire, open’s a free ice cream factory for boys and girls, is filmed entirely in teohnicolour. The box plans are at the D.I.C.