AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 24

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE Shirley Temple, who has the leading role in “The Littlest Rebel” which is showing to-day in continuation o£ its season at the State Theatre, has the greatest opportunity to date of displaying her dramatic talents. Ag the tiny Confederate who dances and sings her way into the hearts of both parties in the American Civi War. Shirley Temple appears with a sterling supporting cast that includes John Boles, Jack Holt, Ivaien Morley, and Bill Robinson. The story ot the picture, adapted from the ever-popu-lar play, has many strong dramatic moments, and it is in these scenes that America’s favourite child actress demonstrates genuine dramatic ability. I'or the rest, Shirley Temple is her usual, bubbling, happy self, with song surprises and dance innovations performed with her old friend Bill Robinson. In this picture Robinson is cast as Shirley’s faithful servitor. Several sequences arc devoted to the intricate new dance routines worked out by this popular team. Approximately 500 horsemen are in “ The Littlest Rebel, presenting detachments of Union and Confederate cavalry. Most of them have had military experience, and their riding is a feature of the film. They are commanded by two of the most accomplished horsemen in motion pictures, John Boles, who plays the male lead as a captain of Confederate cavalry, and Jack Holt, as the commanding officer of a Union troop advancing into the south. Ihe supporting programme is an excellent one, ana fullv maintains the high standard set by “ The Littlest Rebel.” The box plans are at the theatre and Bcgg’s.

REGENT THEATRE Leave all your old notions about ghoste at home when you go to the Regent Theatre this week. For the- spook who walks the ficreen in The Ghost Goes West,” Alexander Korda’s gay new romantic comedy, which will open there to-day, is unlike any screen ghost you ever saw. He’s handsome, he’s charming, and he has a decided way with the lassies. Robert Donat is seen both as Donald Gloune, an impoverished young Scottish laird, who ie forced to sell bis haunted ancestral castle to an American millionaire, and also as the personable “shade” who strolls the castle halls. The story takes an hilarious turn when the millionaire, played by Eugene Pallette, dismantles and transports the castle to America and the ghost goes along. When the “ shade ot his ancestor begins walking the transatlantic liner his marked resemblance to Donald gets the latter into some sidesplitting entanglements. But when his sweetheart, Peggy, played by Pean Parker, starts mistaking the ghost for him, Donald realises the time for action has come. A typical scene is the one in which the ghost, whom the millionaire has decided to exploit in advertising his line of iood products, arrives in America and is given an official reception and a police-escorted ride up Fifth avenue. Complications develop when the spook, frightened by his strange new environment, and Donald is called upon to “ double tor him at the grand reception the millionaire has planned in the ludicrously restored and modernised castle to introduce his famous ghost to the pressmen. the Ghost Goes West ” marks the first English-speaking production to be directed by the famous French director, Rene Clair. Jean Parker is charming, while Kugcne Pallette is splendid as the Amencan mi.lionaire. All members of the cast give outstanding performances, especially Melton Selten as Old Glourie and Hay Petrie as the MacLaggan. The supporting programme is varied and interesting, and includes the second of the Lindbergh Trail series, “Over the Spanish Main, “Wharves and Strays,” an interesting study of a waif dog round the wharves of London, the Regent Review of World Events, and Walt Disney’s latest Silly Symphony in colour, “Who Killed Cock Robin,” which introduces some of Hollywood’s most notable stare. Plans are at the D.I.C. and theatre.

ST. JAMES THEATRE Featuring popular Margaret Sullavan, the star who is credited with haying never appeared in a bad picture, “Next Time Wc Live” is the bright, romantic drama which will ooen at the St. James Theatre this afternoon. The story of two young people whose careers keep them apart lor the greater part of their married life is the basis of the film. The couple concerned see little of each other, first because they devote much time to their individual work and later because they are in different quarters of the globe. Chris Tyler is drawing only a moderate salary when he marries a girl named Cicely. His friend Abbott, also in love with her, keeps his affection secret, but he helps the pair’s finances by obtaining for Cicely a role in a musical comedy, production. Her success spurs on Chris to greater efforts, and he is rewarded with the post of foreign correspondent with his newspaper. The long separation inevitably causes the pair to become estranged, but the story concludes on a dramatic but pleasing note. The cast includes, besides Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, who has appeared in Rose Marie,” Ray Milland, remembered for his work in “The Gilded Lily ” and I’our Honrs to Kill,” Grant Mitchell, with more than 200 screen successes to his credit, Anna Demetrio, and Florence Roberts The supporting programme is a - varied one, and includes a delightful musical revue, “ Carnival Time,’ Three Lazy Mice,” coloured cartoon, and the latest Universal International newsreel. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and Jacobs s.

OCTAGON THEATRE Comedy of an exceedingly diverting type is provided in “ The Charm School, which heads the new double-feature programme now being shown at the Octagon Theatre. In this production Jack Oakie, Ned Sparks, and Joe Fenner are associated in a delightful riot of nonsense, which takes place in a seminary for young ladies. Jerry Craig (Jack Oakie) is bequeathed the Sevan Seminary for Young Ladies by his aunt. The conditions of the will provide that he must run the school at a profit for 12 months. The old order changes at Sevan Seminary when Mess is Oakie, Sparks, and Fenner arrive. They decide to concentrate on charm, and dancing and singing become an important part of” the school curriculum. This provides an excuse for some good ballet numbers and a song by Jerry’s secretary (Frances Langford). The school attendance improves, and money begins to pour in. In the meantime the hapless Joe Fennel, who anoears as a curious individual who cannot' be sure of his own identity, is persuaded by an inebriated reveller that be (Joe) is none other than Ihomaß * l. Bloodgood, “ the millionaire Australian nnln Siwr” As a result he helps to the BlocSmi nl . r Plws «tnrv sweeps on to &n iiilJiri nus climax in which all the worries o the owners’ of the school are smoothed the owners 01 . on the proford's tero, D ”nopalong h.s Im’dn' tS S principal role The box Xm arc “ the theatre and at Begg s.

GRAND THEATRE

Bert Wheeler aryl Robert Woolsey are again associated in a riot of nonsense, enf i <( fn in Uainmakers, which heads the On this occasion their comedy is seasoned with more than a modicum of excitement, which helps to keep the producUou moviionrr at a merry pace. -Die tno comedians are seen as a pair of professional rainmakers, whose activities m are not crowned with any notable Success when a dust-storm appears •t an awkward moment during their lour is needed by the residents, however, and Wheeler and Woolsey give an assurance that they will bring all the rain that is needed. A crowd is one of the punclpaf ingredients in the, demonstration and the two rainmakers, in an endeavour to attract the required multitude, even go to (he length of offering free beer and sandwiches, but without avail—no one turns up. Then they hit upon the idea of having a big tram smash on the site of their demonstration, and to this end commandeer two locomotives which thev are quite unable to control. After a hilarious scries of events the desired col-

lision is achieved, and the crowd duly appears. The resultant demonstration of rainmaking exceeds even the performers' wildest hopes, and a torrential downpour develops into a devastating thunderstorm. The second picture on the programme is an entertaining Western story entitled “ Powder Smoke Range,” featuring Hoot Gibson ami other popular players of outdoor roles. There is plenty of fast action, suspense, and excitement, which rise to an excellent climax. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg s.

empire theatre Adventure and romance, drama and comedy, are blended in “ Whipsaw,” which brings Mvrna Loy with Spencer Tracy as her co-star. The picture will open a season to-day at the Empire Theatre. Seldom has Hollywood given theatregoers a more happily-mated team of stars than Miss Loy and Tracy. The latter has a role in which his delightful brand of egotism and bombast is tempered entirely human romance. “Whipsaw is a story of “angles.” Not only does the locale shift with lightning rapidity from London to New Vork and thence thioughout in an v mid-western cities, but the mood and the direction of the story shift almost as rapidly. The plot concerns itself with smuggled jewels, which Miss ; .,oy, as a member of an international ring of jewel thieves, is presumed to have in her possession. Tracy is a secret service man who attempts to trap her through romantic intrigue. He manoeuvres her into a situation in which she must pass as his wife, and the story moves swiftly through a train of events which keeps excitement and suspense at fever height. An excellent supporting cast appears with the stars. It includes Harvey Stephens, William Harrigan, Robert Warwick, Irene Franklin, Lilian Leighton, Wade Boteler, and Clay Clement. John Qualen is a new personality who scores a personal triumph as a bewildered Missouri farmer. William Ingcrsoll turns in an excellent performance as a country doctor. The very latest in sound equipment, the Western Electric super wide-range system, has been installed, which ensures perfect reproduction to every seat in the theatre. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

STRAND THEATRE The delicate illusion of youth has been admirably captured by the unusual film “Eight Girls in a Boat?” which will commence a season at the Strand Theatre to-day. This romance, produced in Hollywood by Charles R. Rogers, . for Paramount, has for its leading playfers Dorothy Wilson, Douglass Montgomery, Kay Johnson, and Barbara Barondees. In addition there are eight beautiful. girls, winners of beauty contests held .in eight cities throughout America, “ Eight Girls «n a Boat ” is a delightful and refreshing etory of youth—youth caught in the meshes of ignorance of life. The girl is in trouble, and there starts an amazing story that probes into the very minds of schoolgirls and shows what they think; that takes you into their secrets, their emotions: that shows you their hates and their deceits, their perfections and their, flaws. Richard Wallace has directed. with the necessary restraint to make this an outstanding photoplay.. The second picture on the programme is “Square Shooter, a Western film starring Tim M'Coy. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre.

, MAYFAIR THEATRE Magnificent as a spectacle and powerful in its dramatic sequences.; “ The Last Days of Pompeii,” which is now being shown at the Mayfair Theatre, is an ambitious production. It is a story of an historic Roman city at the height of its power and splendour. The scenic highlights of the film is the eruption of Vesuvius, which brings about the city s destruction. Fear-maddened mobs, caught between toppling walls and rivers of molten rock make a spectacle which, for magnitude, can have few equals on the screen. The tale is about one, Marcus, an embittered young blacksmith, who becomes a professional gladiator after t.ie deaths of his wife and child. He engages recklessly in any deal, from slave trading to horse thieving, provided it pays. At the end of 20 years, rich, powerful, popular with the mob, he is master of the arena, director of the spectacles which cost the lives of thousands to amuse the multitudes. His only interest is his adopted son, whom he hopes to make a leader in the empire. Then, because of the boy’s defiance of the Roman law, the father finds himself in . a position where his power and wealth, instead of raising his son to leadership, condemn him to death. The terrible eruption of Vesuvius brings the etory to an impressive climax. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

DOUBLE-FEATURE PROGRAMME. With Katharine Hepburn as the fiei? gipsy girl, Babbie, central figur® ,®} r Janice M. Barrie’s romance, r The Little Minister,” will come to the screen ot the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow with “Pursuit" as the star’s proudest contribution toward her record of successes. Mies Hepburn has never had. a finer role than Babbie, nor taken part in a lovelier screen romance than that with Gavin, tne shy little minister of the tiny Scottish town of Thrums immortalised by Barrie. The able and popular John Beal is seen ns the little minister himself, and others in the carefully-chosen cast arq Alan Hale, Frank Conroy, Donald Crisp, Reginald Denny. Beryl Mercer, Dorothy Stickney, Lumsden Hare, and Andy Clyde. Chester Morris and Sally Eilers come ae a romantic team in a new type of comedy romance in “ Pursuit.” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s whimsical adventure in romance on the highways and byways. The picture is a delightful combination of romance and thrills, high comedy and adventure, when a young couple attempt to smuggle a child out of the State by motor to avoid a guardianship suit.