AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

STRAND THEATRE Seal poachers versus the United States coastguard forms the story of the film, “The Sea Spoilers,” which is now at the Strand Theatre. Besides these refreshing elements of story, theme, and background, “ The Sea Spoilers” offers John Wayne in his first starring role under the Universal banner. The breaking up of a relentless ring of seal poachers, on the world-famous seal rookeries of Pribiloff Islands, is the central theme of the story. While John Wayne, as commander of a coastguard cutter, is chasing the poachers his sweetheart, played by Nan Grey, is kidnapped and held hostage by the gang. John Wayne faces tests of courage and wins promotion through his thrilling exploits. The final struggle to capture the stronghold of the poachers is set to the exciting tempo of a pitched battle. The associate feature is “ I’ll Lovt “i ou Always.” in which Nancy Carroll and George Murphy have the leading roles. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STATE THEATRE The delightful little girl, Shirley Temple, gives some of her best entertainment in “ Dimples,” in which she ; is now appearing at the State Theatre. Shirley and her guardian, Frank Morgan, are struggling street minstrels in this film, and their happiness is always in danger because of Morgan’s habit of stealing anything lying about, usually in people's pockets. “ Dimples, however, is his guardian angel, and they bring their story to a satisfactory conclusion. Films of the Coronation are also being shown. The plans, are at the theatre and Begg’s. REGENT THEATRE Miriam Hopkins appears in her first English film in “Men Are Not Gods.” which is at present being screened at the Regent Theatre. The story of the film is closely bound up with the plot of Shakespeare's “ Othello.” though the story is of the present day, and the case that of woman’s jealousy rather than a man’s, though jealousy may be rather a hard word for a woman’s natural reaction when she discovers that her husband is turning from her to another woman. Miriam Hopkins acts the part of Anne, a dramatic critic’s secretary, who, to save an actor and his wife from ruin, alters an adverse report on the first night of a performance of “ Othello.” By way of thanks she is invited to supper by the couple after the second performance has proved a triumphant success. Unfortunately, the secretary falls ■ m love with the actor, and on top of this, she is dismissed by her employer. In the role of the young actor who so rises to fame, Sebastian Shaw gives a telling performance, and in the fragments of “ Othello ” that are brought to the screen, he proves his worth as a Shakespearian actor. Gertrude Lawrence, in the role of his actress wife, again proves, as she did m her performance in “ Rembrandt, that she is one of the best actresses in English films to-day. In this story, she sees her husband becoming more infatuated everyday, and filially she goes to the girl and asks her to plead with whoever is stealing her husband from her to renounce .him. Miriam Hopkins overcomes her own love for the man, and writes to him. but in her letter is a phrase that suggests to him the idea of killing his wife in the murder scene in the play. Anne, with the idea of seeing him for the last time, witnesses the performance, and as the murder scene proceeds she senses that all is not as it should be, and at the crucial moment - prevents the tragedy taking place. In the dressing rooms behind the stage, the whole matter is cleared up. Husband and wife are reconciled, and Anne returns to her post, to try to forget all that has passed. There is an excellent supporting nrogramme, including an unusual I travelogue and a clever Walt Disney i Silly Svmphony, “ The Three Mouse- | keteers.” The box plans are at the I theatre and the D.I.C. “GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937 ” In a happy burst of song, dance, and laughter, the “Gold Diggers" will be with us again at the Regent Theatre on Friday in the 1937 edition of the famous screen show. The newlywedded couple. Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, are whirled gaily through story and sone. and as the stars of the film the appeal of their performances is again strong. A new and likeable young figure is Lee Dixon, whose carefree nature and brilliant tap-dancing are thoroughly enjoyable features of the show. Bright songs are introduced by Powell in his inimitable style.

“Speaking of the Weather” and “ Let’s Put Our Heads Together ” are among the most attractive. True to name, the film begins almost at once with the activities of “gold diggers." when a party of hungry chorus girls use their most innocent wiles on members of an insurance convention returning by train from Atlantic City. The methods they employ in “earning” their dinners provide hilarious entertainment. Powell himself is cast as a despairing insurance salesman. He comes near to throwing the job in until one day he dazedly “lands” a million-dollar policy with a pill-eating “ tired old man a theatrical producer, played by Victor Moore. He had taken out the policy at the insistence of his partners, not knowing that they planned to collect the money for themselves on the occasion of his apparently not-far-distant death. But while they keep him outside late and push him into a swimming pool, the insurance salesman is counteracting their efforts, as he does everything possible to restore the old man to youth and health in the interests of the insurance company. ST. JAMES THEATRE Two outstanding novelists, lan Hay and A. E. W. Mason, combined to write the highly amusing story _ which forms the basis of the entertaining romantic comedy, “The Widow from Monte Carlo,” which is now at the St. James Theatre. Produced by Warner j Bros., the film reveals the meticulous attention paid to detail and the skilful direction which have come to be regarded as the hall mark of pictures from these studios. At the same time, it has a lightness of touch and a delightful vivacity which provide very agreeable light entertainment. Dolores Del Rio’s fascinating South American beauty well suits the part of the warmhearted and somewhat unconventional character of the duchess who falls in love with a handsome military officer while engaged to an uninteresting foreign diplomat. Warren William gives his usual smooth and polished performance in the part of the debonair English major, and Colin Clive’s characterisation of the diplomat is at once most amusing and effective. By far the most humorous characterisations in the piece, however, are given by the inimitable English comedian Herbert Mundin and Louise Fazenda, whose portrayals of a marmalade manufacturer and his socially ambitious wife provide some of the funniest scenes of the film. Mundin’s meek and mild character, combined with his amusing facial expressions and his wife's unashamed attempts to blackmail the duchess, reach the highest levels of comedy. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s and the D.I.C. OCTAGON THEATRE Perhaps the most dramatic plot which has been conceived for a film of this nature is contained in “ Once a Doctor,” which heads the current programme at the Octagon Theatre. Dealing with the life of a young doctor, the picture concerns the choice he is called upon to make when he is confronted by two duties, one to his profession and the other to himself. Donald Woods is the principal actor, and he sets a particularly high standard in dramatic acting. Supporting him is the talented player Jean Muir, who appeared with success in “ Dr Monica.” The associate feature is a film entitled the “ King’s People,” which comprises a series of cuttings gleaned from the news reel libraries of the world. It deals with events in the Empire history during the last 30 odd years. There are a few glimpses of Queen Victoria, and from her reign the film carries the audience through those of the succeeding British Monarchs. The film naturally gains in detail as it proceeds, and the events of recent years are brilliantly described. The commentary was written by John Drinkwater. and interwoven with the body of the film a screening of discussions on Empire affairs with such celebrities as George Bernard Shaw, Sir Austen Chamberlain, and Lady Astor. The film is of special interest owing to its being screened so soon after the Coronation. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. GRAND THEATRE “Wild Brian Kent,” the first film on the programme at the Grand Theatre, is a picturisation of the Harold Bell Wright story of the modern West, where agriculture has replaced the old cattle ranges. The girl actress, Jane Withers, is the star of “The Holy Terror,” in which she certainly seems to live up to the title. Jane is a wild young scamp living at. a naval air base, and her activities in making trouble for someone provide a great deal of humour. Films of the Coronation are being shown in support. The plans are at Begg’s and the theatre.

“LAUGHING AT TROUBLE” Portraying the lusty, two-fisted battle of a woman newspaper editor against the forces of jealousy, conspiracy, and mob madness in a small town, “ Laughing at Trouble.” Twentieth CenturyFox’s alternately gripping and uproarious new film drama, will commence on Wednesday at the Grand Theatre. Jane Darwell, Sara Haden, Lois Wilson, Margaret Hamilton. Pert Kelton, and John Carradine are featured in the cast of this fast-moving story of mirth, murder, and mystery. Chuckles and grins vie with thrills and lumps in the throat as Jane Darwell, the forthright woman editor who bosses a whole town and makes them like it. pits her brains and courage against a murderer, matches her shrewdness against a lynch-crazed mob, and saves an innocent boy’s life. What may be expected to happen when a happily-married husband takes the advice of a love expert and starts a love affair just to keep his wife’s nervous system properly tuned by keeping her slightly jealous. is revealed in the associate feature, “Wives Never Know,” a comedy starring Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland. EMPIRE THEATRE One of the most delightful comedies to come to Dunedin for some time is “ Three Smart Girls,” which is now in its second week at the Empire Theatre. In the title roles are Nan Carey, Barbara Read, and Universal’s latest discovery, the silver-voiced Deanna Durbin. In the supporting cast are Charles Winninger, Binnie Barnes, and Alice Brady. The story is novel and entertaining, and concerns three girls and their estranged parents. The mother, who has the custody of the children, learns that her ex-husband is to marry an attractive woman half his age. So the girls conspire to act as shock troops to bring the parents together again after a fairly long separation. They come to New York with their governess, and startle their father out of his placid romance. They so entwine themselves about his heart that he has simply no room for this other affair, and the fortune huntress and her mother retire baffled from the scene. But the ways and means the three devise to bring about this happy result make one of the most delightfully humorous films seen in years, and the romantic entanglements of the two elder sisters, and the singing of Deanna Durbin, put the finishing touches to the production. There is an excellent programme of supports including some remarkable films of the Coronation which have been sent out from England by air mail. The box plans are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. “THE GORGEOUS HUSSY” Five distinguished actors of peculiarly contrasting characteristics, four of them as lovers, were required to impersonate the men who figured in the life of glamorous Peggy O'Neal in “ The Gorgeous Hussy,” which opens at the Empire Theatre on Friday. Joan Crawford, in the title role of this historical romance from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, portrays-the lovely daughter of a Washington tavern keeper during the administration of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson himself shielded her from the savage attacks of Washington society. John Eaton, Secretary of War, eventually married her, but her first love was for “ Bow ” Timberlake, the gay young naval officer who married her and sailed away to be killed. John Randolph of Vh’ginia loved her from childhood but lost her. A newspaper man was her friend and loyal aide. President Jackson is impersonated by Lionel Barrymore. Robert Taylor plays the part of Timberlake, the dashing seaman who made swift love to Peggy O’Neal and swept her off her feet. Franchot Tone portrays Eaton, the suave Secretary of War, who married the little spitfire and was sent away as Ambassador to Spain when Washington society revolted against her. Melvyn Douglas portrays the tragic senator from Virginia, John Randolph, ■who loved the girl more deeply than all the others, yet lost her when he remained true to his own ideals. James Stewart appears as the Capitol Hill newspaper man, in love with Peggy O’Neal himself. but remaining a constant friend long after he knew the futility of his emotion.

MAYFAIR THEATRE The great screen success. “ The Great Ziegfeldis at present being screened at the Mayfair Theatre, The story of the film commences with Florenz Ziegfcld as a young man featuring Sandow. the strong man, at the Chicago World Fair. An unfortunate incident makes it advisable for him to retire from the public view for a time, and he goes to Scotland, where he engages Anna Held, the beautiful star, who becomes his first wife. In this part Luise Rainer is excellent. Trouble eventually arises because of Ziegfeld’s interest in a girl whom he hopes to make into a star, and Anna passes out of his life, despite the fact that she still loves him, and that his affection for her still remains. In later years he meets Billie Burke, and falls in love with her. This part is also made memorable by the acting of Myrna Loy. They are married, and a daughter is born to them. Then Ziegfeld, stung by disappointment in a show, makirs his greatest bid, and runs four successful shows on Broadway at the one time. An unfortunate investment on the stock market again ruins him, and this time he fails to rise again, and dies a broken man. In the title role, William Powell, who has several successes to his credit, gives a performance which outdistances any previous effort. Frank Morgan, Fannie Brice, Joseph Cawthorne, Ernest Cossart, and Nat Pendleton are in the supporting cast. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ KLONDIKE ANNIE ” The luxuriant charms of Mae West, the entirely distinctive and fullblooded quality of the humour she presents, and the entertaining character of the story combine to make her latest production, “Klondike Annie,’* which comes to the Mayfair Theatre on Wednesday, highly-acceptable fare from the point of view of’ the great majority, of picture patrons. Playing opposite her, Victor M'Laglen gives a virile and graphic portrayal as a sea captain, a role for which he is admirably fitted. Miss West is seen a* the “San Francisco Doll,” who board* M’Laglen’s vessel to escape the law after the murder of a jealous Chinese husband, the proprietor of a Chinatown restaurant. A new pair of romantic stars, a story of dramatic force, and super direction combine to make “Fury,” the other film to be shown, a picture for the “must see” list of every discriminating motion picture patron. Sylvia Sidney and Spencer Tracy are the co-stars.