AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE What happens when a newspaperman with a flair for gags sets out to give his former sweetheart the world's most sensational wedding present, on the eve of her nuptials to another man, forms the basis of the Paramount comedyromance, "Wedding Present," which will be screened at the Grand Theatre to-day with Joan Bennett and Cary Grant in stellar roles. Miss Bennett and Grant are reporters on the metropolitan daily in the picture, the pride and despair of their hard-boiled city editor, George Bancroft, who is slowly turning grey because of their pranks. When Grant succeeds Bancroft on the city desk, Miss Bennett leaves town, distressed because her former friend seems to be developing into a "big two-telephone man." She gets a job in New York and is planning to marry a writer of inspirational novels, Conrad Nagel, when Grant, who has quit as city editor, arrives and presents the record-breaking wedding present which brings a reconciliation. A big heart for the criminal and no heart for his victims is often the keynote of modern parole systems according to " Don't Turn 'Em Loose." which features Lewis Stone, James Gleason, Bruce Cabot, Louise Latimer, and Grace Bradley in a story involving a young criminal who brings disgrace to his honoured family and his beautiful sweetheart. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE Theodora was one of the nicest girls in Lynnfleld. She taught the Sunday school, and she played the church organ. She belonged also to the Literary Society, the women of which were up in arms against the editor of the Bugle for printing "Sinners All, that lurid book by Caroline Adams which was sweeping the country. " Brutal Filth," they telegraphed to its publisher. So they were completely scandalised when in red ink headlines the local paper announced that its author was none other than Theodora Lynn. Saddled with such a reputation Theodora felt she had to live up to it. She went to New York and made whoopee in the manner of her book. What she did is the story of Theodora Goes Wild," which is screening at the Empire Theatre. Irene. Dunne plays the part of the feminine Mr Deeds, and reveals herself as a comedienne par excellence. Melvyn Douglas has the leading male role. There are good supporting features. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " ROSE MARIE'" The stars of that great attraction. "Naughty Marietta," Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, are returning on Friday to the Empire Theatre to held audiences enthralled in a musical and romantic feast, "Rose Mane, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hit of the year. In it will be heard such timeless music as the haunting "Indian Love Call, the sighing "Rose Marie. I Love You the pert " Pardon Me, Madame, the stirring "Song of the Mounties, the thrilling "Totem Pole Dance sung as only Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy can sing it. Rose Marie " is unlike any picture seen before. It was filmed almost entirely out of doors, in the wild beauty of the Lake Tahoe section of the Sierra Nevadas. In the Totem Pole dance sequence and other spectacular scenes, more than 1000 persons participate. Moonlight on shimmering lakes and morning sun on mountain vistas are background for some of the most melodious romantic scenes every brought to the screen. STRAND THEATRE An intriguing story of modern Turkey and an amusing comedy are the two features at the Strand Theatre this week, "The Secret of Stamboul and " The Luckiest Girl in the World. Written by Denis Wheatley, one of the foremost English writers of thrilling mysteries, "The Secret of Stamboul tells an exciting tale of the machinations of a sinister eunuch whose plots reach far and wide. The cast is headed by Frank Vosper. who recently met a mysterious death, and Valerie Hobson. Jane Wyatt, Louis Hayward. Eugene Pallette and Nat Pendleton are the chief players in "The Luckiest Girl in the World." The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STATE THEATRE One of the most widely-discussed plays of recent years, " Winterset," has been brought to the screen in brilliant fashion. The film is at present being shown at the State Theatre. In deciding to make "Winterset Producer Pandro S. Berman chose to take the three leading players who made such a hit in the original. Burgess Meredith, the hero, makes his screen debut; Margo, the girl, has been seep in several pictures. The story is drama, tense, thrilling and actionpacked, presented in realistic fashion. It deals with a miscarriage of justice which takes an innocent man to the electric chair. It is played by actors who are probably unknown to the great mass of theatre-goers, but they play it in a manner that undoubtedly will win . much commendation from critics and filmgoers. The box plans are at the theatre and Beggs. REGENT THEATRE A tale of the troubles that rent Ireland in the early years of the last decade is told in the film which is at present being screened at the Regent Theatre, " Beloved Enemy.' The leading roles are taken by Merle Oberqn and Brian Aherne, and the picture is of particular interest to New Zealand audiences, and Dunedin audiences in particular, by the presence in the cast of Ra Hould. The boy gives an excellent performance which is well on a par with most screen appearances of child stars, and much is to be expected of this talented youth. The story of the film concerns itself with the love of one of the most notorious Irish patriots and the daughter of the English Ambassador. How the contact of these two leads to a definite truce in the hostilities, but finally to the death of the young Irishman is strikingly told. In the supporting programme are scenes of the Abbey Coronation ceremony, which are in many ways the most enthralling yet screened in Dunedin. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" "God's Country and the Woman," Warner Bros.' brilliant picturisation of the James Oliver Curwood novel of the same name—dealing with a feud between lumber companies in the deep forests of the Great North-west—will be commenced on Friday at the Regent Theatre, with George Brent and Beverly Roberts in the leading roles. The thrilling dramatic romance of the story is heightened by the fact that the scenes—almost all of which are in the o p e photographed wholly in natural colours. Brent and Miss Roberts have an excellent supporting cast including such outstanding favourites as Barton Mac Lane, Robert Barrat, Allen Hale, El Brendel, Billy Bevan and Joseph King. Brent is *.rst seen as a rich idler, who makes a casual visit to the woods where his brother owns a vast tract of timber—and is attempting by crooked methods to injure the business of a rival lumber company managed by a girl, Beverly Roberts. Discovering the trickery of his brother, Brent denounces him and is about to go back to the city when his brother has him shanghaied and returned to the deep woods where the lusty melodrama of love and hate runs its furious course. ST. JAMES THEATRE

That ever-popular hero Tarzan is aeain a success in his new nicture. " Tarzan Escapes." now being shown at the St. James Theatre. Again Tarzan is played by Johnny Weissmuller. and again Maureen O'Sullivan is delightful as his mate. The story is packed with thrills, and the quicksand mire of death, the stampede of elephants routing the savages, the river of crocodiles, and amazing swings across gorges and chasms all add to the excitement of

the tale. Prominent in the supporting cast are Benita Hume, who plays the part of a cousin of Tarzan's mate, and is the " other woman" in the picture. William Henry. Herbert Mundin. and John Buckler. Mundin plays a typical Cockney character, and Buckley is the villainous explorer. The excellent supporting programme includes the latest "Our Gang" comedy—" Pay as You Exit," and an all-colour cartoon. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs's. OCTAGON THEATRE Comedy is the predominating note in " Mind Your Own Business," a natural and amusing picture at the Octagon Theatre, in which two of the screen's favourite comedians—Charles Ruggles and Alice Brady—have the leading roles. As a somewhat timid writer of notes dealing with birds and various animals, Ruggles rises to sudden fame when he is kidnapped by gangsters who resent the publicity regarding their activities that he includes amongst his daily column. The leader of a number of Boy Scouts Ruggles is eventually located by his troop, some hilarious comedy being introduced before he is finally set free. The second feature. "The Great O'Malley." features Pat O'Brien and Sybil Jason. The story introduces a new type of comedydrama and deals with the activities of a policeman and his friends in the East Side of New York. The box plans arc at the theatre and Begg's. MAYFAIR THEATRE One of the most colourful periods in history has been brought to the screen by Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in his latest production, "The Amateur Gentleman." which will be commenced at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. The story is laid in England during the time of the Prince Regent, and into this romantic background the producers have woven drama packed with action and thrills from start to finish. Fairbanks plays the role of Barnabas Barty, the educated son of an innkeeper, who enters London society in an effort to clear his father of a false charge of theft, for which he has been sentenced to death. Accompanied by a faithful servant from the inn, Barnabas installs himself in fashionable rooms, and, following a chance meeting with the Prince Regent, he becomes a leading member of the "smart set." The methods of blackmail rings that have been revealed in newspaper headlines of the past were rarely more ingenious than the plans developed by the " Thursday Club " in " The Girl on the Front Page," which will be the associate feature. The blackmailers succeed in entering the employ of the most prominent families in the city as household servants. They look for scandal and improvise it where _ it has not previously existed. Working in several homes simultaneously, they meet on Thursdays to compare notes and advance their schemes. When some person is "ripe for plucking" they send a representative to demand blackmail money. This scheme is finally squashed by tha managing editor of the city's leading newspaper, portrayed by Edmund Lowe. Gloria Stuart is seen as "The Girl on the Front Page." She portrays an heiress who inherits the newspaper and who engages in love quarrels with the managing editor. The box plans are at the theatre sweet shop and the D.I.C.