AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23334, 28 October 1937, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE Just what the title indicates is the story of " The Singing Marine," which, with Dick Powell as its star, is now at the Regent Theatre. Dick is a marine—a modest private at the San Diego base—and he can sing. So his comrades get up a purse to send him to compete at a singing contest. Dick becomes a tremendous success. But after all he's only on a leave of absence from the marines, and when, at the end of his furlough, he is shipped with the rest of his company to China, he has a chance to redeem himself with a splendid bit of heroism, which restores him to everyone's good graces. A splendid cast surrounds Dick Powell, including Hugh Herbert, Allen Jenkins, Dock Rockwell, Jane Wyman, and Veda Ann Borg. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "MARKED WOMAN" The ramifications of the invidious vice rackets of the larger American cities are convincingly portrayed in " Marked Woman," which comes to the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The film has a plot that is not pleasant, but it lascinates and holds the attention, and the skilful acting of the principals lifts the picture well above the usual standard. The story traces the trials of half a dozen night-club girls, forced to rob and deceive their patrons by a powerful racketeer, who has no scruples about killing anyone who offends him or stands in his way. The penalty for " squealing " is to be picked up in the river, or be beaten up and branded on the cheek, and the girls, although they long for an escape from theii unsavoury mode of living, are nevertheless afraid to give honest evidence when they appear in the witness box. Humphrey Bogart has the role of a young attorney, anxious to clear the city of vice, and Bette Davis is in the leading role of the night-club girl who is struggling to keep her young sister at college. ST. JAMES THEATRE Erich Maria Remarque's story of post-war Germany, "The Road Back," is now being shown at the St. James Theatre. In this gripping and thoughtprovoking story, a group of young men released from war endeavour to rehabilitate themselves in a country which they cannot recognise as their own. At every step they find disillusionment and heart-breaking revelations, their carefully-cherished ideals, which sustained them through four years of warfare, having been trampled under foot at home. There is a strong cast, including John King, Richard Cromwell, Slim Summerville, Andy Devine and Barbara Reed. There is an entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and at Jacobs's. "NO LIMIT" George Formby, the popular English comedian, takes the leading role in "No Limit," and Diana Churchill has made screen history with her representation of Angela Shale in "The Dominant Sex." Formby is at his best in "No Limit," which comes to the St. James Theatre on Friday, and with his banjo he strums and sings his way in and out of innumerable escapades. As a chimney sweep's assistant his one ambition is to win the coveted Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race, and the surprising manner in which he succeeds brings tears of laughter to the eyes. Florence Desmond makes a charming and capable assistant. Phillip Eagan's famous London play has been excellently transferred to the screen in " The Dominant Sex," which will also be shown. No more suitable actress than Diana Churchill, who played in the stage version of the play for over 700 performances, could have been chosen for the role of Angela Shale, who found that her married life, although happy, brought her disillusionment. Phillips Holmes is well cast as the young husband who finds it difficult to understand the quicksilver moods and ideas of his wife. OCTAGON THEATRE Ricky Morgan, the character created by Douglas Fairbanks, jun., in the Octagon Theatre's first feature, "When Thief Meets Thief," is an interesting contribution to the ranks of the lovable detectives of fictional fame. His role is that of a professional "cracksman " and the film bristles with thrills and 'suspense from beginning to end. The programme is balanced by _ an amusing" comedy, " Marry the Girl, which lias an excellent cast of hilarity iavourites including Hugh Herbert, Mary Boland, Mischa Auer, Allan Mowbray, and Allan Jenkins. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "EMPTY HOLSTERS" Dick Foran will make another of his popular screen appearances at the Octagon Theatre to-morrow in " Empty Holsters." Not only the acting ability of this young Warner Bros, star, but also his fine baritone voice, has won him increasing popularity, and " Empty Holsters " is said to be one of the best pictures he has ever done. Dick sings two songs of the range—" Old Corral and "I Gotta Get Back To My Gal." But the songs are only incidental to a fast-stepping, genuinely thrilling action drama of the old west, in which Dick after being persecuted and imprisoned for two years by the goldstealing villains of the plot, gets free, clears himself, and brings the vengeance of the law upon the miscreants.

The second feature on the programme is'an hilarious comedy titled "Haywire Hotel," with a cast of comedians headed by Leo Carrillo, Lynne Overman, Mary Carlisle, George Barbier, Benny Baker, and Spring Byington. STRAND THEATRE Edward Everett Horton has one of his best opportunities to date in the Strand Theatre's first attraction "Oh! Doctor," which presents him in the role of an eccentric hypochondriac who is tricked into a doubtful financial deal by a gang of genial crooks. Aided by his nurse, clayed by a delightful newcomer, Ddnrue Leighton, Horton manages to retrieve his lost fortune and find a new interest m life. The associate attraction, "Roaring Timber," is an, excellent drama of the northland tifnberlands, with Jack Holt in the leading role. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "GIRL OVERBOARD" In "Girl Overboard,", the film which will be screened to-morrow at the Strand Theatre, Gloria Stuart has the role of a gown model in an exclusive shop, who goes on a cruise to escape the unwelcome attentions of her employer. Her ship companion is a girl who knows from bitter personal experience how the store owner treats models whom he . befriends. There is a scuffle in the stateroom when the employer visits them. Later he dies after being helped ashore. The police radio the ship captain to detain Gloria, charging her with murder. When fire breaks out Aboard ship it is Gloria's companion who leaps overboard during the panic. Her written confession is burned in the flames. In "Variety," the associate feature, Nellie Wallace performs her eccentric comedy antics; the Houston Sisters are also featured; Sam Barton, the tramp cyclist, who has presented the same act for 27 years, is another prominent member of the cast, and Billy Cotton and his dance band should prove an attractive feature to radio and dancing fans. George Carney represents British comedians, while Bobby "Uke Henshaw is an ambassador of American humour, with Denis O'Neil as Ireland s contributor. These are but a few of the personalities included in " Variety, which features one of the largest casts to appear in a British picture. EMPIRE THEATRE' Star names are scattered through the cast of "The Last of Mrs Cheyney with characteristic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lavishness. This brilliant Frederick Lonsdale comedy is the current attraction at the Empire Theatre. Joan Crawford, William Powell. Robert Montgomery, Frank Morgan, Jessie Ralph, Nigel Bruce, Benita Hume, Ralph Forbes, and Aileen Pringle head the list of famous players. / The plot of "The Last of Mrs Cheyney" revolves about a young American widow who crashes London society. At a fashionable house party a priceless rope of pearls vanishes, and Lord pilling one of Mrs Cheyney's suitors, traces the theft of the pearls to the lady herself. It is when he offers her an insidious alternative to facing the police that the real character of the girl is made apparent. In the end it is discovered that Mrs Cheyney s butler is the actual thief, but the complications which bring about this final denouement afford the onlooker a full hour or more of laugh-provoking entertainment. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE , Bulldog Drummond has done it again. A film that can send cold, vibrant shivers down one's spine, that can make the audience laugh in joyful abandon, and sustain the interest until a denouement caps a happy story is the film-lover's idea of perfection. "Bulldog Drummond Escapes," which commenced a season at the Grand Theatre yesterday, in a measure produces all three requirements. Good direction, happy casting, and clear diction, with a concatenation of events dramatic and amusing in turn, help to make one of the most wholly enjoyable mystery-drama films seen for many months. As the old favourite of printed page, the stage, and the screen, the ace of sleuths, debonair, cool, and handsome Ray Milland, whose rise in the film world seems remarkable until one has seen him perform, makes an admirable Drummond. Picture him, winging his homeward way from abroad in a powerful monoplane, inward bound for London, to find the metropolis is shrouded in fog, and it would be dangerous to land. Then through the radio comes the warning ' Keep flying." Drummond follows the order in true style—and lands. He lands fairly successfully, and is at once plunged into a hotbed of intrigue and danger, with international criminals plotting treacherv. murder, and counterfeiting. Drummond's car is stolen by a beautiful woman, and then he finds a bodv on the roadside. When he discovers the lady's name and address on a visiting card nearby he immediately starts an investigation. He visits the lonely manor hou*e at which the girl lives, and is told that she is out of her mind. He manages to see her, however, and learns that her so-cnlled friends have murdered her brother— although the crime has been disguised as a hunting accident—and are keeping her prisoner in f order to obtain possession of her inheritance. Drummond's old friendly rival, Inspector Neilson of Scotland Yard, accept? the situation at its face value, and refuses to help the trouble-seeker. The inspector can hardly be blamed for his attitude, for there is no evidence to suggest that the man in charge of the manor is not a perfectly respectable landed esquire. But Drummond, as is his wont, unearths clues in the most unexpected places.

Following up those clues—with his admirable ally and foil, Algy Longworth, who is about to become a father and is deliriously happy at the prospect—to the displeasure of Scotland Yard, Drummond finds himself in some very tight situations. his exploits are as daring as any in which he indulged when facing his old enemy Carl Peterson. As sequences follow, the excitement reaches a high level, relieved here and there by a meilowing, subtle piece of clowning, but with the unfolding of the theme the audience is left more and more in doubt about the outcome. It is the urbane butler who at last conjoins the threads of a most enjoyable tangle, and the climax, with its judicious element of pathos, cannot fail to appeal to the most sceptical. Heather Angel is the woman who is the cause of all the trouble, and she makes an excellent partner for Ray Milland. Sir Guy Standing again appears as Inspector Neilson, and is as soundly convincing as ever. Reginald Denny, who has been making welcome appearances on the screen for many years now, is happily cast as the irresponsible Algy Langworth. Others in the cast are Porter Hall, Charles McNaughton, and E E. Clive, The story is. of course, by H. C. McNeile ("Sapper"), with assistance by another famous mystery writer, Gerald Fairlie. The supporting programme includes an interesting array of short features. There are newsreels, some scenes of Broadway night life, a musical short, and a Betty Boop cartoon. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. STATE THEATRE A musical romance of an unusual type, "Girl In a Million," is the current attraction at the State Theatre. This production presents the Olympic champion skater, Sonja Heme in a new setting for film stories, the ice rink. Miss Henie was for several years the figure skating champion of the world, and she is responsible for some very graceful work in Girl In a Million." There is a large supporting cast, Don Ameche playing opposite Miss Henie. Ned Sparks and the Ritz Brothers also appear. .Several very spectacular settings are included in the production. In addition to the lavish scenes on the ice, 'Girl In a Million" includes a pleasing romantic story, the principal parts in which are played by Miss Henie and Don Ameche. There is an attractive and interesting supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg s. MAYFAIR THEATRE Based on a story by Richard Wormser, "Sworn Enemy" which heads the new programme at the Mayfair Theatre, is a dramatic and moving story of a young man who endeavours to make his name in the sphere of law, despite the handicap of a lowly birth and questionable early associations but who is compelled to, seeK vengeance against the gang with which he has grown up when it murders his brother In the principal role Robert Young gives a convincing performance, and is supported by Florence Rice as a fcalleia who makes a sinister Joe Emerald, the arcix racketeer whose activities are unknown even by his close associates, and Lewis Stone/as. a doctor who sDends 12 years in prison on a false cha?ge sworn by Emerald. The second nicture on the programme s The Man I Marry," featuring Doris Nolan S Michael Whalen The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.