AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

STRAND THEATRE A double-feature programme of exceptional merit is at present being screened at the Strand Theatre, where the outstanding drama, "The Man in Blue," featuring Robert Wilcox and Edward Ellis, and the entertaining comedy " Dancing Feet" are the attractions. The latter film features Ben Lyon, Joan Marsh, Eddie Nugent, and Isabel Jewell in the leading roles. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. "LET THEM LIVE" Before Robert Wilcox played in UniversaPs "Let Them Live," which will be shown at the Strand Theatre on Friday, he made a previous sojourn in Hollywood, trying to get into pictures. Finally he returned East and sought a commercial job. He was one of 17 applicants for a position. During the interview he faced five company directors. The session seemed unpromising to Wilcox until he mentioned he had been in Hollywood for several months. Then all the directors plied him with questions about the movies. He got the job. Thereafter, the moguls mentioned him to friends as their "Hollywood expert." In "Let Them Live," Edward Ellis portrays a political boss who holds a city in the palm of his hand, and grinds out of it all the profit he can. He is opposed by John Howard, cast in the leading role, and the feminine lead is taken by Nan Grey. Action Pictures present Ben Lyon and Sari Maritza in "Crimson Romance," the associate feature. The object of the film, though its title might not indicate it, is to prove the futility of war. EMPIRE THEATRE "The Man in Possession," the current attraction at the Empire Theatre, is an English comedy made in America. Some of its characteristics it owes to its English habitat and some it owes to its place of manufacture; and the net result is a comedy full of smiles. The late Jean Harlow is cast as an American adventuress, Mrs Crystal Wetherby, with a heart of gold inside a paper dollar casing. Robert Taylor is co-starred, and Reginald Owen has the principal supporting role. The supporting programme is headed by a Deanna Durbin feature. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "AFTER THE THIN MAN" William Powell and Myrna Loy, the merriest married couple of the screen, step from the last page of "The Thin Man" into the first chapter of the sequel, "After the Thin Man," which will be shown on Friday at the Empire Theatre. Dashiell Hammett, dean of smart, sophisticated mystery writers, was dared to top "The Thin Man," and "After the Thin Man" is his answer. Detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora go romancing again amid riotous mirth and dramatic murder. Brought to the screen by the same combination, W. S. Van Dyke, its director, Hunt Stromberg, its producer, and Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, the scenarists, it is stated to have surpassed its predecessor in all respects. The sters are surrounded by a supporting cast of favourites, Including James Stewart, Elissa Landi, Joseph Calleia, Jessie Ralph, Alan Marshall, Teddy Hart, Sam Levene, Dorothy McNulty, George Zucco, Paul Fix, and Asta, the wire-haired terrier star of "The Thin Man." GRAND THEATRE The popular trio of the Clarence E. Mulford Cassidy stories, " Hoppy," " Lucky " and " Windy," ride side by side again in the latest of their screen adventures, "North of the Rio Grande," outdoor romancs which will be shown to-day at the Grand Theatre. These parts, as usual, are played by William Boyd, Russell Hayden and George Hayes. With Preston Foster starring and Jean Muir leading a distinguished supporting .cast, the second offering, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" deals with the coming of law and order to a thriving mining camp in the Mother Lode country, and with the dramatic situation created when the indignant citizenry drives the "outcasts" from camp into the teeth of a coming storm. Triple themes, of romance and jealousy and sacrifice, are interwoven in the story, which is said to be one of the most exciting of recent screen offerings. Van Heflin, little Virginia Weidler and Margaret Irving have important roles in the production by Robert Sisk. Preston Foster, as a gambler, and Jean Muir, as a teacher, turn in brilliant performances. Margaret Irving is a jealous Sartner, of Foster's, Van Heflin is a ghting minister, and Virginia Weidler takes the part of Foster's "mascot." Si Jenks, as a general handyman, steals most of the comedy honours, and Frank M, Thomas, Dick Elliott, Bradley Page, and Billy Gilbert are also outstanding in their roles. Christy Cabanne's direction and the effective screen play by John Twist and Harry Segall contribute to the excellence of the The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's.

STATE THEATRE Colourful and rich In music, "Head Over Heels," the Gaumont-British production which heads the current programme at the State Theatre, presents Jessie Matthews, the talented English actress, In her most appealing role. The film Bucceeds in establishing the young actress on a higher pinnacle than any of her previous highlypolished performances. She exploits her charming personality to great advantage, rises to great emotional heights when the occasion demands, and dances and sings with supreme artistry. The box plans will be found at the theatre and at Begg's. "SEVENTH HEAVEN" Four huge sets, realistic to the last degree, recreate the Paris of " Seventh Heaven," which will be shown on Friday at the State Theatre. Simone Simon, the French screen find, and James Stewart are starred in the Twentieth Century-Fox version of Austin Strong's famed love story. Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of . production at . Twentieth Century-Fox, chose Henry King, Academy prize-winner who directed "Lloyds of London," to handle the directing assignment on "Seventh Heaven, with Raymond Griffith as/ associate producer. Jean Hersholt, Gregory Ratoff, Gale Sondergaard, J. Edward Bromberg, John Qualen, Victor Kilian, Thomas Beck, Sig Rumann, and Mady Christians have featured roles in support of Simone Simon and James Stewart. Stewart takes the part of Chico. who rescues a young girl from her cruel guardian, and is forced to keep up a pretence of being married to her. The pair fall in love, but though the war intervenes, it cannot break their newly-discovered passion. REGENT THEATRE Alexander Korda's production " Storm in a Teacup," is meeting with considerable success in its season at the Regent Theatre. The screen version is made from a play by James Bridie, which experienced great popularity on the Continent and throughout Great Britain owing to its clever characterisation and humorous situations. All of these ingredients have been preserved in the making of the film, and, with brilliant direction and the capable cast which has been assembled, the success of the picture is assured. Vivien Leigh heads a very strong cast of players, with Rex Harrison opposite her in the romantic lead. Sara Allgood. as an old Irish widow gives an interpretation that is not only full of true comedv. but also is noteworthy for the skilful rendering of character. Cecil Parker takes the part of the town provost. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.T.C. "THE GO-GETTER" Picturegoers who see the Cosmopolitan comedy-drama, "The Go-getter," at the Regent Theatre on Friday next are warned by critics to be prepared for a shock right at the beginning of the picture. The episode that intro-

duces the star, George Brent, is a reproduction of the tragic crash of the United States dirigible "Macon," into the Pacific Ocean a few years ago. Brent is a member of the crew as she goes down. He escapes with his life but loses a leg, and therefore has to quit the navy and get a job in civil life. In this manner he meets with Peter B. Kyne's famous old fiction character, Cappy Ricks, played by Charles Winninger. He also meets Cappy's daughter Margaret, who is played by Anita Louise. The story deals with the various tests through which old Cappy puts the "Go-getter" before giving his consent to a courtship; and how the young man successfully emerges from them. Busby Berkley directed "The Go-getter" from a screen play devised by Delmar Daves from Peter B. Kyne's celebrated novel. Besides the three stars, the cast includes such excellent players as Henry O'Neill, John Eldredge, Joseph Crehan, Helen Lowell, and Mary Treen. ST. JAMES IHEATRE Wallace Beery's portrayal of the title role in "The Good Old Soak," which is now being screened at the St. James Theatre, is perhaps the greatest triumph of his long career. In a true-to-life story set in a small American town, he is ably supported by an excellent cast, including Una Merkel, Eric Linden, and Judith Barrett. The supporting films are well varied and complete a good evening's entertainment. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs's. "LOVE IN A BUNGALOW" In " Love in a Bungalow," which will commence a season on Friday at the St. James Theatre, Nan Grey portrays a girl who is hostess in a model home, which has been designed to help sell other houses. She cares for the home with natural feminine delight. This interest grows to the point where she wants to possess the place for herself. The home-making instinct finally burns in her like a flame. Then a young gallant enters her life. Romance springs up between her and Kent Taylor. The comedy is woven around the quarrels between them, and the unusual method that the pair use to obtain funds for purchasing the house. Other players who help to get them into laughable situations and out of hilarious predicaments include Jack Smart, Richard Carle. Hobart Cayanaugh, Minerva Urecal. Margaret McWade and Louise Bevers. OCTAGON THEATRE Featuring Akim Tamiroff and Marian Marsh in an exciting mystery film. "The-Great Gambini 7 ' heads the current double-feature programme at the Octagon Theatre, the second attraction being the Western film, "Blazing Sixes," in which Dick Foran. the singing cowboy, is starred. The two films offer diversified entertainment, ine box plans arc at the theatre and at Begg's. " THUNDER IN THE CITY " The story of "Thunder in the City," which will be shown at the Octagon Theatre on Friday, concerns Dan Armstrong (Edward G. Robinson), who startles his New York employers by a bout of high-pressure sales propaganda that even they regard as a trifle beyond the pale. Falling in with their ironical suggestion, he visits England to learn the value of dignity in advertising. Dan is taken up by blueblooded but penurious relations. Who secretly plan to sell him their country seat, unaware that he is as penniless as themselves. Later, discovering that a British peer acquaintance has a Rhodesian metal mine, Dan starts to launch it on high-powered American lines, with great success, until a rival forces him out of business. The blow is softaned, however, when the girl of his choice throws in her lot with him. The supporting feature is

"Night of Mystery," the latest Philo Vance murder mystery adapted from S. S. Van Dine's novel, "The Greene Murder Case." MAYFAIR THEATRE Dramatically telling a tale based on the transformation of a dangerous killer into a respectable honoured surgeon, " The Man Who Lived Twice " is a gripping screen play, rich in emotion and suspense. It will be screened at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. The leading part—the title role—is taken by Ralph Bellamy. Charming Marian Marsh, featured opposite Bellamy, has the sympathetic feminine leading role. Isabel Jewell, though portraying the " heavy " character of a vindictive

sweetheart, has an emotional part, and portrays it beautifully. Possibly the most striking situation in the film is that in which "Peggy Russell" (Isabel Jewell) recognises in "Dr James Blake" (Bellamy), who is attempting to help her, the former gangster and hunted murderer who had been her sweetheart. " Smartest Girl in Town," the associate feature, is a fast-moving romance of a millionaire masquerading as an impecunious photographers model to be able to concentrate his affections on a beautiful mannequin and learn if she loves himself or his money. Their romance assumes madpap proportions when the mannequin, shaping her judgment by the misfortunes of her married sister, has determined to wed a wealthy man, but is ignorant of the fact that her suitor

is a millionaire himself. The box plans are at the theatre sweetstall and the D.I.C. .