AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23353, 19 November 1937, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS

GRAND THEATRE Two stirring outdoor dramas comprise the current programme at the Grand Theatre, where “North of the Rio Grande ” and “ The Outcasts of Poker Flat” are now being screened. Bret Hart's famous story of romance and sacrifice in the early California gold “ diggings,” “ The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” becomes a thrilling screen version with Preston Foster and Jean Muir heading a notable cast. The drama and suspense of the original story, perhaps the best known of all Harte's tales, arises out of the romance of the principal character. Oakhurst, the gambler, with a pretty school teacher, who is also loved by a young minister, and the mutual interest of all three in a waif of the frontier mining camp. Hopalong Cassidy rides the range again in “North of the Rio Grande.” William Boyd portrays Clarence E. Mulford’s popular hero for the eleventh lime in this thrilling screen adaptation of the novel “Cottonwood Gulch.” The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. STATE THEATRE James Stewart, as Chico, and Simone Simon as Diane, recreate the wellknown romance of “ Seventh Heaven,” the screen version of which will be shown to-day at the State Theatre. Chico saves Diane from being beaten to death by the owner of a notorious cafe, who has reared her from childhood. When gendarmes start to arrest Diane for throwing wine in the face of a customer who annoyed her, Chico saves her by posing as her husband. The gendarmes take his name and address, promising to check up on their life from time to time. Chico finds himself stuck with his story, and is forced to live it out, taking Diane with him to the little garrret from which he watches the beauties of the heavens at night, to forget the dank sewer in which he toils all day. When the war comes, and Chico is called to the army he realises that he is In love with Diane, and'pledges to return to her in spirit every day. Diane keeps the tryst, even after the Government publishes the news that Chico has been killed. Few scenes in motion pictures are more moving than that in which Chico returns to Diane, bringing a surprising conclusion to what is justly known as the tenderest love story of our time. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s.

REGENT THEATRE That irascible but lovable old seafaring character created by Peter B. Kyne—Gappy Ricks—comes to life on the screen in the Cosmopolitan com-edy-drama, “The Go-Getter,” which opens its Dunedin season at the Regent Theatre to-day. Charles Winninger, well remembered as the Cap’n Andy of both stage and screen versions of “Show Boat,” plays Gappy in this delightful screen play. The “ go-getter ” is George Brent, who is in love with Cappy Ricks’s daughter, portrayed by Anita Louise. Apart from the starring trio, there are such players as Henry O’Neill, John Eldredge, J(> seph Crehan, Gordon Oliver, Eddie Acuff, Herbert Rawlinson, Mary Treen, Helen Lowell, Helen Valkis and Minerva Urecal included in the cast. Brent is a member of the crew of the famous dirigible Macon, which plunged Into the Pacific Ocean a few years ago. This plunge is shown on the screen —one of the most astonishing things the movies have ever done. Bill Austin—the character played by Brent—-loses a leg in the accident, has to leave the navy and find himself a job in civil life. That’s how he meets Cappy Ricks and his daughter. He is put through all sorts of tests by Cappy and the girl before he wins them both over. But he does win them, and that is the story of “The Go-Getter.” A diversified and interesting programme of short subjects accompanies the main feature. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE A comedy-romance develops in luxurious surroundings in “Love in a Bungalow,” which will be screened at the St. James Theatre to-day. Nan Grey and Kent Taylor, in the leading roles, have the support of a strong team of comedians, including Jack Smart. Hobart Cavanaugh. Richard Carle. Margaret McWade, Florence Lake, Minerva Urecal, and Louise Beavers, Nan Grey takes the role of Mary Callahan, hostess in a model bungalow, who finds one morning that Jeff Langan (Kent Taylor), a “highpressure” salesman out of work, has slept the night in one of the rooms. Her indignation gives way to interest during breakfast, and he calls again. On this occasion they hear over the radio an announcement of a prize offered for the best letter from a married couple, telling why they think they are the happiest couple. For a joke, they write a letter, which wins the prize. The promoters, so Mary Callahan is informed, will present the prize in person. One of the most awkward problems that face the couple is that of producing the two children of whom they have written a glowing account. The supports include “Wings Over West Indies,”' an interesting travel subject, “Cocktail Party.” comedy, “Going Places,” and a Universal News, The fearfulness of modern warfare to the civilian population by raids by air bombers has been caught by the cameraman who filmed the bombing recently of Shanghai by the flotillas of Japanese aircraft, and a picture of this type will be included in the programme. The film Is so revealing in its length of nearly 600 feet that the management has decided not to include it in the programme proper, but to screen it at the conclusion of the other pictures. As many may hive no desire to see the film, sufficient interval will be allowed for them to leave the theatre. The film and its presentation are both departures in a New Zealand picture house. The box plans are at the D.1.C., Jacobs’s, and at the theatre.

OCTAGON THEATRE The new big feature being commenced at the Octagon Theatre to-day, “Thunder in the City,’’ tells the story of an American high-pressure salesman who goes to England and falls among titled folk. He falls for the daughter of a duchess and she and all their friends fall for his American ballyhoo. Actually they laugh and grow fat on his method with riches they so much required, and he gets the girl, but is shorn of his prospective wealth by a conservative financier. The hero of this comedy-romance is Edward G. Robinsori. He retains his virile personality, which shows up to great advantage as he rouses the British peerage by his “ go-getter ’’ methods. A beautiful Viennese actress, Luli Deste, is heroine of the story, and she and Robinson provide some touching romantic scenes which enhance the appeal of the story. But it is the general irresponsible comedy of the salesman and the duke (Nigel Bruce) and duchess (Constance Collier) disporting themselves in the most bizarre fashion at country fairs and in city offices that makes the show. The supporting feature is a Philo Vance murder mystery based on the S. S. Van Dine novel “The Greene Murder Case.” The box plans are at Begg’s and the theatre. STRAND THEATRE John Howard plays the leading role in Universal’s “ Let Them Live,” which will be screened at the Strand Theatre to-day. He appeared in “ Lost Horizon,” “Valiant is the Word for Carrie,” “ Soak the Rich,” “ 13 Hours by Air” and “Annapolis Farewell.” Nan Grey plays opposite him. The story of “ Crimson Romance,” the second film, opens in an American aircraft factory in 1916, Wilson and von Bergen, his German-born friend, find themselves out of a job because von Bergen is a German. The latter decides to return to his Fatherland, and Wilson follows him, both enlisting in the German Air Force. Wilson’s one enemy is his superior officer. Captain Wolters, whose hatred for the American is obvious. America enters the war, and Wolters immediately has

Wilson thrown into prison, but, aided by von Bergen, he makes a spectacular escape. Then an English squadron, led by Wilson, attacks the huge ammunition dump, protected by Wolters’s squadron. Wolters, von Bergen and Wilson meet above the clouds, and von Bergen has to choose between his duty to his country and his friendship with the American—the latter proves the stronger, and lie saves Wilson's life through crashing his plane into Wolters’s. The box plans arc at the theatre and the D.I.C. EMPIRE THEATRE After having solved “ The Thin Man” crime in New York. Nick Charles and his wife, Nora, leave for their home in San Francisco. “After the Thin Man.” Dashiell Hammett’s sequel, which will be shown at the Empire to-day, shows them arriving home. They plan to enjoy a rest, but find the house filled with people who have gathered to welcome them. When the party is at its height. Nora's cousin. Selma Landis, calls Nora and begs her help to find her husband Robert. The surprising consequences of this request make exciting and enthralling entertainment. The little wire-haired terrier Asia, who brazenly “ stole scenes from William Powell and Myrna Loy in “The Thin Man,” is again playing himself in the sequel. Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett wrote a real role into the Dashiell Hammett mystery for Asta. He received instruction in his part several months previous to the actual filming under the direction of his owner, Henry East. Asta accompanied the W. S. Van Dyke Company to San Francisco for the opening scenes of the picture. There is an excellent and varied supporting programme, and the box plans are at the theatre and at the D.I.C. MAYFAIR THEATRE Drama and comedy are blended in excellent proportions in the Mayfair Theatre’s lengthy current programme. The first attraction is " Smartest Girl in Town,” a gay. romantic comedy starring Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern. The setting is a modern advertising agency and the story tells how Miss Sothern mistakes a wealthy yacht-owner for a fellow worker, and how the latter attempts to win her love. Complication mounts on complication until the amusing and distinctly “different” climax is reached. The second feature, "The Man Who Lived Twice,” is a dramatic account of the resurrection of a “ killer ” who is transformed into an eminent surgeon. In the title role Ralph Bellamy gives a polished performance, and the supporting parts are ably filled by Marian Marsh, Isabel Jewell and Thurston Hall. The box plans are at the theatre sweet shop and the D.I.C. “PICCADILLY JIM” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has brought “Piccadilly .Jim,” J. C. Wodehouse’s character, into being in the person of Robert Montgomery, who gives one of the most delightful performances of his career in the film of that name, which will head the programme to be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-mor-row. It is significant that Robert Z. Leonard, the director of “The Great Ziegfeld,” also directed this picture. The supporting cast includes Frank Morgan, also of “The Great Ziegfeld” cast, Madge Evans, Eric Blore, Billie Burke, the widow of the famous producer in her first picture under her new M.-G.-M. contract, Robert Benchley and others. The picture’s scenes present London, New York and a trans-Atlantic luxury liner with a realism that is possible only to the technique of the sci'een. The Wodehouse story was produced intact, with all of its droll situations and its smart comedy. “Devil’s Playground,” Columbia’s dramatisation of a submarine disaster that sends forth men to their doom 50 fathoms below the sea, will be the associate feature. In the starring roles are Richard Dix, Dolores del Rio and Chester Morris, supported by George McKay, John Gallaudet. Ward Bond and Stanley Andrews.