AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23362, 30 November 1937, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE , Action with a dash of romance and excitement and humour is to be found in "High, Wide, and Handsome," which is now showing at the Regent Theatre. It is melodrama as enjoyable as any since the days when William S. Hart drew audiences of tense youngsters. It has every element that makes a picture—good story, good acting, good singing, good comedy, and the most exciting of "scraps." Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott have the leads—but do not picture them as a " Roberta " team. They are as charmingly romantic, but' it is a role that holds something entirely new for Irene Dunne. The scene is laid in America in the days when oil was just entering the boom stage—something that-would light the lamps of the world and turn the wheels of industry as coal had in the past. The action is constant and thrilling. Irene Dunne, daughter of a travelling showman, and herself a singer and dancer, becomes the wife of Scott, and it is through her help that success eventually comes to the farmers of oil. Through it all there are the music and the songs of J ero ™ e Kern and Oscar Hammerstein 11. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " THE LAST TRAIN FROM MADRID " Hollywood's composite drama of the present Spanish civil war tells of the lives of nine people who wish to catch "The Last Train from Madrid." Out of the struggles, romances,, and tragedies of these nine people m the 48 hours before the train leaves, the studio has made atmospheric, melodramatic entertainment. The film will be shown on Friday at the Regent Theatre. The main theme is built around Dorothy Lamour, Gilbert Roland, and Anthony Quinn. The latter, Miss Lamour's sweetheart, arranges for her to escape from the besieged city on the last train out. He also secures a pass for his friend, Roland, only to realise that the two are old sweethearts. Unable to leave the city himself, he permits the two to depart for Valencia, hoping that the girl will choose between himself and Roland later. Aboard the same train is Karen Morley, an adventuress who loves Roland. Despite the peril that surrounds them all she continues to play her game of playing one man against another. ST. JAMES THEATRE Delightful comedy is the keynote of the film " Nobody's Baby," the current attraction at the St. James Theatre. Featuring the inimitable Patsy Kelly, who has a new and accomplished teammate in Lyda Roberti, the picture swings along at a merry pace and deals with the experiences of the two girls when they seek an audition for an amateur radio show. As two student nurses, the girls have ample opportunity to indulge in a number of laughprovoking adventures, and some bright and clever dancing is witnessed when the two spend an evening at a night club. Lynne Overman, Robert Armstrong, Rosina Lawrence, and Don Alvarado are also prominently cast. There is an excellent supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "LAUGHING IRISH EYES" With the noted American radio singer Phil Regan in the leading role, and Walter C. Kelly (one of the best of Irish actors) in a substantial study of a fight promoter, "Laughing Irish Eyes," which will be shown at the St. James Theatre next Friday, makes pleasing entertainment. Old Ireland comes to life in this charming story of a young boxer who deserts the pugilistic game to achieve success as a singer. An outstanding scene in the film is that shot in the Madison Square Garden arena, where Regan wins a championship bout more by good fortune than ability. Nevertheless, there are some .thrilling boxing episodes m the film. Herman Bing contributes some delicious comedy, while Evelyn Knapp supplies the romantic interest. In addition, a special 2000-foot film of a day in the life of the Dionne quintuplets is included in the programme. It shows the full day's happenings of these famous children, from early morning till bedtime. OCTAGON THEATRE

An entertaining double bill comprises the current programme at the Octagon Theatre, the pictures bearing the titles of "Slim" and "She's No Lady. The first film deals with the hazardous mode of living adopted by men who erect and care for the amazing system of power lines in the United States. A fall from a steel tower, injury from tools dropped from above, or agonising burns from high-tension wires are the risks that must be faced by the men who choose the linesman's job, but the film shows how the work gets into the blood of the men engaged upon it, so that even the prospect of a steady, well-paid job with one foot on the good "earth will not induce them to leave the high wires. Henry Fonda, Pat O'Brien, and Margaret Lindsay have the leading roles. ■ Ann Dvorak and John Trent are the stars of She s No Lady." The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "FLY AWAY BABY" Barton Mac Lane usually plays crooked parts. Occasionally he is cast on the side of the law, as in Fly Away Baby," the Warner Bros, melodrama, which will be shown at the Octagon Theatre next Friday HeMS a detective in this second of the '"Torchy Blane" series, in which Glenda Farrell plays a newspaper reporter. In a score of Warner pictures Mac Lane has established himself as one of the screen's most effective villains,, although on the stage he never played a villainous role. Before coming to pictures he appeared in many successes, including "Gods of Lightning," "Subway Express," Steel, "Hangman's Whip," and "Yellow Jack." " Rendezvous," another of his vehicles, was from his own pen. Barton Mac Lane is not only gifted as an actor, but as a writer. He is the author of a number of theatrical sketches. One of his full-length plays. "Rendezvous." was produced on Broadway. On the same programme is Warner Bros.' "White Bondage," starring Jean Muir and Gordon Oliver. STRAND THEATRE There is plenty of excitement and mystery in "The League of Frightened Men," which heads the current programme at the Strand Theatre. The story concerns the deaths of three of a group of 10 men who were students together at Harvard University. Mystery surrounds the killings until Walter Connolly, in the role of Nero Wolfe, famous American detective, unmasks the murderer in a sensational climax. The second film is "Cafe Colette," a bright musical comedy, featuring Paul Cavanagh and Greta Nissen. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. EMPIRE THEATRE "After the Thin Man," the William Powell-Myrna Loy film success, is still enjoving wide popularity at the Empire Theatre, where it is in its second week. In addition to a gripping mystery, the film also contains a wealth of diverting comedy and a generous proportion of sparkling dialogue. Powell, of course is as suave and as debonair as ever, while Miss Loy again demonstrates that she is an excellent partner for this convincing and popular actor The pair present a study of married happiness which is rarely captured on the screen. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "FOR VALOUR" In "For Valour," the riotous WallsLynn comedy coming to the Empire Theatre next Friday, the paths of a major "of the Old Brigade," and a confirmed " lag " cross in peculiar circumstances, affecting the second and third generations, with vice and virtue striving through the years to gain the upper hand. Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn are the exponents, and virtue is leading by a whisker until the

climax, when Ralph Lynn, an old man of 85, succumbs at last to the influences he has so steadfastly withstood, and is caught filching a lady's handbag on the Brighton front. "For Valour" embraces a variety of scenes, passing from the Boer War in 1899 to a 1937 milk bar, and the interior of one of his Majesty's prisons ... and yet, after the completion of the story the old problem of which has the greater influence —Vice or Virtue—is still left wide open. In conjunction with this programme there will be a parade each night of the finalists in the Utopia Club's " Miss Otago of 1937" competition. GRAND ( THEATRE Dramatic scenes of convict life are shown in "Nancy Steele is Missing," which heads the current double-feature programme at the Grand Theatre, victor McLaglen appears in the leading dramatic role, and in the course of the film he is sentenced to life imprisonment for complicity in a prison riot. June Lang supplies the feminine interest, while Walter Connolly gives a clear characterisation as a munitions manufacturer. The outstanding dramatic portrayal is contributed by Peter Lorre, who will be remembered for his acting in "Crime and Punishment." The second film is "Ladies in Love," an intriguing comedy drama featuring Loretta Young, Constance Bennett, Bennett, Janet Gaynor, and Simone Simon. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. " WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY "( The talent of Joe E. Brown was never better exemplified than in " When's Your Birthday?" the David L. Loew production which will be shown at the Grand Theatre to-morrow. As a comedian of his type, there are few who approach him in versatility. This hilarious picture has the completely novel background of astrology. The subject is ideally suited to comedy treatment. After a series of lessons intended to fit him for a career as an astrologer, Brown is seen as a particularly clumsy bus boy in a cafe, where he has the good fortune, by counting the planets, to predict for a gambler the outcome of a race. Frightened, however, he drops from sight to work in a fortune-telling concession. Finally located by the gambler, the three members of the fortune-telling partnership are all engaged by the sporting man as his private prognosticators of athletic events. Based on the famous novel, "My Second Wife," by the renowned Hungarian author, Eugene Heltai, the screen story of "The Lady Escapes," the second film, was adopted by Don Ettlinger. The Twentieth CenturyFox comedy stars Gloria Stuart and Michael Whalen. STATE THEATRE "Waikiki Wedding" is the current attraction at the State Theatre. Romance, hilarity, and music in generous proportions are provided in "Waikiki Wedding," the gay comedy of love in the pineapple groves, with Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, and Shirley Ross. The romance is between Crosby and Miss Ross, and, in lighter vein. Burn and Miss Raye. Crosby is a press agent whose job it is to keep Miss Ross, who won a trip to Waikiki in a contest, properly thrilled with the glamour of the place. He has to resort to considerable trickery to accomplish this, but, being a resourceful press agentj he is not short on ideas. He falls in love with the girl, and is reduced to the necessity of undoing his trickery with honest romancing to win her. There is an interesting programme of short subjects preceding the main film. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. MAYFAIR THEATRE Grace Moore, the famous star of the Metropolitan Opera House, has the leading role in "When You're In Love," which heads the current programme at the Mayfair Theatre. In this production her beautiful voice is given plenty of opportunity for expression in a number of popular and opera arias. She is cast as a rather vain opera • star from Australia, who is forced to leave America when her passport expires. The manner in which she manages to stay in the country to sing at an important festival., forms the basis of an excellent plot. The supporting cast includes Cary Grant, Aline McMahon, Henry Stephenson, and Luis Alberni. The associate film is "Motor Madness," an exciting and entertaining drama of motor boat racing. The box plans are at the theatre sweet shop.and the D.I.C. "NO LIMIT" Comedy runs riot in the new programme to be screened at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow, when the excellent double bill presents George Formby and Florence Desmond in " No Limit" and William Gargan in " Breezing Home." George Formby excels himself in "No Limit." In the role of a chimney sweep's assistant his one ambition is to win the famous Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race, and how he achieves fame and fortune makes entertainment out of the ordinary. Formby with innumerable opportunities to use his banjo, and he strums and sings his way into and out of numerous escapades. Florence Desmond makes a charming and cap-, able partner and joins with him in the merry pot-pourri of songs and humour. A large supporting cast includes Jack Hobbs Alf Goddard, Peter Gawthorne ~ and Florence Gregson. "Breezing Home," the Universal picture which is the associate feature, sets forth the struggle of too many sweethearts. A millionairess, owning a string of racehorses, falls in love' with their trainer The same fellow has awakened the affections of a beautiful night club singer, who also owns a horse. Then the ladies meet.