AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23515, 1 June 1938, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE Outstanding singing, clever comedy, and excellent acting combine to make “ Hitting a New High,” the current attraction at *,the State Theatre, one of the most entertaining films to be seen in Dunedin for some time. In the leading role is Lily Pons, whose beautiful soprano voice is heard to brilliant effect in several well-known songs. With Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, and Jack Oakie in the cast, the comedy is fast and furious. The story is an unusual one, and is excellently handled. The supporting programme includes a March of Time and a Walt Disney Silly Symphony. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. “KING SOLOMON’S MINES” “ King Solomon’s Mines,” H. Rider Haggard’s exciting story of romance and adventure in South Africa, has become what is said to be one of the most brilliant classic films ever turned out by British studios. It will be shown on Friday at the State Theatre. G.B.D. has made it, with authentic backgrounds taken in South Africa, with a cast of stars that even Hollywood must envy—Cedric Hardwicke, Paul Robeson, Roland Young, Anna Lee. John Loder. who are supported by hundred of native extras and numerous small-part players. All the excitement and glamour of the original writing has been caught in the film version, and the addition of Robeson's wonderful voice singing three numbers makes even greater entertainment. The tallest man in Basutoland, South Africa, was discovered by Geoffrey Barkas, in charge of special native scenes. Johannes Matsu, spotted by Barkas at a native festival and signed up to appear in this picture, is seven feet tall and is a talented concert singer. REGENT THEATRE Marlene Dietrich, Herbert Marshall, and Melvyn Douglas comprise the brilliant trio in the Regent Theatre’s present attraction, “Angel.” Miss Dietrich is seen as the wife of a British diplomat (Herbert Marshall), whose interest in the League of Nations causes him to neglect his wife, who finds consolation with Melvyn Douglas for one romantic night in Paris. When she finds out that the two men are old friends, and when Douglas is brought home to dinner by her husband, the situation becomes both embarrassing and amusing. Similar incidents abound in the film. The supporting programme also reaches a high standard. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “EBB TIDE” “The Ebb Tide,” by R. L. Stevenson and his step-son, Lloyd Osbourne, one of the best works of the former’s pen, should not be missed in the transference to the sound screen. The first sea picture to be done in colour, most of if is said to be so beautiful as to take the breath away. In addition to Oscar Homolka, the cast of “ Ebb Tide ” includes Frances Farmer, Ray Milland, Lloyd Nolan and Barry Fitzgerald. It is a simple tale of three pariahs taking command of a trading schooner, oh which they are officers en route to Australia, and berthing at a South Sea island run by a religious fanatic, doing well on the side with pearls, and with whom they come to violence. Oscar Homolka takes the part, of Captain Thorbecke, and Barry Fitzgerald, trained among the Irish Players, is the horrible little beachcombing cockney. “ Ebb Tide ” will be shown at the Regent Theatre on Friday. ST. JAMES THEATRE The life and romance of one of Ireland’s most romantic figures is painted vividly in “Parnell,” which is the principal attraction at the St. James Theatre. It was a momentous time for Ireland when Parnell’s career was at its height, and the... atmosphere of the period has been captured t<p perfection. Taking the title role in the production and doing full justice to the part is Clark Gable, and the role of Kattie, the women he loved, is handled by Myrna Loy. The story of Parnell is well known, concerning as it does the love of a famous politician for a married woman, and the manner in which he spurned the highest honours in political Ireland to win her. Edna May Oliver, Edmund Gwenn, Billie Burke, and Alan Marshall are in the cast. There is a fine array of short features preceding the main film. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s, and the D.I.C. “ARTISTS AND MODELS” Jack Benny’s first solo starring picture, “Artists and Models,” which will be shown at the St. James Theatre on Friday, provides a bright vehicle for Benny’s infectious humour. A first-class cast was assembled for the production, including Ida Lupmo, Richard Arlen, Gail Patrick, Ben Blue, Sandra Storme, and Donald Meek. The producer has also chosen Connie Boswell, the Yacht Club Boys, Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra, Peter Arno, and many others for specialty acts. There is also the fast-moving story of a bankrupt advertising agent who makes good by sponsoring the annual artists and models’ ball. His publicity campaign almost touches the heights of the ridiculous as it introduces one after another hilarious situation. Events move rapidly, and long before the finish Benny is caught between the fires of bigamy and breach of promise - The sgene often changes, and a colourful glimpse of beautiful Miami is presented, where orchestras play in idyllic surroundings and beautiful girls swim gracefully in time with the music. The finale is the artists and models’ ball, where a solution '.s found to all the difficulties. STRAND THEATRE ■ Featuring the ever-popular Fay Compton in the leading role. “Wedding Group,” a romantic drama based on the life of Florence Nightingale, holds pride of place on the current programme at the Strand Theatre. Set against the background first of Scotland and then of the Crimea, the story tells of the romance of a young Highland officer who falls in love with the daughter of a minister and affords first class entertainment. Miss Compton, who will be remembered as having recently appeared in Dunedin, is admirably cast as Florence Nightingale. The supporting feature is a Western film entitled “ Silent Valley,” in which Tom Tyler plays the leading part. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “UNDER SUSPICION” Jack Holt, the perennially popular screen star, has often boasted to his intimates and fellow players that when he trusts a man he will risk not only his pocket book, but his life; on that confidence. During the filming of Columbia’s “Under Suspicion,” in which Holt plays his twentieth starring role and which is coming on Friday to the Strand Theatre, he had the opportunity to make good that boast as far as risking his life was concerned. A mystery story, the plot contains a scene in which a rifle bullet crashes through a window, whizzes past Holt’s head, and buries itself in the wall behind him. The script called for a close-up of the action, and Director Lewis Collins, a stickler for realism. called for an expert marksman, and Holt had to go through the actual scene. The Jones Family is back again, but this time it is not a private fight, for Slim Summerville and his horse have joined the family, adding a new amusing element to “ Off to the Races,” Twentieth Century-Fox production featuring the Jones Family, which will be the second film. The fourth film in the popular series about a typical American family again has Jed Prouty and Spring Byington as the harassed heads of the family, with Russell Gleason as a new heart interest for Shirley Deane.

OCTAGON THEATRE Although in the second week of its Dunedin season, “ Lancer Spy,” a screen version of one of Marthe McKenna’s thrilling stories, continues to prove a popular attraction at the Octagon Theatre. Heading the cast is George Sanders, who won such acclaim for his acting in “ Lloyds of London.” He plays a dual role—that of Lieutenant Michael Bruce and von Robach, a captured German lancer, whose appearance and mannerisms he has studied to such purpose that he is able to impersonate him and secure the plans of the German high command. His adventures are dramatically told, and make a gripping film narrative. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. “IN OLD CHICAGO” Twentieth Century-Fox will present the New Zealand premiere of Darryl F. Zanuck’s production “In Old Chicago ” with Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche in the leading roles, at the Octagon Theatre on Friday. They head the cast of the great American motion picture which includes Alice Brady, Andy Devine, Brian Donlevy, Phyllis Brooks, Tom Brown Sidney Blackmer. Berton Churchill. June Storey and Paul Hurst. Henrv King directed the screen play by Lamar Trotti and Sonya Levien based on a story by Niven Busch. Music and lyrics included in the film were written by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel and Lew Pollack and Sidney D. Mitchell. More than 3000 actors and extras appeared in one scene of “ In Old Chicago,” which tells an absorbing love story, with the famous Chicago fire of 1871 as the climactic scene. EMPIRE THEATRE Something distinctly unusual in kinema entertainment is provided by the current attraction at the Empire Theatre, where “Daughter of Shanghai ” is attracting considerable attention Featuring the fascinating Anna May Wong, the story tells of a girl secret agent who endeavours to break up a gang of smugglers who had killed her father She discovers an island where the gang has its headquarters, and after many thrilling adventures exposes the band engaged in smuggling aliens.,into America. Philip Ahn, Charles Bickford and Evelyn Brent are also in the cast. The supporting programme is an excellent one. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “TOPPER” The ultra-modern Seabreeze Resort Hotel shown in the Hal Roach-M-G-M feature comedy “Topper,” coming on Friday to the Empire Theatre, represents one of the largest and most comnlete interior sets to come out of Hollywood. To reproduce the entire main floor of a fashionable hostelry, all space of a new sound stage—lßo feet long. 120 feet wide and 40 feet high —was utilised. The design incorporates modern classics in architecture and the furnishings and decorating introduce a number of futuristic features. Twenty-four massive glass colonnades and more than 200 feet of ornamental railings surround the dance floor of the dining room to create a most impressive spectacle. Constance Bennett and Cary Grant as the gay ghosts, with Roland Young as “ Cosmo Topper ” and Eugene Pallette as “Casey," the house detective, stage a series of hilariously funny and thrilling scenes in the Seabreeze Resort Hotel. The set was dressed with several hundred fashionably-gowned women alid formally-attired men. GRAND THEATRE' A pugilistic heroine is the novel assignment filled by Barbara Stanwyck in her current RKO Radio vehicle “ Breakfast for Two,” _ a comedyromance in which she is co-starred with Herbert Marshall. Madly in love with Marshall, according to the story, Miss Stanwyck engages in a boxing bout with a tall Englishman and succeeds in giving him a black eye. And according to the script, Marshall comes back for more by proposing marriage and being accepted. Alfred Santell directed the production by Edward Kaufman, and tire supporting cast includes Glenda Farrell, Eric Blore, Frank M. Thomas, Etienne Girardot and Donald Meek. From the time the pair meet during a wild night club tour of cocktail rendezvous, they are engaged in open hostilities right up to their march down the aisle to the altar. Glenda Farrell, as a gold-digger who has designs on Marshall, also does her share to place boulders in the rocky road to romance. There is a good programme of short subjects, and the box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s. MAYFAIR THEATRE There are unlimited thrills in “Tall Timbers,” which will be commenced at the Mayfair Theatre to-day, and the work involved in “ capturing ” them for the screen entailed weeks of hard work, fraught with danger. The preparation for the timber drive at Craven Plateau alone occupied 20 expert axemen for over a month. The road from Gloucester to Craven Plateau is most difficult, including a climb of 3000 ft above sea level. At one stage there is an ascent of 1280 ft in two miles, and at times the rise is one in seven. The cars and lorries conveying the party of about 30 and carrying the heavy technical equipment, camping outfit, and stores were severely tested. For the purpose of filming the big spectacle 10 camera stands had to be erected. Some of these were stationed well up the mountain side. Tracks had to be cut through heavy scrub and across creeks, and platforms had to be erected for cameras in positions which had to be specially cleared. A further delicate operation was the plugging of the “key” trees with explosive and laying down the wiring connections by means of which, at a given signal, the charge would be exploded simultaneously. The signal for the explosion was also the signal for the cameras to roll. “Armoured Car,” the second film, features Robert Wilcox in the role of a guard in charge of an amoured truck and Irving Pichel as a master-mind of the underworld, who tries to rob the modern treasure galleons. Wilcox, in love with Judith Barrett in the story, is discharged under circumstances which cast suspicion on his honesty. Actually, he is a detective set-to trap the thieves. After many suspense-filled incidents, including the blasting of a mountain road and the dynamiting of a bridge to enable the crooks to capture an armoured car. the story moves to a stirring climax, unexpected and pulse-quickening. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and at Gadd’s.