AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23517, 3 June 1938, Page 27

AMUSEMENTS

ST. JAMES THEATRE Music, dance, comedy, novelty and spectacle are cleverly combined to make “Artists and Models,” which will be commenced at the St. James Theatre to-day, an ideal Show Week film attraction. The standard set by the scenario writers has been fully maintained by all connected with the production of the picture, for deft direction, excellent acting, first-class specialty acts, and the ryhthmic snap of the numerous ballets are said to combine to form a bright and entertaining potpourri of entertainment. The separate ingredients are cleverly interwoven, and “Artists and Models ” should prove acceptable to local theatregoers and country visitors. Jack Benny makes his debut as a star, and his smooth humour amply bears out the statement that he is one of Broadway’s greatest humorists who have deserted the stage for the screen. The role also marks a departure for him in that, while he is still the goodhumoured butt of many of the jokes, he is given the leading romantic role, which he handles very well. Prominent in the supporting cast are Ida Lupino, Richard Arlen, Gail Patrick and Ben Blue. Benny portrays an advertising expert with a sumptuous office but very little work to do in it. By virtue of the fact that he is chairman of the annual Artists’ Ball Committee, he secures a valuable contract from a millionaire manufacturer of silverware (Richard Arlen) on the understanding that the “ Silverware Girl ” will be chosen as queen of the ball. Benny has already half promised the honour to Ida Lupino, a professional model with whom he is in love, but Arlen prefers a society girl (Gail Patrick). So Miss Lupino sets out to prove that she is as good as any society girl, and falls in love with Arlen, while Benny is sufficiently consoled by Miss Patrick. In and out of the story dash the crazy Yacht Club Boys, full of “ inspirations" for the forthcoming ball, and the action is also interrupted by Andre Kostelanetz and his orchestra. Box plans for the season are at the D.1.C., Jacobs’s, and the theatre. STRAND THEATRE The Jones Family returns to the screen in “ Off to the Races,” fourth in the series of Twentieth Century-Fox pictures of the Jones Family, which will be shown to-day at the Strand Theatre. When Uncle Slim Summerville and his horse visit the Joneses, the fun begins, and the typical American household embarks on a new series of humorous acventures. Add, for good measure. Slim’s provoking daughter Ann Gilis. and theatre-goers have a rough idea what the harried Jones Family is up against 411 the players who have made ♦he Jones Family the country’s best-loved clan are included in the cast—Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, Spring Byington, Kenneth Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson, Florence Roberts, and Billy Mahan—and Russell Gleason makes a new heart interest opposite Shirley Deane. “Under Suspicion,” the second film, stars Jack Holt in a thrilling murder mystery story by Philip Wylie. In the cast are Katherine De Mille, Luis Alberni, Rosalind Keith, Esther Muir, Granville Bates, and Morgan Wallace, Produced by Columbia, the film was directed by Lewis D. Collins from a screen plav by Joseph Hoffman and Jefferson Parker. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. OCTAGON THEATRE For years makers of screen spectacles have eyed with speculative glance the story of Chicago and its historic fire. But even an industry which had reared and razed the ancient cities of Rome and Babylon for kinema thrills baulked at the problem of reenacting the destruction of one of the largest cities in America. Now it has been accomplished, in the spectacular romantic drama, “ In Old Chicago,” produced under the supervision of Darryl F. Zanuck at Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox studios, and commencing today at the Octagon Theatre. In the course of its production the studio built two cities—one the Chicago of the 1850’s as Mrs O’Leary first saw it when she arrived with her brood; the other city of 1871, which was swept to destruction by a fire started when Mrs O’Leary's cow kicked over a lantern in her barn. A year In preparation, ancl almost half a year in actual production. the picture stands one of the most imposing tasks ever attempted in "Hollywood. Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s. EMPIRE THEATRE Roland Young as "Topper” in the Hal Roach-M-G-M feature comedy commencing to-day at the Empire Theatre, and co-starring Constance Bennett and Cary Grant, portrays a fictional character that might have been created for him. Thorne Smith, the author of “Topper.” dedicated one of his "Topper” books—“ Topper Takes a Trip to Roland Young, who was greatly impressed when he read one of the early Smith novels, “ Stray Lamb.” Young wrote a letter to Thorne Smith to pay his compliments, and they corresponded for a couple of years. Smith urged Young to call on him any time he came to New York, and there was a meeting and a resultant friendship, Young v/as in New York getting ready to do a stage play and had several screen engagements under way when he was approached with an offer of the “ Mr Topper" role. Young welcomed the opportunity to play the part, and readily accepted. A new song hit. “Old Man Moon,” by Hoagey Carmichael, who has written such outstanding tunes as “Little Old Lady.’ “’Star Dust,” “Lazy Bones” and " Rocking Chair," is rendered in the Seabreeze Resort Hotel sequence in “Topper,” to the music of an orchestra directed by Marvin Hatley. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE A racy story which never for a moment allows the interest of patrons to wane, an intriguingly original plot, and a perfectly balanced cast, all combine to make “ Breakfast for Two, which is now at the Grand Theatre, one of the most entertaining comedies seen for some time. The story depicts the drastic lengths to which a determined Texas heiress (Barbara Stan wyck) will go to win the love of the unwilling playboy (Herbert Marshall) In pursuit of her determination to capture the affections of the young man. who is the last of his family left to direct the affairs of a shipping company. the young heiress buys the controlling interest in the company and appoints the victim of her amorous designs as its vice-president. Miss Stanwyck displays an aggressiveness which goes to the extreme of making a deep impression on Herbert Marshall with a boxing glove in which is concealed a weighty door knob. When the unwilling vice-president seeks escape from the Amazonian attentions of the belligerent heiress by deciding to marry a gushing acquaintance who appears at a critical moment, the wealthy Texan damsel contrives to prevent the ceremony from taking place with the application of a little diabolical cunning, and she is eventually rewarded when, after she is treated to an overdose of her own medicine, a happy denouement brings the regenerated vice-president to a railway station, where she marries him before the gaze of the passing throng. To complete the humour which abounds in the story, Eric Blore gives one of his best performances as an old family retainer. The well-balanced programme Includes some highly entertaining short features. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. STATE THEATRE Although many of the scenes of “King Solomon’s Mines,” the film being screened at the State Theatre today, had necessarily to be taken in a studio, they are no imaginary designs of a studio artist; they are the actual locations that H. Rider Haggard had in

mind when he wrote his world-famous story of imaginative adventure and romance set in the mysterious regions of South Africa. This screen adaptation of Haggard’s novel was some months in preparation, and no trouble was spared to make a brilliant film. A unit was especially despatched to South Africa—with Natal as central location—where all necessary true-to-the-book scenes were photographed. These ranged from desert and jungle backgrounds for the principals to stirring scenes of native warfare and tribal celebrations that play an important part in the story. In order to do all this, the co-operation of the Native Affairs Department was enlisted. and no fewer than thousands of natives added to the spectacular grandeur of this picture. The box plans will be found at the theatre and at Begg's. REGENT THEATRE Ray Milland and Frances Farmer supply the romantic interest of ‘‘.Ebb Tide,” the ccraen version lilmea in technicolour of Robert Louis Stevenson’s well-known book, and commencing to-day at the Regent Theatre. Their love story is a strange one, for Milland is a beachcomber friend of Captain Thorbe:ke (Oscar Homolka), and Frances Farmer is the orphaned daughter of a sea captain, who meets him while he and Homolka are planning to steal her ship. The antagonism of the two is slowly changed to a comradely feeling as they go through several harrowing experiences together. When they are at last released from the danger that threatens them they realise they are in love. Lloyd Nolan is the maniac of the pearl business, and acquits himself with excellent effect. Charles. Judels does well as a doctor, David Torrence as a seagoing captain, and Lina* Basquette as a native girl. The beauty of the film is unusual with the sea and colouring of tropical vegetation making a lovely setting for a technicolour film. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. MAYFAIR THEATRE The Mayfair Theatre’s new Australian Cinesound feature, “Tall Timbers,’’ was adapted for the screen from a story by Captain Frank Hurley, the noted cameraman, who realised that Australia held a perfect background in the northern timber country of New South Wales. So the film emerged, an outdoor romantic drama full of action, and culminating in a giant timber drive—the most hazardous undertaking yet attempted in Australian films. In the leading parts are Shirley Ann Richards and Frank Leighton. Leighton takes the role of a young forestry officer, a virile, athletic type of young man, admirably suited for the part. Playing opposite him is Shirley Ann Richards, as the daughter of the timber king. The second feature, “Armoured Car," tells the story of a plot to rob the armoured car men of their valuable consignment. Irving Pichel and Cesar Romero are seen in the roles of the master-crooks. Robert Wilcox is a special detective who tries to upset their plans. Others in the cast are Judith Barrett, who provides the romantic interest, David Oliver, and Inez Courtney. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and Gadd’s. “UNDER THE RED ROBE” Annabella and Conrad Veidt are featured in “Under the Red Robe,” which will be shown to-morrow at the Mayfair Theatre. Based on the unforgettable story by Stanley J. Weyman and the play by Edward Rose, the Twentieth Century-Fox release pictures one of the greatest adventures of an adventurous era. In this tale of intrigue that threatens a throne, Conrad Veidt, acclaimed as one of the greatest actors Europe ever produced, plays the dashing, audacious adventurer Gil de Beraut, whose sword strikes terror to the hearts of men and whose smile brings love to the hearts of women. Annabella, the lovely actress who created a sensation in “Wings of the Morning,” wins new laurels as the radiant and charming Lady Marguerite, rapturously in love and unaware that her ardour can destroy a throne. Joan Crawford, William Powell, and Robert Montgomery are starred in “The Last of Mrs Cheyney,” the second film. To this triple-star cast Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer also has added an outstanding supporting cast that includes Frank Morgan, Jessie Ralph, Nigel Bruce, Colleen Clare, Benita Hume, Ralph Forbes, Aileen Pringle, and Melville Cooper. Based upon the famous Frederic Lonsdale play of a few years ago, Leon Gordon, Samson Raphaelson and Monckton Hoffe completely modernised the story with a deft adaptation that promises to establish the screen version as an oustanding riot of laughter and complicated situations.