AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE “Sailing Along.” the film to be commenced at the State Theatre to-day, features Jessie Matthews and Roland Young. The film begins in thoroughly English fashion on a sailing barge entering the Thames. Kgte, the bargemaster’s adopted daughter, is as useful on board as most men. but her ambition is to dance on the stage Meanwhile, she dances whenever she can on the decks of the barge, much to the annoyance of the bargemaster t son. who is busy taking various correspondence courses, and who is convinced that if he had £SOOO he could make immense sums on the Stock Exchange Then one day when the barge is delayed at a lock, Kate's dancing attracts the attention of a soup million aire whose hobby is to collect geniuses Most of his geniuses turn out to have no talent at all. but Kate takes a different course. Some of the scenes while she is being put through her paces provide excellent opportunities for comedv of her own inimitable kind. One of the best parts of the film is a dance sequence set on the London waterfront, with Jessie Matthews and Jack Whiting together Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. “THE GAP” At the present time, when the question of home defence is an all-impor-tant one, a warning such as is conveyed by “The Gap,” which will commence a season to-day at the State Theatre, is timely. At the invitation of the management several territorial officers were present yesterday afternoon at a private screening of the film, which revealed that, although the production is purelv propaganda, it is none the less interesting in so much as it gives a graphic insight into the measures being taken in England to protect the country from attack by air. But it does more than this—it demonstrates with startling realism what could happen to the Mother Country, and indeed to any of its dependencies, if, through lack of trained men. a gap is left in the chain of defences. Dealing principally with what is being done to form the nucleus of an efficient territorial army, the film weaves the every-day work of the recruits and of the different units of the army and the Air Force into i well-connected story, and illustrates how the various branches can be co-ordinated and directed from one central control. It also depicts how a raid by enemy aircraft is met, but underlying it all is the fact that, no matter how efficient and how perfectly controlled and linked up the arms of the service may be, the whole scheme of defence must break down if one link in the chain is weakened by insufficient manpower. REGENT THEATRE Samuel Goldwyn’s motion picture based on the powerful Sidney Kingsley drama of life in a city street will be shown at the Regent Theatre to-day. with Sylvia Sidney and Joel McCrea heading an impressive cast. "Dead End” has profited by the sincere performances of each individual member of its cast: the production with which Mr Goldwyn always endows his films: the direction of William Wyler, who directed such hits as “ These Three ” and “ Dodsworth the photography of Gregg Toland, and one of the most impressive sets to came out of Hollywood. Richard Day’s version of the “dead end” street at the river’s edge where the fashionable apartments gingerly rub shoulders with the squalid tenements of the slums. Sylvia Sidney as Drina. the little slum girl who fights a valiant but losing battle to save her small motherless brother, Tommy, from the gangster’s fate she has seen the slum mete out to so manv of its sons, and Joel McCrea is Dave the penniless young architect she loves and who. in turn, is loved by Kay (Wendy Barrie), the girl who has found a dubious route out of the slum into a penthouse in the fashionable apartment next door. Others in the cost are Humphrey Bogart, Claire Trevor, and Allen Jenkins, while the six important juvenile roles are played by the boys who played in the original cast. An attractive array of shorts wil 1 be screened in conjunction with tin* main feature. Box plans are at the D.I.C, and the theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE Abounding in delightful situations, clever and amusing dialogue, and crisp action, “ Storm in a Teacup.” which will commence a season at the St. James Theatre to-day. provides exceptionally attractive entertainment. Based on a popular stage play written by Bruno Frank, who sought to expose the fact that an excessive dog tax was compelling poor people to send their beloved pets to the lethal chamber, this Anglo-Scottish version, written by James Bridie, is one of the cleverest comedies to be presented on the screen, the characters in a small Scottish community being drawn with a merciless clarity that exposes their unhappy traits of hypocrisy, pomposity and insincerity in masterly fashion. Many of the scenes are filled with riotous comedy. Vivien Leigh, the lovelv newcomer to the screen, who played so well in “ Dark Journey ” and “ Fire Over England,” is charming as the provost’s daughter, who falls m love with the reporter and supports him against her father’s tyranny. Rex Harrison acts with sincerity and poise as the reporter, Cecil Parker is the provost, and Sara Allgood is the voluble Mrs Hegarty, whose dog. Patsy, is the cause of the titular storm. An excellent supporting programme lends additional attraction to the programme. while an outstanding feature will be ffie stage appearance of Jack Carter, the popular yodelling hill-billy cowboy, direct from his successful tour of Australia. Box plane for the season are at the D.I.C. Jacobs s and the theatre. STRAND THEATRE Obsessed oy the idea that he is a mighty hunter, eccentric millionaire Eugene Palletle stops his private tram to go gunning with his valet Arthur Treacher after a large rabbit, i he pet of Jack Haley, a country boy. in ‘ She Had to Eat,” the film to be commenced at the Strand Theatre to-day. In apology, Pallctte invites Jack aboard his train and gets drunk with him, but kicks him off after he sobers up. Alone in a distant city Jack falls in with Rochelle Hudson. Jack brushes with the police when he is mistaken for Burns, a notorious gunman. Only his fingerprints save him, for the resemblance is perfect. Learning that millionaire Pallette has arrived in the city Jack goes to the station with Rochelle to claim his rabbit, which is still aboard Pallette’s train, on which events lead up to the amusing climax Boris Karloff is in his element as the sinister Dr Laurience. a role ideally suited to his macabre style, in "The Man Who Changed His Mind,’ the second film. If anyone can change minds. Karloff is the actor most likely to make audiences believe such a feat possible. Anna Lee does well partnered in the romantic passages by John Loder, who turns in a clean-cul study. Frank Collier’s is a good performance, the player registering effectively in scenes where he is possessed by the mind of the cripple, a cameo etched in by Donald Calthrop. Box plans arc at the theatre and the D.I.C. OCTAGON THEATRE So popular has “ In Ola Chicago proved that the management of the Octagon Theatre has decided to extend its season for a third week. The story is based on the graft arising from the svslem of ward politics which was rife in American cities, and around this theme the producers have built a thrilling and dramatic story which is brought to a climax by the terrific fire which swept the notorious quarter of Chicago known as “ The Patch ” Spectacularly produced, the film is noteworthy for the meticulous attention to detail with which the various scenes have been staged, and the acting loaves nothing to be desired. Alice Brady draws a fine character sketch of the Widow O'Leary, the mother of two

boys, and her portrayal, which is marked by a fine sense of dramatic values, is lightened by some clever touches of comedy. Don Ameche is also well cast, and Tyrone Power gives a realistic performance in a part that bristles with difficulties. Alice Faye, who handles the role of Belle Fawcett, the darling of “ The Patch.” also gives a convincing study, and the minor parts are well handled. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE In “Big City.” the film to be commenced at the Empire Theatre to-day, Luise Rainer, last year’s Academy Award winner for her role as Anna Held in “ The Great Ziegfeld,” becomes the lowly, half-frightened foreign girl soon to become a mother, terrified with the threat of the big town, yet ready to live or die for the huskyvoiced mate who drives home in his cab between fares. This is the role taken by Spencer Tracy, who makes a reappearance after his performance in " Captains Courageous.” The veteran character actor, Charley Grapewin heads the suporting cast of “Big City and other well-known names in promi nent roles include Janet Beecher. Eddit Quillan. Victor Varconi, Oscar O’Shea Helen Troy, William Demaresl 'ohr. Arledge, Irving Bacon, Guinn Williams and Regis Toomey Also of in terest is the appearance in a realistic free-for-all street battle sequence of the story of such noted names of the sports world as Jack Dempsey James J. Jeffries, Jimmy McLarnin Maxie Rosenbloom, Jim Thorpe. Frank Wykoff, Jackie Fields. Man Mountain Dean Bui! Montana, and other athletes. One of the picture’s scenes is laid in Jack Dempsey’s restaurant, the famous gathering place of sports celebrities having been copied to the last detail. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE A bright and breezy romance in the adventurous setting of Spain in revolution, “ Love Under Fire,” with Loretta Young and Don Ameche as the outstanding personalities, is now at the Grand Theatre. Supported by an excellent combination of interest “ shorts ” and newsreel specialities, it provides patrons with a highly entertaining evening of carefree enjoyment. The dexterously-arranged background of Spanish war incidents is effectively managed to spice the tale with adventure and moments of exciting suspense without being intruded unnecessarily, and the vivid personalities of the principals, Loretta Young and Don Ameche, show to advantage in the incidents of “ Love Under Fire,” giving the romance the glamour and attractiveness of an Oppenheim story. The revolution makes perfectly credible excuse for the appearance of hotel, aeroplane and ship under fire, when all foreigners to the country are suspect, and in the general rush for safety the lovers find an assortment of queer characters pitch-forked into their romance, while the general atmosphere of suspicion also infects them. Comedy as well as musical interest is introduced by Borrah Minovitch and his band of harmonica specialists, with added drolleries by Walter Catlett, John Carradine and Clyde Cook. The box plans are at the theatre and Bcgg s MAYFAIR THEATRE A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, “Good Old Soak,” starring Wallace Beery, is the first feature at the Mayfair Theatre. This is the screen version of the hit play, “The Old Soak, by Don Marquis, famous newspaper columnist, who struck with _ humorous irony at the era of prohibition in America. The story recajls much to the generation of the time and presents an amusing picture for those who were too young to appreciate it then. It is an admirable cross-section of typical America in the days of drought, without venom but never lacking truth. Scoring in the supporting cast are Una Merkel, Eric Linden. Judith Barrett, Betty Furness, Ted Healy, Janet Beecher. George Sidney, Robert McWade and James Bush. The superlative pictorial beauty of the second film, “ When Love is Young,” which in addition to Walter Brennan features the glamorous Virginia Bruce and handsome Kent Taylor as the romantic leads, is due in a large part to Hal Mohr’s supervision of the photography and lighting. Having won one Academy award. Mohr is out for another, this time for direction, and this latest Universal picture is his first bid for further Academy honours. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and Gadd’s. “WEE WILLIE WINKIE" Kipling's colourful characters live again in the Twentieth Century-Fox picturisation of his famed “Wee Willie Winkie,” which will be shown tomorrow at the Mayfair Theatre, with Shirley Temple and Victor McLaglen in the starring roles. From the heart of India, where all the world is wild and strange, where the British raj ends at Khyber Pass, in the land of the Bengal Lancers, comes this adventure of the Scottish Highlanders in action and of the little girl who won the right to wear their plaid. The most spectacular production in which Shirley Temple has yet appeared. “Wee Willie Winkie” gives Victor McLaglen a powerful role as a fearless, fighting fool, and provides opportunities to C. Aubrey Smith, June Lang. Michael Whalen, Cesar Romero, Constance Collier and young Douglas Scott Will Hay, the popular English comedian, proves his versatility in “ Windbag the Sailor.” which will be the second film. In the past he has been featured principally as a school master who gets mixed up in all sorts of comic situations, and he is equally successful now that he has taken to the sea.