AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23568, 3 August 1938, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS

EMPIRE THEATRE Proved by reason of past performances one of the greatest character actors the screen possesses, Wallace Beery has his newest role in " The Bad Man of Brimstone," now at the Empire Theatre. He is supported by a cast of a quality seldom seen on the screen, to say nothing of a Western film. Included are Virginia Bruce, Bruce Cabot, Dennis O'Keefe. Joseph Calleia, Lewis Stone, and Guy Kibbee. Beery is an interesting character as the " Bad Man," who has to deal with his son when the lad comes back from the city to clean up the gangsters in his home town. The box plans are at the tneatre and the D.I.C. "ON OUR SELECTION" " On Our Selection," a re-release of the old favourite, will be the Empire Theatre's next change. As a second attraction, "Aussie," the famous kangaroo, will give a realistic boxing show with his master. Mr Lindsay Fabre. As a matter of fact, It has been most realistic on several occasions, "Aussie " having hit his master so well and truly that the count was taken. "Aussie" can knock a man out with the greatest facility. In his pen he is as tame as the quietest household pet; he will stand any amount of petting, but he is a whirlwind boxer when the gong is sounded in the ring. Having enjoyed so many years of success and popularity on the stage, "On Our Selection" was the natural choice as the subject tor Australia's first talkie, produced by Cinesound some five years ago, with Bert Bailey heading the original cast. "On Our Selection" set unprecedented records that now stand to the credit of the film, and set a standard of box office achievements in the motion picture industry in this country. GRAND THEATRE Utilising as its unique background an elaborate automobile trailer, "Go Chase Yourself," starring Joe Penner, will be commenced to-day at the Grand Theatre. Joe Penner plays the role of a crooning bank teller who is kidnapped by bandits after they rob the bank and use Joe's trailer to effect their escape. Most of the hilarious action in this comedy feature takes place in and around the trailer won by Joe in a raffle. Appearing in support of the funny comedian are Lucille Ball as his cold-hearted wife, June Travis as a beautiful society girl who is also kidnapped by the thugs, Fritz Feld as Miss Travis's foreign fiance whom she is trying to avoid in marriage, and Bradley Page. Richard Lane and Tom Kennedy, as the bank robbers. When the police launch an extensive manhunt for Penner, whom they believe robbed his own bank a series of sidesplitting situations develop which make " Go Chase Yourself " one of the more notable laugh-provoking pictures seen this year. Before the exciting climax is reached Penner's wife and the foreign nobleman become involved, the heiress's family joins the police in their frantic search for the missing persons, Penner gets in hot water with his captors by revealing clues to his whereabouts during a roving reporter's broadcast, and the gangsters deliberately give him and the two women a "ride" by catapulting the locked trailer down a dangerous mountain road. In support of "Go Chase Yourself" will be screened "Interrupted Honeymoon," a Continental stage success which has been adapted as a screen farce for Claude Hulbert The box plans for this hilarious doublefeature programme are at the theatre and Begg's. STATE THEATRE Annabella, sensational star of " Wings of the Morning," has repeated her success in "Dinner at the Ritz," now at the State Theatre, where the second week of its season is drawing to a close. It is a story as tensely exciting as its star is excitingly lovely. In the film the most dangerous intrigue that ever involved a beautiful woman in love whirls Annabella from the brilliant salons of Paris through the fabulous gaming rooms of Monte Carlo to a luxurious private yacht on the Mediterranean. Paul Lukas, David Niven and Romney Brent are featured in the cast. The excellent supporting programme includes a delightful cartoon. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. "45 FATHERS" In "45 Fathers," Twentieth CenturyFox laugh hit, starring Jane Withers and featuring Thomas Beck, Louise Henry, and the Hartmans, which will be the next feature at the State Theatre, the young star and the ventriloquising Hartmans throw dancing, voices, and discretion to the winds. Audiences in other centres have enthusiastically acclaimed "45 Fathers" the funniest picture Jane Withers ever made. When Jane arrives at an exclusive bachelors' club to be the ward of 45 members, the hilarity begins and never lets up for a minute as she and the Hartmans, through wild ventriloquistic tricks, expose a false romance involving a young millionaire and a scheming society girl, and bring happiness to everyone in what is said to be the most uproarious climax of any picture this season. James Tinling skilfully directed the production, with John Stone associate producer. The screen play was written by Frances Hyland and Albert Ray, based on a story by Mary Bickel. REGENT THEATRE "Romance in the Dark," a delightful Viennese operetta, is at present being shown at the Regent Theatre. Gladys Swarthout, Metropolitan Opera star, heads the cast and opposite tier is John Boles. Heading the supporting cast is John Barrymore. Gladys Swarthout has a good role in this film, and one with a good deal of comedy in it. Her musical numbers are. however, of a more serious nature, ani include selections from " Carmen " and the "Barber of Seville." and the wellknown "Song of India." Boles also has a good role and is an admirable foil for the subtlety and expressiveness of Barrymore. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "BROADWAY MELODY OF 1938" Robert Taylor and Eleanor Powell costar in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's brilliant musical, "Broadway Melody of 1938," which comes to the Regenl Theatre on Friday next. With them are George Murphy, Binnie Barnes, Buddy Ebsen, Sophie Tucker, Judy Garland, Chsrles Igor Gorin. Raymond Walburn. Robert Benchley. Willie Howard, Charles Grapewm. Robert Wildhack, and a chorus of lovely dancing girls. Roy Del Ruth directed the picture, and

Dave Gould, who won the Academy Award for his direction of dancing, was in charge of the chorus. Eleanor Powell and Murphy have a number, "I'm Feeling Like a Million." Gorin sings " Sun Showers," and Taylor joins Miss Powell in "Yours and Mine." Miss Powell offers "Pair of New Shoes," and then appears with Murphy and Ebsen in "Follow My Footsteps." She sings and dances again with Sophie Tucker, Judy Garland, Taylor, Murphy, Ebsen, and Gorin in "Your Broadway and My Broadway." Miss Tucker revives her famous number, "'Some of These Days." Miss Powell proves again her right to the title of "America's Foremost Feminine Tap Dancer," and Taylor demonstrates his versatility as a star in any type of picture. The screen has seldom produced such elaborate musical comedy sets before. A 90-ton glass curtain, a replica of the Gotham Skyline, and a chorus in cellophane costumes, spectacular race track scenes, and gorgeous night club sets all flash into view with amazing speed. ST. JAMES THEATRE Three features are shown on the current programme at the St. James Theatre. Of real interest to followers of boxing is a full record of the sensational fight between Joe Louis and Max Sch.me.ling for the world championship. The film is short, necessarily so, but the action is studied in slow motion as well as in natural timing, and from every angle so that those who see the film will have a better idea of what happened than those who actually saw the fight. "Sinners in Paradise," featuring John Boles and Madge Evans, is an unusual tale of the reactions of a group of people, to life on a deserted island in the Pacific after, their luxury liner has been wrecked. "State Police," the third unit, is a fast-moving tale of combat between police and gangsters. John King, star of "The Road Back," has the leading role. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs s. "SCANDAL STREET" Being the talk of the town is no unusual experience for some people, but when one's name is linked with a murder—well, that is different. Such is the position Louise Campbell is placed in in "Scandal Street,' 1 which, with "Partners of the Plains," another of the Hopalong series, will commence a season at the St. James Theatre on Friday. When business calls Lew Ayres away to the tropics, his fiancee. Miss Campbell, accepts a position in Midburg, a small and closely-knit community, as the town's librarian. Unwittingly she gives cause for scandalmongers who, when a murder is committed, link her name with the deed. It is only when Ayres returns from his business trip and recognises the incriminating evidence for the baseless slander, that he succeeds in proving her innocence and fixing the blame for the crime on the guilty party; The neighbours are left stranded on the peak of their own "malicious gossip. Outstanding in the supporting cast is Virginia Weidler, who time and tune again has proved the asset she is to any film cast. Other players include Edgar Kennedy, Roscoe Karns, Porter Hall, and Elizabeth Patterson. East meets west in a clap of thunder in "Partners of the Plains," Cassidys latest action thriller. An easterner, in the person of beautiful Gwen Gaze, captures the heart of William Boyd, the fast-riding Hoppy, while another, her fiance, plots the cowboy's destruction with a crew of desperate outlaws. Lucky is again with his pal, while other players are Harvey Clark, Hilda Plowright, John Warburton, and Al Bridge. STRAND THEATRE Alice Brady and Charles Winninger, two popular comedians, are featured in "Good-bye, Broadway," which is now being shown at the Strand Theatre. The story of the adventures ' of a vaudeville troupe while on a tour of the Connecticut backblocks, the production is replete with humour of a particularly acceptable character. Charles Winninger is admirably cast as Pat Malloy, who, in a fit of pique, purchases a decrepit old hotel full of ancient furniture, and when the word goes round that the latter is; genuine George Washington period stuff, the fun begins in earnest. The second picture is "When G-Men Step In," a fast-moving and exciting story. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "FLIGHT INTO NOWHERE" Jack Holt, ever-dependable hero of screen adventure tales, will be seen in "Flight Into Nowhere," which will be the Strand Theatre's next featur-2. The film, a tensely dramatic tale set in South American jungles, offers its star a splendid opportunity and one of which he takes full advantage in his role as fighting chief of a transcontinental air line. Columbia has supplied the star with a charming and talented leading lady, Jacquehne Wells, and an excellent foil in the person of Dick Purcell. James Burke, as Holt's flying team-mate, is ideally cast, and the supporting roles contributed by Howard Hickman, Karen Sorrell, Fritz Leiber, Robert Fiske, and Julian Rivero, are also well handled. Jack Haley, of, "Wake Up and Live, sings again in "Danger—Love at Work," the second film, in which he shares stellar honours with Ann Sothern, Mary Boland, and Edward Everett Horton. In this new comedy by James Edward Grant and Ben Markson, Haley sings a new Gordon and Revel song, " Danger—Love at Work," a melody suggested to the songwriting team while passing a section of highway under construction. Featured in the cast of the film, directed by Otto L. Preminger, are John Carradine, Walter Catlett, Bennie Bartlett, Alan Dinehart, Etienne GtraWiot, E. E. Clive, and the Pixilated Sisters (Margaret McWade and Margaret Seddon). OCTAGON THEATRE One of the brightest English comedy productions to be screened locally for some time is "Paradise for Two," which is now at the Octagon Theatre. At the head of the cast is the inimitable Jack Hulbert. who receives valuable assistance from Patricia Ellis. The plot is really amusing, and there is a gaiety about the songs and dances that is really infectious In this film Hulbert is seen in a role more suited to his talents than any other part he has hitherto played. Some bright humour is contributed by Arthur Riscoe, who gives a fine interpretation of an important character in the amusing tale. Th2 box plans are at the theatre and Begg s. "WIFE, DOCTOR, AND NURSE" "Wife, Doctor, and Nurse,' witty, penetrating Twentieth Century-Fox hit starring Loretta Young. Warner Baxter and Virginia Bruce, whose talents are brilliantly blended together in one of the years most exceptional pictures, will be the next feature at the Octagon Theatre. "Wife, Doctor and Nurse presents a new treatment of a situation which often arises in daily business life where the wife finds that her husband has a feminine helpmate m his business or profession who, through years of close association, has become an essential part of his life. With Loretta Young in the role of the wife, Warner Baxter as the outstanding New York surgeon, and Virginia Bruce as his head nurse and indispensable aide, the story moves along at a rapid pace with many tense situations, amusing moments and smart, sophisticated dialogue. Jane Darwell, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Cass, Minna Gombeil, and Margaret Irving are featured in the notable supporting cast. MAYFAIR THEATRE To-day at the Mayfair Theatre, the New brilliant comedy drama, "As Good as Married," begins a short engagement. This picture has a fine cast, beautiful sets, and the best of writing and directing talent. It is a novel story, centreing around the efforts of a successful architect to save money on his income tax by marrying his beautiful secretary, who is in love with him. Naturally, there would be complications arising, and plenty arise in "As Good as Married " Heading the cast are John Boles and Doris Nolan. With these two stars are such excep-

tional performers as Walter Pidgeon, Tala Birell, Alan Mowbray, Kathenne Alexander and Esther Ralston. The second fiim, "The New Adventures of Tarzan," combine all the thrills of action of the famous Tarzan " stories with the stark realism of an actual jungle locale. Herman Brix, who plays the part of "Tarzan" makes the character live on the screen, and he is ably supported by Frank Baker, Ula Holt, Dale Walsh, Don Castello, Lew Sargent, Harry Ernest and the famous Chimp, Nkima. The picture was filmed by the Ashton Dearholt Expedition in Guatemala, Central America. The box plans are at the D.I.C. and Gadd's.