AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23647, 3 November 1938, Page 19

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE A bright musical film, studded with half a dozen well-known stars, " Sally, Irene and Mary." which will receive its final screenings at the State Theatre to-day, is full of catchy tunes, spectacular dance sequences and much comedy. Alice Faye is as delightful as ever in a role which suits her to perfection and Tony Martin, who plays opposite her. Joan Davis, Marjorie Weaver, Jimmy Durante and Gregory Ratoff all assist to make the production an entertaining one. The supporting programme is a strong one. and the box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. " HAVING WONDERFUL TIME " Douglas Fairbanks, jun., appears with Ginger Rogers as her co-star in " Having Wonderful Time," the screen version of Arthur Kober's stage play, which will be shown to-morrow at the State Theatre. The noted American actor some months ago returned from a long sojourn in England to play in "The Prisoner of Zenda." In Great Britain Fairbanks starred in such films as "The Amateur Gentleman." "When Thief Meets Thief." "Accused." " Mimi," and "Catherine the Great." Ginger Rogers and Fairbanks engage in a cyclonic romance in " Having Wonderful Time." the action of which takes place at a summer vacation camp near New York. Miss Rogers is cast as a distracted stenographer seeking peace and quiet away' from the hubbub of the big city, while Fairbanks plays a young law student working as a waiter at the resort. Alfred Santell directed this Pandro S. Berman production, and the supporting cast included Peggy Conklin, Lucille Ball, Richard "Red" Skelton, Lee Bowman. Ann Miller, Donald Meek and more than a score of other prominent players. REGENT THEATRE "Romance for Three." the bright non-stop comedy in which a number of people get their identities thoroughly mixed at an alpine holiday resort, will conclude an extended season at the Regent Theatre to-day. There is not a dull moment in the picture, which features a galaxy of talent including Frank Morgan, Robert Young, Florence Rice. Mary Astor, Edna May Oliver, Reginald Owen, and Herman Bing. As a millionaire Viennese manufacturer who yearns for a return to simple pleasures, Frank Morgan wins a free holiday in a slogan competition conducted bv his own firm, and spends it in the alps, taking with. him his butler (Reginald Owen), who is also incognito. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "THE PERFECT SPECIMEN" "The Perfect Specimen," which has been received with remarkable enthusiasm in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, is said to be worthy of the high tributes paid to it by press and public, and patrons of this theatre should be sure of a feast of entertainment at the Dunedin premiere at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. "The Perfect Specimen," a Warner Brothers' production, stars Errol Flynn and the Dert Joan Blondell, and these two turn in performances of convincing brilliance. The story, written by the author of " It Happened One Night," concerns a young man, heir to a huge fortune, brought up in cloister-like seclusion by an eccentric grandmother, who wants him to be as nearly perfect as a human being can be. Curious Joan Blondell, hearing of the paragon, takes a look at him by driving her car through a fence at his home. This is the start of a series of side-splitting complications. The young man, his curiosity in turn fanned by the advent of a beautiful young lady, sets out in quest of romance. The supporting cast includes the droll Hugh Herbert, the equally funny Edward Everett Horton, Dick Forah. Beverley Roberts, Allen Jenkins, Hugh O'Connell. May Robson and others.

ST. JAMES THEATRE "Heart of Arizona," which will be finally screened at the St. James Theatre to-day, introduces again Clarence Mulford's famous character " Hopalong " Cassidy, a part played by William Boyd. George Hayes again has the role of the blustering "Windy," and others in the cast are Natalie Moorhead, Billy King and Leo McMahon. The story tells in exciting fashion how Cassidy. and his pals thwart the schemes of a gang of rustlers to take possession of a woman's ranch. The second film is " Hunted Men." an exciting story of the regeneration of a killer under the influence of a normal American family. The leading parts are taken by Lloyd Nolan and Mary Carlisle. The box clans are at the theatre, the D.1.C.. and Jacobs's. "DOCTOR RHYTHM" A new side of prison life in America, that of the backward and inhuman prison camp, is revealed for the first time in the dramatic production, " Prison Farm," which, with the merry musical, "Doctor Rhythm," will commence a season at the St. James Theatre to-morrow. Bing Crosby is prominently cast in the Paramount musical comedy, "Doctor Rhythm," as Doctor Remsen, who with a policeman friend has been to a reception to mark the annual reunion of his high school relay team. The constable, unfortunately, falls into a pool containing a seal and is unfit to carry out his position as guardian over a young girl who is attempting to elope with a notorious scoundrel. Remsen offers to act as deputy, but as the girl is very obstinate, he has great difficulty in carrying out his work. A romantic development brings his troubles to a close. Mary Carlisle, Beatrice Lille, and Andy Devine give capable performances in the main supporting roles. Shirley Ross, John Howard, and Lloyd Nolan are starred in "Prison Farm " an exciting story of a girl who is mistakenly involved with the law in a backward community. Against the advice of her friends and against her own better judgment, Shirley Ross, a working girl, keeps company with Lloyd Nolan, a young man about town When he suggests that they elope to Canada she gives up her job and home to accompany him, not knowing that he has just committed a hold-up in which a man has been killed Arrested while making their getaway, the pair are sent to a prison farm, where the girl suffers all the tortures which exist in the backward and brutal penal colony.

STRAND THEATRE "Air Devils " and " This Way Please," two entertaining films, will have their final screenings at the Strand Theatre to-night. The first picture has its setting on a South Sea island and deals with the efforts of the American constabulary to break up an unscrupulous gang who have a bad influence on the natives. A humorous touch' is added by the jealousy existent between two rival ex-marines in the force. "This Way Please" is an entertaining musical." and features Charles "Buddy" Rogers. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " REFORMATORY " The task of straightening out both a "Reformatory" badly mismanaged by corrupt officials, and the boys sentenced to the institution, is handed to Jack Holt in the Columbia drama which comes to the Strand Theatre tomorrow. " Reformatory " is a picture of life torn from the annals of prison reform. When the picture opens, Holt is seen as the assistant warden at a men's prison. When the boys at the State reform school rebel against their brutal guards, over-harsh treatment and poor food, the governor hands Holt the task of restoring order. For the first time in his career, Cesar Romero foresakes the "heavy" roles for which he was becoming widely known and portrays the romantic lead opposite Phyllis Brooks in "Dangerously Yours," Twentieth Century-Fox picture which will be the second attraction. Jane Darwell and Alan Dinehart are included in the cast of this

story of peril-packed adventure that flashes excitingly from ocean liner to city streets. OCTAGON THEATRE Sonja Henie. who has been attracting a great deal of attention at the Octagon Theatre recently in the film "Happy Landing." will make her final appearance to-night. The story of this entertaining film deals with a girl's infatuation for a dance band leader, and some unusual twists give an added interest to the romantic flavour of the tale. Don Ameche and Cesar Romero give valuable support to the girl, who has won fame for her exploits on the ice. The box clans are at the theatre and Begg's. " KIDNAPPED " Arleen Whelan. Hollywood's new star discovery. who almost overnight bridged the gap between hotel manicurist and leading lady to Warner Baxter is continuing to surprise the movie town with her talents. Miss Whelan was signed by Twentieth Century-Fox for her beauty, poise and latent acting talent. A recent screen test showed, however, that she also possesses a personable contralto singing voice. Darryl F. Zanuck sent her immediately into training with a corps of studio vocal instructors He also had associate producer Kenneth Macgowan write into the script of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped." in which she plays opposite Baxter, a song for Arleen—"Wha Whadna Fecht for Charlie?" an old Scotch ballad. Opening to-morrow at the Octagon Theatre, Stevenson's " Kidnapped" is Miss Whelan's first picture. Baxter is cofeatured with Freddie Bartholomew in the film. The featured cast includes C. Aubrey Smith. Reginald Owen, John Carradine. Nigel Bruce Miles Mander. Ralph Forbes and H. B. Warner. The story is one which Stevenson himself considered his favourite. Darryl F. Zanuck selected Alfred Werker. who directed "The House of Rothschild." to direct " Kidnapped." EMPIRE THEATRE A highly successful programme will be presented at the Empire Theatre for the last time to-day. The supporting features are outstanding in interest and duality and the main film, " Live, Love and Learn," is a delightful comedy in which Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell and Robert Benchley give of their best. A tale of an artistic and Bohemian life, it is full of humour ana the romance is humanly appealing. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "THE TEXANS" The first motion picture epic to deal with the Reconstruction South since D. W. Griffiths made motion picture history with "The Birth of a Nation" in 1915 is "The Texans," which will open to-morrow at the Empire Theatre. Although no period in American history is more filled with colour, action and romance than the days following the war between the States, when a victorious North tried to rule the defeated Southern States as conquered nrovinces, it has been almost an unploughed field as far as Hollywood is concerned. While the brooding pre-war period has been pictured many times, recently in "Jezebel," and the war itself even more, often, "The Texans" is the first epic production in more than 20 years to depict the most thrilling aspect of all, the South's titanic struggle for liberty and self-rule after Appomattox. All the tragedy of the reconstruction period is revealed as the picture unfolds. A group of the most miserable men ever to appear on the American scene, the carpet-baggers, descend on a prostrate land and rule a proud people for their own profit. " The Texans" boasts a supporting cast of some of filmdom's best-liked players. There will be a special " Guy Fawkes matinee on Saturday morning. GRAND THEATRE The two features which were commenced for a season at the Grand Theatre yesterday have little in common except the excellence of the entertainment which they provide. "City Girl" is an intensely human document, and tells a story true .to life, whereas " She's Got Everything is one of the light, airy comedies which R.K.0.-Radio appears to have something of a flair for producing. Although primarily a gangster story, "City Girl does not feature the sensational drama surrounding the routine work of racketeers. The scrip eschews sentimentality and a traditional ending, and sets out in a businesslike manner to expose the dangers which beset young American girls who go outside their own social and domestic circles in search of luxury and a gay life. Phyllis Brooks is well cast as a respectable little waitress who becomes infatuated with a prominent gangster in the person of the suave and ingratiating Ricardo Cortez. Robert Wilcox is also prominently cast. The associate feature, "She's Got Everything," brings two popular teams together again— Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond, and Helen Broderick and Victor Moore. With Billy Gilbert, Parkyakarkus, Solly Ward, and. William Brisbane heading the supporting cast, the film could not fail to be outstanding among the year's comedies. Orphaned bv her father's death, Ann Sothern inherits debts and three creditors. Victor Moore, a "bookie," proposes that Ann should marry a wealthy South American, a campaign which the creditors will enthusiastically support. Ann rejects the scheme and gets a position as secretary to Gene Raymond, wealthy head of a coffee company. The matchmaking Moore and Miss Broderick promptly select Raymond as a husband for Miss Sothern. But their plans go sadly astray, and as a result of a "faked" telegram, Moore finds he must get his friend, Solly Ward, to mesmerise Miss Sothern. Again plans misfire, and it is Miss Broderick who finds herself under the hypnotic influence. Matters become hilariously complicated until the final scene, when the escaping Ann finds herself hemmed in by a whole fleet of the coffee company's trucks, in one of which is Gene Raymond complete with a justice of the peace, witnesses and organ. In thj excitement Victor Moore and Helen Broderick do a lot of enthusiastic prompting, with the result that they also find themselves married. Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's.

MAYFAIR THEATRE The famous English comedian, Sandy Powell is admirably cast in "Leave it to Me." his latest film, which is now being screened at the May fair Theatre. His adventures as a special constable are as amusing as they are amazing, and he deals with all his remarkable adventures in typical fashion. Despite many setbacks he always reappears full of life, generally in a new guise, and stumbles and totters through the film to bring it to a happy conclusion. The second attraction. "Easy Living,' is of a different kind, being an ultrasophisticated comedy of New York life Edward Arnold has the leading role. and. cast as an unscrupulous and domineering stock market operator, gives a brilliant performance. He is ably supported by Jean Arthur. Ray Milland, and Luis Alberni. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.