AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23678, 9 December 1938, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

NEW PROGRAMMES TO-DAY STRAND THEATRE Alison Skipworth—an old widowed, mother living in England—is left the sum of £IOO in the film "Hitch Hike Lady" at the Strand Theatre, and decides to spend it on a visit to her son in America, who, as she thinks, ov/ns an orange farm called "Rancho San Quentin." Oblivious to the fact that he is an inmate of the San Quentin gaol., she sets off across America by car, with a man who has collected passengers to help defray expenses by charging them 30 dollars apiece. Another of the passengers is Mae Clarke, and the two strike up an instant friendship. Deserted by their . driver, they are befriended by Jimmy Ellison. Over a cup of coffee, the widow tells her story, proudly referring to her .son's orange farm, and both Ellison and .Miss Clarke realise at once what is the real story, but cannot bring themselves to disillusion-her. Friendly crooks in the persons of Arthur Treacher.and Warren Hymer help the old lady on her way, and the story reaches an amusing climax. Three of the screen's younger players, John Howard, Mary Carlisle and Robert Cummings, play the romantic leads in " Touchdown, Army," Paramount's new gridiron drama which is the second attraction. The story concerns the rivalry of two West Point grid stars for the attentions of an officer's daughter. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. OCTAGON THEATRE Perhaps one of the best and most spectacularly produced films of its type yet to be shown here, " The Goldwyn Follies," which for the past week has occupied pride 01 place on the bill at the Octagon Theatre, has proved so popular with Dunedin pic-ture-goers that the management has decided to extend its' season v locally for another week. It has many attractions. The cast is headed by Adblphe Menjou, Kenny Baker, Helen Jepson, Zorina and Andrea Leeds; top-lining radio and stage personalities' in Phil Baker and Edgar Bergen's amazing dummy, "Charlie McCarthy," make their first, appearance; and in direct contrast, the film, features the final screen work of the late: George Gershwin, most noted of modern composers, whose untimely death occurred during the making of the film, when he had completed only about half of the numbers he was contracted to write. Ben Hecht wrote the story, which is a light affair satirising Hollywood and its doings in brilliant and typical Hecht style. A notable production from all points of view, " Goldwyn Follies " is a film | that should not be missed, for it has a universal appeal. The box plans are at the theatre, and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE , A motion picture which is being heralded as something out of the ordinary In film entertainment will come to-day to the Empire Theatre with the showing of " Port of Seven Seas," starring Wallace Beery, with a company of distinguished supporting players, including Frank Morgan, Maureen O'Sullavan. John Beal and Jessie Ralph. Beery is said to play one of his most unusual roles in the new drama, in which he deviates from such outdoor characterisations as his "Bad Man of Brimstone" and "Viva Villa!" to enact the part of the owner of a bar on the Marseilles waterfront. It is a part reminiscent of his former work with the beloved Marie Dressier. This new picture is based on Marcel Pagnol's play " Fanny," one of Europe's greatest stage successes, with screen plav by Preston Sutrges and direction by James Whale. The story deals with the lives of Cesar, rough but warm-hearted owner of the waterfront cafe, his son, Marius, who dreams of sailing to faraway places, Madelin, who loves Marius enough to let him go away, and Panisse, wealthy sailmaker, who tries to compensate her for her loss. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE The unmasking of-a notorious gang of racketeers provides the theme of "Crime Ring,' r which is at. present being shown at the Grand Theatre. A powerful gang is deriving a large amount of money' from the gullible people who frequent fortune-telling establishments, and at the same time the racketeers use those places as clearing houses for a considerable quantity of bogus securities. Their operations are carried out so cleverly, however, that the police are unable to lay their hands on them, until an actress and a newspaper reporter lay a trap into which the gang falls. Allan Lane and Frances Mercer are in the principal roles. The second picture is "This Marriage Business," a happy story of an old clerk in a small town who becomes famous for the success of the marriages ' he . registered. Victor Moore and Vicki Lester take the leading roles. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. STATE THEATRE ','Alfs Button Afloat," the hilarious English farce featuring Flanagan and Allen, Naughton and Gold, Nervo and Knox, and Alastair Sim, will commence the second week of its season at the State Theatre to-day. There is seldom a quiet moment in the film, which rattles along at breakneck speed, and contains enough farcical situations, breezy dialogue, and clever turns to satisfy the most critical. The crazy six, with Alastair Sim as the overworked genie of the button, perform all sorts of incredible feats, and have a royal time defying authority and the conventions, both aboard ship and ashore. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. REGENT THEATRE Dramatic achievement on the screen reaches new standards in "That Certain Woman," which is the main attraction on to-day's programme at the Regent Theatre. It tells of a young gril's brave struggle to live down an unfortunate chapter in her early married life, and provides a study in human qualities that the screen has rarely attempted. In the leading roles are Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, and lan Hunter. Bette Davis is said to reveal herself as an actress of outstanding dramatic ability, and her portrayal has been described as magnificent. The associate principals are provided with ample scope for dramatic interpretation, and they see to it that the very best is brought out of the story. Henry Fonda adds to a long list of successes in films of this type, and lan Hunter's work marks him out for higher things Careful directing keeps the story on a high level, and at no stage is there any evidence of straining for effect. Each sequence fits naturally into its place, and the whole is moulded into an entertainment that has been ■ ated as first class. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE "Captain Scott's Last Expedition," which tells the immortal story of an heroic adventure, and preserves for all time the tale of the fateful expedition which assisted materially in enhancing British prestige, will be commenced to-day at the St. James Theatre. As Captain Scott himself wrote. "I feel that the country need not be ashamed of us—our journey has been the biggest on record, and nothing but the most exceptionally hard luck could have caused us to fail." and those who see the picture should fully agree with that message. The film was taken by Herbert G. Ponting, the official Idnematographer of the expedition and his photography has been given ample sfope among the ice floes and lanes of the great white south. Rear-admiral E. R. G. R. Evans, who was second in cpmmand, appears in a special spoken prologue. Two screen sweethearts are

introduced to audiences in "Rose of the Rio Grande," a tale of .a dare-devil Mexican Robin Hood, John Carroll and Movita. "Rose of the Rio Grand" concerns a beautiful aristocrat who is wooed and won by a dare-devil Mexican, despite the fact that she believes him to be a hated rebel leader. Box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs's and the D.I.C. MAYFAIR THEATRE Adapted from the inimitable P. G. Wodehouse's widely-read story of the same name, "A Damsel In Distress" is the leading feature on the current double bill at the Mayfair Theatre The production is a delightful potpourri of humour, melody and dance, and sufficient guarantee of its quality is the fact that the ever-popular Fred Astaire is cast in the principal role. The story is a series of complications from beginning to end, and tells in hilarious fashion of the vicissitudes that beset an American dancer who seeks to rescue an heiress from an undesirable marriage. The second picture is "Wings Over Africa," a gripping drama in which lan Colin and Joan Gardner have the leading parts. Many of the scenes are authentic, having been taken in the heart of the Dark Continent. The box plans are at the theatre, and the D.I.C. "ANOTHER DAWN" Going far afield for a picturesque setting for a movie, Warner Brothers this time chose Iraq (which used to bo Arabia) as a locale. They placed a British garrison there, had its members surrounded by wild natives, and offered the problem of how the soldiers and their officers and wives were to be saved—if saved they might be. "Another Dawn" is the name of the picture, and it will be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. Add to that situation the fact that Kay Francis is the lady most chiefly concerned—and that the two men who love her are Errol Flynn and lan Hunter—and both have a chance to save her and the garrison—and there are the ingredients of real drama. Teaming Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell for the third time, with Robert Benchley featured in one of his funniest characterisations and with Helen Vinson as the other woman." the new Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer romantic comedy. "Live, Love and Learn." will be the second attraction. Placed largely in the colourful atmosphere of Greenwich Village's Bohemian art colony, "Live, Love and Learn " develops a sparkling story of the married life of a penniless artist and the girl who forsook wealth and society to marry him.