AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

NEW PROGRAMMES TO-DAY REGENT THEATRE “That Certain Age,” Deanna Durbin’s latest starring production, will be commenced at the Regent Theatre today, with the regular screenings at 2.15 and 8 p.m, and a midnight matinee commencing at 10.30. There will also be a screening at 10.30 a.m, to-morrow The picture is the fourth to come from this talented child; v who has made screen history ever since she first appeared in films. “ Three Smart Gilds.’ “ 100 Men and a Girl,” and “ Mad About Music” have each surpassed the other in enthusiasm and acclaim with which they were received. Now comes “ That Certain Age,” eclipsing her pre vious successes. It is said to be one of the first pictures of the year It is 'as different from the previous trir as each of them was from the other As. Deanna grows older her stories are carefully tailored to her age. This picture is lighter in theme than the others, but'ho less powerful in entertainment content. The plot is : more comedy than any of the previous stories, but it has the same heart and stirring emotional qualities which have distinguished all of Deanna’s pictures: furthermore, in musical richness it contains the same musical treat which was such an integral part of her previous offerings. The director of “That Certain Age” is Edward Ludwig. Joseph Pasternak, who has produced all of Deanna’s pictures, acted in the same capacity on “ That Certain Age.” The story, an original by Hugh Herbert, was developed into a screen play by Bruce Manning. ST. JAMES THEATRE “ Hollywood Hotel,” which will be commenced at the St. James Theatre to-day, makes an appropria f e Christmas attraction. Starring such featured players as Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane, Hugh Herbert, Glenda Farrell Lola Lane, Johnnie Davis. Alan Mowbray, Mabel Todd, Edgar Kennedy, Louella O. Parsons. Frances Langford, and Ken Niles, the film offers a potpourri of first-class entertainment. Melody predominates m this fast-moving presentation, which also includes a wealth of humorous incident and a story that could stand on its own. When Dick Powell enters filmland with a contract tor a major musical production, he receives a stirring reception. . But things do not proceed satisfactorily, and in a merry mix*tO' he leaves. Events work to a satisfactory climax, however, when a most unusual finale provides a fitting end to an outstanding picture. A host of tuneful melodies are featured and Frances Langford, Dick Powell and others make the most of them Benny. Goodman leads his ensemble through '/ a dozen different tunes. “Hollywood Hotel” is Warner Brothers’, major musical presentation of, the year, and it is one that should compare with any such productions that have come from this studio. Box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs’s, and the D.I.C. M' ,/ .... ; , STRAND THEATRE " Judge Hardy’s Children.” third of the “Hardy Family” series, will be commenced at the Strand Theatre today. They share the problems of die father and mother and the joys and tribulations of the children, and they laugh with the characters rather than at them in the homely, down-to-earth comedy scenes. The picture, above all else, is intensely human. It deals with people everyone knows as next-door neighbours. The new picture, a sequel to “You’re Only Young Once,” takes the judge and his family to Washington. Mickey Rooney as the son has a flirtation with a little French girl. Cecilia Parker as the daughter is infatuated with a young State Department employee- and lobbyists assail the

judge, who has been appointed to a Federal commission., . Mickey gets thrown out of a dancing school for teaching Jacqueline Latent the “ Big Apple.” He gets his. first tuxedo. He returns to his school sweetheart at home. So does Cecilia. Lewis Stone plays the kindly judge and father Fay Holden is the understanding mother. Alan Marshall, and Tala Birell are featured in “The Invisible Enemy,” the second film. Box plans are at the theatre' and the D.I.C OCTAGON THEATRE Rarely has a picture been given such publicity as that accorded to Walt Disney’s full-length colqur production “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, now a household word among childrerl and others of all countries, and rarely has a picture ever been given such a reception as this film received when it was screened at a midnight matinee last night at the Octagon Theatre. There is something about Snow White” that there has never been about any previous picture. It captures the imagination immediately. Charming Snow White and all those quaint friends of hers—Grumpy, Dopey, Sneezy and all the rest—who are depicted on dolls, handkerchiefs, cakes of soap and almost everything else that will appeal to the child mind, spring immediately to life in this picture, and it would be impossible to imagine a more lovable company. “ Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is everything that has been said about it—and more. Not until they have actually seen the Eicture will the people of Dunedin e able to gauge just how delightful an entertainment this is, and when they have seen it there is no doubt that they will not rest until they make sure that all their friends will see it too. There could not be better Christmas fare. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. EMPIRE THEATRE The inimitable, internationally beloved comedians Laurel and Hardv make their first co-starring appearance on the screen in more than a year in “Swiss Miss,” a musical comedy extravaganza laid in the Alps, which will be commenced to-day at the Empire Theatre as what is described as one' of the most spectacular and pretentious feature-length productions ever turned out by the Hal Roach studios. A cast of striking distinction supports the comedy kings in the new film considerable interest being given the fact that the picture marks the debut on the American screen of Della Lind, hailed as one of Europe’s most beautiful singing stars. Also combining a brilliant vocal and acting talent is Walter Woolf King, who has starred in a long list of Broadway musical comedy hits. Eric Blore, who has added gaiety to every picture in which he has appeared, is also featured in the cast of “ Swiss Miss.” Five new songs are offered the public in “ Swis® Miss,” written by Phil Charig. who has won fame both in America and abroad, with lyrics by Arthur Quenzer The songs are “ Yo-Ho-De-O-De-Lay-Eee-Oo,” “The Cricket Song,” “As Sure as There’s a Sky Above,” “ Gipsy Song” and “I Can’t Get Over the Alps.” Also included are choral and ensemble numbers, with “ The Mountain Shepherd’s Dance,” described as the Swiss version of “The Big Apple. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE The ever-popular George O’Brien has the leading role in “ Painted Desert,” a thrilling outdoor film which heads the current programme at the Grand Theatre. The story deals with a struggle for a mine in the famous painted desert of Arizona, and the majority of the scenes, which have been laid in the Mojave Desert in California are spectacular to a degree The plot gives O’Brien every opportunity to give one of his characteristically virile performances, and he receives able support from Laraine Johnson, who plays the part of the heroine in her usual accomplished manner. The sup-

porting cast is a strong one, and includes such well-known players as Ray Whitley, Stanley Fields, and Fred Kohler, who, as the villain of the piece, is admirably cast. The associate feature is “ Fugitives for a Night,” an engrossing murder mystery story, in which the principal parts are taken by Frank Albertson, Eleanor Lynn, and Adrienne Ames. Apart from its more dramatic aspect, the film has a good leavening of clever comedy, and the doings of the members of the film colony at Hollywood are entertainingly depicted. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s. STATE THEATRE Bringing the world-famous team of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers together once more, R.K.O. , Radio’s “ Carefree,” which will be commenced at the State Theatre to-day, presents a new film romance embellished with Irving Berlin’s melodies, new dance routines, and a deftly-handled story Because Miss Rogers keeps breaking off her wedding date with Ralph Bellamy, the latter asks Astaire, a phychiatrist, to fix up any lurking inhibitions the lady may have on the subject of marriage. The pretty patient complicates matters by falling in love with Astaire instead of Bellamy When the psychiatrist fails to respond, the actress starts a hectic series of madcap adventure, the doctor meantime falling in love wtih her himself, only to find that he has a new resistance to overcome. How the seemingly lost cause is won at the last moment makes for the uproarious climax of the picture which is said to be both the funniest and most entertaining of all the Astaire-Rogers vehicles. The twe stars, with cleverly-drawn roles to enact as the psychiatrist and the actress have unusual opportunities to display the talents that made them the world s premiere dancing duo, and Ralph Bellamy as the lawyer forms the third corner of the tumultuous triangle in what is perhaps his finest role to date Box plans ar e at the theatre and at Begg’s. MAYFAIR THEATRE All through the narrative of " The Man Who Cried Wolf.” which is at the Mayfair Theatre, the drama keeps pace with the romance. The centre of the dramatic action is Lewis Stone, who portrays an actor with a mysterious penchant, that of confessing murders he has not committed. “Laughing Irish Eves,” which is the second attraction tells a rollicking story of a young Irishman. Phil Regan, who is brought to America as a ring champion. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “OH. MR PORTER!” “Oh, Mr Porter!” the hilarious new Will Hay starring vehicle, commencing to-morrow at the Mayfair Theatre, presents this popular comedian in ms most brilliant screen role. Directed for Gainsborough by Marcel Varnel. the film abounds in rich, spontaneous humour and moves in lightning tempo through side-spitting situations and uproarious complications to a magnificent climax as suspense-filled as it is mirth-provoking. The star is cast as William Porter—railway employee—the bane of the company’s existence, who causes as many vagaries on the railway as the famous Mr Porter in the old song. Unable to fire him on account of his high-placed relations, the company finds a solution to the problem by shanghai-ing the unfortunate man as station master to an obscure off-the-map town in Northern Ireland. One of the year’s outstanding spectacles is “ The Bad Man of Brimstone.” the second film, starring Wallace Beery in an epic saga of the lawless west. Staged against the grim background of the west’s most rugged panoramas. “ The Bad Man of Brimstone ” presents a saga of the unregenerate town of Brimstone, ruled by Wallace Beery. Bringing to the screen all the talents which have endeared him to the hearts of America s picture-going millions, Beery is assisted by Dennis O’Keefe and by Virginia Bruce.