AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23692, 27 December 1938, Page 18

AMUSEMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES STRAND THEATRE The audience becomes part of a delightful family in "Judge Hardy's Children," third of the "Hardy Family" series, which is being shown at the Strand Theatre. They share the problems of the 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 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. 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 "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which is at the Octagon Theatre, is Walt Disney's first full-length technicolour cartoon. In the creation of his characters Disney has stuck pretty much to a conventional hero, heroine, and villainess. But in his dwarfs he has applied the same inventiveness that made Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck, and all the others such matchless conceptions. They are his masterpieces, and should be just as popular as anything he has ever done, because they are fresh realisations of the conventional dwarfs of fairyland. As for the film's colour and synchronisation, they are said to be as perfect as ever. But if Disney leads all the world with his cartoons, his magic is not merely in beautiful colour or synchronisation, but rather in imagination and vitality. Disney has seen to it that the picture is perfectly balanced, with plenty of chuckles and drama to spice the charm and romance. Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE Laurel and Hardy have taken a new location for their latest film, " Swiss Miss," which is showing at the Empire Theatre. This time Switzerland provides the background for their hilarious antics. As a couple of super salesmen, selling mousetraps, they conclude that Switzerland, with all its che«se, ; should be an ideal market for their wares. A Swiss factory proprietor is too good for them, however, and they are soon in plenty of trouble. To keep the peace with an irate innkeeper who is demanding payment, they start to work off their debt in the kitchen. The damage they do is more than they are worth, but they provide plenty of fun in their efforts. Hardy's wooing of a young lady (Delia Lind). whom he supposes to be a peasant girl, but who is really the opera star wife of a composer (Walter Woolf King) is highly amusing. King is seeking peace to compose a masterpiece, and he and his wife (who has followed him) bring romance and some good vocal numbers into the film. The humour throughout is most refreshing, and the alpine settings are splendid. Eric Blore, as the composer's valet, is very good, and other characters are a huge St. Bernard from which Laurel, after a great deal of trouble, filches a cask of brandy, and a chimpanzee. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "DAD AND DAVE COME TO TOWN " In the history of the Australian stage and screen, the name of Bert Bailey stands for some of the finest ideals in show business. In management and as a producer he not only fostered Australian acting talent, but in his policy of presenting Australian plays he vitally assisted the Australian dramatist. " The Squatter's Daughter," "Robbery Under Arms," "The Term of His Natural Life," "The Sentimental Bloke," " The Breaking of the Drought" and " Mum Dawson. Boss," written by the mother of the wellknown radio player Sumner Locke Elliott, are a few of the Australian plays that Bert Bailey has produced. His greatest success, and the most phenomenal success of Australian stage and screen was. of course, " On Our Selection." For 28 years Bert Bailey played Dad in this Steele Rudd play. And the passing of the years has not diminished, but increased, the popularity of his characterisation. In " Dave and Dad Come to Town," new Cinesound production, which will come to the Empire Theatre on Friday, again he skilfully creates, the " Dad" everyone knows and loves. His old felt hat has changed in the city sequences for a glossy topper, and a flower in the butterhole of his morning coat replaces the straws in his whiskers. GRAND THEATRE A cattle stampede, the wrecking of a train carrying tungsten ore by a gang of maurauders, and an attempt to dynamite a mine are among the thrilling scenes in the outdoor production, "Painted Desert," which is one of the features now showing at the Grand Theatre. A good performance is given by George O'Brien, who is cast as a rancher on whose land a wandering prospector and his attractive granddaughter are attempting to develop a tungsten mine. The second production on the programme is "Fugitives for a Night," a thrilling murder mystery, which also has a good leavening of comedy. The leading roles are taken by Frank Albertson and Eleanor Lynn, with Adrianne Ames in support. Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's.

"MR MOTO TAKES A CHANCE" The mystery master of Saturday Evening Post fame returns to.the screen in "Mr Moto Takes a Chance," latest in the series of adventures based on the character created by J. P. Marquand. which will be shown to-morrow at the Grand Theatre, with Peter Lorre in the starring role, and a strong Twentieth Century-Fox supporting cast headed by Rochelle Hudson, Robert Kent, and J. Edward Bromberg. Into a weird wilderness of mystic temples, wells of death, native sorcery, poisonous blow-gun darts, and other nameless terrors, ventures one of the screen's most amazing sleuths to face the most sensational adventure of his perilous career as he seeks to solve his most baffling mystery. Amid the treachery of the Far East, the mysterious Mr Moto, through the use of clever disguises, pits his intelligence against the craftiest killers of the jungle. With the captive girl, a newsreel cameraman, and his assistant, the famous detective fights his way out of such traps as poisonous cobras, mysterious murders, and wily highpriests. STATE THEATRE Together again in what is probably the best film they have ever made, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers give a sparkling exhibition of their versatility in "Carefree," which is now showing at the State Theatre. Fred is cast as a psychiatrist, and in an effort to discover why Miss Rogers keeps putting off her wedding with his friend Ralph Bellamy he offers to psychoanalyse her. Complications set in from the start, and the young lady soon finds that it is her doctor that *he loves. Fred, always willing to help a friend, hypnotises Ginger, and. while she is under the spell forces her to imagine she is in love with Ralph Bellamy. He goes further than that and make's her understand that "men like the doctor should be shot down like i does." He soon has cruse to regret this His duty nobly done, the doctor suddenly rea'ises that- he is, himself, in love with the girl, but it is too late, for when she comes around (after a series of mad adventures while still under the hypnotic spell) she has only hatred for him. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's.

REGENT THEATRE More vivacious and likeable than ever Deanna Durbin scores another hit in her latest picture, "That Certain Age," which is now drawing large audiences to the Regent Theaire, where it heads the current programme. As the daughter of a wealthy newspaper proprietor, Deanna embarks upon a troubled romance when, although regarded by everyone as a child, she makes an unwilling hero of a returned war correspondent, a part admirably played by Melvyn Douglas. Jackie Cooper, as her boy friend of her own age, is ruthlessly rejected in favour of the sophisticated Douglas, and the climax of the picture is provided by the efforts of Deanna's parents and Douglas himself to talk Deanna out of her infatuation. Action, sparkling comedy and music are about equally blended in this bright picture, which teems with memorable incidents. There is a ghost scene which is far better than the average and other wellproduced interludes are those in which the unsuccessful suitor talks with his mystified rival. Altogether it is a picture that can truthfully be said to suit all tastes. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE All the brilliance of Hollywood night life, its clubs, hotels, and the glamour of its stars, are brought to the screen in "Hollywood Hotel," a spectacular musical film now showing at the St. James Theatre, with a cast of outstanding stars. Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane, Edgar Kennedy, Hugh Herbert, Alan Mowbray, Ted Healy, and Glenda Farrell all have important roles, and Benny Goodman and his world-famous swing band have zn important part. Ronnie Bowers (Powell), a saxophone player, secures a 10-weeks' contract in Hollywood, and he is given a great send-off from his small-town friends. He is thrown into "glamour circles" in an amazingly short time, but only because of the temperamental nature of Hollywood's leading lady (Lola Lane), who, after quarrelling with her agents, re : fuses to attend a preview of her own picture. Fortunately, a waitress (Rosemary Lane) is discovered, and with the aid of the make-up genius, she is transformed into the beautiful star who has left the city in. a rage. Powell is invited to take the impersonator—under the impression that she is the star—to the preview, and it is after this that some hilarious incidents occur. Alan Mowbray, filled with his own importance, has a delightfully funny role, while Ted Healy, hopelessly inefficient manager of Powell, sets a new record in wisecracking. The box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs's, and the D.I.C. MAYFAIR THEATRE "Oh Mr Porter!" the hilarious new Will Hay starring vehicle, now at the Mayfair Theatre, presents this popular comedian in his most brilliant screen role'. Directed for Gainsborough by Marcel Varnel. the film abounds in rich, spontaneous humour and moves in lightning tempo through side-split-ting situations and uproarious complications to a magnificent climax as sus-pense-filled as it is mirth-provoking. The star is cast as William Porterrailway employee—the bane of the company's existence, who causes as manv vagaries on the railway as the famous Mr Porter in the old song. 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 Brim-' stone" presents a saga of the unregenerate town of Brimstone, ruled by Wallace Betry. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "I SEE ICE" " I See Ice," released by British Empire Films, George Formby's latest picture, which will be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow, should be a riotous success. This A.T.P. entertainment is claimed to provide that master comedian with even greater comedy opportunity than those of any of his previous films, which include "Keep Fit" and "Keep Your Seats Please." It is a rollicking story of a country boy "making good" as a photographer's assistant whose ingenious camera, which he conceals in his tie. is a great asset in leading himself and his girl friend to fortune. His great ambition, to become a member of the staff of a London newspaper, leads George into some hilariously funny and embarrassing situations. Arsene Lupin, that famous fictional character created by Maurice Le Blanc, is revived in "Arsene Lupin Returns, which will be the second film. In this new mystery thriller the adventures of the famous gentleman jewe. thief, who is supposed to be dead, are continued. Melvyn Douglas, .Virginia Bruce and Warren William share leading roles, wjth John Halhday and Nat Pendleton also prominentlv cast. Tn the supporting cast are Monty Woolley, E. E. Clive, and George Zucco. The picture was directed by George Fitzmaurice.