AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE “Tovarich,” the screen version of the world-wide successful play, is now at the Regent Theatre Produced by Warner Brothers on an unusually lavish scale and having Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer as its stars, the picture is regarded as one of the funniest and most entertaining of the season’s releases. The story finds Miss Colbert as a grand duchess and Boyer, her husband as a prince, both of the old Russian nobility, almost starving in Paris, to which capital they have been driven by the Soviet revolution This is despite the fact that they have deposited in a -Paris bank some 40 billion francs, Efforts are made by certain French-Russian interests to have the orince release the 40 billion to finance a counter-revolution which might restore the old nobility to control. The entry Pf a Soviet commissar to the scene in an effort to secure the monev leads to complications, giving rise to numerous and thrilling episodes. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ HOLIDAY ” “ Holiday.” which will be commenced at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is the story of a 'mung debutante, stifled by wealth and famous position, confused by the crowded and meaningless activity of a socialite’s life who falls in love with a voung man with a sense of humour and a sense of proportion Adapted from the brilliant stage play bv Philip Barry, a Broadway “hit" of a few years ago. “ Holiday ” offers Katharine Hepburn one of the best roles of her screen career As the heroine, she loses herself in an understanding humour that should widen her field of admirers. Cary Grant has a role with a more serious motivation than in any of his previous pictures but a role which bubbles over with the good spirits he is so apt at reflecting. Lew Ayres creates a new attractive figure of himself as the insouciant brother while Doris Nolan brings loveliness and a carefully toned touch of coolness to the role of the sister. Edward Everett Horton shows himself at his best as the very human Professor Potter, with Jean Dixon appearing as his wife. The Columbia studios which were responsible for “The Awful Truth.” lavished all their resources on “Holiday.” which was directed by George Cukor who was in charge of “ David Copperfield,” ST. JAMES THEATRE A swiftly-moving comedy which has a laugh in every minute is " Hold That Kiss,” which is at present being shown at the St. James Theatre. The central figures in the romance that runs through the story are a young dressmaker and a youth who works in a tourist bureau, and as each labours under a mistaken idea that the other belongs to the moneyed class, there are all sorts of complications which are not effectually straightened out until the end of the picture. Mickey Rooney Maureen O’Sullivan and Denis O'Keefe have the leading parts. Included in the supporting programme is a Laurel and Hardy comedy. “ Beau Hunks," dealing with their adventures in the Foreign Legion, and. needless to say. it is as amusing as a Laurel and Hardy comedy should be. The box plans are at the theatre. Jacobs’s and the D.I.C. "BULLDOG DRUMMOND IN AFRICA ” In line with the present difficulties over international spy rings is the latest Bulldo r Drummond mystery film, “Bulldog Drummond In Africa.” which will be shown on Friday at the St. James Theatre. With the theft of military secrets as its central theme, the picture shows the length to which determined spies will go to carry out their plans. They include the kidnapping of Colonel Nielson, the head of Scotland Yard, and his removal from his English country estate to the Moroccan hill country, the posing of one spy as a British diplomatic official, the bombing of an aeroplane attemptin'. to rescue Nielson, and finally, the use of mediaeval tortures to extract secrets from unwilling victims. John Howard, appearing as “Bulldog Drummond ” for the fourth.time, will be seen in the title role. Newcomers to the “ Drummond ” cast include Heather Angel, the English star, who has the role of Phyllis Clavering, H. B. Warner cast as the head of Scotland Yard, and J. Carrol Naish. who plays the leader of the spy ring. The Paramount picture was directed by Louis King. Crooked ranchers. In secret league with cattle rustlers, find themselves up against a proposition too hot to handle when they try to rob the daughter of the most feared yet innocent outlaw in Zane Grey’s newest tale of the range, “ The Mysterious Rider,” the second film. STRAND THEATRE “ The Gladiator,” the first feature on the Strand Theatre’s current programme. stars Joe E, Brown in the role of a scientifically-created superman who suddenly develops an amazing aptitude for sport. The widemouthed comedian is given excellent support by a cast which includes June Travis, Robert Kent, Lucien Littlefield, Dickie Moore, Ethel Wales and the famous wrestler Man Mountain Dean, who appears to be the possessor of more than a little ability for burlesque comedy work. The supporting feature is “ City Streets.” a warm-hearted drama with Edith Fellows and Leo Carrillo in the leading roles. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C "MIDNIGHT MENACE” Fritz Kortner, Continental character actor and star of “Abdul the Damned,” comes to the screen again in the latest A.T.P. release. "Midnight Menace,” which will be shown on Friday at the Strand Theatre. Co-starring with Charles Farrell, he is cast as M Peters, foreign representative of Grovinia a tiny European country cut about by ,he Treaty of Versailles He attempts to draw England into a European struggle because of his daughter’s death in the hands of some Allied troops during the Great War. In this attempt he would have been highly successful had not Graham Stevens, oolitcal correspondent of the Daily World accidentally stumbled on the plot, Because of his knowledge, Stevens, returning to the Daily World, is pushed into a stream and killed, but not before he has warned Brian Grant, a cartoonist on the same paper, that a big story is on its way “Gangs of New York,” which will be the second film, is said to be dramatic entertainment There is excitement, thrills and action, with an unusual story and an excellent cast, and the picture moves fast from beginning to end Charles Bickford plays a dual role of Officer Franklin of the New York State Police and Rockv Thorpe ruthless racketeer. OCTAGON THEATRE Walt Disney’s conception ot small birds and animals of the gentler kind is one of the many reasons why his productions are so beloved by young and old alike. His little rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, blue-birds and tortoises, as well as his deer and fawns, have exquisitely appealing qualities. Logically enough. Disney chose his first full-length feature, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” as the one in which he could include all varieties of his animal characters. That he succeeded in enhancing the general appeal of the film by so doing is amply testified to by the obvious appreciation of the little creatures by the big crowds that have been consistently packing the Octagon Theatre where “Snow White” is enjoying a highly successful run. One of the most charming scenes in the film takes place when Snow White, finding the dwarf’s cottage dirty, sets to work to clean it out with the aid of her animal friends. Of the dwarfs. Snow While. Prince Charming and the wicked queen, enough has been written, and it will suffice to say that all the eulogies

poured on their creator are justified. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s.

EMPIRE THEATRE Two of the most popular figures in Australia are Steele Rudd's famous characters "Dad” and “Dave.” Judging by the enthusiastic reception given the latest film starring these two, “ Dad and Dave Come to Town,” at the Empire Theatre, local patrons think much the same about them as do the Australians. That fine old actor Bert Bailey again .gives his inimitable portrayal of “ Dad,” and vests in that character all the bluff warmth and sincerity of the typical Australian small farmer. ” Dave.” in the person of Fred MacDonald, is as slow-spoken and shambling as usual, and he makes an ideal "off-sider" for his parent. The story deals with the adventures of the famous pair when they go to town to take over control of a modern dress salon that “Dad” inherits from a brother. Others in the cast are Shirley Ann Richards. Alec Kellaway and Sidney Wheeler. There are excellent supports and the box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ YELLOW JACK ” Virginia Bruce, co-starred with Robert Montgomery in “Yellow Jack, which will be commenced at the Empire Theatre on Friday, was born in Minneapolis on September 29. Her real name is Virginia Briggs. Shortly after her birth, her father, an insurance broker, moved to Fargo. North Dakota, where Miss Bruce received her grammar and high school education. Interested in dancing, she went to New York following graduation from high school and worked as a chorus girl in musical shows. Her blonde loveliness attracted the attention of Florenz Ziegfeld, who gave her small parts and gradually more important roles. Among the shows in which she appeared were ‘ Whoopee,” “ Smiles.” and “America s Sweetheart.” The motion pictures were becoming music conscious, selecting talent from Broadway and offering promising players contracts. Following her performances m "America’s Sweetheart,” Miss Bruce was given a screen contract in Hollywood to play in “The Love Parade.” The young girl who had been signed to a motion picture contract because of her musical comedy experience then was placed in dramatic parts. Among her pictures are “The Mightv Barnum,” “Society Doctor, " The Great Ziegfeld," “ Born to Dance.” and “Arsene Lupin Returns.” GRAND THEATRE Commencing a return season to Dunedin at the Grand Theatre to-day, “Rainbow on the River" is the story of one of the personal dramas resulting from the chaos of the Civil War and the reconstruction period which followed—the story of a boy, Philip (Bobby Breen), orphaned by the war, and a coloured “mammy” (Louise Beavers), who cherishes him. The boy and his “ mammy ” live together, work together, selling flowers, strumming the banjo, and being gay together. The relation is one of the deepest affection and joy in each other, and they share the gaieties and minor troubles of their happy life with the negroes of the New Orleans French quarter. Fred Stone agai- portrays a lovable character in “ Quick Money," his latest RKO Radi., picture, the second film. Stone is seen as the proprietor of a small-town hardware store, and Mayor of the community. Established as a kindly man, audience sympathy goes to him immediately when Berton Churchill and Paul Guilfoyle, city slickers, come to town and win the confidence of practically everyone but the Mayor. Before Stone finally proves that his judgment of the visitors is correct and the majority are wrong, he fights a tough battle, during which he is boycotted in both his business and social life, and compelled to go to extreme means to stall an election for his recall. Box plans are t the theatre and at Begg’s. STATE THEATRE The originality of “Algiers," the current attraction at the State Theatre, lies mainly in the fact that it treats crime as something far more terrifying to 'its perpetrator than its victims. The setting is the mysterious, labyrinthine, cosmopolitan Casbah (or native quarter) of Algiers. This is the hiding place of Pepe Le Moko, Parisian jewel thief and fugitive from justice. So long as he stays within this prescribed area Pepe is safe from the police, and the chief cook in his own thieves’ kitchen. But once let him venture outside the Casbah, once let him obey the longing for Paris that is in his blood, and nis doom will be sealed. The acting of Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Joseph Calleia, and Gene Lockhart is memorable. Boyer’s portrait of the romantic, confident, whimsical, tragic Pepe ranks with his performance as Napoleon in “ Marie Walewska ” for depth of infrpretation and compelling conviction. Close at Boyer’s heels for acting honours comes the Viennese actress, Hedy Lamarr, whose beauty is remarkable even for Hollywood, and whose acting matches it. Calleia’s portrayal of the unhurried, strangely-sympathetic Silmane, and Lockhart’s figure of the cringing informer also stand out in a film that cannot fail to excite comment and admiration. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s, “ROOM SERVICE” Internationally famous for their antics on stage and screen, the Marx Brothers appear in their eighth production, “ Room Service,” a film version of the hilarious Broadway comedy coming on Friday to the State Theatre. The story of this widely-acclaimed play, which has been closely followed in the screen version, concerns a theatrical producer and his two assistants at a New York hotel. Their efforts to keep themselves and a cast of 22 actors from being dispossessed from the hotel until they can promote a financial backer for their snow are the basis for the uproarious tomfoolery which ..lakes “ Room Service ” .vhat is described as the funniest Marx picture to date. Previous film vehicles starring the mad Marxes include “A Day at the Races,” “A Night at the Opera,” “ Duck Soup,” “ Horse Feathers,” “ Monkey Business,” "Animal Crackers," and “The Coconuts.” Supporting the Marx Brothers are Lucille Ball. Ann Miller. Frank Albertson, .and six members of the original stage cast—Clifford Dunstan, Donald Macßride, Charles Halton. Philip Wood. Alexander Asro. an 3 Philip Loeb. MAYFAIR THEATRE “Green Light,” by Lloyd C. Douglas, a popular novel that was a “ best seller” for two years, will be commenced to-day at 'he Mayfair Theatre. Its main theme is not a new one—the story of a physician’s sacrifice of his career for ethical reasons, which are always difficult fo. the average audience to appreciate. But in “Green Light ” there is something much deeper than mere caprice or a jaundiced frame of mind behind the sacrifice, a vague something that has been worrying the cynical Newell Paige even before Mrs Dexter meets the death that she appeared to have been expecting She is a wealthy society woman and a philanthropist and she dies during an operation being performed by a prominent surgeon, Dr Endicett who at the time was suffering from the strain of a severe financial crash. The blame for the mistake is taken by his assistant and protege, Dr Paige, who thereby incurs the hatred of the dead woman’s daughter, who comes Jo love him without being -ware of his identity With Wendy Barrie cast in the role of the rich society girl who wins a newspaper in a libel suit, and proceeds to run it herself. Universal’s rollicking comedy romance. “A Girl With Ideas,” will be the second attraction. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.