AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 17

AMUSEMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES ST. JAMES THEATRE The all-stai. cast which was got together for "Hold That Kiss," the sparkling comedy which is proving a big success at the St. James Theatre, keeps a well-written story moving along at a great pace. The principals, Mickey Rooney. the talented juvenile 'actor. Maureen O'Sullivan and Denis O'Keefe, are supported by a fine team of players, and the most is made of a series of hilarious misunderstandings. The story is built round a romance between a young dressmaker and a youth employed in a tourist bureau, and there are ail sorts of complications. Each labours under the delusion that the other belongs to the moneyed class. The producers have made an excellent job. Laurel and Hardy contribute to the fun of the evening in Beau Hunks." one of their typical comedies. Box plans are at the theatre. Jacobs s and the D.I.C. "BULLDOG DRUMMOND IN AFRICA" Bulldog Drummond can usually be relied upon to provide plenty of excitement (with a little romance and humour as well), and the latest of the series, " Bulldog Drummond in Africa, which will open with " The Mysterious Rider" at the St. James Theatre tomorrow, is packed with thrills. England has apparently grown too small for this famous sleuth, and this time his adventures take him further afield. John Howard and Heather Angel are starred, with H. B. Warner playing the role of Colonel Neilson. A rousing story of a "Robin Hood of the cattle country." an appealing romance between two young lovers of the ranges, and some unusually impressive authentic scenery are features of the thrilling outdoor action drama. " The Mysterious Rider," which will be the associate feature. The story is written by Zane Grey, and. as the title suggests, revolves round a fearless rider of the plains who manages to keep his identity a secret. Although he is feared by everyone in the ranch country, this character, portrayed impressively by Douglas Dumbrille, is actually an innocent man who has been forced to exile himself in the wilderness because of his conviction for a crime he did not commit. Sidney Toler. Russell Hayden. and Charlotte Field support. STRAND THEATRE Comedy and warm-hearted drama are blended in admirable proportions in the programme which will be concluded at the Strand Theatre to-day. The first attraction, "The Gladiator," has the large-mouthed comedian, Joe E. Brown, in the leading role as a scientifically-created superman who gives an American college something to talk about in the way of sport. The climax comes whtn he engages in a world championship wrestling match with Man Mountain Dean, with hilarious consequences. Excellent support is given by June Travis, Robert Kent, Lucien Littlefield, Dickie Moore and Ethel Wales. The associate attraction is " City Streets," an intensely human little drama which brings together Edith Fellows and Leo Carrillo. The box plans will be found at the theatre and the D.I.C. "MIDNIGHT MENACE" Charles Farrell, the American film star, occupies with Fritz Kortner, famous Continental actor, the leading role in a new British picture entitled " Midnight Menace." which will be shown at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. Margaret Vyner, a newcomer from Australia, plays the feminine lead. " Midnight Menace " is a highly topical story in which present day European events play an important part. It concerns a journalist who stumbles on a story of international political intrigue. Because of its essentially topical nature the producers are certain it will be one of the most discussed films of the year. Hollywood has produced many of what are called " headline stories " —that is, stories based on important events and happenings that have been widely publicised in the newspapers. "Midnight Menace " is a British film of a similar type. Charles Bickford is the star of the second film. "Gangs of New York." in which he takes the role of a police officer and the leader of a notorious gang. Due to his amazing similarity to the gangster, the police officer has the district attorney arrange for him to take the criminal's place in prison. On his release, he joins the old gang, in order to gather evidence on how it operates. OCTAGON THEATRE Literally the talk of the town, " Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," which is running*in its third, week at the Octagon Theatre, sets new standards in screei i entertainment. Walt Disney's adaptation of the best-loved of the Grimms' fairy tales reveals the hand of genius and the touch of inspiration. ■Easily the most beautiful of the fulllength colour films that have been shown in Dunedin, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs •' will liye long in memory as the epic marking the beginning of a new era in the art of talking pictures. The full story of little Snow White's adventures is charmingly told and endowed with a colour and beauty that have not previously been conceivable. The background to the animation is supremely beautiful, and the design throughout never lapses from the highest. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE " Dad and Dave Come to Town," the amusing Cinesound comedy, will end its successful season at the Empire Theatre to-day. In Dad and Dave, Steele Rull created two characters who were destined to become national figures, virtually symbols of Australian outback life. The original Dad and Dave of that film, Bert Bailey and Fred MacDonald are again cast in those roles in the new picture. "Dad and Dave Come to Town " is really a pretentious film, and its mannequin section in particular is as impressive and as lavishly staged as anything of its kind produced in Hollywood In general technique the picture shows a vast improvement on On Our Selection," and the amateur aspect which was continually intruding in that earlier picture is noticeably lacking in "Dad and Dave." The photography is of a very high standard indeed, and that is one department at least in which the Australians have little to learn. The casting has been good throughout, and the acting remains consistently fine. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "YELLOW JACK" In a world increasingly conscious of peace-time heroes, the gallantry of five men who faced death in a last ditch battle to stamp out yellow fever is perpetuated in " Yellow Jack," which stars Robert Montgomery and Virginia Bruce. The picture will be shown at the Empire Theatre. Montgomery, hailed for his performance in " Night Must Fall," is given another starkly dramatic role in the new picture, that of a man who volunteers twice, grimly aware that death is awaiting him. With George Seitz directing, authentic Army encampment scenes of 1900 in Cuba provide the background for the tense struggle against yellow fever by men who groped frantically for a means to halt the epidemic. Authenticity and realism were assured by careful research on manners, customs and historical records of the period after the Spanish-American War. In addition, Colonel James MacDonald, who fought in the war, acted as technical expert and adviser for the picture. " Yellow Jack "is based on the stage play by Sidney Howard in collaboration with Paul de Kruif, author of "Microbe Hunters." The story is dedicated to five soldiers, historical figures, who volunteered to act as human guinea pigs in experiments conducted by an Army medical commission charged with the responsibility of cleansing Cuba of yellow fever.

GRAND THEATRE At the request of the many enthusiastic Bobby Breen "fans," the singing lad's most popular film, " Rainbow on the River," was commenced for a return season at the Grand Theatre yesterday. Breen is seen as a lad who has been left through fate in the care of a devoted old negro "mammy," Toinette (Louise Beavers). A former slave on the rich New Orleans estate of the lad's parents, Toinette knows that the child is the son of her dead master. She also knows, but hides the secret, that she cannot always keep the boy with her because he has a grandmother in the north who can claim him. When a kindly priest (Henry O'Neill) discovers the lad's history, he urges Toinette to let the boy go north to his relatives. Feeling it is his duty to restore the boy to his rightful position in life, even though he hates to break the happy union, the priest communicates with the boy's grandmother (May Robson). A wealthy New York aristocrat, she already has three of ■hei relatives living with her—these roles being taken by Benita Hume. Alan Mowbray and Marilyn Knowlden. The old lady bitterly resents the idea of a "rebel" grandson, and regards him as something of an impostor. The lad is completely ignored by his grandmother when he goes to live with her, and the jealous relations do their best to make things unpleasant for him. His only true friend is the kindhearted family butler (Charles Butterworth). Finally, Bobby Breen's glorious singing paves the way to a reconciliation, but. it all makes an intensely human screen play. The associate feature is a romantic drama starring that veteran player Fred Stone. He is seen as the Mayor of a small town who puts up a desperate - fight against two " swindlers who seek to steal the community school funds. Gordon Jones and Dorothy Moore are the romantic leads, and the supporting cast includes Berton Churchill, Paul Guilfoyle, Dorothy Vaughn and Harlan Briggs. The box plans will be found at Begg's and at the theatre. STATE THEATRE The colourful activity of a Mediterranean city of Northern Africa forms the background of "Algiers," Walter Wanger's romantic melodrama, starring Charles Boyer opposite Sigrid Gune and Hedy Lamarr. which is now at the State Theatre. Practically the entire action of the picture takes place in "The Casbah," mysterious native quarter of the capital of Algeria. This district is a haven of refuge for criminals of all countries of Europe, Asia and Africa. As the story opens. Boyer and his gang, fugitives from Paris, have lived in the Casbah for two years, never venturing outside its boundaries for fear of arrest. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " ROOM SERVICE " Adhering closely to the Broadway, success from which it is adapted, "Room Service." which will be commenced to-morrow at the State Theatre, has the Marx brothers step into three principal roles in a readymade comedy and carry them to unprecedented heights. In their traditional peculiarities of costume and make-up, the Marx brothers are said to be madder, more bewildering, and funnier than ever. In the plot, Groucho Marx, a theatrical producer without a cent, endeavours to maintain himself and his cast at a Broadway hotel on credit while looking for a backer for his play. Through his brother-in-law, the hotel manager, he accomplishes this successfully—until one of the hotel's highest executives finds him owing 1200 dollars, just as a backer appears on the Marxian horizon. The ensuing ruses and complications to hold show and stomach together at the expense of others an* perpetrated by Groucho, Chico. and Harpo as only the mad Marxs can They provide a steady flow of hilarious situations which sometimes come so fast that they are said to leave the audience limp. Ann Miller and Frank Albertson supply the romantic interest in excellent style, while Lucille Ball plays the other feminine lead with the caustic gag-hurling comedy brilliance she displayed in " Stage Door." REGENT THEATRE Long awaited because of its sensational world-wide success as a stage play, the film version of the comedy, "Tovarich" is now showing at the Regent Theatre. Produced by Warner Bros, on an unusually lavish scale and having Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer as its stars, the picture is regarded as one of the 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. But their honour will not let them touch this money because it was given to them in trust by the Czar. Efforts are made by certain French-Russian interests to have the prince release the 40 billion to finance a counter-revolu-tion which might restore the old nobility to control. He refuses, though he is promised plenty of money for himself and his wife. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " HOLIDAY " The idea that money and the accumulation of money are not the main purposes of life is expressed in the comedy-romance coming to the Regent Theatre to-morrow. "Holiday," the Columbia production of the Philip, Barry Broadway stage hit, is a change from the bright and scintillant whimsies of modern times. With Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant co-starred, the film is packed with humour —with human humour instead of silly antics. Its situations are the normal ones of reality, and not the insane jocularities of the recent crop of comedies. "Holiday" presents a rebellious socialite who knows a real man when she sees one. and a young man who insists upon doing his own groping in life's grab-bag, rather than marry a million-dollar baby. The problems of "Holiday" are very real to the film's characters, but they are revealed with typical George Cukor deftness, with humour and honesty, in a grandeur of setting which emphasises the dilemmas of the two rebels. " Holiday " is said to be a great personal triumph for the stars, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn, and for the director. George Cukor MAYFAIR THEATRE The main theme of "Green Light," which was commenced yesterday at the Mayfair Theatre, is not a new one —the story of a physician's sacrifice of his career for ethical reasons, which are always difficult for 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 Newall 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 operatio» being performed by a prominent surgeon. Dr Endicott,. 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 daugnter, who comes to love him without being aware 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.