AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES GRAND THEATRE Lying in the harbour of Ellis Island, the immigration station has been the portal for many years to thousands of people seeking a new land and new lives. In '"Gateway," Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox's latest production, which is to be commenced at the Grand Theatre to-day, it provides the scene for a drama of enthralling interest. The story opens on a transatlantic liner which is on her way to New York. Don Ameche, a weary war correspondent, meets a bright Irish colleen, Arleen Whelan. and promptly falls in love with her, only to find his hopes dashed when she tells him she is going to America to marry her fiance. Becoming involved in an affair with a foolish politician on board the ship, Miss Whelan is prevented from landing in New York, and is put on Ellis Island, where an inquiry into her case is held. Here Ameche sees how indifferent Miss Whelan's fiance is, but his efforts to prevent her escaping from the island are unsuccessful, until he organises a general riot to give the alarm. Humour and comedy is supplied by Binnie Barnes, a gay divorcee, and Gregory Ratoff. an alleged Russian grand duke. Othrs in the cast are John Carradine, Maurice Moscovitch, Harry Carey and Raymond Walburn. STATE THEATRE The film adaptation of Shaw's " Pygmalion" is at the height of its popularity, and is enjoyed by packed houses at the State Theatre at each performance. The film is popular for a very good reason, for seldom, if ever, before have producers and director so sympathetically treated the work of a master playwright. The result is that stage and screen are united as never before, and a brilliant play becomes a brilliant picture. As the young Cockney flower girl who, to settle a bet, was presented to society as a princess within six months of being "rescued" from Covent Garden. Wendy Hiller scores magnificently. Her acting will spoil for a great number of theatregoers what often passes for histrionics on the "silver screen." As the clever but bombastic student of phonetics, who is forcibly introduced to his own lack of manners, Leslie Howard is thoroughly in character. There are no flaws in the supporting characters. The supporting programme this week is particularly good, and the box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. REGENT THEATRE When, two years ago, "Three Smart Girls," an unpretentious little picture, took by storm audiences that were first surprised and then delighted, a new star was born, and each new film with this young girl has added to her popularity, The director, Henry Koster, and producer, Joe Pasternak, have learned how to catch the joyousness of youth, and they have given this quality to each picture. And now, two years and four pictures later, Deanna Durbin repeats the success of her original role in " Three Smart Girls Grow Up," which is now at the Regent Theatre. Deanna has grown up a little, her voice and acting ability have improved, but she has not lost the grace and freshness that endeared her ■ to all. Nan Grey again plays the role of the eldest sister, but Helen Parrish replaces Barbara Read. Charles Winninger is once more the father of the three, this time a reformed character. His performance has been applauded by American critics as perhaps the greatest in a very long career. Nella Walker repeats her role of the mother, and this time is given a-great deal more to do. The two young men are played by William Lundigan, whose consistently good performances in poor pictures have at last won him' a good role, and Robert Cummings. whose work is very good. Ernest Cossart again plays the family butler. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE The mechanisation of a United States cavalry unit forms the basis of the plot in "Army Girl," which heads the current programme at the St. James Theatre, and, besides showing some interesting shots of the value of light tanks in the desert country, it promotes a delightful romance between the captain of the tank corps and th* daughter of the colonel of the regiment. In these roles Preston Foster and Madge Evans are excellent, while H. B. Warner, Neil Hamilton, James Gleason and Heather Angel are also prominently cast. The associate film is "Mr Reeder in Room 13," an exciting crime film, which features one of Edgar Wallace's well-known characters. Dealing with the unmasking of " The Big Printer," a successful forger, it combines thrills and comedy. Th* box plans are at the theatre, Jacobs':; and the D.I.C. "AMBUSH » Swooping down on the California Bank, surprising spectators and guards with a smoke screen, and fleeing with 89,000 dollars, leaving a truck as the only clue to their identity, are four ultra-modern bandits in "Ambush," which heads the programme commencing next Friday at the St. James Theatre. To Gladys Swarthout, secretary of the bank, recognition of the truck as one on which her younger brother, William Henry, worked implicates him as a member of the gang. Fleeing to her brother, she is trapped by the gang, which is composed of Ernest Truex, master-mind, Hartley Hufts, gunman, and Broderick Crawford, ex-pilot. Under threat of bodily harm to her brother, she lures Lloyd Nolan, a truck driver, to the bandits' hide-out. Nolan is forced to help them. With the bandits hiding in a hastily improvised compartment in the truck, and Miss Swarthout posing as injured, they set out for the country line. The police trace clues to the cabin and set out in pursuit of the truck, and from then on the picture i« exciting entertainment. The associate feature introduces to local audiences for the first time the Higgins Family in the laugh riot "My Wife's Relatives." The Higgins Family consists of James Gleason as Pa, Lucille Gleason as Sid, the eldest son, Mary Hart as Jean, the pretty daughter, Tommy Ryan as Junior, Harry Davenport as Grandpa, and Sally Payne as Lizzie, the maid. In "My Wife's Relatives" the trials and tribulations of Pa Higgins are manifold. He loses his job because his boss, played by Purnel] Pratt, is angry when he discovers that Higgins's daughter is keeping company with his son, played by Henry Arthur. Pa Higgins has to contend with looking for a job, preventing Grandpa eloping with a rich widow, keeping out of gaol for nonpayment on an anniversary ring for his wife, curbing his inventive son, Sid. from wrecking the home, and straightening out the romance of his daughter. STRAND THEATRE Of "In Old Mexico," it is perhaps unnecessary to say more than that " Hopalong " Cassidy (William Boyd) is back again at the Strand Theatre. This is the twentieth filn. of the popular series, and popular it should be. The films treat the Western melodrama not just as something to use up film, but as worthwhile entertainment. They may break little new ground, but they maintain their standard. As the title indicates, Mexico is the setting for the newest of "Hopalong's" adventures, which involve him with bandits and dark-eyed senoritas. To revenge a murdered friend, he plays a waiting game and allows himself to be led into a trap—from which he eventually emerges with his customary coolness and quick shooting. "Illegal Traffic" is the name of the second film. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "GANG BULLETS" A district attorney who turns criminal to catch Public Enemy No. 1 is the hero of Monogram's "Gang Bullets," which will be screened at the

Strand Theatre on Friday. When Bill Anderson, the country's most hated racketeer, comes to town and takes over the "entertainment" business, District Attorney Wayne is powerless to do anything, because he has no direct evidence against the gangster. Victim of a vicious attack by newspapers who stir up public opinion against him, Wayne accepts a bribe from Anderson. His assistant, knowing of the rendezvous, has a record made of the conversation between the district attorney and the racketeer, and Wayne is forced to stand trial for accepting a bribe. A stirring portrayal of Wayne, the man who sacrificed his whole career on a long-shot chance, is given by Charles Trowbridge. Robert Kent, one of Hollywood's most brilliant young actors, is outstanding as Wayne's vigorous young assistant, and Anne Nagel shines in the role of Patricia, the daughter of the district attorney, who is forced to choose between love and loyalty. Others outstanding in the cast include Morgan Wallace as "Big Bill," J. Farrell MacDonald and John Merton. "Gan° Bullets" was directed by Lambert Hillyer from the screen play by John T. Neville. Also on the programme will be " Song of the Forge," starring Stanley Holloway, Lawrence Grossmith, and Eleanor Fayre. This is a musical romance, and such popular songs as "The Village Blacksmith," " The Farmer's Boy,' and " Vienna, City of Dreams," are featured. The picture was produced by Henry Edwards for the Butcher Empire Film Company. OCTAGON THEATRE An eccentric family, the Carletons, whose sole ambition in life is to get money without working, and who trot happily about the globe looking for people to cheat, is featured in "The Young in Heart," at the Octagon Theatre Head of the family is that droll comedian Roland Young as Colonel Anthony Carleton, "late of the Bengal Lancers," who actually gained his knowledge of pukka sahibs from stage shows. His wife is Billie Burke, and their children are Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, jun. On their way from the Riviera, where the attentions of the police have been too persistent, there is a train smash, from which the Carletons rescue a dear old lady, Miss , Ellen Fortune (Minnie Dupree), and when she invites them all to stay with her in London it looks as if fortune has indeed fallen into the Carletons' laps. They have reckoned, however, without their own soft hearts. There is a fine supporting programme, and the box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE

George Brent and popular young Olivia de Havilland head the cast of the Warner Bros.'-Cosmopolitan production, " Gold is Where You Find It," which is being shown at the Empire Theatre. It is filmed entirely in technicolour, using the same processes as those used for the production of the highly successful "Adventures of Robin Hood," and it is just as impressive as was that great film. " Gold is Where You Find It" deals with a phase of goldseeking that has hitherto been unexplored per medium of the movie camera—hydraulic mining, whereby tremendously powerful jets of water break down entire hillsides, from the debris of which the precious metal is sifted. In the film, which is set in the Californian lode country, the debris overflows upon the lands of the wheatgrowers and orchardists, and bitter conflict ensues. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ADVENTURE IN NORTH-WEST INDIA Depicting life and adventure in North-West India, "Storm Over Bengal," Republic's romance of the Bengal Lancers, will come to the Empire Theatre on Friday. Patrick Knowles is the leading figure as Captain Jeffrey Allison, hero of the British Army in India. Richard Cromwell is seen as the younger Allison, bitter toward his big brother because he is constantly flung in his face as a fine example to live up to. When the story opens, Cromwell, a young officer in the aviation corps, is escorting lovely Rochelle Hudson, who has just arrived from England, to Fort Dungra, where she is -*.o marry Jeff. Cromwell falls in love with Rochelle, and further complications set in when Rahman Khan, a hill tribe chieftain, cleverly portrayed by Douglas Dumbrille, incites North-West India to rebellion against the British. Sir Austin Carter, peace ambassador from the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and his military escort are trapped and murdered on their way to Llanapur. Allison is ordered to fly to Llanapur to complete the mission Sir Austin started and the regiment marches to punish the murderers and restore order. They ride into a death trap in the pass, where hiding tribesmen, heavily armed, are ready to swoop down upon them. How the troops are wsrned of the ambush, and how Rahman Khan and his revolutionary leaders are finally defeated is told in an exciting climax. MAYFAIR THEATRE Contrasting and diverting fare is preferred in the new dou'. le-feature bill, which will open at the Mayfair Theatre to-day, a smart, comedy romance, " Vivacious Lady," providing an excellent foil for the detective mystery, "Mr Wong, Detective." "Vivacious Lady" tells of the rivalry of two cousins for the hand of a night club beauty. Ginger Rogers and James Stewart are co-starred. Stewart and James Ellison are seen as the dissimilar cousins; Stewart as a studious botany teacher at a small upstate college, and Ellison as an irresponsible playboy. It is while the young pedagogue is visiting New York in search of his pleasure-loving cousin that they both fall in love with Ginger Rogers, the night club entertainer. The gay, light-hearted girl is attracted to the serious-minded young professor, and before playboy Ellison has time to sober up, the other two are married. The trio head back home to the little college town. Most of the film's amusing action transpires in the dignified atmosphere of the small town where the beautiful bride finds herself living apart from her husband because he fears to let his austere father, the university president, know of his marriage. Ellison takes advantage of the situation to escort the lonesome bride to various functions, which brings about a series of hilarious events. When she finally enrols for a course of botany, to be near her husband, and surreptitiously makes love to him during lectures, laughs pile up fast and furiously. A new series of detective stories will be introduced as "James Lee Wong," in the person of Boris Karloff, makes his bow In Monogram's "Mr Wong, Detective." James Lee Wong is a native of San Francisco, an educated, cultured Chinese. He is a scientific "test tube' detective, who revels in intricate cases. The more baffling the mystery, the more intrigued is Mr Wong. "Mr Wong, Detective," is the story of a rare poison gas, and the matter of three men who tried to steal its formula.