AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23829, 8 June 1939, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE The pictured drama of Shaw’s “ Pygmalion ” is now at the height of its popularity, and is being 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 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 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 characterisations. The supporting programme is a strong one, and the box clans are at the theatre and Begg’s, REGENT THEATRE Deanna Durbin's newest picture. “ Three Smart Girls Grow Up,” which is showing at the Regent Theatre, is tangible proof of the widely-accepted truism that “ there is nothing the matthat a good motion picture can’t cure." that a good motion picture can’ cure.” It is far and away the best of the Joseph Pasternak-Henry KosterDeanna Durbin pictures. One does not forget ‘‘Three Smart Girls” when this picture is mentioned as the Pasternak-Koster-Durbin best. What was true of the original “ Three Smart Girls ” then as box-office records throughout the country proved, is true of “Three Smart Girls Grow Up.” Miss Durbin has grown up,-artistically as well as by two adolescent years, and Messrs Pasternak and Koster have grown up. professionally. from venturesome novices eager to test their talents in fast company to matured masters in sure perfection of their especial skill There is an excellent supporting programme and the box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

ST. JAMES THEATRE Two entertaining pictures will have their final screenings at the St. James Theatre to-day. An interesting and entertaining story of life in the United States peace-time army is told in “Army Girl,” the leading feature, and the other picture on the programme is a straight-out thriller, “ Mr Reeder in Room 13,” founded on one of the late Edgar Wallace’s most exciting novels. “Army Girl ” can safely be recommended as one of the most refreshing films seen for a long time, because it is so far out of the ordinary run that it assumes an entirely welcome aspect of novelty. It is definitely not a war picture, although it is concerned with soldiers, and it combines in delightful fashion comedy, drama, and romance. Not the least imposing thing about it is the cast, for it not only allows Madge Evans to make a welcome reappearance, but also includes such well-known players as Preston Foster, James Gleason, H. B. Warner, Neil Hamilton, Ralph Morgan, Heather Angel, and Barbara Pepper. The box plans are at the theatre, D.1.C., and Jacobs’s. “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 which will be screened at the St. James Theatre to-morrow. 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 Earnest Treux, Hartley Hufts, ana Broderick Crawford. 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 Higgins Family, the screen’s typical neighbourhood family, undergoes' another entertaining adventure in Republic’s “My Wife’s Relatives," which will be the associate feature on the programme. The Higgins Family consists of James Gleason as Pa, Lucile Gleason as Ma, Russell Gleason as Sid the eldest son, Mary Hart as Jean, the pretty daughter. Tommy Ryan as Junior, Harry Devenport as Grandpa, and Sally Payne as Lizzie, the maid. Ip “My‘Wife’s Relatives,” the trials and tributions of Pa Higgins increase. He loses his job because his boss, played by Purnell Pratt, is angry when he discovers that Higgins’s daughter is keening steady company with his son. played by Henry Arthur. Pa Higgins, on top of his other troubles, finds it necessary to contend with looking for a job, preventing Grandpa from eloping with a rich widow, keeping out of gaol for non-payment on an anniversary ring for his wife, curbing his inventive son, Sid, from wrecking the home, and straightening out the romance of his daughter. This is in addition to the other “ nqrmal troubles encountered by a family head. STRAND THEATRE The Three Musketeers of Western films again take to the trail in the Strand Theatre’s current attraction. “In Old Mexico,” which brings William Boyd back in his favourite role as Hopalong Cassidy. George Hayes and Russell Hayden are in their old roles as old “ Windy" and young “ Lucky ” respectively. Paul Sutton plays the part of the bandit whose sister tries to lure Hopalong out on to the trail where a bullet is awaiting him Jane Clayton is charming as the Spanish girl, Anita, who, of course, falls for Cassidy and his white charger. Betty Amann is well cast as the dark-eyed menace Janet The second feature Illegal Traffic, is a racketeering thriller with plenty of chases, murders, and an ending, as wildlv exciting as anybody could wisn. The story moves briskly along with J. Carroll Naish as the loquacious but sinister head of a transportation firm engaged in the lucrative business of helping criminals to escape fiom th. police. The 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 to-morrow. 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 voung 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. “ Gang 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, Lawmence 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-