AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23866, 21 July 1939, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

THE NEW PROGRAMMES • STATE THEATRE “ Topper Takes a Trip,” second of the films dealing with the adventures of Topper, has managed to recapture the same spirit of hilarious fun whigh made the first film such a popular favourite. Possessing the same characters as its predecessor. “ Topper Takes a Trip ” merely carries on the story where the other left off, and the film which is entering its second week at the State Theatre, carries the frivolous tale to a satisfactory conclusion. Roland Young, who reappears as Topper, is at the top of his form, and his comic bewilderment at the scrapes into which Constance Bennett, as the playful ghost leads him is a feature of the film. Topper is first seen in the divorce court with his wife, played by Billie Burke, but the feminine ghost apd her pel dog. set upon doing their good deed decide to reunite the nair and the trail leads them to the Riviera, where some very awkward and amusing scenes take nlace in one of the leading hotels. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. REGENT THEATRE So completely universal has been the conquest of picturegocrs by the brilliant singing team of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald that they may be picturesquely styled “ Royalty of Screenland’s Musical Comedy—the King and Queen of Song.” Filmed in technicolour, “ Sweethearts.” which is the new programme at the Regent Tfieatre to-day, presents Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in a new light. The modern story devised for them by Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell from the Victor Herbert operetta provides the stars with comedy characterisations. Their latest picture has a bright plot, plenty of music, humorous dialogue, a strong supporting cast, and lavishly staged scenes photographed in technicolour. In the story, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy are two stars of the Broadway musical comedy stage, idolised by the public as much for their ideal home life as for their performances in the show which has been running fop six years. To the producer of the show the news of their intention to go to Hollywood sounds like the crack of doom. He and his librettist get their heads together and hatch a plot to keep the stars in New York. Their scheme is a very subtle one. but very soon goes adrift, leading to a temperamental outburst on the part of the two stars, and a series of humorous complications. The tuneful music of the Victor Herbert operetta is worked into the development of the screen story. The supporting players include Frank Morgan, as the scheming but laughable producer. Ray Bolger, who dances with Miss MacDonald, Florence Rice, as Miss MacDonald’s secretary. Other familiar names in the cast are Mischa Auer, Herman Bing and Reginald Gardiner. Miss MacDonald again demonstrates the dancing ability which she first revealed in “ The Firefly.” The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE " Cowboy From Brooklyn,” with Dick Powell, Pat O’Brien, and Priscilla Lane in the leading roles, will commence a season to-day at the St. James Theatre. Blended with an amusing story are melodic interludes in which Powell, Miss Lane, and several other members of the cast sing the five new songs written for this production as well as some old-time cowboy ballads. At the outset, Powell is seen as an indigent musician from Brooklyn, beating his way to the west coast of the United States with two pals. They all get stranded at a Wyoming “ dude ranch, where they get jobs entertaining the guests.. A Broadway thntrical producer, played by Pat O’Brien, thinks he has discovered in Powell a “ natural ” cowboy crooner, and rushes him back east, where he wins huge success. His deep, dark secret, however, is that he is scared to death of a horse. When Powell has become famous on the radio as “Wyoming Steve Gibson,” a rival, played by Dick Foran, proclaims that “Gibson is a fake. Foran is motivated by jealousy over Powell’s success and over Priscilla’s obvious preference for the easterner. To convince the public that Powell is a genuine cowboy, O’Brien arranges for him to ride a bronco and “bulldog” a steer at a rodeo at Madison Square Garden. Virile drama comes to the screen in “ Street of Missing Men,” the associate feature. A cast of favourite actors enacts the story of a gangster released from prison seeking revenge on the managing editor of the newspaper which was responsible for sending him to gaol Charles Bickford is cast as the hero Tarry Carey. Tommv Ryan, Guin Williams. Mabel Todd, and Ralph Graves, former silent star, are in prominent roles. The box plan' are at the theatre, the D.1.C.. and at Jacobs’s. STRAND THEATRE The huge star sapphire used as the fatal “ Eye of the Daughter of the Moon ” in Monogram’s “ The Mystery of Mr Wong.” which J s the new attraction at the Strand Theatre, is from the collection of a very wealthy Pasadena art collector personal friend of Boris Karloff, star of the film. This man, who requested that his name be withheld, loaned the iewel to Monogram foi the picture when he learned from Karloff that no fake gem could be found that would look authentic enough because of the huge size needed. In “The Mystery of Mr Wong” the jewel plays an important oart in the storv. It is cursed, and leads James Lee Wong. Oriental detective. down a trail of death before he lifts the curse and sends the stone back to China with its mystery solved. Prominent in the cast of “ The Mystery of Mr Wong” are Grant Withers. Dorothy Tree. Holmes Herbert. Lotus Long, and Craig Reynolds. Bob Burns nlavs a character from h>s native State for the first time in “The Arkansas Traveller.” which Paramount presents as the associate film. Burns will be seen as a ■ haopv-go-lucky wandering

printer who causes a political revolution in a small town when he takes over the editorship of the local newspaper. He is teamed with Fay Bainter and Irvin S. Cobb. The sunporting cast includes Jean Parker, John Beal. Porter Hall, Lyle Talbot, and Dickie Moore, The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. EMPIRE THEATRE “ Confessions of a Nazi Spy,” one of the most daring films ever produced, is now screening at the Empire Theatre, and was directly inspired by what was revealed at the recent New York trials of Nazi spies who were seeking the secrets of the United States in order to betray to a foreign power, A former Federal agent, Leon G. Turrou, who was primarily responsible for the disclosures made, supervised the production of the film, Edward G. Robinson, playing the role of an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who leads the spy ring-smashing activity, carries off acting honours, though it may be said that the supporting cast does inspired work. Francis Lederer, a former resident of Czechoslovakia, and one of the leaders in peace activities in Hollywood, takes a leading role. Lya Lys. Paul Lukas, Dorothy Tree, Henry O’Neil, and George Sanders have strong roles. There is an entertaining supporting programme and the box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C, GRAND THEATRE A poor little rich girl, trying her best to get the family back to those happy days before wealth and social position spoiled home life is the role boisterous child star Jane Withers plays in her latest comedy attraction, “Always in Trouble," which is now at the Grand Theatre. An ideal role has been chosen for Jane. Again she thinks out the brightest of plans, and again they go astray, causing many amusing situations at the same time. Tall, saturnine Arthur Treacher contributes another of his usual impeccable characterisations. Others in the cast are Jean Rogers, Eddie Collins and Robert Kelland. In the course of her saving mission Jane is shipwrecked, marooned on a desert island and threatened by smugglers before a solution to her problem is found. An insurance bond scandal entwined with a few murders is the matter dealt with by the “ Roving Reporters,” Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler in “ While New York Sleeps,” which is the associate feature on the programme. It has excitement, humour and a slight flavour of romance, which for once does not reach a happy ending. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. MAYFAIR THEATRE In the capable hands of the stars Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall and under the direction of Sidney Lansfield, “Always Good-bye,” the current feature at the Mayfair Theatre, is a simple, romantic story with a strong vein of sadness. Miss Stanwyck appears as a young bride who sees her husband killed before her. “Trapped by G-Men,” the associate feature, stars the veteran actor. Jack Holt, in an exciting story. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “THE TEXANS” Action provides the dominating note of the double bill which will be screened at the Mayfair Theatre tomorrow. Heading the programme is a story of the “ West,” “ The Texans,” a film which graphically depicts the triumphs and adversities of the settlers in a new land. Randolph Scott and Joan Bennett are entrusted with the leading roles and an impressive cast adds to the merit of the film. The story of the rise to fame of a champion boxer is unfolded in "The Crowd Roars,” the associate feature. Robert Taylor takes his first role in this class in this picture, which also stars Maureen O’Sullivan and Frank Morgan.