AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23930, 4 October 1939, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES EMPIRE THEATRE That fine comedian Edward Everett Horton has a leading role in ".The Gang's All Here," which is proving a popular attraction at the Empire Theatre. He appears as a faithful butler who has the. honour of helping his master, played by Jack Buchanan, in a search for a band of criminals who have robbed a safe of many valuable jewels at a time when he was just thinking of retiring to a life of security From this point onward the film is packed with thrills and laughter, for the leader of the gang which has been responsible is none other than Otto Kruger. With all three principals skilled in the art of laughter-making, the brightness of the production never lags the picture being so full of surprises, including murders and attempted murderg. that it must rank among the outstanding entertainments of the year Other parts in the film are capably taken by Googie Withers. Jack La Rue, and Syd, Walker, who is once more cast as a detective always several minutes behind the action. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " Lambeth Walk " To master Cockney dialect for her part in the film, " The Lambeth Walk," to be presented on Friday at the Empire Theatre by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. with Lupino Lane starring, the leading lady. Sally Gray, spent a month in Lambeth itself. Every day for a month I went to Lambeth to listen to the dialect and to make notes." she says. " I chatted with girls in stores, in the market places, everywhere. I travelled about on buses and trams listening to conversations. " In case I should be recognised I wore sun glasses. You see, if they discovered my identity it would have spoiled everything. I wanted to see things just as they are. Not only did I want to hear how the girls talked, but I wanted to study their mannerisms and gestures. I found out many things during my visits to Lambeth. I found, for instance, that Lambeth shop-girls are the most efficient I have met in London t found them extremely intelligent. I never had to repeat an order for an article I wanted to buy. I also found them very polite and as smart and well-dressed as any girls I have seen in London." " The Lambeth Walk" was directed by Albert de Courville from a scenario by John Paddy Carstairs. ST. JAMES THEATRE The film version of Peter B. Kyne's famous romance. "The Valley of the Giants." is being shown at the St. James Theatre, This story of a young man's battle against the rapacity of unscrupulous land-robbers who plan to wipe out the great tracts of redwood forests without thought for the future has been admirably interpreted by the producers, who have used the medium of colour photography to bring out the full beauty of the background to the story. There is plenty of fast and excitinu action in the story and the romance is a satisfying one. Wayne Morris and Claire Trevor play the leading roles. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C. and Jacobs's. Gay Comedy Madeleine Carroll has her first big comedy role in "Cafe Society," Paramount's lampoon on the blue-bloods of New York's Fifty-second street, which has its first local showing on Friday at the St. James Theatre, Last seen in "Prisoner of Zenda" and "Blockade. Miss Carroll the famed British beauty, now plays a spoiled and supersophisticated daughter of the rich who gets the first beating of her life at the hands of a hard-boiled newspaper reporter, played by Fred Mac Murray. Shirley Ross, fresh from her success in "Paris Honeymoon," completes the starring trio as a cigarette-girl and Miss Carroll's chief rival. The supporting film is "Barefoot Bov." It is a story which deals with boys and girls and their code of honour. The picture concerns Billy Whittaker, played by Jackie Moran, whose attempts to make friends with the spoiled son of a man just released from prison lead to the recovery of some missing bonds. The cast includes Marcia Mae Jones, Ralph Morgan, Claire Windsor and Matty Fain REGENT THEATRE The screen version of A. J. Cronm's sensational novel, "The Citadel," is showing at the Regent Theatre. The famous English actor. Robert Donat. heads the cast, and gives an outstanding performance as Dr Andrew Manson. a man who rises from a mining doctor to a Harley street practitioner. Assisting Donat is attractive Rosalind Russell, who plays the role of a simple Welsh school teachet who later becomes Manson's wife Excellent acting on the part of every member'of the cast makes this film a highly entertaining one There is a varied and interesting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C "Naughty Marietta" The screen's first great musical adventure story assembled in Hollywood one of the most remarkable groups of musicians ever gathered at a motion picture studio when,' in addition to picked symphony artists, musicians playing strange, obsolete instruments that charmed a century ago were added to unique instrumental groupings in music never before heard Special arrangements for the recordings of the musical numbers of "Naughty Marietta" included what are known as acoustic exteriors One of the important optical details of the unique setting is really one of the most lmtortant acoustic devices in it The set is a courtyard flanked with quaint old-fashioned French-Louisiana houses Trees stand in the courtyard. It is here that Miss MacDonald and Eddy sing one of Victor Herbert's beloved melodies. The trees are hung with moss, such as is seen in the Everglades. This moss is really acoustic fibre which kills echoes from the tree's branches Aside from that it is beautiful scenically W S Van Dyke directed the new picture, a stirring drama with the original Victor Herbert song hits, including "Ah. Sweet Mystery of Life." "I'm Falling in Love with Someone." and others preserved intact The notable cast in eludes Frank Morgan, Elsa Lan Chester Douglas Dumbrille Joseph Cawthorne and Cecelia Parker " Naughty Marietta" will be opened at the Regent Theatre on Friday. STATE THEATRE Nine people of varying dispositions and stations in life are the principals of th<* outstanding drama 'Stagecoach." which heads the current programme at the State Theatre Brought together by chance these people are destined to share one another's company through a long series of difficulties and dangers, and this study of their reactions to the environment and to their fellow passengers on a stagecoach journey provides one of the most real and engrossing pictures of life ever presented on the screen The main players are John Wayne and Claire Trevor a youthful criminal and an adventuress, respectively, and the others are equally ill-assorted, ranging from a young married woman played by Louise Piatt, to a drunken doctor this last role being capably taken by Thomas Mitchell. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. "ST. MARTIN't LANE n The part of a bluff, hearty Cockney is taken by the eminent character actor Charles Laughton in the magnificent English drama " St. Martin's Lane," which will be screened at the State Theatre on Friday. He is a "busker," as the men who entertain waiting theatre queues in London are

called, and, although many people ignore them, the best of them have professional pride, and there is a firm tradition associated with their activities. Charles Laughton. affectionately referred to as "Charles" throughout the film, is a gusty eccentric character, who recites outmoded poetry night after night wi"i undiminished enthusiasm and loves the theatre as much as any actor who ever appeared on the real stage His warm, human nature persuades him to befriend a pretty, if rather dishonest dancer, and it is Charles who sets her on the path to fame. When she has gone he realises he loved her. and the closing scenes of a delightful film show how he reacts to le disdain of the vivacious girl's egotistical personality. Although essentially unsympathetic. the part of the fierv dancer is brilliantly interpreted by Vivien Loigh. who intensifies the drama with her spirit and fire. Rex Harrison and Larry Adler head the sunDortine nlayers. GRAND THEATRE Gordon Harker has been seen in many roles, but the one which seemed to fit best was that of an old Cockney "lug." As a detective, however, he is equally well cast. An amazing new sleuth, who collects rare stamps and clever murderers with equal calm, is introduced to screen audiences in "Inspector Homleigh," the Twentieth Century production which will have its initial screenings at the Grand Theatre to-day. "Inspector Homleigh, a familiar and popular radio character throughout Europe, is portrayed on the screen by Gordon Harker while Alastair Sim supplies the comedy relief as Sergeant Bingham, his bungling aide The mystery, which is so completely baffling that even Inspector Homleigh himself does not suspect the actual criminal until a second before he " collars " him, starts out with a simple little plan to rifle the Budget bag of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Then the porter of a little wayside inn is murdered, and before it is ended two more men are killed and an $mP ire almost topples. In " Everybody's Baby, the second film, the Jones Family is portrayed, as usual, by Jed Prouty. Shirlev Deane Spring Byingtoir Russell Gleason, Ken Howell, George Ernest. June Carlson. Florence Roberts, and Billy Mahan. Also featured in the film are Reginald Denny. Robert Allen. Claire Dußrey and Marvin Stephens. STRAND THEATRE The accomplished actor. Preston Foster, gives a direct and forceful portrayal as a daring police agent In the thrilling film of crime detection. Society Smugglers." which heads the programme at the Strand Theatre Irene Hervey appears as another agent of the police who secures a position with a New York luggage company in an endeavour to expose the activities of a notorious smuggling gang Men connected with the company are suspected

of being the brains behind the racket, but the police have so far been baffled in their efforts to secure incriminating evidence. With the help of Preston Foster and Regis Toomey. who obtain valuable information about the smugglers' accomplices in Paris, the daring girl is at length able to identify the wanted men. " The Missing Guest" is the second film. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. Another "Hoppy" Feature "Hopalong Cassidy" comes closer to being hooked " by a beautiful woman than he has ever been before in "Renegade Trail," the next Strand Theatre attraction. The villain is so crooked that he ioins up with rustlers to terrorise his own wife and son. With William Boyd playing " Hoppy," George Hayes the grizzled "Windy," and handsome Russell Hayden completing the leading trio as " Lucky Jenkins," " Renegade Trail" relates a thrilling story of "Hopalong's" campaign to save a woman rancher from being black-mailed by her convicthusband and to uphold the reputation of his pal, " Windy." who is responsible for the maintenance of law and order in the community Cast in prominent supporting roles, under the direction of Lesley Selander. are Charlotte Wynters Russell Hopton. Sonny Bupp and the popular male quartet, 'The King's Men." Martha Raye marries Bob Hope in order that both of them may escape from the clutches of desperate fortune-hunters in "Never Say Die." Paramount's new film comedy, which onens at the Strand Theatre on Friday Martha decides on marriage to Hope so that she can hold off the scheming Russian prince her father has chosen for her, while Bob goes to the altar to save himself from the menace of a much-married woman of the world with a deadly ability to shoot a pistol. And since he labours under the false impression that he has only a month to live anyhow, he feels he has not much to lose. But when his wife's sweetheart from back home, Andy Devine, suddenly arrives to accompany them on their honeymoon, and the Russian prince and grass widow join forces to track them down. Bob's troubles really begin. MAYFAIR THEATRE A new and unusually youthul comedy team is presented in the pleasing, lighthearted " Listen, Darling,* which opens to-day at the Mayfair Theatre. The picture is lemarkable for a number of things, not the least of which is the acting of Judy Garland and Freddie Bartholomew. Judy Garland has for once been allowed to forget the fact that she first entered the films as a "swing" singer, and as a consequence has revealed that she is a fine little actress with all the poise of a veteran. She does sing, but her songs are of a type which fits neatly into the story. As the girl's widowed mother. Mary Astor also scores in this, for her, rather unusual role. Walter Pidgeon turns in one of his usual sound per-

formances as the happy-go-lucky young lawyer on vacation. The story is that of a young widow with two children who has decided for her children's sake to marry again. What happens when the children take a hand in match-making results in humorous complications. The associate feature will be " Break the News," starring two of the greatest artists of the musical comedy world—Jack Buchanan and Maurice Chevalier. Comedy runs riot in this hilarious production, while a light musical note is mantained throughout. Assisting players include June Knight and Martha Labarr.