AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23970, 20 November 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

IHE CURRENT PROGRAMMES ST. JAMES THEATRE Dick Powell and Olivia de Havilland, an entirely .new romantic.. duo, are in the leading roles of " Hard to Get,” a breezy, fast-moving comedy with many farcical complications, which heads the current programme at the St. James Theatre. Dick doss not, as usual, play a singer in his latest picture. He is an ambitious and aggressive young business rtian who, at the outset, Is shown as the manager of a combined petrol station and Car camp, and most of the Interest—as well as the farcical complications—arises from his efforts to Interest some capitalists Jn his plan to establish a chain of campS across the country. Two popular- songs- sung- by Powell • are " You Must Have- Been ■ a Beautiful Baby, ” and '" There’s a SUnny Side to Every Situation." The supporting feature Is “Girls oh Probation;” a dramatic story of a girl, whose early misfortune mars her life. Jane Bryan ana Ron Reagan heed a strong cast. The. box plans are at . the theatre, .the D.I.C. ana Jacobis.; , V <. .. • GRAND theatre Those Inimitable clowns of , the screen, the Rltz brothers,’ have played many character parts. In their productions to date, but their performance in The, Three Musketeers;” a Twentieth Century-Fox presentation of Alexandre Dumas’s immortal novel, now showing at the Grand Theatre, promises to be-the best of their careers. Although the story is too well known to bear repeating, the film is given an amusing twist by the change In its characterisation of the King s Musketeers. Don Anieche gives an admirable portrayal of thii daring, reckless D’Artagnan, and Binnle Barnes ,makes a crafty; Countess de Winter. < An exciting and. Interesting newspaper story, “ News Is Made At Night, is the associate feature,’ In this, film PrCston Foster and Lynn . Bari are the featured plaiyers, and they are given-every sunport by a large array of competent players. The box plans are at the theatre ana Begg’s. STATE THEATRE A' romance that is as* gay as New Year's Eve and as modern as to-morrow Is contained.in “Wife, Husband, and Friend, which'is screening at the State Theatre with lOYtely Loretta Young and handsome Warner Baxter 'as the chief romanticists. With Loretta as the beautiful and gay wttS aind Warner as the husband, debonair and ardent, .there Is unrestrained fun. Evemhlng Would have been .peace and quiet In the .family if Loretta had not decided' she could sing and if .Warner had not told her she had a terrible voice But Loretta decided and Waller told, and from that point on there is not a moment s peace for'them. It Is one riotous scene after another and the laughs tumb.e around like acrobats. Binnle Barnes and Cesar Romero step into the story as soon as it gets under-way and with Binnle On the side of Warner and Cesar stringing along with Loretta, they prove to be no help In establishing friendly relations, A strong supporting programme which includes a film of the running of the 1933 Melbourne Cup, Is. also shown. The box plans are at the theatre and Beggs. REGENT THEATRE A perfect blend of delightful comedy and convincing drama, the Warner Brothers’ picture ' Four Daugnters is proving a popular attraction at the Regent ThcStrc. . With a humour that is gay and refreshing,. and tenser moments that are vividly realistic, the film depicts the story 0f,, 10ur, -girls,, all, .musicians who, fall in IdVp-'with the one man Giving true human atmosphere to the lovable family group are the .three Lane sisters, Lola, Priscilla, arid Rosemary. Each is responsible for an attractive portrayal, especially Priscilla, who is appropriately vivacious in the part of the youngest daughter. Gale Page 1 -appears as the eldest girl, acting with dignified sincerity and admirably adher personality to match the temperament of the Lane sisters. As Is natvn'al in a picture that 'ls essentially a document of typical family life, the clear interpretation of varying characters Is necessary to -create an authentic Impression. The cast Includes ’two players, Claude Rains and May Robson, who have’ proved their acting ability in many outstanding films, but the most striking performance comes from a newcomer, to the screen. Jolm Garfield- .’There are excellent supporting films. The. box .plans, are/at the theatre and. tbe D.I.C. A-' *-.

STRAND THEATRE Bob Burns, the American, comedian, Is seen iff. fr I’m from? Missouri, ’’ whlch headS the current programme at the Strand Theatrfe,' Oh : this occasion t Burns’- appears in London, Instead, of Ui his usual surroundings of the prairies, and takes the part of a Missouri mule-ralsCr who learns that the British Army intends 4pirigtaway. withtransport; ■-Thare ’ scenes In which Burns endeavours to demonstrate the superiority of his ‘ mules over machines,-and his wife, .played by Gladys George', . supports him . by, endeavouring to entertain on a scale not hitherto- known in London. . The second film Is “ Torchy Blane In,\Chinatoiwn ” ,ln which the blonde newspapef'.w’oiriah suc-, cessfully show’s a- detective n6w to solve murder mysteries; ' TheVbdif .plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. • . , '.- EMPIRE THEATRE ' Racketeering lii all its ramifications, particularly that branch ■ which centres its activities In the ■ illicit liquor traffic, is forcibly pictured,. in', Bcftrface;."' which Is being screened at . the ' Empire Theatre ‘at present. The result -is" a vehicle-, which for . sheer dramatic power has seldom been equalled upon .stage or, screen, Rackets,, as newspaper readers have Tong since learned, are illegal activities organised i upon a business basis, and ’ it' is "the working of this tremendous organisation which is' pictured so forcibly in “ Scarface." A mob of more than 1,000,000 underworld characters are to-day. engaged in some-form of racket, taking toll from business all over the United States. While liquor and the collection of protection Is the source of the gangsters’, biggest graft, the ■ tentacles of gangland reach out Into all lines' of business endeavour. _*• Scarface ” tells of the rise and fall of Tony, Camonte, arid the leading role -is played by Paul Muni, famous character actor. Ann Dvorak. William Boyd, Karen Morley and other players of importance are in the cast. The film Is undoubtedly one of the best gangster films ever made, and is as intensely interesting as It is exciting. The supporting programme is an entertaining one. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.LC MAYFAIR THEATRE A story that epitomises all the heartbreaking struggles that had to be overcome and the shining heroism that was displayed In the subjection of rebellious tribes In India when that country first came under British rule Is told in ' Gunga Din ” at the Mayfair Theatre The plot was Inspired by Kipling’s immortal poem of the same name, but it deals mainly with the adventures of three non-com-missioned officers of the Imperial Forces and the breath-taking adventures the soldiers experience almost dally In their terrific task of bringing India into subjection to British rule. Cary Grant, Victor McLaglen and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., portray the three principals, and all give excellent performances. A notable feature of the film is Its constant action and vitality. There Is little in the way of romance, although Joan Fontaine does a neat piece of acting in the feminine lead, and the dialogue, though good, Is definitely subject to thrilling movement and spectacle. Sam Jaffe portrays the Indian water carrier, Gunga Din. The supporting film is ’’ Hold My Hand.” an hilarlousl comedy featuring Stanley Lupino, Fred Emney and Sally Grey. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.