AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23982, 4 December 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE Four popular English players appear In the hilarious comedy “So This is London,” which is the current attraction at the State Theatre. Robertson Hare, who will be remembered for his incomparably humorous characterisations in many Ben Travers farces, Alfred Drayton, who first appeared is his partner in comedy on the London stage two years ago, Fay Compton and George Sanders all contribute highly amusing portrayals which add to the zest and gaiety of the sparkling dialogue and humorous situations. The story of the film is based on the rivalry between two business men to secure the formula for a new type of bread. Additional venom is lent to their competition by the fact that one is an American who despises all things English, and the other an Englishman, who has an equally strong dislike for American methods and people. Robertson Hare has a typical role as a timid peace-maker whose efforts at reconciliation are met with scorn. A strong supporting programme is shown. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s ST. JAMES THEATRE A thrilling, story of crime and society, of murder and romance, is “ Society Lawyer," which is now showing at the St. James Theatre. Of most importance In this production are the star names—Walter Pidgeon, Virginia Bruce and Leo Carrillo It is hardly possible to imagine a more fitting trio for the type of film. Some may remember when this story was presented first some years ago under the name of “ Penthouse.” This Is the fastmoving story of an attorney high in the social scale who, having become friends with a gangster by defending him, becomes embroiled in the Investigation of a murder of a girl by her gangster sweetheart. Also In the cast are Eduardo Ciarinelli, Lee Bowman, Frances Mercer, and Ann Morris. The associate feature is “A Bride For Henry,” an hilarious comedy, with Anne Nagel and Warren Hull in the leading roles. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.I.C. and Jacobs’s'. EMPIRE THEATRE Two contrasting characters in Robert Taylor and Wallace Beery have the leading roles in the exciting railroad romance, ” Stand Up and Fight,” which is at present being screened at the Empire Theatre in company with an entertaining supporting programme. With them are the attractive Florence Rice, Helen Broderick, Charles Bickford and Barton Mac Lane. The story tells of the way Taylor as a bankrupt Southern aristocrat, after selling up his home and belongings, secures a job as a special investigator with a railroad company which is interested in ruining a wagon transport company that is owned by a relation of Taylor. Taylor does not like his job and in the end gets put in gaol for starting a saloon fight and finally ends up as a driver on (he wagon service under the bullying Wallace Beery. After the latter has defeated Taylor in a hectic fist fight Taylor tries to get his revenge by secretly working for the railroad company to find out things about the wagon company that will put it off the road. The plot is made all the more interesting by the fact that the wagon company is owned by a girl with whom Taylor is in love. How everything works otit satisfactorily in the end completes a film that provides thrilling entertainment. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. REGENT THEATRE A new and most successful romantic team in Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne Js cast in “When To-morrow Comes, which is attracting considerable attention at the Regent Theatre this week. An unusual problem story is told _in “ When To-morrow Comes. -The adaptation provides a rich field for John M. Stahl’s directorial abilities and the acting genius of Miss Dunne and Boyer. The result is one of the most powerfully dramatic offerings of the season. Miss Dunne is seen as Helen, a waitress, who because her restaurant is closed by a strike, accepts the invitation of a stranger. Philip, played by Boyer, to spend a day in the country with him. He is leaving for France in three days, he tells her. Trapped by a hurricane and each believing they are tc die, they confess their love for each other. Then Helen discovers her companion to be a married man. The powerful climax of the story, which begins as a tale of a light summer flirtation, is startling in its emotional force. It is an outstanding example of superlative direction and In the supporting roles are Barbara O Neil as Boyer’s wife; Nella Walker as his mother-in-law, Nydia Westman as Miss Dunne’s room-mate, Onslow Stevens as a labour leader, Fritz Feld as Boyers valet, and Greta Meyer as a nurse. Especially effective are the hurricane sequences. “ When To-morrow Comes is vital and moving entertainment. There is an excellent supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STRAND THEATRE There is action in the new bill at the Strand, headed by “Grand Jury Secrets, starring John Howard in a drama oi crime investigation by a ..newspaper reporter. “Risky Business.” starring George Murphy, deals with news commentators and the ways In which they get their " scoops.” A thrilling, fastmoving story of a reporter who gets himself into trouble by attempting to reveal the Investigations of a grand jury panel sitting under the supervision of his own brother is told In Paramount’s Grand Jury Secrets.” John Howard, cast as the reporter, uses a short-wave radio set m a clever way to unearth the fact that his brother, the assistant district attorney, played by Harvey Stephens, is launching a grand jury Investigation Into the activities of a dishonest Investment house. In "Risky Business’’ George Murphy as a film news broadcaster and Dorothea Kent as his secretary and assistant play the leading roles. Eduardo Ciannelll, Leon Ames, E! Brendel, Grant Richards. Pierre Watkin and Frances Robinson head the supporting cast. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. GRAND THEATRE “ Charlie Chan in Reno,” the present attraction at the Grand Theatre, finds the popular Oriental sleuth in the playground of beautiful women, surrounded by some of Hollywood’s loveliest actresses. Chan flies halfway around the world to solve the case of the murdered divorcee. Sidney Toler portrays Earl Derr Biggers’s sleuth in the film, and he has the support of Phyllis Brooks, Pauline Moore, and Louise Henry An excellent murder mystery. with plenty of humour as well as melodrama and suspense, will be found in ” It Could Happen to You,” which is the second feature. The film tells a thrilling story of a young advertising man who returns from a gay party and finds a murdered woman in the back of his car. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. MAYFAIR THEATRE Outdooi action, thrills and suspense are the Ingredients of ’’ Heart of the North,” which is now at the Mayfair Theatre. It has adventure, romance, thrills, humour and it pictures with loveliness the technicolour camera has never surpassed the wild and little-known country in which its action is laid. It shows some of the grandeur of the north-west and parts of the Canadian Rockies recently visited by our King and Queen. Added to all these requirements of the ideal outdoor picture, “ Heart of the North " acquires a special Interest because of the evident authenticity with which the dally existence and the work of the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Policemen are depicted. Heading a large cast of popular players Is Patric Knowles, Gloria Dickson, Gale Page, Dick Foran, Allen Jenkins and James Stephenson. The supporting film is “ The Cowboy and the Lady,” starring Gary Cooper. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C