AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24236, 1 March 1940, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

NEW PROGRAMMES TO-DAY STATE THEATRE With a title that suggests intrigue and heavy drama, “ Clouds Over Europe ” is being shown at the State Theatre. For clever comedy and witty dialogue however, this film has few equals. Treating a serious subject with delightful facetiousness, “Clouds Over Europe” shows just how deeply the British are affected by HenHitler’s threats and bombast, Ralph Richardson’s idea of a Scotland Yard secret service investigator may not be orthodox, but it is certainly one which appeals to the film public, as is shown by the fact that “ Clouds Over Europe ’’ is being shown for another week Valerie Hobson and Laurence Olivier conduct their own investigations into a mystery of missing planes as well as a very stormy romance The box plans are at the theatre ana Begg’s. EMPIRE THEATRE A 1 Jennings, only surviving bandit 0i the old U.S.A Oklahoma temtoiy days, served as technical instructor and director to James Cagney aPn Humphrey Bogart, stars of the production on the Warner Bros, western d-ama “The Oklahoma Kid,” which will be commenced to-day at the Empire Theatre Both Cagney and Bogart learned their gun-handling from an expert, for Jennings was recognised tor many years as the fastest man with a gun in all of West Texas. Oklahoma Arizona, and New Mexico. Jennings s career in banditry ended in December 1897, when possemen captured him, his brother Frank, and two of their gang after a bitter gun battle at the Spike S ranch in Oklahoma A 1 Jennings surrendered only because he was half unconscious from three bullet wounds. Capture of the. Jennings gang closely followed their attempted hold-up of a train, the express car of which reputedly carried £IB,OOO He spent five years in the Ohio State Penitentiary and was paroled by President McKinley. Lateji he was granted an unconditional pardon by President Theodore Roosevelt; Besides a newsreel depicting Auckland’s welcome to H.M.S Achilles, the supporting programme includes a popular science featurette, two musical shorts, “Dave Appolan’s Orchestra” and “The Knight is Young,” and a cartoon, -‘Porky in Wackyland.” Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. ST. JAMES THEATRE The coaches avoided “Jamaica Inn," hidden in the harsh Cornish moors, not far from the coast. Its name was evil, and no man knew what its dark shutters hid, . Yet it was to “ Jamaica Inn ” that Mary Yellan went, to join her aunt and uncle. Only too .soon was she to learn the full tale of its horror, though she stayed beneath its roof because of her aunt, so lovely once, so battered and haunted now So she le'arned of the smugglers and murderers, and the riff-raff of the coast; of the wreckers whose profession it was to lure ships inland by false lights when tempests blew and raid the defenceless crew and plunder the cargo. Into her life came love even in this out-of-the-way place, from a man who seemed to be one of the wreckers, but proved his love worthy of her. She, too, came to know Humphrey Pengallan, the squire, sinister brains behind the equally sinister doings of “Jamaica Inn.” Every one of them is in Paramount’s equally absorbing and thrilling picture, “ Jamaica Inn,” with Charles Laughton as the squire, and newcomer beautiful Maureen O’Hara as Mary Yellan, which will b~ commenced at the St.-James Theatre to-day.. Box plans are at the theatre. Jacobs’s and the D.I.C. STRAND THEATRE

Gene Autry, in his latest action thriller, will be presented at the Strand Theatre to-day. The title is “In Old Santa Fe,” and it has everything the thrill-seekers look for, while to (break the breath-taking sequences there has been interwoven a number of tuneful prairie songs and a little romance. Ken Maynard, Geoi'ge “ Windy ” Hayes, Smiley Burnette. H. B. Warner and Evalyn Knapp are five further stars who are prominent in this ambitious production. The historic old Santa Fe trail is the locale of the exciting screen adventure, but, while the setting is part and parcel of the old west, the story is modern and timely. Among the numbers heard in the picture are “ Rhymes of the Range ” and “ In Old Santa Fe.” The film was directed by David Howard, who made “The Golden West” and “Daniel Boone.” “ Smuggled Cargo,” an adventure story of the Californian orange groves, starring Barry Mackay, will be the supporting feature. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. OCTAGON THEATRE Another adaptation of an Alexander Dumas classic is showing at the Octagon Theatre. It is “The Man in the Iron Mask,” which stars Joan Bennett and Louis Hayward. The latter plays two parts—that of King Louis Xiy of France and his twin brother, Philippe of Gascony. Under the guardianship of the Three Musketeers, Philippe, who has been sent to Gascony at birth is brought up as a commoner. When he attains adult age, however, Philippe so strongly resembles the King that he is frequently mistaken for his twin, who fearing that Philippe will depose him, causes him to be locked in an iron mask in order that his identity shall remain a secret Among the supporting players are Joseph Schildkraut. Warren William, Miles Mander Montague Love and Doris Kenyon. There' is an entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and at Begg’s. GRAND THEATRE The Ritz Brothers, who have become noted for their eccentric comedy, figure in the hilarious picture “The Gorilla,” which heads the programme at the Strand Theatre. The setting for the story is an old house that is a maze of sliding panels, the time is midnight, and everything, points to a gruesome mystery to be unfolded in the conventional eerie manner. However the presence of the Ritz Brothers as detectives means nothing but 'a succession of incomparably amusing scenes that lead to a brilliantly-con-ceived climax. Patsy Kelly, Anita Louise, Lionel Atwill, and Bela Lugosi also are members of the cast, In “The Return of the Frog,” which is in support, “creeps” and “thrills" are the main ingredients. “The Return of the Frog” is based on Edgar Wallace's 'hriller. "The India Rubber Men.” It features Gordon Marker, Una O’Connor. Hartley Power, Rene Ray. and others. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg's REGENT THEATRE Claudette Colbert and James Stewart are to be seen together at the Regent Theatre to day in “ It’s a Wonderful World.” Miss Colbert at last is said to have found a delightful successor to her Academy Award winner “It Happened One Night ” James Stewart is well cast as her partner in some of the maddest doings ever created on the screen With amusing situations tumbling over one another, and sprightly dialogue, the story reveal" Stewart in the role of Guy Johnson, private detective, hired to keep an irresponsible, oft-married millionaire Broadway playboy out of trouble. When the millionaire is accused of murder Stewart becomes involved He escapes to seek a solution of the murder and is caught in the act by Miss Colbert, who plays Edwina Corday a poetess. Here is where rhyme and reason become hopelessly and hilariously mixed as the pair proceed precariously to track down the real murderer. They become involved in a

series of daring exploits and clever deductions, with Miss Colbert in her most scatterbrained and delightful strain and Stewart turning in one of his most engaging comedy performances as the much-tried and hard-tested amateur sleuth to whom the poetess, with her unaccountable vagaries and unpredictable whims, is an even greater feminine mystery than the murder both are trying solve. The supporting programme includes the arrival of the Achillas at Auckland, an interesting study. “ The Romance of the Potato.” a Passing Parade item and a Fitzpatrick travelogue. “ Venezuela.” Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. MAYFAIR THEATRE To be literally stranded in Paris might have complications, and probably would be far from amusing, but to Jack Benny, Joan Bennett, Compton, and the Yacht Club Boys it is a riotous adventure. " Stranded in Paris,” the Mayfair Theatre attraction, is the story of a musical comedy troupe stranded in the big Continental city. “Pacific Liner,” the support, is a gripping drama of a stokehold ruled by a man whose discipline is as hard as iron. Victor McLaglen is the star. Box plans are a' the theatre and the D.I.C.