AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24254, 23 March 1940, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

THE NEW ; PROGRAMMES "KENTUCKY " MAGNIFICENT TECHNICOLOUR • f PRODUCTION both equine and human,.are"the."characters portrayed In -" Kentucky;" the production in full colour which was given a midnight matinee on Thursday night at the Octagon Theatre. To all true Americans Kentucky means racehorses. The nation'srjnest blood stock comes from there, and it is appropriate that the producer, Mparryl F-; Zanuck, should have made' the film of this, name a picture which portrays the best in the sport of kings. It has been stated that when Zanuck started to make the film he i did vnot intend to make it a big production. But as time went on he foiind the subject and the story so big that, as one critic has said, "he took the rubber band off the bankroll and threw it away." The throwing away of Zanuck's bankrbll'vhas let theatregoers into a real Easter feast.. Starring Loretta Young and the young star, Richard Greene, who is destined greater kinema fame, the film contains two further, characterisations which all film enthusiasts .must see. The first is by Walter Brennan, a character actor in the top flight thdse many years, who plavs the role of ?an impoverished Southern gentleman who is supposed to be the finest judge of horseflesh south of the MasonDixon line. For this performance Brennan was made the recipient of the 1938 Academy Award for the finest performance of -the year, in ing role. The other characterisation- of note is contributed by a youngster named Bobs Watson, who plays the role of a Southern boy back in the sixties. l| would''be futile to.give the story of ["Kentucky" in condensed form; there is too much of it. It is probably safe to say that it is the greatest rading film ever released in Dunedin. The racing scenes do not depend upon obvious, "faking." They present a race as,it is run, with no.trimmings, and for that reasori alone the glamour of theracing scene has been captured to >the full.. In addition,'the Octagon Theatre is showing over the Easter period an outstanding supporting .programme, which includes latest news reels, containing alt-the newest-de-, velopments on the Continent.- The box plans. £re at the' theatre. '- ! -GRAND THEATRE

The'current programme at-...the Grand Theatre provides a,well-balanced entertainment. The 'two films are "Chicken Wagon "Family"; and "The Escape.": Jane Withers and the carefree Leo Carrillo are partners again (as they were in "Arizona Wildcat"). The cast also features Marjorie Weaver, Spring Byihgton (mother of the famed Jones Family) arid Kane Richmond. Jane is the same old mischievous Jane up to'deviltry most of the time and getting all the fun she can.out of life. In case you do not know, the chicken Wagon'is. a mule-drawn concern, carryv ing a cargo of trinkets which are traded for farmers' '.. chickens., Travelling throughout the Southern States of the U.S.A., the Wagon also serves as living quarters for the family. When the barcompleted the wagon heads for the city, where the chickens are in turn-sold to- municipal dealers. -The second film, "The Escape," is a dramatic presentation of the evils of slum life.- It is an indictment of the tenement system but it is, incidentally, good entertainment. June Gale, Henry Armetta and Amanda Duff head the cast. The box plans are at the theatre.

REGENT THEATRE CHARMING DEANNA DURBIN The number of Deanna Durbin's admirers seems to increase ..with eachpicture she appears inijaridSjtbere' is. 'rib.. reason to expect that 7';First- : ,-Lc)v,e'"; which was presented at; : 'ihe.Regent Theatre at a matinee .on Thursday, will prove any'exception tp„ the rule. The studio's D&licy of; providing her with stories to suit herbage, is here carried a step further*, and again it is with complete success. Deanna is now 17 and, from;.: being the. oldest of the juvenile stars; shenow appears as the youngest tante. She has developed physically into a charming young woman; .and the remarkable maturity of her voice:"is unimDaired. She sings : foujf-.ypcal numbers—" One Fine Day;",--.-from Puccini's "Butterfly," "Home Sweet Home," a medley from Strauss waltzes and "Amapola," by Lacalle. ItVis in. " Home Sweet Home" that the • full beauty of her voice is to be heard; but each of the numbers forms'; a highlight of an enjoyable productioh.. ' A deliphtful version of the Cinderella legend is the basis of the story. In "First Love," Deanna is Connie, ah orphan whose troubles start when' she goes to live with her wealthy uncle and his family. There is an eccentric aunt, a loafing male cousin and a spiteful female cousin, and the depressed uncle on whose shoulders fall: all the burdens of this menage. Connie's;lot is an unenviable one. only the servants are her friends. The climax- of the story comes with a ball at which Barbara, Connie's cousin, hopes: to make a big impression on ,a highly eligible young bachelor, and at which Connie is debarred from attending. But here the servants come to the rescue and a police trap is arranged which puts the family under arrest while Deanna goes to the ball. From then on the sequence of events follows the familiar path, even to the departure on the stroke of midnight. But there are still some matters to be straightened out before Prince Charmings first impression broadens into genuine love. '...*'. , , The cast also includes Eugene Pallete. Helen Parrish, Charles Coleman and Beatrice Joy. There is also on the programme a varied programme of shctft topical and general units. The box plans are at the theatre.

STATE THEATRE Gary Cooper's most memorable role is probably that of MacGregor, which he played in "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer." In- "The Real Glory," which will be screened at the State Theatre to-day; those.who:saw "Bengal Lancer " will be strongly reminded of the spirit o\ the film and of " Mac." Andrea Leeds and David Niven head an unusually important cast in Samuel Goldwyn's new adventure drama. It unfolds a thrilling and exciting tale of the Philippine Scouts and their heroic bravery at the conclusion of the SpanishAmerican War, when the- Philippines were over-run by insurrectionists and religious fanatics. The centra] theme of "The Real Glory" revolves around the exploits of the scouts, who became a constabulary on the island, and rallied to their support loyal natives and peaceful Moros. The Moros, a tribe of unorthodox Mohammedans, had retreated to the hills and jungles of the Sulu Kingdom to wage a fierce re-

ligious war against the remaining American troops. Henry Hathaway, who directed Cooper in " Lives of a Bengal Lancer," directed "The Real Glory," and the supporting cast is headed by well-known players, among them Broderick Crawford, Reginald Owen, Kay Johnson, Vladimir Sokoloff, Russell Hicks, and Henry Kolker. For the first time in, his career. Cooper plays the role of a doctor, who comes' to this distant outpost for medical experience. He remains to help the army quell the .rebellion and establish lasting peace. Miss Leeds in the role of an American visiting her father, also stays oh—not to win the war. but to win-a trip to the altar on the arm of Gary Box plans are at the theatre.

EMPIRE THEATRE LAUGHTON'S TROPICAL ROLE Wel] out of the ordinary run as a picture and of particular interest in that it displays vet another aspect of Charles Laughton's many-sided genius is "The Beachcomber." which opened a season before appreciative audiences at the Empire Theatre on Thursday. Probably the screen's foremost character actor. Laughton has an entirely novel part in this film as a ragged, lazy, good-for-nothing remittance man who inhabits a lovely South Sea Island along with one or two other men and a large company of beautiful girls. His adventures with a missionary, played by Elsa Lanchester. who is at pains to reform him. form the basis of the nicture which is a delight from start to finish Whether the film would be so successful with less distinguished actors in th° leading parts it is difficult to say. Laughton. Miss Lanchester (who is his wife) Tvrone Guthrie and Robert Newton fit their parts so perfectly and fill the whole .film with such obstreperous comic gusto that no one else seems possible. Somerset Maugham wrote the story on which "The Beachcomber" is based. The locale is characteristic; for the East Indies are a favourite haunt of Maugham's assorted characters. But,

stands far apart from this author. With uncanny dexterity it takes the outlines of what would have normally been . a stirringly dramatic plot and fills them in with farce. Anyone inclined to draw morals and detect a cautionary tale in what is obviously designed for the public amusement might see in "The Beachcomber" a plea for greater tolerance and understanding. When Miss Jones, who is a missionary and the sister of a clergyman, first comes in contact with the Beachcomber's escapades she launches a tirade against the fellow and shouts loudly for his deportation The more bitter her onslaught the more outrageous he becomes Only when extreme danger draws the couple together, and Miss Jones begins to appreciate her enemy's courage and to grant him some respect does thq scallywag spontaneously reform. As Ginger Ted. Laughton is the part to the life; it is impossible to imagine any screen or stage figure who could have given such authenticity to this portrait of an irresponsible yet entertaining waster, who eventually reforms not so much through the influence of a woman as in spite of her. When Ginger Ted is banished to a South Sea islet to get the drink out of his system he lives in a palm leaf hut. he wears the very minimum of clothes, he swings in a cheap hammock in the shade cracking scalloped shells with a shanghai and pebbles, his joy not in an array of splendour that dulls the senses but in a simplicity that sharpens them. There is a scene in which Ginger Ted's friend, the Dutch controller of the island, has to try him for getting into a brawl. As the chief witness, the female missionary talking like a machine-gun, rattles up the score of his iniquities, the judge scribbles shorter and shorter " sentences" on his writing block But when the witness demands deportation there is such a demonstration of protest from the Javanese girls, including one whom the judge favours, that he erases all his notes and makes it promptly three months' hard labour. "The Beachcomber" is great entertainment —especially for the holidays—and should be an invaluable " cheer germ." The directing genius of Erich ■Drvrv-im.a.- m=v Vin CPfn all throiiffh it.

and, with the general excellence of the cast, makes a fine picture. The supporting programme is an interesting and varied one. There is an excellent travelogue dealing with life in the Celebes Islands, illustrating particularly the curious funeral customs of these people, while in one of the news gazettes the audience is given some idea of the hazardous work on the part of the troops on the Western Front that lies behind the bald announcement that " patrol activity took place." Some of Lord Haw-Haw's " Nasti" announcements are also featured. Altogether, the programme is an excellent example of holiday fare. The box plans are at the theatre. ST. JAMES THEATRE John Garfield, hailed as the most impressive newcomer to the screen of the past year, has the starring role in " Blackwell's Island." which will be screened to-day at the St. James Theatre. The situation on which " Blackwell's Island" is based is astounding to say the least, for the 1934 clean-up of the New York City Gaol on which is now known as Welfare Island disclosed an amazing tale of " big shot" prisoners running the gaol to suit themselves, living in luxury and coming and going as they pleased. Garfield is a reporter who gets fired from his paper at the virtual order of a local political boss who is the man behind a vicious mob of racketeers headed by Stanley Fields. He gets a new job and continues to write up the nefarious activities of the Fields mob with the aid of a policeman friend, played by Dick Purcell. The latter's testimony in a criminal trial results in Fields being sentenced to Blackwell's Island There the gang leader virtually takes over the running of the prison from the hands of the warden. Determined to bring to light the corrupt conditions on Blackwell's Island. Garfield gets himself sentenced there He escapes and goes to the new and honest Commissioner of Correction with his evidence. A raid is staged and the prisoners are caught openhanded. Jane Wyman and Allen Jenkins are in the leading roles of the ciinnnrt " Tnrpbv Plavs with Dvna-

mite "—a further episode in the life of Torchy Blane, the newspaper girl. This time Torchy's activities take in many strange and dangerous places, includ ing goal. She also comes in contact with the victim of a murder. Allen Jenkins is her rather dour policeman friend. Box plans are at the theatre. STRAND THEATRE Lewis E. Lawes, warden of Sing Sing Prison for the past 19 years, supplied the plot and factual background for the new Warner Brothers' production, "You Can't Get Away With Murder," which will be opened to-day at the Strand Theatre, with Humphrey Bogart as the star of its impressive cast. Others who are prominent in the cast include Gale Page, Henry Travers, John Lite], Harold Huber, Harvey Stephens, and Joe Sawyer The picture, which was adapted from a play written by Warden Lawes, presents Bogart in one of the most ruthless characterisations he has ever been called upon to play. It revolves about Bogart's effort to have an innocent man sent to the death chair for a murder he himself has committed. "Smiley" Burnette is the featured comedian in Republic's latest Gene Autry picture, "The Old Barn Dance." which will be in support. The songs in this film are catchy and should appeal to Autry's admirers. The plot gives the cast full opportunity to do justice to the outdoor story. Box plans are at the theatre

MAYFAIR THEATRE Produced by Howard Hawks, who has made many notable flying films, the Columbia "Only Angels Have Wings," heads the entertaining double-feature programme to be shown at the Mayfair Theatre. A spectacular production with distinctive atmosphere, it has a stirring story vigorous action, some magnificent flying scenes, and good character acting. The locale is a little, bustling South American banana port nestling at the foot of the awe-inspiring Andes. Seething with coloured humanity, the port is the site of a commercial airoort

run by a benevolent and kind-hearted Dutchman, and managed by a laconic, but grimly efficient, American aviator. To this seaport comes an occasional steamer, whose tourists and other passengers are quick to take advantage of a brief investigation of the place. One of these is Bonnie Lee (Jean Arthur), a Broadway showgirl, who arrives in time to infatuate an impressionable young pilot just before he takes off in a heavy fog. later crashing. The story centres round the effect this accident has on the girl's life, and, later, her love for the manager (Cary Grant). The second film is " Fugitives for a Night." Box plans are at the theatre.