AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24425, 10 October 1940, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

THE CURRENT PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE The latest novel of Dr A. J. Cronin to be adapted for, screen entertainment, is “ The Stars Look Down,” which is proving a popular attraction at the State Theatre this week. It is an interesting and dramatic story of a crusade to improve the living conditions in the coal mining districts of England. The crusade is principally the concern of a young university student who was born and bred -in the mining area. The principal roles are played by Michael Redgrave and Margaret Lockwood. The supporting programme is an entertaining one. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. “ SAILOR’S LADY ” When an adopted stowaway baby " scuttles ” the navy's war games and runs a romance ragged there can be only one result—fun! That is exactly what will be offered in the action-packed laugh riot “ Sailors Lady, starring Nancy Kelly and Jon Hal), at the State Theatre to-morrow. In the Twentieth Century-Fox film the laughter gets off to an early start when sailor Jon comes home to sweetheart Nancy and discovers that she has adopted "Skipper.” Supporting these two! stars in their grand performances is Joan Davis, gyrating wildly and forcing laughs at her usual fast rate. Others featured in the fun-producing cast are: Dana Andrews, Mary Nash, Larry Crabbe, Katharine Aldridge, Harry Shannon, and Wally Vernon). EMPIRE THEATRE A thrilling tale of the West is told in “ Wagons Westward,” which will be finally screened at the Empire Theatre to-day. it is a drama/ of twin brothers, one the leader of a gang of outlaws and the other a law-abiding citizen. In an effort to apprehend the criminal, the brother impersonates the other and manages to capture him. But he continues the masquerade and marries his brother’s fiancee, the tragedy that befalls the girl being a dramatic feature of the story. Chester Morris plays the dual roles, and Anita Louise, Ona Munson, George Hayes and Buck Jones are in support. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ GREEN HELL” Such ingredients as excitement, love and adventure are said to be combined in the production of ” Green Hell,” initial Famous Productions film for Universal release, which will come to the Empire Theatre to-morrow. With Douglas Fairbanks. jun., and Joan Bennett heading an outstanding cast of 11 principals, 'Green Hell ” is declared to capture a realism seldom brought to the screen in films of this type. According to advance reports, a part of this realism is due to the authenticity of the enormous uppef Amazon jungle sets constructed after months cf research. But the major reason probably lies in the players themselves—Fairbanks. Bennett. John Howard. Alan Hale, George Bancroft, George Sanders, Vincent Price, Gene Garrick. Francis MacDonald. Ray Mala and Peter Bronte. Each a distinct type, these players invariably make their screen characterisations ring true. They are natural human beings who do things in a convincing manner. Frances Marion, for years one of Hollywood's ace scenarists. wrote a story about a beautiful woman marooned in the heart of the Amazon jungle with six men. Harry Edington selected this story for his first offering as a producer. He is said to have produced it on a lavish scale, sparing no time, or expense. STRAND THEATRE Wayne Morris and Margaret Lindsay have the leading roles in “ Double Alibi,” the exciting murder mystery which heads the current programme at the Strand Theatre. The former plays three parts—a murder suspect, a reporter, and a detective. William Gargan, Roscoe Karns, and James Burke head the supporting cast. The second film is “ Hidden Gold,” another of the Hopalong Cassidy stories, featuring William Boyd. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “ YOU’RE NOT SO TOUGH ” With the five Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys sharing honours with

, Nan Grey and an excellent supporting cast, Universal’s " You’re Not So Tough ” will be seen to-morrow at the Strand Theatre. The Dead End boys Include Billy Halop, Huntz Hall, Gabriel - Dell, Bernard Punsly, and Bobby Jordan, all from the New York cast of the play “ Dead End.” They are seen as migrant workers following California’s crops, but preferring to live by their wits rather than by the sweat of their brows. Nan Grey is a "Dust Bowl” refugee with whom Halop falls in love. Others In the cast. are Rosina GalU and Henry Armetta. Miss Galli is seen as the owner of a Sacramento Valley ranch where the boys .and Nan obtain work. Starring Wayne Morris and Pat O’Brien, with Joan Blondell. May Robson, and Jane Wyman in the leading feminine roles, Warner Bros.' new comedy-romance. "The Kid from Kokomo.” will be in support. ST. JAMES THEATRE The story of an innocent man, twice sent to a chain gang through the machinations of another, and then escaping to deliver vengeance upon the head of the malefactor and to resume a contented life with his family Is the theme of “ Blackmail.” which is at present being shown at the St. Jarrms Theatre. With Edward G. Robinson in the leading role, and Gene Lockhart in a clever study as the villain, oozing obsequiousness and repulsiveness in equal quantities, the production has the benefit of two sterling performances, and scenes at an oil well fire, and a . grim revelation of the braindestroying lif' in a chain gang also give strength'to the drama. The second picture is' “ Blockheads.” a hilarious Laurel and Hardy comedy. The box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and at Jacobs’. “ COME ON, GEORGE ” George Formby's new comedy, " Come On, George,” Is coming to the St. James Theatre to-morrew. Press reviewers are unanimous in their declaration that this is the funniest film George has made. “ Come On, George,” is a horse-racing comedy, and George admits that he has long been trying to persuade A.T.P. production executives to make such a film This is explained by the fact that , the wor!d*-popular comedian was once apprenticed to a racing stable and still retains his great love for horses. George Formby and Beryl (Mrs Formby) , are still the hardest-working pair In the entertainment world. If anything, the coming of war has made this very popular Lancashire couple more busy than ever. When war was declared they were in their favourite locality. Blackpool, appearing in a 16week engagement. After a temporary shut-down, the show resumed, and when It had finished George and Beryl began to concentrate on giving the troops some free shows. This has kept them busy until now. One recent week-end they were due to appear in a military camp “ somewhere in England.” The local hall, taken for the purpose, holds 100 people. Four times that number applied for seats when they heard that the Formbys were coming. The second feature is “ Colorado Sunset,” starring Gene Autry with Smiley Brunette. June Storey. William Farnum, Robert Barrat, and Buster Crabbe In support. OCTAGON THEATRE Assisted by an interesting and original plot, the film at the Octagon Theatre, ” Everything Happens at Night,” in which Sonja Henie is starred, is somewhat different in its conception from the type of film in which the skater frequently appears. Most of the action is centred around two rival newspaper correspondents. Ray Milland and Robert Cummings. Their search is for a Nobel Peace Prize winner whose efforts led him some years before to a German concentration camp, from which he escaped, apparently to be shot by enemy agents. After a tip, both correspondents find their quarry—and who should it be but that old stage and screen favourite, Maurice Moscovitch. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. " MY FAVOURITE WIFE ” ” My Favourite Wife,” reuniting Irene Dunne and Cary Grant for the first time since their Academy Award winner, ” The Awful Truth,” is a photoplay entertainment which, while vitally different in theme, has the,same potentialities as the former smashing sophisticated success. A scintillating marital comedy, written especially for Miss Dunne and Grant, " My Favourite Wife ” Is a production by Leo McCarey, who brought Miss Dunne and Grant together in “The Awful Truth.” "My Favourite Wife,” which will be tomorrow’s attraction at the Octagon Theatre, is accorded a streamlined treatment of the familiar 'Enoch Arden plot, equipped with

marital mix-ups and plot complications which should develop the film into a ranking comedy success of the year. Miss Dunne, missing for seven years, supposedly drowned in the Pacific, is miraculously and quietly rescued, and returns home on the very day that her husband has had her declared legally .dead and Is embarking on his second honeymoon with Gail Patrick. Miss Dunne intercepts the newly-weds, sending home a flabbergasted Cary Grant and his kissless bride. Returning, he learns that his first-spouse spent those seven years alone with handsome Randolph Scott on a desert isle. GRAND THEATRE ENTERTAINING DOUBLE BILL The popular team of radio comedians, Flanagan and Allan, along with four other fun-makers nearly as droll as themselves, are the featured players in " Frozen Limits,” the hilarious comedy which is the principal attraction on the entertaining double bill which opened a season yesterday at the Grand Theatre. “ Frozen Limits,” while it is not based on anything substantial in the way of a plot, nevertheless affords plenty of delightful entertainment, and as this screamingly funny farce pursues its merry way the situations become more and more ludicrous, and the six brilliant comedians in their own inimitable fashion, face a series of side-spitting adventures in the frozen north, while between them they keep up a running fire of amusing crosstalk. Trouble starts when they set off to hunt for a legendary gold cache in far-off Alaska, and as the story rollicks along- they become embroiled with the tougher element of Red Gulch City, where men really are men. The feature of the show is probably an old-time melodrama which the sextet produce in an old dustcovered theatre, in true early Victorian style; This production bears the title of “ Sir Marmalade’s Hair,” and it is sufficient to say that it is just as funny as its name. The Crazy Gang, which is the 1 name by which Flanagan and Allan and their four partners are known, are very much at home in this type of nonsense. and the vim with which they throw themselves into their serio-comic roles helps to make the film one of the most humorous things of its kind seen in Dunedin for many a day. Another highlight of farcical comedy is a scene in which the intrepid " mounties,’ urged on to save the gang from lynching, persist in moving along at their own easy pace, singing loudly that they always get their man. . .. „ The associate feature is another of the Jones Family saga entitled “ Young as You Feel.,” and on this occasion Dad Jones, having sold his drug store business, takes the family to New York, where the eldest son is covering the World s Fair for the Jones’s home-town newspaper. Dad has to cone with all sorts of adventures, from getting his son out of the clutches of a confidence gang to bringing Ma to her senses when she tries to live up to the fact that they are staying in New York’s most expensive and fashionable hotel. How he adjusts all difficulties and ends up by finding that he, too, still has an urge to look at the bright lights, makes a particularly attractive piece of film fun. which in its wav is just as amusing as any of the previous Jones Family series. box plans are at the theatre and at Bcgg s. REGENT THEATRE " The Secret of Dr Kildare,” the current attraction at the Regent Theatre, is the latest of that competently-written series which has given Lionel Barrymore an opportunity to develop to perfection his portrait of the irascible, lovable, shrewd, and discerning Dr Gillespie. In the current Metro-Gbldwyn-Mayer picture a millionaire’s daughter is suffering from a mvsterious malady. Gillespie puts his assistant. Kildare, on the case. But when the younger medico decides to give up his laboratory work on pneumonia and concentrate on his new patient’s mental ailment, his obvious reason for doing so does not fool the older man. The story is neatly developed and excellently presented. Lew Ayres is human and restrained as Dr Kildare, and Helen Gilbert is well cast as the millionaire’s daughter. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. “JUDGE HARDY AND SON” The latest of the Hardy family series. “Judge Hardy and Son.” which will make its debut at the Regent Theatre to-mor-row, is well up to the standard of its predecessors. It is a skilful blend of

comedv, youthful romance, and drama. The story is well .planned, and the dialogue excellent. There is a touching episode when the mother is stricken with illness and her life is in the balance ahd the reactions of her family provide poignant human drama. The unexpected situation provides fine acting scope for Mickey Rooney and Lewis Stone, both of whom are extremely good. The cast is practically the same as in previous films of the series, and all do well. Fay Holden again plays the wife. Ann Rutherford the son’s girl friend, and other roles are filled by June Preisser, Margaret Early Martha Driscoll, Leona Marlcle, Henry Hiill, and Marla Ouspenskaya. the latter making ohfe brief but impressive appearance. Judge Hardy is visited by Mr and Mrs Valdnuzzi, poor foreigners, who are being turped out of their home. He discovers that they have a daughter for whom they will not ask assistance, and Andy searches the town for clues to her whereabouts, he being in need of, the money promised hy his father If his search is successful. ' ; ;• , MAYFAIR THEATRE / “SAN FRANCISCO” AGAIN “San Francisco," the vital and gripping story of life In that city at the time-of the disastrous earthquake, has again returned to Dunedin, and is now being shown at the Mayfair Theatre. The earthquake scenes, are among the most spec-, tacular and exciting ever brought to the screen, and in addition the story itself ls ; , full of tense situations and dramatic developments. The principal parts are played by Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable,' and Jeanette MacDonald. Miss MacDonald is heard in several songs, including " San Francisco,” ” Would You?" the. “ Jewel Song,” from ” Faust,” “ My Heart is Free.” and others. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.