PICTURE THEATRES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24627, 7 June 1941, Page 15

PICTURE THEATRES

NE\tf PROGRAMMES '-■••:<- STATE THEATRE "MEXICAN SPITFIRE OUT WEST " !'■''• r'Fbr those who enjoy the boisterous i humour of the type supplied by Lupe ~ Velez x and Leon Errol in "Mexican Spitfire," there is another treat in '"'store.'" "Mexican Spitfire Out West" began its Dunedin season at the State I yesterday, and it proved to be 'a welcome sequel to the earlier hilarious escapades of these two. comedians. They are both in trouble again, and "i very serious trouble it would be but for the extraordinary mix-up into which, it develops. The tale deals - "with one Lord Epping, ah English mag- : whom rival Americans have designs as soon as he landj in the States. '■'" To keep him away from the ' hopefuls,:-who are trying to "muscie in" on a contract leads the v husband of the Velez into hopeless Things:,move.to Beno, and •#n'cle Matthew, .'better known as Mr ffixxolffe coaiied'by the into ■ fe£mper«inating^Lord Epping, 'Things "" "are '."not;'.» "bad- until the other principals also /head for Reno: but when the.rival.businessmen aro there, and Uncle Matthew's disapproving wife is -there, and~tttempts to obtain? the- bogus lord's signature to a contract, become ■ll tangled up with love affairs and whatnot, whereupon everything whirls along madly. -The arrival of the real Lord" Epping tops~it off. ' "The elusive ', lofdf lead the contract-hunters a crazy dance, and the climax, in '■ which Lady Epping is most concerned, ' leave's. evbryorie exhausted. Lupe Velez's exaggerated outbursts of temper and general emotion, and Mr k ErifaTs 'sustaining of his...» difficult "double," are performances that are often irresistible. The minor characters are all well done, with Cecil Kellaway again suave and sophisticated as the business manager.of the unbeliev- '. able earl, The supporting -programme, which includes a. good measure of sporting features, is bright and interesting. Box plans are at the theatre and '■;, ;,Beggrs.>.-,; ST. JAMES THEATRE After' making an everlasting name ' for herself as a juvenile star, Deanna Durbin is still charming audiences ; with her glorious voice,, and her latest picture, V Nice Girl? " which : is now being shown'at the.St. James Theatre, is no exception to the rule. In this film Miss Durbin is seen as a small-'. town "nice girl." who tires of having ■ just one 'boy'friend whom she has - known from childhood. She soon, loses thia name, however, and horrifies her home towh when she rims oft with v Franchbt Tone arid arrives back '.*' with. •Hh«:milkniah.''' In, an effort to make: her trusting, boy friend jealous. Miss ?' 'Durbin' 'leads herself into "sbm? tight, corners, 'until - everything' is a straight-.. ened out—and she- returns to her original suitor.' [;;: .'.>=.'..-, : Miss ' voice is heard to ' .'advantage''.in. "Perhaps," ." "Beneath ■ the Lights of Home," u Love at Last," ; 'VOld Folks 'at Home," and a stirring °' hew number, "Thank You, America." . At the conclusion of the film she sings ".There'll Always Be an >, England," ."Swith the Union Jack:and the Stars & 'and .Stripe's; flags, providing a fitting ■ background to this fine patriotic song.; "•' : Also featured 7 in the otitstahdipg cast - : of "Nice Girl? " are Robert Benchley, h well ;known in comedy roles, Walter • ; " Breiihari. Helen Broderick ,and -Robert fv Stack, Miss Durbin's screen fiance. f. a - r good 'supporting programme■ in r i eludes "two" hewsreels, a-' " Stranger *■ than Fiction " film, and a new " March "'aofTime?' entitled-'Australia at;War.", fetfflto •bbx'plafis: are at theatre and; fttfcENT THEATRE * v,- The tragic story of the; love Of a «: French duke for the governess of his children> is ; told in '.'All;This, and - Heaven -Too,"'' which -commences ■ a * season at -...the-;Regent Theatre •;day. With such brilliant actors as Bette * JDavis, and Charles Boyer in, the leading * roles, the film in any-case; would be outstanding, but added to this there is - the moving story, excellent production, I arid noteworthy supporting cast, which fes put it in a class by itself.. Bette Davis « .gives- another incomparable, perform- 1 T ance in the-role of Henriette- Deportesa . Deluzy,-, the»governess; in rthe household" of the ;Duc -and; Duchesse de *■ Preslin.. She handles it as skilfully as .ever-and makes Henrietta a touching -•> and convincing character. Boyer could not have been bettered for the part of '. the duke. » His :■ cultured style and s finished .acting made: him a brilliant •■*- foil for Miss Davis. Barbara O'Neil '*' plays the exacting role of the neurotic, jealous duchesse, who is finally killed by her husband, and she does it well. Brilliant ■, direction gives point and conviction to the sad story of the love ■ ,betwSb'n ':■■ the two, principals, a love ' which is as innocent arid as delicate as it could be, but which, because of the hvsterical and cruel conduct of the, duchesse, causes a murder that brings sorrow and misery to the young gover- -. ness, who 1 loves the duke's children as *- much as he does himself. The keynote of such a film must lie in the characterisation and understanding of the . principals, who by their artistry keep ".' .tip" the interest and high tension in 7. a .manner that is brilliant. C The. short supporting programme in- '},,, eludes a delightful, coloured symphony. .The box plans are at the theatre and ;the p.i.c, . '\./. ■".-.' j THEATRE , A LOUIS BROMFIELD STORY A .particularly happy combination of J ft ". story, .players, and direction makes the ', riew programme at the Empire Theatre Jan outstanding one. The picture is r .' ''lt All Came True," the story is Louis . Brpmfield's, the acting is that of Ann ; r Sheridan, Humphrey Bogart, and Jeffrey. Lynn, and Lewis; Seiler, who has s several, excellent productions to his \ credit, directed. In its dramatised form the story is a simple one—as all f . thebegt. stories;-are.-k, ;, Tommy and Sal,- sweethearts of r .yesteryear; take up: their romance • : where- they left 4t off together with ? short pants arid pigtails, and get along r nicely. -To entertain the old folks, ? they, organise a modest show- in which -: Ann—a night club entertainer when at work—sings some of the songs Tommy has been writing about the time he got t: himself blackmailed. This is not in- •; tended to reflect upon the songs. Gras•••scli is impressed to the stage, where r "he decides to atone for the evils of 'the l -past. He becomes a philanthropist, like so many other sinners have "done. He turns theold boarding house - inside out, expels the/ scent of the -' corned beef and cabbage from the home it.had known so long, and there is born the "Roaring. Nineties "Club. The night of the opening is an occa'Gfiselli] it by being arrested, but this unhappy mo-' ment is relieved .by the blooming romance of the young people. And Grasseli= leaves for Sing Sing with the" happiest of smiles. The first half, composed of news reels,''*a 'cartoon, and a coloured feaj. tture,; is -: an 1 excellent' introduction to -the main, feature, ; The box plans are the theatre and the: D.I.C. - f iIAYFAiR THEATRE Louis Hay ward, Lucille Ball and Maureen O'Hara in. Vicki.Baum's story, Girl, Dance"" jrid", the Aus--5 , 1 ' are; 'the two new'films which will be shown at the Mayfair Theatre to-day.

OCTAGON THEATRE SCINTILLATING MUSICAL " Tin Pan Alley," which has been retained by the management of the Octagon Theatre for another week after a successful debut in Dunedin, is a scintillating musical comedy-ro-mance featuring a brilliant quartet of stars—Alice Fave, Betty Grable, John Payne, and Jack Oakie—while there is a long list of supporting entertainers. The keynote of this film is music, mostly old hits converted to the modern style, and worked splendidly into the plot. There is a veritable feast for swing music and dance enthusiasts, and the sets, ganging from vaudeville to elaborate numbers, are lavishly staged. The strong story traces the careers of two music publishers who start modestly in the famous " Tin Pan Alley," and with the help of two vaudeville singers make their way to the top of the tree. Then comes the split, through the broken promise of one of the publishing partners, and the vaudeville duo leaves for England and fame, which it had been denied in America. •The fortunes of the partners decline in Tin Pan Alley, and a surprise ending shows how they enlist when war : breaks out and the lovers are reunited in London. There is a wealth of comedy and drama in this production, which sets a. high standard in every way.. Alice Faye and John Payne make a magnificent co-starring team, while Jack Oakie is at, his bsst. Betty Grable makes an excellent foil for Miss Faye. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. STRAND THEATRE OUTSTANDING COMEDY FARCE Heading the programme at the Strand Theatre this week is "Larger Than Life;" a 'really outstanding comedy as can be realised from the fact that it stars the inimitable Hugh Herbert. He is seen in the role of the advertising manager of a linoleum firm, who falls madly in love with a glamorous senator's daughter whom he has never seen. Herbert discovers a statue of the girl at an auction sale and buys it for 100 dollars. Fast and furious fun begins when his heroine and her father appear on the scene and try to purchase the statue for a.fabulous sum. After a series of hilarious incidents everything ends happily and Herbert wins his woman. : A dramatic story of a doctor's fight to curtail the ravages of spinal- meningitis among the "squatter" section of a large American city is told in. " The Courageous Dr Christian," which is the associate feature. Jean Hersholt, who has made the name of."Dr Christian " imriiortal in'the film'world'again has this role, and his performance is as good as any previous one. He is given fine support by, Dorothy Lovett, who is seen as his attractive young nurse, and between them they fight a battle not only against disease, but against the heads of the city to save the "squatters", lives. The box plans are at the theatre arid the DJ.C. GRAND THEATRE . The musical comedy, " Lets., Make Music," featuring, Bob Crosby, Jean Rogers and Elisabeth Risdon is the main' attraction at the Grand Theatre to-day. Tirii Holt, Ray Whitley and June Drummond.in "The Fargo Kid is the associate feature. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE musical comedy '"A Country Girl" will be presented .at His Majesty's Theatre at a matinee and finally, to 7 night. ~ t ~■■■