AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24632, 13 June 1941, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES EMPIRE THEATRE Although the Andrews Sisters, Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne, won international fame as a swing song trio, their first Hollywood assignment called for them to master a new dance. Making their film debut as co-stars with the Rltz Brothers in “Argentine Nights,” Universal musical farce, the new film at the Empire Theatre, the girls had to display unusual terpischorean skill. Constance Moore and George Reeves carry the love interest in the screenplay and beauties in the supporting cast include Peggy Moran, Anne Nagel, Kathryn Adams, and Julie Duncan. Albert S. Rogell was the director. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C STRAND THEATRE In “ San Francisco Docks,” which will be opened at the Strand Theatre to-day, Burgess Meredith, versatile stage and screen lavourite, is seen as the youth unjustly convicted of murder, and Irene Hervey shares romantic honours in the story as his sweetheart, Robert Armstrong portrays a fiery priest who turns detective to save an Innocent man from execution. The associate feature is “ Nancy Drew, Reporter," with Bonita Granville and John Litel in the principal roles ST. JAMES THEATRE Jackie Cooper, Bonita Granville, Gene Reynolds head the cast in " Gallant Sons,” which is the main feature of the new bill at the St. James Theatre. A group of high school students turn amateur detectives to trace a murder so that the father of one of their group may be cleared of the crime. They unearth a clue the law overlooked trail it down, reconstruct the crime, and trick the criminal to a high school show, where he is trapped into revealing himself by seeing the murder reenacted The second film will be “Gallant Sons.” a comedy starring Wayne Morris and Priscilla Lane. Box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C.. and Jacobs’s OCTAGON THEATRE The pathetic loneliness of two people from contrasting walks of life, and the unexpected consequences, when Fate brings them together, provides the striking theme of RKO Radio's “ They Knew What They Wanted,” coming to the Octagon Theatre to-day, co-starring Carole Lombard and Charles Laughton. Laughton has one of the most unique roles of his colourful career as Tony Patueci, jovial Californian vineyardist, who yearns for a wife to share his wealth and picturesque ranch. Miss Lombard enacts the hard-working waterfront waitress, lonely and discouraged. When Tony visits San Francisco on a brief vacation, he sees the young lady, but is too bashful to approach her But he does enter into a correspondence courtship with her, which eventually leads to the lonesome girl accepting his marriage proposals. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Franchot Tone and Ann Sothern are the leading players in the new feature, “ Fast and Furious,” a great comedy, coming to His Majesty’s Theatre to-day. A further adventure of the Hardy family will be the second film. "Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever needs little explanation as to the main topic of the film, and Mickey Roonev plays the love-sick youth to perfection REGENT THEATRE A picture sure to rank as one ot the most delightful comedy-dramas of the season, one in which Joan Blondell and Dick Powell are seen together as man and wife, will open to-day at the Regent Theatre. It’s Paramount’s " I Want a Divorce.” which features Gloria Dickson, Frank Fay, Jessie Ralph, and Conrad Nagel in supporting roles. Briefly, it tells a story which points up the romance and marriage of Joan and Dick, leads to their disputes occasioned by the fact that Dick is a young lawyer who knows he can earn a good living as a divorce lawyer, while his wife is unalterably opposed to such a career in view of-her sister’s unhappy divorce. The supporting programme is of particular interest and includes “ March of Time,” ’’ General Smuts at the Front,” a sportlight and colour cartoon. Plans are at the D.I.C. and theatre, STATE THEATRE If it’s a rollicking good time you want, you')! find it to-day at the State Theatre in ” Young People,” the 20th Century-Fox. film which stars Shirley Temple. Jack: Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood. Shirley has hei best role to date in this humorous picture, She gets many opportunities to sing and dance in which she excells, as she does always. Jack Oakie is at his funniest, while Charlotte Greenwood is hilarious with her angular antics. Arleen Whelan, George Montgomery and Kathleen Howard are featured in “ Young People.” which was directed by Allan Dwan. Harry Joe Brown was the producer. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s CURRENT PROGRAMMES Grand Theatre. —Jane Withers and Kent Taylor in the comedy of social life ” Girl From Avenue A,” and Jean Rogers and Robert Sterling in the college football drama ” Yesterday’s Heroes.” Mayfair Theatre.—Vincent Price and Margaret Lindsay in the tense drama “ The House of Seven Gables ” and Richard Dix and Wendy Barrie in the thrilling story of aviation ” Men Against the Sky.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS Mayfair Theatre (Saturday).—George Formby and Patricia Kirkwood in the racing comedy “ Come On, George,” and Wallace Beery and Marjorie Rambeau in the saga of Death Valley, “ Twenty-mule Team,”