AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24685, 14 August 1941, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES GRAND THEATRE » Boris Karloff has a Jekyll and Hyde role in “ The Devil’s Command,” the exciting " thriller ” which commenced a season at the Grand Theatre yesterday. Karloff is first seen as a kindly, respected college professor who is experimenting with a machine which records the functioning of people’s brains on a chart. His chromium and white laboratory is filled with strange electrical contrivances, not the least amazing among which is a weird diving suit containing a dead man. The scientist’s ambition is to communicate with a dead. person’s thoughts. All this leads to tragedy alter the death of the professor’s wife, which drives him mad. He determines to “ talk ” with his dead wife, but he loses the support of his laboratory assistant and his beautiful daughter When they come to believe he is mad.' Karloff solves that difficulty by hiring’s spiritualist who believes in' his work. ‘ During further experiments he renders his laboratory janitor insane, and kUls his housekeeper tand the medium As a last resort .to achieve hla object, he' forces his daughter to act as his “guinea pig,” but. she is rescued by the townspeople, Karloff being killed when his machine explodes. Richard Flake, Anne Revere. Amanda Duff and Ralph Penney: are - in support. A cowboy drama, leavened with plenty of romance and music, “ South of Arizona,” features handsome Charles Starrett and Iris Meredith. Also featured are the Sobs of the Pioneers, a band of cowboy songsters who do much to add to the entertaining nature of the film. Box plans .are at.the theatre and BSgga* Mayfair theatre Charles Boyer and Bette. Davis, two of the screen’s greatest dramatic actors, are the principal players In “All This and Heaven Too," which commenced its second Dunedin season at the Mayfair Theatre yesterday. The film, which is the screen version of Rachel Fields s romantic novel of that name, concerns the life of a little French governess (played by Miss Davis), who becomes Involved in a Parisian murder scandal Charles Boyer Is seen as a French nobleman, whose children Miss Davis is the governess of, and Barbara O'Neill is the lealous wife Jeffrey Lynn and Virginia Weidler are also in the supporting cast OTHER THEATRES Regent Theatre.—Rosalind Russell, Brian Aherne and Robert Benchley in the romantic comedy “ Hired, Wife.” State Theatre.—Cesar Romero Virginia Gilmore In the 'musical drama “ Tall. Dark and Handsome.” Empire Theatre.—The Marx Brothers m the hilarious comedy ”Go West. His Majesty’s Theatre.—British Empire Films present, "Mein Kampf—MyCrimes, the story of the rise of Hitler and the crimes he committed to gain power . ... Strand Theatre.—Jean Hersholt In the medical - drama ’,’ Dr Christian Meets the Women.” and Henry. Armetta In the crime and .comedy romance ’’ Caught in the Act.” ' . St James Theatre. “Dricula” Bela Lugosi In the thriller .The Devil Bat.” and Ellen Drew and Dick Powell in the comedy "Christmas In July. Octagon Theatre.—Technicolor musical oroductlon “Down Argentine Way. featuring' Carmen Miranda, Brttv Greble and. Don Ameche. COMING ATTRACTIONS REGENT THEATRE Whatever it is that constitutes the peculiar charm of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland finds fullest scope for expression in "Strike Up the Band.’ coming to the Regent- Theatre to-morrow. Cast as a youthful adherent to the charms of a band, and most especially of the drums, Mickey Rooney revels in it for in private life his most prized hobby is the organising, financing and conducting of his own jazz orchestra. And when it comes to rhythm, who can be . a more talented and bewitching partner than Judy Garland? With them again, as in “Babes in Arms.” are June Preisser and Ann Shoemaker, while excellent performances are also given by William Trach and Larry Nunn. Romance devolves from Judy . Garland’s slighted efforts in the direction of a romantic attachment with the boy. while she helps him in his endeavours to get his band to Chicago for an audition before Paul Whiteman. STATE THEATRE

Against a background ol chilling mystery and erriness, David O. Selznlck s production of “ Rebecca,” best-selling novel bv Daphne du Maurier. will commence a season at the State Theatre to-morrow. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, master of mystery-thrillers, “Rebecca” has Laurence Ollviei and Joan Fontaine in the starring roles The story concerns a young and unsophisticated girl who becomes the bride of the wealthy and socially prominent Maxim de Winter. When they return to live on his, vast Tudor estate Manderley. the second wife learns, to her horror, that her life is being dominated by th" past of Rebecca, Maxims first wife a very beautiful woman who fascinated all who knew her. Furthermore, the memory of Rebecca is kept alive by Mrs Danvers, de Winter s housekeeper, nlaved bv Judith Anderson. Mrs Danvers resents the second Mrs de Winter and does everything in her power to harrow her. Judith Anderson’s playing of Mrs Danvers is particularly brilliant EMPIRE THEATRE The’ stirring drama “ Dr Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet ” opens a season at the Empire Theatre to-morrow. If its title Is somewhat puzzling and cumbersome, the him itself Is another proof that the screen does occasionally achieve splendid arustry In presentation, especially of notable biographical studies. It will not be surprising if this vibrant outline ot a great scientist’s effort to ease the suffering of humanity wins acclaim as the finest picture of the year. Like Pasteur. Ehrlich revolutionised medical opinion, suffered professional antagonism and Jealousy, but finally won undying fame by his own genius and with the help of such enthusiasts as Arnold Bennett once described as " the- passionate few Ehrlich’s life lstruggle to achieve his end and then to gain recognition for his discoveries met the same dramatic opposition as Pasteur’s efforts HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE "The Wizard of Oz,” the fairy tale that has delighted small children for many years, returns to commence a season at His Majesty’s Theatre, to-morrow This beautiful story of Dorothy in the mystic land of the Munchklns and the Emerald City of Oz is presented on the screen in brilliant technicolor. Judy Garland plays Dorothy, the little Kansas girl swept to the magic land of Oz by a cyclone. Frank Morgan plays the mysterious Wizard Ray Bolger is Ddrothy’s friend the scarecrow Bert Lahr, the cowardly Lion, and Jack Haley the Tin Woodman. BHlie Burke is the Good Fairy. Margaret Ham-

ilton the Wicked Witch. The excellent songs in this picture, some of which Miss Garland sings, make it all the more delightful. STRAND THEATRE Bringing Hugh Herbert and a whole court of clowns in one of the most novel comedy concoctions of the season, “Meet the Chump” heads the programme opening at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. Herbert is seen as the guardian of a 10,000,000-dollar estate. According to the terms of the legacy, the money is to be turned over to his nephew, played by Lewis Howard, when the latter becomes 20 years old—provided he gets married the same day This the youth has intentlon of doing, but his uncle suddenly realises that somehow a mere 5,000,000 of the sum total has “disappeared.”' This leads to a carload of hilarious complications which finds Herbert playing six other people beside himself, The supporting programme is the humorous film “ Misbehaving Husbands.” ST. JAMES THEATRE • .:’4- ■' “A Night at Earl Carrolls," which heads the new bill at the St. James Theatre tomorrow,' gives theatre patrons an opportunity to feast the eyes on an assemblage of some of the most beautiful girls in the world, and hear merry music that would delight even a tin ear. In this fast-moving film, Rose Hobarfc and Ken Murray carry on a romance, J. Carrol Naish menaces everybody in his part as a N racket, big-shot, and Brenda and CAUna man-hunt. The supporting programme is the Western, " The Round Up," starring Richard Dlx. OCTAGON THEATRE Cleverly blandlng a , social document with farce comedy, human drama and •beer fantasy,' “The Devil and Miss Jones ” brings Jean Arthur to the screen in one of her most delightful roles, With Robert Cummings and Charles Coburn appearing in support. The lovely- Miss Arthur Is cast as a hard-working salesgirl, who. aided by her socially-minded sweetheart, unwittingly humanises the grouchy, dyspeptic multi-millionaire who owns the large emporium where they work. Sam Wood, of recent “ Kitty Foyle fame, directed this Frank Ross-Norman Krasna production for R.K.O. Radio release. Only a minor proportion of the scenes take place at the store, with a Coney Island beach, a palatial Fifth avenue mansion, Bryant Park, a subway train, and other features of Manhattan life as backgrounds.' ' >