AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24715, 18 September 1941, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES GRAND THEATRE Two famous and popular characters of ■creen fiction are featured in the films ■which comprise the new programme at the Grand Theatre .In the main picture "The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance," Michael Lanyard, the popular " Lone Wolf," has his finest and most exciting role to date.-wid in the second film, " The Wildcat of Tucson," the famous western character, " Wild Bill Hickok," is seen to advantage. "The Lone Wolf Takes a Chance " tells the story of how Lanyard rounds up a band of counterfeiters who have forced an investor to open his own burglar-proof baggage car which contained Government engraving plates. The film reaches a thrilling climax as Lanyard struggles desperately to free the inventor from the car, in which the gangsters have imprisoned him, and succeeds in doing 30 only in the nick of time, thus preventing himself and the imprisoned man from being killed by a suffocating gas whicn is rapidly filling the car. Warren William, in the role of the debonair rogue, gives another pleasing and convincing performance, and Eric Blore. as his faithful butler provides some refreshing comedy interludes. The teminine lead is taken by June Storey, who gives a promising performance in her first important role. , , " Wild Bill Hickok " is called in to save his brother from serving a long term of imprisonment which has been unjustiy imposed on him in " The Wildcat of Tucson-," which completes the programme. He succeeds in doing so, and at the same time clears his name, but not until many exciting episodes have taken place. Bill Elliot has the leading role, and he is given joo. support by Evelyn Young. Stanley Brown, and Dub Taylor. Box plans are at the theatre and at Begg's. MAYFAIR THEATRE An attractive double-feature programme opened- a season last night at the Mayfair Theatre. The principal film on the bill is an hilarious comedy, featuring an unusual combination in Mae West and the inimitable W. C. Fields. Entitled "My Little Chickadee." the feature is a riot of comedy from start to finish. The supporting attraction. " The Lone Wolf Meets a Lady, is an exciting mystery thriller starring Warren William. Jean Muir. Eric Blore, and Victor Jory. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. OTHER THEATRES Umpire Theatre.—Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard. Charles Butterworth. Burgess Meredith, and Artie Shaw's band in " Second Chorus." Strand Theatre.—Denis O'Keefe and Louise Campbell in the human drama, " Bowery Boy." and the' western, " Gunsmoke Trail," with Jack Randall. St. James Theatre.—The dramatic masterpiece. "Confession." with Kay Francis and Basil Rathbone, and " Down to the Sea in Ships."Octagon Theatre.—Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett, and George Sanders in the romantic film, "The Son of Monte Cristd." .*„.... Regent Claudette Colbert and RayMilland in the comedy. "Arise. My Love." State Theatre.—The screen adaptation of Elizabeth Page's novel. "The Tree of Liberty," with Cary Grant. COMING ATTRACTIONS STRAND THEATRE Three brand new song hits in addition to the title best-seller are featured in " Six Lessons from Madame La Zonga," the torrid Universal tune film starring Lupe Velez. which will open .at the Strand Theatre to-morrow, " The Mexican wildcat " herself does " Six Lessons," which was written by Charles Newman and James V. Monaco, both in song and dance, and she also is featured in " She Was the Matador's Wife," one of the original numbers by Milton Rosen and Everett Carter. Helen Parrish, who shares the straight romantic interest with Charles Lang in the Universal film, sings the other two new £ Rosen-Carter tunes, '■" Jitterhumba " and "Mister. Moon.";. An exciting western story isonjfoldedjn the supporting "Gun=. smoKer' l Traii;' , ' with Jack Randall, Louise Stanley and Al St. John in the principal ! roles. ■ '■>' . .'.''.'

ST. JAMES THEATRE Joseph Conrad's " Victory." one of the greatest stories ever written, will come to the screen to-morrow, at the St. James Theatre. The picture stars Fredric March and Betty Field, whose exceptional acting ability has made her one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. The role of the Swede, Heyst, in Conrad's story, offers March full opportunity to bring into play his greatness as an actor. In the story. March is a cynical hermit who tries to withdraw from the world on a lonely Javanese island. On the island he finds love and faith in a woman, qualities he had never known before. Betty Field is the woman who helps March to victory over himself. Others in the cast include Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sig Rumann and Margaret Wycherly. OCTAGON THEATRE The gripping screen romance " Lady Hamilton," which opens a season at the Octagon Theatre to-morrow, concerns the life of Lord Nelson, England's greatest of sea heroes. Vivien Leigh is, of course, the fascinating Lady Hamilton, whose captivating beauty was idealised on canvas 40, times by the great portrait painter. Romney; Laurence Olivier is seen in the role of Lord Nelson, the hero of Trafalgar; Alan Mowbray is Lord Hamilton; Gladys Cooper is Lady Nelson; Henry Wilcoxon is Captain Hardy, and hundreds of others fill the unusually large cast. Miss Leigh as Emma, wears 42 costumes, designed for her by the noted French couturier, Rene Hubert, most of them copied from the Romney and Gainsborough paintings of the famous beauty. The story continues through ona of the most stirring romances in history, culminating with the death of Lord Nelson. REGENT THEATRE A strong flavour of topical interest pervades the exciting spy melodrama " Contraband," which will open at the Regent to-morrow. In it scenes are presented of the methods of contraband detection employed by the Royal Navy in its constant vigil. These scenes were made with the co-operation of the British Admiralty,

and are of great interest. But the scene of action soon changes from the sea to a fashionable section of London which is clothed in a blackout, making the streets hazardous to pedestrians and traffic alike. /Conrad- Veidt as handsome Captain Andersen, and Valerie 'Hobson as a beautiful spy girl working for the British Secret Service, turn in excellent performances. Quite apart from the excitement and the topicality of the film, there is much to commend in its fine photography. STATE THEATRE The beloved and famous melodies that are America's only real folk music* and the thrilling story of the man who wrote them, will commence a season at the State Theatre to-morrow in a magnificent technicolor motion picture, Twentieth Century-Fox's " Swanee River," the story of Stephen C. Foster, the great American troubadour. Don. Ameche plays Foster just as he was—sweet and tender, headstrong, _emo,tjorjaHy: -.unstable; "TaneT Andrea Leeds is a proper inspiration for some of our greatest music. Al -Jolson'puts over the role of Christy, the black-face minstrel man, with a humour and vigour unparalleled in his long career. Filmed in technicolor, "Swanee River" recalls, those colourful, romantic days of minstrels and river boats; the nostalgic touches are an added attraction to this picture that has everything else. The other film featured on the. programme is Alfred Hitchcock's mystery thriller, " The Lady Vanishes."- ■ ' •; ■■> EMPIRE THEATRE i - ' The Road to "Frisco," the new Warner Brothers' action drama, which will come to the Empire Theatre to-morrow, boasts a c&st that holds special appeal for fans throughout the country. Seldom has there been a more potent display of star power in any offering as the names Gror>*e Rait, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino and Hum phrey Bbgart spell. The fast-moving and actionful melodrama largely concerns itself with the torrid love affair between Raft and Miss Sheridan. The latter portrays a waitress in a roadside cafe, while Raft plays a hard-working young man who staunchly believes in his own future. Their romance hits a snag when Raft's boss's wife, played by Ida Lupino, falls for Raft.