AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24945, 18 June 1942, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES GRAND THEATRE "MEXICAN SPITFIRE" AGAIN Many comical and extremely complicated situations occur in " Mexican Spitfire at Sea," the new programme at the Grand Theatre, when Lupe Velez and Leon Errol are again seen as a comedy team in a story which combines matrimonial tangles with many humorous personations. Leon Errol has two roles — that of a crusty old English nobleman and an American business magnate. In both parts he has ample scope for his famous caricatures of a doddering and impatient lord and the portrayal of a hen-pecked man of business. The story is simple, for it merely concerns a young married couple who propose to spend their rather belated honeymoon on a trip to Hawaii. The peace of the honeymoon is broken from the start when the wife, who is played by Miss Velez, finds out that her husband is combining business with pleasure. The supporting film, " Come On Danger," is a Western story of a young girl outlaw, played by Frances Neal, who terrorises the West until she is finally captured by a Texas Ranger (Tim Holt). MAYFAIR THEATRE A cavalcade of melody is "presented when the two famous film singers, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, combine their talents in " Maytime," the new film at the Mayfair Theatre. Grand opera songs, scenes from the court of the Emperor Louis Napoleon, and the music of the greatest orchestras of the present time, all help to make the film the outstanding success it is. The March of Time film, " Norway in Revolt," is seen in support. OTHER THEATRES State Theatre.—Return season of " Charley's (Big Hearted) Aunt," featuring the comedian Arthur Askey. Empire Theatre.—Allan Jones and Jeanette MacDonald in the musical drama " Firefly." His Majesty's Theatre.—M-G-M's "The Shining Hour," from stage play, featuring Joan Crawford, Margaret Sullavan. Melvyn Douglas, Robert Young, and the drama " Within the Law." Strand Theatre.—" Road Agent," a story of three good bad men, played by Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo and Andy Devine, and a musical comedy, " Melody Lane." St. James Theatre.—The hilarious comedy " Old Mother Riley in Business," featuring Arthur Lucan, and " Borrowed Hero," a gangster thriller with Alan Baxter and Florence Rice.

Octagon Theatre.—Alexandre Dumas's adventure-romance, " The Corsican Brothers," starring Douglas Fairbanks, jun. Regent Theatre.—The romantic drama, "The Great Man's Lady," starring Barbara Stanwyck, Joel- McCrea and Brian Donlevy. COMING ATTRACTIONS EMPIRE THEATRE "Danny Boy," which opens at the Empire Theatre to-morrow, is comedy-drama with large helpings of sentimental, evergreen songs and heart-cheering humour against a topical war-time background of " blitz " night-life. The story is about a famous cabaret star's search for her street musician husband and little son, complicated by the schemings of her manager to keep them apart for reasons of self-aggrandisement. With a simple story, easy to follow, and endowed with plenty of robust humour, moments of sentimental pathos that are never overdrawn and embelished lavishly with songs, old and new, " Danny Boy " provides entertainment of unaffected honesty. The background of London night-life in the " blitz " is well conveyed in a series of impressive cameos of cabmen's cafes, crypt air-raid shelters, and restaurants. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE The double bill at His Majesty's Theatre to-morrow promises outstanding screen entertainment for old and young. The programme will include yet another of the famous works of Mark Twain, " The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," and this fact alone is a recommendation. Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer accomplished extraordinarily good work in this production, which tells an absorbing story in a happy and' inspiring manner. Mickey Rooney fills the title role and the supporting cast includes Walter Connolly. There is a laugh in every foot of " Vacation From Love," the second feature on the programme, in which the parts are taken by Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Reg. Owen and June Knight. STRAND THEATRE As a young entertainer appearing in a lavish gambling establishment Frances Langford portrays the romantic lead opposite Kent Taylor in " Mississippi Gambler," the main feature commencing at the Strand Theatre to-morrow. Taylor is cast as a newspaper reporter, and is the central figure in the quest that leads him halfway across a continent and involves him in a series of exciting adventures with a band of killers and gamblers. Miss Langford is heard in several new songs. The second feature on the programme is " Juke Box Jenny," presenting a new craze which has swept America. Ken Murray and pretty Harriet Hilliard have the leading roles, appearing with Charles Barnet and his orchestra, Wingy Mahone and his orchestra, and the Milt Herth Trio. Apart from the catchy vocal numbers presented, 10 musical items are featured. ST. JAMES THEATRE Republic's release, " Doctors Don't Tell," g resents an accomplished trio in John eal, Florence Rice, and Edward Norris. who have the principal roles. As one of the features on the fine double bill at the St. James Theatre to-morrow, the film may be described as absorbing screen fare, packed with suspense, drama, and thrills. The problems and temptations which are placed before young medical men form the theme of the picture, which ooens with the scene of the completion of the medical training of two men—John Beal and Edward Norris—who take separate paths when the girl they both love makes her choice. Blake, who wins hei affection, takes the easy road of risk with the prospect of ruining his medical career in order to raise the necessary money for his marriage, and becomes involved with gangsters. " You Will Remember Me," the other feature on the programme, has an equally entertaining plot, and the cast includes such well-known players as Hobert Morley and Emlyn Williams. OCTAGON THEATRE Lay Laurence, known throughout the criminal world as " The Gay Falcon " and the leading character in the new series of romantic mystery dramas for RKO Radio, brings a new detective to the screen to compete with Nero Wolfe, Nick Charles, Ellery Queen, Philo Vance and many other fictional favourites of the sleuthing fraternity. " The Gay Falcon " will open at the Octagon Theatre to-mor-row. The Falcon, portrayed by the versatile George Sanders, is a well-to-do gentleman of inordinate curiosity, whose favourite interests are women and amateur criminology. Both characteristics are sources of annoyance to his fiancee, and to please her he agrees to abandon them. But when a pretty secretary requests that he help prevent a possible jewel theft, he tosses his promises overboard and goes to work. Almost at once he finds himself enmeshed in the activities of a sinister robbery and murder ring. Sanders gives the part of the Falcon a realism and conviction that maintains the suspense at a high level. REGENT THEATRE Millions have enjoyed the romantic novels of Baroness Orszy, author of " The Scarlet Pimpernel," and Dunedin picturegoers, in common with citizens of other centres where the film, " Pimpernel Smith," has been screened, will find their hopes of outstanding entertainment fulfilled in Leslie Howard's portrayal of the modern version of the famous fictionary character. " Pimpernel Smith " will open a season to-morrow at the Regent Theatre. The film contains in full measure mystery and suspense, with a sharp flavouring of romance, and it deals with the activities of a mysterious character, a lover of freedom and a hater of women, who dedicates himself to the task of assisting the unfortunate victims of the Nazis to escape their tyranny. A small unassuming professor of Greek history and art, owning " a natural capacity for melting with the landscape," keeps the Gestapo on edge, brings off the most, remarkable coups, and manages io keep a jump ahead of the organised power of the Third Retch right up to the final plot to kill him on a mist-swathed railway station on the German border. STATE THEATRE A feast of sparkling humour, diverting situations and a liberal helping of romance are all contained in the brilliant comdy-drama, " My Favourite Wife," the new attraction which will commence a season at the State Theatre to-morrow. < Cary Grant has a role in the picture which offers splendid opportunities for his particular brand of humour, and he makes the most of it. In fact, the film has its moral for husbands who have a penchant for clandestine escapades, and there is a lesson to be learned from Cary Grant, who finds himself in constant trouble, evading scandal and the divorce court. The supporting cast includes Irene Dunne and Gail Patrick.