AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19694, 28 July 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “THE FIREFLY”: JEANETTE MACDONALD'S MUSICAL: LAST DAY To-night is farewell night at the Regent Theatre to Jeanette MacDonald in M.G.M.’s big dramatic musical, “The Firefly," and those who have not yet seen this line film are advised that this is their last opportunity. The highlight in the featurettes is an historical mystery entitled “The Ship That Died," based on the greatest mystery in maritime history, the ill-fated “Marie Celeste.” Also showing is the first cricket test, Australia v. England. —“Bluebeard’s Bth Wife”: Famous French Comedy To-morrow — There is a lightness of touch and spontaniety of humour which puts some pictures right out in front of other screen comedies of the season, and this is vyry evident in “Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife.” Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper form a brilliant new comedy team, while the direction of Ernst Lubitsch brings out the punch of the French background in “Bluebeard's Eighth Wife,” a picture of life among Europe's smart set, which Paramount presents to-morrow at the Regent. The story, adapted from the famous play of Alfred Savoir, tells about a much-married American multi-millionaire who is subdued and put into a strait-jacket by his eighth wile, whom he marries for a new thrill. Miss Colbert is the same flippant, ingenious girl who made screen history in "I Met Him in Paris.” Cooper, as the philandering American, plays opposite her in a role that fits him well. After becoming the

bride of flic much-married financier, Miss Colbert, a penniless French aristocrat, starts out on a campaign to bring him to his knees and humble his \ pride for the first time. Before the honeymoon is over, Cooper is her obedient servant. The Regent management announce that owing In the increasing number of items appearing in the “first half" of the programme a special advertisement on page one of this paper will detail these in future on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week. The new “first half" includes “Cleaning House," a special M.G.M. colour cartoon, “Gold,” interest and novelty; “Paramount Pictorial,” variety items; "Let's Celebrate," Pop-eye cartoon; “The Little Princesses attend the Aldershot Tattoo”; the “Trooping of the Colour"; Catholic World Congress in Budapest; “Japanese Smash the Hindenburg Line”; "Sir Edward Ellington inspects Melbourne Air Force," and an air tour from Adelaide to Brisbane. The plans are heavy and early reservation is advised. MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST DAY: “I COVER THE WAR," “LET’S GET MARRIED,” AND “MARCH OF TIME” A strong triple-unit programme will conclude to-night. "I Cover the War’ ( deals with a newsreel cameraman’s i adventures during an Arab revolt in Mesopotamia. “Let’s Get Married” is a delightful comedy starring Ida Lupine), Walter Connolly, and Ralph Bellamy. An interesting "March of Time" completes the programme, which commences at 7.30 p.m. —To-morrow: M.G.M'.'s “The Last Gangster" and Laurel and Hardy in "Hlotto”— Transferred from the Regent to make room for an early screening oi "Bluebeard's Bth Wife," M-G-M’s climax to gangster pictures, “The Last Gangster," will head a particularly attractive programme at the Majestic to-morrow. Edward G. Robinson, who played the first gangster in motion pictures, now plays the last in “The Last Gangster.” a dramatic story of a man's term in a penitentiorv, with James Stewart, Rose Stradn v. a new actress from Vienna, and a notable cast. “The Last. Gangster" tells of the imprisonment of a "public enemy” and the struggle of his wife, who did not know his calling, to L< se her identity and save their child from the disgrace attached to his name. Miss Stradner plays the wife and Stewart the newspaperman who befriends her and with whom she finally finds happiness. A riot in the mess hall of a Federal penitentiary, grim details of prison life and the armoured prison train, activity in United States newspaper offices, and inner workings and haunts of gangland provide the dramatic background for the central romance. The dramatic highlight is the scene in prison where Miss Stradner tells Robinson she at last knows the truth, and must leave him and take their baby awa / for ever. The players include Lionel Standee as the gangster’s henchman, Douglas Scott, John Cnrradine, Sidney Blaekmer, Grant Mitchell, Edward S. Broph.v, Alan Baxter, Frank Conroy, and Louise Beavers. The associate ieaturettes include a 30-minute comedy, "Blotto," with Laurvi and Hardy, and the opening chapter of the new serial "Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars,” with a big cast headed by Larry Crabbe and Jean Regers. Box plans close each day at (i p.m. KING’S THEATRE “RADIO CITY REVELS": SPARKLING MUSICAL: LAST NIGHT “Radio City Revels,” starring lack Oakie, Bob Burns, Kenny Baker, and a large supporting cast will have its final screening ,at the King's to-night. —“Joy of Living”: Uproarious Musical Coined y To-morrow — "A knock-out! Sizzling with uproariously funny situations” is tiie most appropriate way of describing the brilliant comedy hit “Joy of Living," which opens at the King's Theatre to-morrow, The captivating

star, Irene Dunne, who will be remembered for her great performances in “Roberta," “Showboat, l'heodora Goes Wild," and "The Awful Truth," gives what has been claimed by critics her greatest triumph to date. Douglas Fairbanks, Tun., plays opposite her. “.lo.y of Living” presents a brand new theme for a comedy with music. It deals with the pursuit of happiness, a plan for which is presented in a light-hearted treatment. Two contrasting characters —a popular musical comedy star who, thanks lo the demands of her selfish family, is constantly in debt, and a forthright sort of playboy —are the principals in the picture. On this basis the story proceeds along a unique path marked by arguments and reconciliations and a charming romance as the confident young man endeavours to convince the girl that his reasoning is sound. His rescue of her from a mob of autographluinlers, a police-court episode when the star has him arrested for annoying her, a hectic marriage, and the young man's efforts to persuade her to go to the South Seas with him on his tramp steamer-yacht, are among the unusual features of the picture. Miss Dunne's talents as a singer and comedienne are fully used in her role which is said to give her the lines! opportunities to date. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., is ideally cast as the unconventional, pleasure seeker. In the supporting cast are Alice Brady, Guy Kibbee, Jean Dixon, Eric Blore, I Lucille Ball and Warren Hymcr. A wonderful supporting programme includes a 19118 "March of Time,” a Walt Disney Coloured Symphony, the second cricket test, and comedies.