ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE MUSIC GOES ROUND” A mad extravaganza of music and rhythm worthy of the song that inspired it, “The Music Goes Round, now showing at the Majestic Theatie, features the famous radio and variety star Harry Richman. Without a dull moment in its entire action, the film is liberally sprinkled with song hits. “There’ll Be No South,” “Let’s Go,„ “Life Begins When You’re in Love, “Suzannah,” and “Rolling Along” are all destined for a greater or lesser share of that great wave of popularity on which the title song is still riding. The story is briefly that of Harry Wallace, a Broadway musical comedy star, who is so >disgusted when Bishop (Douglas Dumbrille), producer of his latest effort, refuses to include in it a song in which he is interested (the song is, of course, “Tire Music Goes Round”) that he takes a sudden vacation and drives south until he enters an old Missippi township. Here he finds the last showboat on the river, run by the Courtnay players, chief among whom are old Courtnay (Walter Connolly) and his lovely daughter (Rochelle Hudson). Their version of a “drammer” of the old days is so funny that he decides to get them into his show. How he does so, and how a romance that starts on the showboat reaches its fulfilment, is very well told in the film. The first half of the programme includes newsreels, a brilliant technicolour featurette, a sports review, and an Andy Clyde comedy.

STATE THEATRE.

GINGER ROGERS IN “ IN PERSON.”

Ginger Rogers, the titian-haired mate of Fred Astaire in “Top Hat,” “Roberta,” and others, achieves the goal of every Hollywood player—solo stardom in a vehicle ideally suited to her distinctive talents, “In Person,” which commences a season at the State Theatre to-day. “In Person” provides her with a rich light comedydrama role and enables her to sing three original popular songs and to execute several striking dances. With George Brent playing opposite her, the result is a most entertaining picture. Miss Rogers takes the part of a pampered screen celebrity who seeks seclusion in an effort to avoid her clamouring admirers. She assumes a disguise and hides in a log cabin, where she falls in love with the unresponsive owner (George Brent), annoying him so thoroughly that he determines to take the egotism out of her, forcing her to go to extraordinary lengths to trap him into marriage. The romantic difficulties culminate in what has been adjudged one of the funniest climaxes to come to the screen this season. Finding logical place in the picture are three popular songs which give Miss Rogers adequate opportunities to display her singing-dancing skill with the deftness she showed in her film musical successes with Fred Astaire. She sings “Out of Sight, Out of Mind,” “Don t Mention Love to Me,” and “Got a New Lease of Life.” The final musical scene is an ensemble number created by Hermes Pan, who worked on the dance numbers in “Top Hat,” in which a chorus of 12 men forms a background for Miss Rogers’s dances. There is an excellent supporting programme.

REGENT THEATRE

“THE BIG BROADCAST OF 193 G.”

FAMOUS NAMES IN BRIGHT SHOW.

“Big Broadcast of 1936” which is to open at the Regent Theatre to-day, has so many famous names on its posters that it is sure to be a popular success before the public gets any further than the theatre lobby. Everybody who is anybody, on the air or off it, contribute to this fast-moving musical comedy. There is a cast of 32 headed by Jack Oakie, Burns and Allen, Lydia Roberti, Wendy Barrie, Henry Wadsworth and C. Henry Gordon, but, just for good measure, some other people also appear, including— Richard Tauber, Bill Robinson, the tap dancer, Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland, Ina’s “Melodears,” Viennese Boys’ Choir, Burns and Allen, Bing Crosby, Amos ’n’ Andy, West and McGinty, Ray Noble’s Band, and Ethel Merman and her team of elephants. The story shows that Jack Oakie and Henry Wadsworth, owners of a wheezy radio station, are going broke fast. Along comes George Burns, inventor of a television apparatus that can pick up anyone, anything, anywhere and any time, and project it on a screen. Hilariously abetted by Gracie Allen, the radiolites lose no time in grabbing this gift from heaven. They can neither finance nor market their contraption until they run slambang into Ysobel. countess of a mythical kingdom. Taking a great liking to the quartet and their invention, she lures them to her domain under the pretext that she will provide the necessary cash. Nobody has counted upon the wily and jealous Prime Minister, Gordonio, who quickly has the gang on the spot and very much in danger of losing their lives. The only way they can forstall execution is by entertaining the countess with their odd set. Through this appeal all the entertainers as listed in the cast, performing their specialties. While entertaining the regal lady, they also manage to broadcast the news of their predicament. The navy rescues them and when they are safely home, the quartet wins the grand prize for providing the best entertaining programme of the year. The supporting items include a Sportlight “Jumping Champions,” a Popeye the Sailor cartoon, News of the World, and other featurettes. Box plans are at H. &J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre.

REGENT THEATRE, GORE.

“PADDY O’DAY.”

Jane Withers, the gifted child actress, jigs her way through “Paddy O’Day,” which opens at the Regent Theatre, Gore, to-day. The picture follows the adventures of an Irish girl in New York. Paddy is first met on board the ship which takes her from Ireland to America,- where she is to meet her mother, with her Russian friends, fascinating Rita Cansino and other members of the Petrovitch family who are going to America as a troupe of entertainers. Paddy wins all hearts on the ship with her Irish songs, chief among which is “Keep the Twinkle in Your Eye.” When the ship arrives at Ellis Island, news of the death of Paddy’s mother is brought, and the immigration authorities decide to send the child back to Ireland, but Paddy and her dog evade all officials and escape to the house where her mother used to work. She finds it a strange household, presided over by two eccentric aunts, who do their best to repress Roy Ford, eccentric young heir to millions. Roy and the child strike up a friendship, and together they get into many amusing scrapes. Paddy is responsible for introducing Roy, admirably played by Pinkie Tomlin, to the Russians, and the new friend brings success to the entertainers. He falls in love with the beautiful Rita Cansino and finances their cafe. He also wins success with the songs he composes and his singing of them adds to the entertainment of the film. Paddy is heard in charming

waif who is befriended with her baby Irish songs, and the Russians provide enjoyable numbers. Also showing is Edward Evoj’ett Horton in “His Night Out.”

ST. JAMES THEATRE, GORE.

“ESCAPE ME NEVER.”

As the carefree gamin whose life strays into tragic paths Elisabeth Bergner reveals emotional talent that has never been surpassed on the screen in “Escape Me Never,” the brilliant comedy-drama which commences at the St. James Theatre, Gore, to-day. In “Escape Me Never” when, as the pitiful little waif, Gemma Jones, Miss Bergner lifts her empty hand, somehow you see it weighted with all the sorrows of her tragic little life; she lets it fall and, like a cup inverted, her life suddenly becomes pitifully empty again. Watch her as she steals into the hospital to ask what has become of her baby. Keep you eyes on the drama of her arms, as, teacup in hand, she takes the measure of her rival. She makes of the lovable

by a selfish, egotistical composer, who finally marries her, a living person. Her subsequent unhappiness as she sees her husband making love to his brother’s fiancee moves the audience as few stories could do. Although Miss Bergner dominates the film with her genius she has the assistance of the principals of the original West End stage cast. Hugh Sinclair does well as the callous husband and Griffith Jones makes the most of the part of his more matter-of-fact brother. As the society girl who infatuates both brothers, Penelope Dudley Ward makes a promising screen debut. <

EMPIRE PICTURES, RIVERTON.

There is something new in mystery pictures and “Murder in the Clouds,” to be screened at Riverton to-night, is different from the usual mystery film. Several murders occur in the air, as well as the kidnapping 01 a beautiful girl by aeroplane snatchers. There is also a romance in which two air pilots battle for the love of Ann Dvorak, who is featured with Lyle Talbot, one of the best rifle shots in Hollywood.