ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23393, 28 December 1937, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “LOVE ON THE RUN’’ Romance runs rampant, adventure has its fling and love conquers all in the delightful new M.-G.-M. comedy melodrama, “Love or\ the Run, and comedy has a riotous tune. Teaming those two exhilarating and colourful personalities, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable, in a dashing tale of modem doings by ultra-modern people the new picture provides excitement and laughter in an entertainment melange of an heiress, a fortune-hunting nobleman, two American correspondents and a brace of European crooks. The versatile Miss Crawford appears as a distinctly 1937 streamlined-model girl dressed in those dazzling creations that only she can wear so well. She is supposed to be Sally Parker, daughter of an American millionaire besieged by the nobility of the foreign capitals, and she looks every inch the part. As may be expected, Miss Crawford and Gable make a superb romantic team, while excellent support is given the stars by Franchot Tone, Reginald Owen, Mona Barrie and others. No little of the distinctive touches of “Love on the Run” were contributed by its hit-making director, W. S. van Dyke. He is the man who made “San Francisco” and “Rose Marie.” The “shorts” are wonderful and include the dog story, “Wanted a Master,” a Colourtone revue, a coloured cartoon and other bright items. “WOMAN CHASES MAN” “Woman Chases Man,” Samuel Goldwyn’s hilarious film comedy, starring Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrea, Charles Winninger and Erik Rhodes, comes tomorrow .to the Regent Theatre. Ella Logdn, Leona Maricle, and Broderick Crawford are also prominently featured in this story of a girl who chased a man from pillar to post to get him to sign a contract, got involved in a series of side-splitting situations, and wound up by landing his name on the dotted line—of a marriage licence! STATE THEATRE “SHALL WE DANCE” ASTAIRE AND ROGERS Accenting the story plot and the merriment to a greater degree than in any of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers former hits, “Shall We Dance” is said to offer a wealth of novelties. The story of “Shall We Dante,” which is the current attraction at the State Theatre, deals with a tempestuous love affair between a famous ballet dancer (Astaire) and a celebrated revue artist (Miss Rogers)...Just as the romance reaches a Satisfactory point, rumours hint that the two are secretly married, and a series of mirthful complications follows. With catchy song numbers composed by George and Ira Gershwin, and featuring some of the most spectacular danceS. the two stars have ever presented, the new picture is said to be a tuneful triumph. Harriet Hoctor, America’s greatest ballerina, is seen in two numbers—one of them a duet with Astaire—and Astaire has two solo dances as well as three numbers with Rogers. These dances include a unique roller-skating dance and a remarkable Astaire solo in the engine room of an ocean liner, in which he performs his terpsichorean feats in time to the beat of the ship’s machinery. Since both the principals portray famous personages in the theatrical world, their smallest actions are news, and when the rumour spreads that they are married, it becomes a headline affair. Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore, both of whom have added much to the merriment of previous AstaireRogers vehicles, have important roles. There is an excellent supporting programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE PROGRAMME ENDS TODAY The Columbia mystery drama, “Woman in Distress,” starring May Robson and Universal’s romantic musical, “When Love is Young,” with Virginia Bruce and Kent Taylor, will conclude at the Majestic today. COMEDY AND THRILLER “THE LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD” Bright rippling dialogue, gay humour and tender romance sparkle in Universal’s comedy drama which opens at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. Lovely Jane Wyatt has the title role and Louis Hayward, dashing stage star, plays opposite her. The picture sets forth the amusing adventures of a rich girl who wants to marry a handsome young man. He dances beautifully and is a tennis wizard, but father objects because his income is too small, 150 dollars a month. Father says he will consent if daughter proves she can live on that amount, so Jane sets off for the city, where she meets another likeable fellow, Louis Hayward. Complications start when they have to share the same kitchen. He teaches her how to cook and depend on herself. Then she compares the two men and finds she cares as much for the second one as she does for the first. To add to her confusion, father has sent a private detective, Nat Pendleton, to protect her from harm. When Hayward discovers her father is unapproachably wealthy and that Jane has another hoy friend, the situation becomes more entangled and funnier by the minute, with the laugh-provok-ing dialogue keeping the swift pace. Does she marry the first man? Does the second win her love completely? We cannot reveal the romantic secret here. “The Luckiest Girl in the World” is based on Anne Jordan’s story in the Ladies’ Home Journal, “Kitchen Privileges.” Eddie Buzzell directed. The associate feature, Warner Bros’ production, “Boulder Dam,” which colourfully exploits the exciting incidents connected with the construction of the mighty power project, has Ross Alexander, Patricia Ellis and Lyle Talbot in the leading roles. The picture is based on the dramatic story, “Boulder Dam,” by Dan M. Templin, and was directed by Frank MacDonald from the screen play by Sy Bartlett and Ralph Block. Others in the cast include Eddie Acuff, Henry O’Neill. Egon Brecher, • Eleanor Wesselhoeft, Joseph Crehan, Olin Howland, William Pawley. Ronnie Cosby and George Breakston. Plans are on view at H. and J. Smith’s or Rice’s . Majestic Theatre shop.

CIVIC THEATRE

“SAID O’REILLY TO McNAB” “A surprise comedy which has hit Australia an'd now New Zealand on the funny-hone,” is the way in which' a northern critic describes “Said O’Reilly To McNab,” with Will Fyffe, the famous Scottish comedian, in the leading role which is at the Civic Theatre. What O’Reilly said to McNab and what McNab had to say to O’Reilly provide material for one of the funniest film?

ever produced in Britain. This film is written especially to suit the outstanding talents of two famous humorists, Will Mahoney and Will Fyffe, who costarred in this, their first full-length film appearance. “Said O’Reilly to McNab” is a slick comedy concerning an Irishman from “Nooyark” who tries to get his son married to the daughter of a hard-boiled Scotsman It is an ideal vehicle for the famous comedians, Will Mahoney and Will Fyffe, and it has been designed to fully exploit their individual brands of American-Irish and Scotch humour. This is their first film together, and already English fans are clamouring for more laugh shows featuring these popular players. William Beaudine directed the film, which has been tailored to please any audience. With the picture are some excellent shorts, including one of the New Zealander, Strickland, fighting for the Empire championship and another of Jean Batten arriving in England.