ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23442, 24 February 1938, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “IT’S ALL YOURS” “It happened one night” and “Theodore Goes Wild” might well look to their laurels. For yesterday, at the Regent Theatre, Columbia presented the first Madeleine Carrol-Francis Lederer romantic venture, a scintillating comedy called “It’s All Yours,” and by that token made a strong bid for top honours in the romantic comedy field. Sparkling with bright comedy, “It’s All Yours” betrayed a captivating charm which proved absolutely irresistible, credit for which must go to Miss Carroll and Lederer for their scintillating interpretations of the light romantic leads; to Mischa Auer, for several of the most hilarious comedy scenes that ever menaced an audience’s risibilities; and to Director _ Elliott Nugent for an effective balancing of comedy and dramatic values. The story opens with the arrival of Jimmy Barnes (Francis Lederer) in America from Europe to join the law firm of his uncle. Jimmy is immediately advised to have a good time before settling down to work. This he proceeds to do so diligently that he soon becomes Playboy No. 1. The uncle, who watches from the sidelines with a great deal of worry, finally arranges with his partner, Duncan, to fake a will in which he leaves his millions to his beautiful, but unsophisticated secretary, _ Linda Gray (Madeleine Carrol). He dies with the thought that his plan will eventually bring Jimmy and Linda together. Meanwhile Jimmy continues to paint the country red in the company of his actress girl friend, Connie (Grace Bradley).

“THE GOOD EARTH” COMING ON SATURDAY The much-heralded “The Good Earth” comes to the Regent Theatre next Saturday. To say that it is a great picture is not enough. It is the talking screen’s most outstanding masterpiece. “The Good Earth” comes from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the same studio which gave us “San Francisco,” “Naughty Marietta,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Great Ziegfeld,” “After ■ the Thin Man,” “Rose Marie” and so man yother fine screen achievements. Co-starred in “The Good Earth” are Paul Muni and Luise Rainer. In 1936, both won the individual acting awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Together, their performances defy equal. Briefly, this picture tells the story of a man’s battle for sustenance from the soil, with his wife beside him. Wang (portrayed by Paul Muni) is a farmer. With his wife O-Lan (Luise Rainer) he rears his family despite the setbacks from cruel nature, and the man-made strife of a bloody revolution. His struggle for existence, and ultimate acquisition of riches, may be the parallel of any one of us here today. In the simplicity of “The Good Earth” in its application to every man lies the secret of its greatness. STATE THEATRE “ROSE OF TRALEE” “Rose of Tralee” concludes its Invercargill season at the State Theatre today. The excellent story with the right mixture of sentiment and humour, together with the quality of the acting and the popular appeal of the songs .that are incorporated in it, have made the picture an outstanding success. Binkie Stuart, a four-year-old child actress, shows herself to be one of the most talented young players on the screen. Not only does she act with a refreshing naturalness, but also sings in appealing fashion. Most of the singing. however, is done by Fred Conyngham and Danny Malone, who is already known throughout the world as an expert singer of Irish melodies. Kathleen O’Regan proves an attractive heroine. BEGINNING TOMORROW “WEE WILLIE WINKLE” Marking the beginning of a new phase in Shirley Temple’s screen career, “Wee Willie Winkie,” the famous Rudyard Kipling story of India, will be tomorrow’s feature at the State Theatre. The spectacular Twentieth Century-Fox drama was directed by John Ford. The curly-headed child star has a highly dramatic !role, the strongest supporting cast of any of her screen successes, and the most elaborate production yet accorded one of her films. Shirley’s co-star in “Wee Willie Winkie” is Victor McLaglen, and the supporting cast includes C. Aubrey Smith, June Lang, Michael Whalen, Cesar Romero, Constance Collier and young Douglas Scott, among many others. For the production, two Indian forts were constructed at a location site 35 miles from the studio. With plenty of human interest, vigorous action, comedy and suspense, the film cannot fail to meet with universal approval. The story is that of a little girl and her mother who go to live at a British outpost in India and find themselves in a land of fast action and heroism. The little girl is at a loss to explain the cause of the warfare between the natives and the British troops, and in her efforts to smooth matters out and be friendly with both sides is nearly responsible for a massacre. The photography and production have obviously been very carefully attended to, and the military pageantry and stirring martial conflict have been expertly handled. The programme is notable for the films of several events at the Empire Games, a particularly fine piece of photography being Boot’s great victory in the halfmile. Hurdling, jumping and swimming events are also screened. MAJESTIC THEATRE “BULLDOG DRUMMOND COMES BACK” JOHN BARRYMORE AGAIN Bulldog Drummond returns to the’ screen in another smashing “Sapper” story, with John Howard playing the part of Drummond. The new picture is entitled “Bulldog Drummond Comes Back,” and opens tonight at the Majestic Theatre, with a cast headed by John Barrymore, Louise Campbell and Reginald Denny. “Bulldog Drummond

Comes Back,” a Paramount picture, is the story of Drummond’s fight against a ruthless gang of criminals who kidnap his fiancee, in a mad chase all over England, which ends in a breathless climax with Drummond and his friends at bay in a fight for their lives. John Barrymore’s name is known to everyone with even the most perfunctory knowledge of the theatre. His latest role in Paramount’s “Bulldog Drummond Comes Back,” is the most recent chapter in a career that has included every role from one of the outstanding Hamlets of all times to the sinister Svengali. Taken from the “Sapper” book, “The Female of the Species,” the picture was directed by Louis King. The hectic problem of a mystery writer who has run out of story ideas is brought to the screen in Paramount’s new comedy-mystery, “She Asked For It,” the associate feature to “Bulldog Drummond Comes Back.” The fastmoving photoplay stars William Gargan and Orien Heyward, and includes Vivienne Osborne, Richard Carle, Roland Drew and Tully Marshall in the supporting cast. Latest Universal News will also be shown. , HOP ALONG CASSIDY SATURDAY Clarence E. Mulford’s colourful western trio, Hopalong Cassidy with his two pals, Windy and Lucky, will be seen in “Hills of Old Wyoming” on Saturday. The film centres about a large reservation in Wyoming where a crooked Government agent tries to use his Indian wards as a screen for his sinister operations as head of a cattle rustling gang. Cassidy, with his pals “Windy” and “Mesquite ‘Lucky’ Jenkins,” is a peace-loving rancher when the picture opens. The three together with their neighbours rise in protest, however, at the continued cattle thieving. Plans are on view at H. and J. Smith’s or Rice’s Majestic shop. Telephone 738.

ST. JAMES THEATRE, GORE

Arresting and spectacular melodrama adds particular vividness to Paramount’s colourful production, “High, Wide and Handsome,” which begins at the St. James Theatre, Gore, this evening. This films shows capable Irene Dunne from still another refreshing angle, and reveals Randolph Scott in a performance permeated with

strength and virility. The picture has been frankly developed as entertainment in the broad and picturesque sense. In this it has the advantage of a well-conceived narrative with a sprinkling of historical fact.

REGENT THEATRE, GORE

A triple blend of realism, drama and comedy, “Hideaway,” which opens at the Regent Theatre, Gore, this evening, is a distinct triumph for its veteran star# Fred Stone. As a lazy but likeable old man with a weakness for poaching and loafing about his rundown farm while his wife supports him and their children by taking in the neighbour’s sewing, Stone has one of the most amusing roles of his whole cai-eer. The story concerns the efforts of the impecunious Stone family to make ends meet until a trio of fugitive gangsters, posing as holiday-makers, aer welcomed into the'farmhouse as temporary boarders.