ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23497, 2 May 1938, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “THE EMPEROR’S CANDLESTICKS” “The Emperor’s Candlesticks,” which is now showing at the Regent Theatre, and which drew a big audience on Saturday night, has as its stars Luise Rainer, who anpeared a short time ago in “The Good Earth,” and William Powell, who will be remembered for his debonair portrayal in “The Thin Man.” Also playing prominent parts are Robert Young, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Frank Morgan, so it can be seen that the cast is outstanding. The story is from a book by the Baroness Orczy, and is a thrilling tale of two gay spies who are working for opposing nations, one for Russia and the other for Poland. Luise Rainer’s work in this picture is especially of a high standard, and her portraya l of the Countess Mironova is wonderfully well done. Her acting is simple, but very effective. William Powell is his usual gay and light-hearted self, with entry into the highest cocial circles of the country, but withal a spy. Robert Young and Maureen O’Sullivan have a separate romance of their r wn, Young is cast as the son of the Tsar, and his mix-up with Miss O’Sullivan leads to his capture by Polish nationalists. The story opens with Young being captured by a group of spies and being forced to write a letter to the Tsar asking, for the release of a Polish spy who is a prisoner of the Russian secret police. It is William Powell’s job, as the chief of the Polish spies, to get the letter to the Tsar himself. Luise Rainer, who is one of the Russian intelligence service, is given papers that will cause the death of Powell and she has to get the papers to St. Petersburg before he reaches there, so that he can be caught. Unknown to each other, they hide their papers in a pair of candlesticks that belonged to the emperor. The candlesticks are stolen on tiie journey and the race to recover them is full of thrills. The supporting programme includes an “Our Gang” comedy, a Fitzpatrick Traveltalk, a short comedy “How to Start the Day,” a coloured cartoon, air mail news, a thrilling film of the Grand National, and the first films of Clouston’s arrival in England. ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME TOMORROW A production which follows the pattern and threatens to top such pictures as “Libelled Lady,” “My Man Godfrey,” and “The Thin Man,” will be showii at the Regent Theatre on Friday when the hilarious “My Dear Miss Aldrich" will commence a season. Sparkling with witty dialogue and humorously awkward situations, the production moves at a fast pace. Briefly, the story tells how Martha Aldrich (Maureen O’Sullivan) inherits a large New York newspaper, much to tiie disgust of the city editor (Walter Pidgeon) and the editorial staff generally. How they endeavour to discourage her in her eventually successful venture makes entertainment of outstanding quality. Other members of the first-class cast include veteran Edna May Oliver, Rita Johnson, Janet Beecher, Walter Kingsford, and Charles Waldron. There will be other attractive features—a Laurel and Hardy comedy, “Annie Laurie,” a Scottish gem, “The Romance of Radium” by Pete Smith and news reels.

STATE THEATRE

EDDIE CANTOR’S NEWEST “ALI BABA GOES TO TOWN” Eddie Cantor’s latest laugh riot, “Ali Baba Goes to Town” screens today at 2.0 and 7.45 and finally tomorrow at the State. Other players in this mirthmusical are Tony Martin, Roland Young, June Lang, and Louise Hovick heading a star-crowded cast of entertainers. “Ali Baba” is a magnificent combination of colourful extravaganza beautiful girls, lavish sets, and sidesplitting comedy to the rhythmic, swaying hit times of Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, which include “I’ve Got My Heart Set On You,” “Laugh Your Way Through Life” and “Swing Is Here to Sway.” Audiences will go banjo-eyed with joy as the Mayor of Mirthtown takes over the Sultan’s swingdom, and changes big, bad Bagdad into hi-de-hilarious Gagdad with his streamlined

Magic Carpet, licence plates for camels a harem-reduction programme and carpet tacks placed under the sit-down strikers. Loaded with gags and girls, swings and things, “Ali Baba Goes To Town” is a surpriseful grab-Bagdad of hi-de-highlights. To name a few of the thousand and one delights, there’s Eddie aboard the Magic Carpet; tiie harem’s Sultana, Louise Hovick, making love to roving-eyed Eddie; the sumptuous banquet with Eddie master of ceremonies; countless kisses under the desert moon as Tony sings to June; the fabled gorgeousness of Bagdad; and elaborate dance ensembles in which Eddie, the Peters sisters, Jeni Le Gon, and hundreds of lush harem beauties and Oriental darlings perform in riotous, .rhythmic routines, while Raymond Scott and his famous Quintet play his own composition, “Twilight In Turkey.” Plans are on view at Begg’s or State, telephone 645.

COMING WEDNESDAY “CREDO” Commencing next Wednesday at the State, the film "Credo” must rank as one of the most remarkable achievements of its kind to be produced in New Zealand. The presentation of “Credo” itself is not perhaps, the most outstanding feature of the film, however, for the brilliant pageantry which marked the celebrations of the Roman Catholic anniversary at Auckland has been caught by the camera in many different forms. The procession through the streets, the special services for men, women and children, and the speeches of a number of prominent overseas visitors to the celebrations form a striking introduction to “Credo,” while a touch of colour has been added by the filming of a special service among the Maoris at Hokianga. “Credo” is a pictorial record of an outstanding event in the history of the New Zealand Roman Catholic Church. Special arrangements have been made for St Catherine’s Girls Choir to sing suitable numbers at the gala performance on Wednesday night. An additional picture “Love On A Budget” starring the riotously funny and famous Jones Family will also be screened.. Patrons are advised to book for Wednesday or Thursday at Begg’s or theatre, ’phone 645. This programmel screens for 2 days only.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

BITTER AMERICAN STRIFE “THEY WON’T FORGET” Saturday night’s audience at the Majestic Theatre was treated to an entertainment as unusual as it was exciting. This was Warner Brothers* “They Won’t Forget,” produced by Mervyn Le Roy, who triumphed with such successes as “Little Caesar” and “Anthony Adverse.” The story is one of a politically ambitious district attorney (Claude Rains), who seizes an opportunity to reap glory in the eyes of those directly about him. In a murder trial a school teacher (Edward Norris), js being tried on a combination of circumstantial evidence aided by prejudice. He goes to his doom and the district attorney achieves, his ultimate purpose. At the end, however, the latter admits to wondering whether or not the accused really was guilty. While it is. therefore not the point of the picture to have a murder case reviewed, those who have seen the film or read Ward Greene’s “Death In The Deep South,” which served as a. basis, cannot help but try, at least in his own. mind, to effect a conclusion. Controversial though it may be, the subject lends itself readily to discussion, and there doubtless will be much before “They Won’t Forget” is forgotten. There are three people who know that Mary Clay (Lana Turner) went back into the building, and two who were already in the school when Mary entered. An instructor who had stayed late, Robert Hale (Edward Norris) , and the janitor, Tump Redwine (Clinton Rosemond), were the two in the building. A girl friend, Imogene Mayfield (Linda Perry), a suitor, Joe Turer (Elisha Cook, jun.,) and the school head master, Carlisle Burton (E. Alyn Warren) are thex>thers who know that Mary Clay went back into the building to get her vanity case. Suspicion falls on the four men, but Redwine ana Hale in particular. The ambitious district attorney, realizing that it is a simple and inglorious achievement to cohvict a negro, charges Hale. A strong, well-knit story, you know that any one of the above-mentioned four men could as easily have been the murderer as Hale on the basis of circumstances, but that the latter was the only one that District Attorney Griffin could accuse to achieve his aim. Those who have read the book and seen the picture will contend* that Carlisle Buxton was the murderer. The manner in which he looked at Mary Clay when she returned to the school makes us distrust him. A target for suspicion, he is nevertheless a pillar of tradition in the town and thus unimneachable. The associate feature is a thrilling story of a newsreel cameraman entitled “I Cover the War.” John Wayne has been allotted the leading role and he gives an outstanding oerformance.

CIVIC THEATRE

“CAVALCADE” CONCLUDES TONIGHT TWO FEATURES TOMORROW “Cavalcade” concludes a highly successful season at the Civic Theatre tonight. Noel Coward’s epic play has lost none of its effectiveness on the screen. In fact, the greater mobility of the camera and the opportunities it presents for a symbolism which unites the varied events portrayed, have heightened and accentuated the strength of the two themes which run through the story. These themes are themselves closely interwoven in that the history of a great nation through three tumultuous decades is seen reflected in the lives of a typical English family.,Clive Brook and Diana Wynyard at the head of the long and distinguished cast, enrich with superb performances the rich human appeal of this outstanding film. The associate feature is “Dangerously Yours” in which Caesar Romero, Phyllis Brooks and Alan’Dinehart have the leading roles. Tomorrow night another doublefeature programme at bargain prices will be presented, the premier attraction being Darryl Zanuck’s dynamic drama of modbrn America “Show Them No Mercy.” One of the most realistic attacks on crime and criminals ever screened, and certainly the most true-to-life, this production ranks with “Scarface” and “Fury” as a classic of its kind. Though it has no great star name, the cast list includes some of Hollywood’s most reliable players. Bruce Cabot, Caesar Romero, Edward Norris, Rochelle Hudson, Edward Brophy and Warren Hymer • all have parts of equal importance and their work both individually and as a team, is absolutely brilliant, and in keeping with the powerful story and forceful direction. The associate feature is “Champagne Charlie” in which Paul Cavanagh is starred with Herbert Mundin, Helen Woods and Thomas Beck in support.