ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23498, 3 May 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE e “CREDO” AT 2 TOMORROW s' Final screenings take place at 2.0 and n 7.45 today at the State of Eddie Cany tor’s newest mirth-musical, “Ali Baba _ Goes To Town.” Commencing at 2 p.m. tomorrow, . Wednesday, the State is privileged to a present a graphic pictorial record of the i historic celebrations which marked the Centenary of the Catholic Church in n New Zealand in the film “Credo,” f which covers the whole of the comg memoration at Auckland. The signi- _ ficance of the celebrations is ems phasized in a manner which would e be difficult with mere words, and pers sonal glimpses, and in many instances, f brief remarks, of the more prominent 5 members of the Catholic hierarchy in New Zealand and overseas who were s present form an excellent introduction to the film. The stirring scenes of devotion, commencing with the solemn pontifical Mass which opened the celebrations and concluding with the large- _ scale presentation of the religious i drama, “Credo,” have all been made the r subject of expert camera work and c sound technique, and the result is a panorama of inspiring magnificence i which brings vividly to the eye the great witness of faith made by thouj sands of New Zealand Catholics. The < procession of the sacred host through L the streets of the city, the huge Masses for men and women at the specially equipped Western Springs stadium, the ’ special children’s Mass in the open air, which was attended by many thousands of young people, are all included ' in this record. For a time the scene ’ of the film shifts from the Queen City ’ to Hokianga, where tributes were paid j to the memory of Thomas and Mary , Poynton, who were instrumental in , having the first Catholic missionary, 1 Bishop Pompallier, sent out to the then ’ struggling colony of New Zealand. A touch of picturesque colour is given to the film by the participation in it of 1 the representatives of the Maori race 1 who took so large a part in the cele- ■ brations in North Auckland. The • “Credo” play is a vividly conceived production that finds excellent repro- ■ duction on the screen. As a fitting '■ opening on this memorable occasion, the • gala performance tomorrow night will '■ be preceded by St. Catherine’s girls’ choir on the stage. The supporting picture is a delightfully refreshing comedy, “Love On A Budget,” starring America’s famous family of funsters, The Jones Family. As this programme screens for two days only, a great demand is being made for reservations from all parts of Southland, and patrons are sincerely recommended to book immediately at Begg’s or the State Theatre. Telephone 645. MAJESTIC THEATRE “THEY WON’T FORGET’ “They Won’t Forget,” one of the most sensational pictures ever made, featuring Claude Rains as an ambitious district attorney and John Wayne in “T Cover the War” will conclude a threeday season at the Majestic today. DRAMA AND COMEDY “THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA” Packed with thrills, laughter, glamour and surprises, Republic Pictures’ “The Gentleman From Louisiana,” co-star-ring Eddie Quillan and Charlotte Henry, opens at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. Laid against a background of New Orleans, New York, Epsom Downs and Saratoga, this Jerry Chod- ; orov-Bert Grant story has been faith- : fully transferred to the screen by Irv- ' ing Pichel, director, actor and writer. ' In the role of a Southern charmer, 1 Charlotte Henry of “Alice in Wonder- J land” fame, blossoms into beautiful womanhood. There will be no more ' childish roles for her after this. She ap- . pears opposite Eddie Quillan, who . drops his usual comedy mantle for a , handsome love-stricken swain. Another surprise is “Chic” Sale, usually 1 associated with sympathetic historical 4 characters. In “The Gentleman From 4 Louisiana” he plays the role of a race 4 tout who worms himself into others’ ‘ confidences by posing as a Deacon— K further proof of this actor’s amazing versatility. “The Gentleman From Louisiana” is the story of the sensational “kingpin” of all jockeys—Tod Sloan—the best jockey that ever threw a race, and how he double-crossed the girl he loved—because he loved her, j and then staged a comeback in a blood- , tingling, pulse-racing, whirlwind fin- t ish. “Diamond Jim” Brady, Lilian Rus- £ sell, Steve Brody, all parading past the c cameras again, ripping the lid off the " inside story of the sport of kings, with j Eddie Quillan and Charlotte Henry riding to romance with the matchless “ drama of Derby Day! Get ready for a swift-moving comedy about the funny j things that can happen in a radio sta- j tion. The picture is Universal’s romantic laugh provoker, “Behind the Mike,” j which is the associate picture. Plans t are at H. and J. Smiths’ or Rice’s Majestic shop. Telephone 738.

CIVIC THEATRE TWO BIG FEATURES FINE PROGRAMME TONIGHT The Civic Theatre commences its mid-week season at bargain prices tonight for two nights only. There are two big feature pictures on the bill, the first being Darryl Zanuck’s dynamic drama of modern America, “Show Them No Mercy.” This is a gripping story of a nation’s war on crime, interspersed with moments of hilarious comedy and tender romance. Rochelle Hudson is teamed romantically with Edward Norris, while Bruce Cabot and Cesar Romero are prominently cast as leaders of the outlaws. Hudreds of feet of short realistic scenes, gleaned from the work of hundreds of newsreel men, were used for the crime and war scenes. These slices of actual life show police at work, police cars in screaming pursuit, underworld raids, newspaper offices working at full speed, aeroplane views, trains in motion—everything that contributes to the excitement of a film. With the combined talents of playwright and technical expert, the producer has combined these into a series of impressions that Contribute terrific force to the manhunt. The second feature is a thrilling comedy-romance introducing Paul Cavanagh as one of the most charming and dashing rogues ever created. Plenty of fast action including a sensational motor race through the peaceful country-side, sparkling wit, gay adventure and a large quota of thrills and suspense are the chief ingredients of “Champagne Charlie.” The inimitable Herbert Mundin supplies a large amount of the comedy and the supporting cast is headed by Helen Woods and Thomas Beck. REGENT THEATRE NEW ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME With several outstanding features to present, the Regent management offers

a very attractive new programme today. Everyone will appreciate the featurette “Annie Laurie,” a really delightful gem-woven round the song; Laurel and Hardy present “A Perfect Day,” one of their best comedies; Pete Smith in his own inimitable way tells the story of radium and the piece de resistance is another of those bright romantic comedy concoctions reminiscent of such popular pictures as “The Thin Man,” “My Man Godfrey” and others. The equality of woman is the subject of this picture, “My Dear Miss Aldrich,” an amusing comedy produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. With Edna May Oliver, Maureen O’Sullivan and Walter Pidgeon heading the cast, this picture ranks as one of the better laugh films of the age. It tells the story of a school teacher who inherits a newspaper. The managing editor, strong in the belief that no woman is fitted for work beyond the home, attempts to block her at every turn until, of course, he falls in love with her. Miss O’Sullivan has just been selected to co-star with Robert Taylor in London in “A Yank at Oxford.” Pidgeon, in reward for his excellent acting, has been signed for a long-term Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract. Every member of the cast is said to excel in his respective role. Edna May Oliver appears as a puzzle addict. J. Farrell MacDonald, the veteran character actor, is a city editor. Janet Beecher is a militant feminist. Others in the cast are Rita Johnson, Roger Converse, Brent Sargent, Charles Waldron, Guinn Williams and Paul Harvey. George Seitz has performed a masterful job of direction. The story is plausible and the newspaper .atmosphere is authentic. Box plans for the programme, which has universal appeal, are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre.

DEANNA DURBIN COMING ON FRIDAY The universal popularity of Deanna Durbin is evidenced by the necessity for extended seasons for her new picture, “Mad About Music,” in all the cities. Every night the film has been shown to capacity houses, with no slackening of enthusiasm. “Mad About Music” is one of the most wholesome' and captivating entertainments ever presented, and has a universal appeal. The critics everywhere are unanimous in their eulogies of “Mad About Music.” It is Deanna Durbin’s third picture—and apparently her best. Not only has Miss Durbin achieved greater success than ever before, but in this production she has been assigned to a role which was especially written for her—a. story as fine in every respect as anything previously written for the screen. It is said to sparkle with superb entertainment, and with dialogue that is rich in humour and human interest. It has drama, intriguing whimsicality, colourful settings, and clever comedy, and all through, it is heart-warming and delightful. Herbert Marshall is associated with Deanna Durbin in “Mad About Music” as the father she has adopted. He is exactly the type who would fall in with Deanna’s makebelieve, and a better choice could scarcely have been made. His role is one of the most sympathetic ones he has ever had, and he plays it well. The Invercargill season at the Regent Theatre will commence at the matinee on Friday afternoon next.

REGENT THEATRE,'GORE

Beginning today at the Regent Theatre, Gore, is “Evelyn Prentice,” a thrilling new mystery drama revolving about a girl murder defendant, circumstantial evidence, and an amazing domestic crisis in a defence attorney’s home life. It brings William Powell and Myrna Loy together again in what is probably the most successful of their recent hits together. It presents Powell and Miss Loy as man and wife, in the grip of a trick of fate from which they emerge in an amazing surprise denouement.

ST. JAMES, GORE

Seething with tense mystery and powerful emotional conflict, “The Man Who Cried Wolf,” opens at the St. James Theatre, Gore, today, featuring Lewis Stone, Barbara Read and Tom Brown. “The Man Who Cried Wolf” is a bombshell of drama that no audience will ever forget. It presents problems everyone will want to solve . . . Why does Stone, as the stage star in the narrative, confess a series of murders which he knows nothing about? How does he build a perfect alibi to protect himself when he kills the man who stole his wife?