ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 11

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE ROLAND YOUNG IN “TOPPER” Only such a writer as Thorne Smith could have thought of so quaint, utterly impossible, but still essentially human story and such delightful wit as is contained in the comedy “Topper,” which is the big attraction at the Regent Theatre. Roland Young is the ideal Topper, quiet, inoffensive, terribly tired of the too prim, too socially careful guidance of Mrs Topper, and moulded, too, by the dreary business of banking. With no wild ideas of life, not on the surface, at any rate —but when Cary Grant and Constance Bennett are killed in a motor smash and in spirit form set out to make their good banker friend snap out of his quiet manner of living and get some of the fire of life into his veins, his quiet spirit of rebellion kindles brightly enough. Mrs Topper finds life quite inexplicable, . and the social order of the household is simply turned upside down. The story tells of a gay young couple who live a life of idleness, but enjoy it to the full. While driving at reckless speed they crash into a tree. Their spirits rise from their bodies and they come to the conclusion that before they depart from the earth they will do one good turn. They pick on an old friend (Young), a henpecked husband, and try to teach him how to live properly and enjoy himself. They almost drive him frantic by putting him in embarrassing positions but he enjoys it all the same. His wife makes him leave home. While driving with the ghosts, he is involved in a motor accident, taken home and nursed by his wife. So glad is she that she asks hi mto return and live his own life. Arthur Lake, Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray and Eugene Pallette are prominent in the supporting cast. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent Shop and the Theatre, (’phone 1938). CIVIC THEATRE BARGAIN-PRICE NIGHT TWO UNUSUAL FILMS i How law enforcement agencies strive to keep criminals behind bars only to be frustrated by flabby parole regulations is the sensational theme of “Don’t Turn ’Em Loose,” which will be screened tonight at the Civic Theatre. Portraying the role of a school superintendent is Lewis Stone. He is unaware that his son, played by Bruce Cabot, is a notorious gangster who is ruthlessly killing and stealing after having been freed from prison by a lax state parole board. Cabot’s dual life brings him on periodic visits to his home town where even there he is unable to refrain from carrying on his unlawful operations—until he meets retribution in the home that protected him. James Gleason, is cast in an important role as a police sergeant vainly trying to undo the mistake made by the parole board, while others appearing prominently are Louise Latimer, Betty Grable, Frank M. Thomas, Nella Walker and Grace Bradley. Claire Trevor and Brian Donlevy head the cast of “Human Cargo,” the additional feature. Alan Dinehart, Ralph Morgan, Helen Troy and Rita Cansino are also featured. This programme will be shown for one night only at bargain prices.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “GOOD OLD SOAK” AND “RIFFRAFF” BEERY, HARLOW, TRACEY Wallace Beery, the famous star of “Min and Bill,” “The Champ” and “Good Old Hutch,” will be seen in his latest and most sympathetic comedy drama, “Good Old Soak” today at the Majestic. Beery plays the most appealing role of his long career. As the father of an average small town family who gives up business to keep up with the speakeasies, he draws a familiar picture. When the family fortune suddenly vanishes, he is accused. His manner of restoring the ■ family money and running down the guilty nersons makes delightful comedy drama. The other Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, “Riff-raff,” co-stars Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracey. The picture presents Miss Harlow in one of her most unusual roles as angel of the waterfront who marries a braggart and bully (Spencer Tracey) and spends the rest of her life trying to reform him. How she succeeds provides one of the most dramatic, thrilling and spectacular romances of the season. In background and characters “Riffraff” is very similar to “Captains Courageous.” The supporting cast includes Mickey Rooney, Una Merkel, Joseph Calleia, J. Farrell McDonald. the yodelling cowboy After a most successful tour of Australia and extended playing time verywhere in New Zealand, Jack Carter, the Yodelling Cowboy will open his Invercargill season at the Majestic Theatre next Friday. He is at present playing to delighted packed houses at the St. James Theatre, Dunedin, and

local picture-goers should make early reservations for this outstanding musical treat. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s Department Store Box Office or at Rice’s Majestic Theatre Shop.

STATE THEATRE “THE SQUEAKER” TODAY The name Edgar Wallace is synonymous with fast, thrilling entertainment, packed with suspense and interspersed with good comedy, and “The Squeaker,” the Alexander Korda production which is now being shown at the State Theatre, is the screen adaptation of one of his best stories. The film concerns the efforts of Scotland Yard to capture a mysterious criminal known as the Squeaker, because he exposes smaller wrong-doers to the police rmless they sell him their loot on his own terms. A particularly talented cast appears in the production, headed by Edmund Lowe as former Inspector Barrabal of Scotland Yard, a brilliant detective brought to ruin by drink. There is an entertaining supporting programme The box plans are at the theatre and. at Begg’s. BEGINNING FRIDAY “IN OLD CHICAGO” For years makers of screen spectacles have eyed with speculative glance the story of Chicago and its historic fire. But even an industry which had reared and razed the ancient cities of Rome and Babylon for cinema thrills balked at the problem of re-enacting the destruction of one of the* biggest cities in America. Now it has been accomplished, in the spectacular romantic drama, “In Old Chicago,” produced under the supervision of Darryl F. Zanuck at 20th Century-Fox studios, and commencing next Friday at the State Theatre. A year in preparation, and almost half a year in actual production, the picture stands one of the most imposing tasks ever attempted in Hollywood. Preferential box plans for Friday and Saturday are open at the State and at Begg’s or ’phone 645.