ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23661, 9 November 1938, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “ROMANCE FOR THREE’’ Everything that is essential in comedy, and much more besides, is contained in “Romance for Three, the Regent Theatre’s present attraction. It has the stars, the story, the setting and the light-hearted abandon which, all adds up to an evening of hearty laughter. There is not a dull moment in the picture, which features a galaxy of talent, including Frank Morgan, Robert Young, Florence Rice, Mary Astor, Edna May Oliver, Reginald Owen and Herman Bing. As a millionaire Viennese manufacturer who yearns for a return to simple pleasures, Frank Morgan wins a free holiday in a slogan competition conducted by his own firm, and spends it in the Alps, taking with him his butler (Reginald Owen), who is also incognito. Unfortunately, the millionaire becomes involved with a divorcee (Mary Astor), and his housekeeper, the formidable Edna May Oliver, rushes to the scene to try and smooth things out before it is too late. Also at the hotel is the young man who has won a free holiday in the same competition, and he finds romance in the Alps with Morgan’s daughter. The two young people are, of course, Robert Young and Florence Rice. In order to win his love she poses as a poor girl, and it is when all return to Vienna that some explanations are due. Troubles do not end with the return to the city, as the divorcee is determined to sue Morgan for breach of promise. The film abounds in comedy, and there are some particularly humorous scenes between Morgan and Herman Bing, a porter at the hotel. The supports are excellent. The season closes tomorrow. CIVIC THEATRE TWO BIG FEATURES COMEDY AND DRAMA “She Gets Her Man,” the Universal comedy which is a burlesque on the current “G” men films, said tc be one of the season’s most hilarious screen plays, is now showing at the Civic Theatre, Zasu Pitts and Hugh O’Connell teamed together for the first time, are featured in the picture, and the story tells what happens when the agitated Miss Pitts runs afoul of all the gangsters in Chicago. She introduces a new screen type—the “G Woman’’—and the part fits the Pitts personality like a glove. The cast of players also includes Helen Twelvetrees, Lucien Littlefield, Eddie Brophy, Warren Hymer, Ward Bond and many others. George Bancroft is superb in the title role of the Columbia production, “Hell-Ship Morgan,” which will also be, shown. He is seen as the stem master of the Southern Cross, who brooks no opposition and thunders his way to victory in every conquest. Ann Sothem’s loveliness and histrionic ability are outstanding, while Victor Jory gives a noteworthy performance as the third member of a love triangle. The photography, especially of. the Southern Cross in storms at sea is remarkable, bringing the audience to a pitch of excitement time and again as the sturdy vessel plunges through mountainous seas. MAJESTIC THEATRE “THERE’S ALWAYS A WOMAN” GAY COMEDY TONIGHT Columbia studios have again succeeded in making the laugh hit sensation of 1938. Columbia convulsed the world with “The Awful Truth,” “Theodora Goes Wild,” “Mr Deeds Goes to Town” and “It Happened One Night,” and in making “There’s Always a Woman,” which is now showing at the Majestic . Theatre were careful to parallel this comedy with the outstanding laughter hits mentioned above. This picture, has brought together Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas, described as the world champion battling sweethearts. Melvyn is a detective who gets himself mixed up in a murder mystery, and Joan deciding to be the dutiful wife, decides that she will assist and it is just a shame what sort of trouble she gets her poor husband into. Melvyn goes wild, the district attorney goes barmy, the police go mad and the whole town goes hysterical with screaming laughter. The picture moves at a fast pace from start to finish and the dialogue particularly is the main source from which this screamingly funny comedy comes. Featured players in the cast include Mary Astor, Frances Drake, Robert Page and a merry mad group of fun makers. Picture patrons owe it to themselves to make a point of seeing “There’s Always a Woman,” and should put it on their “must see” list. It is well to remember that a good laugh is a much better tonic than any doctor’s prescription. “Highway Patrol,” an exciting drama of sabotage in the oil fields will support “There’s Always a Woman.” Featured players in the picture include Jacqueline Wells, Robert Paige and George McKay. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s departmental store, Rice’s Majestic confectionery or the Majestic. Telephone 738. STATE THEATRE “MADEMOISELLE DOCTEUR” “Mademoiselle Docteur,” in which two great Continental favourites appear in a British film for the first time, shows today at 2 and 7.45 at the State Theatre. They are the blonde beauty of many German successes—Dita Parlo, and that great Hollywood figure, who a few years ago dominated the screen as a writer, director, and actor—Erich von Stroheim. Others gathered for the leading roles in this film are John Loder, Claire Luce, Gyles Isham, Clifford Evans and John Abbott. “Mademoiselle Docteur,” has been Max Schach’s favourite subject ever since some two years ago he acquired a story woven around one of the most incredible characters of modern history—Dr Anna Maria Lesser—the German woman spy who became known throughout the war as Mademoiselle Docteur. Looking around for a man to play the role of the head of the German Secret Service, Max Schach remembered that in Paris a man, whose name was once on every producers’ lips and now half forgotten by Hollywood—Erich von Stroheim—was making films. Max Schach offered von Stroheim the part. Selected featurettes complete the programme. “HAPPY LANDING” MELBOURNE CUP SPECIAL More radiant than ever and acting in a story that sparkles with new tunes and spectacular skating, Sonja Henie takes her third starring role in “Happy Landing,” which begins at the Stale Theatre on Friday. Miss Henie improves at her every appearance, and she is presented in this picture with a capable cast, headed by Don Ameche and strengthened by Cesar Romero, Jean Hersholt, Ethel Merman, the Ray-

mond Scott Quintet, and Leah Ray. What happens in the film is all dependent upon the chance romance of a band leader (Cesar Romero) with a little Norse girl. The local custom that if a girl dances with a man more than once he has become engaged to her causes this, but one of the members of the band is genuinely in love with the girl, and it therefore falls to Don Ameche, as the real lover, to straighten things out, which he duly does to the accompaniment of glorious new song tunes, radiant romance, and breathless skating sequences. There are several particularly spectacular musical scenes, one of especial note being the Raymond Scott Quintet’s presentation of an ultramodern composition entitled “War Dance for Wooden Indians.” Special arrangements have also been made for the screening of a Fox Australian newsreel showing the running of the Melbourne Cup in detail. Preferential plans are at Begg’s or State Theatre, telephone 645. EMPIRE, RIVERTON A new phase of the constant battle between the law and the underworld which has never before been touched upon on the screen comes to Riverton tonight. The picture reveals for the first time the extensive systems and precautions used by “armoured _ car” operators in their unique business. That is the story theme of New Universal’s “Armoured Car.” Danger at every step and thrills at every turn. Robert Wilcox and Judith Barrett are co-starred.