ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23674, 24 November 1938, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE “MANHATTAN MERRY-GO-ROUND” The musical comedy, “Manhattan Merry-Go-Round,” featuring Phil Regan, Leo Carillo, Gene Autry, Ann Dvorak, Luis Alberni, Henry Armetta, Cab Calloway and his swing boys and the Universal comedy murder mystery, “Midnight Intruder,” starring Louis Hayward and Barabar Read, will conclude at the Majestic today. DEANNA DURBIN AGAIN “THREE SMART GIRLS” TOMORROW The public of Invercargill has been persistently demanding the return screening of Deanna Durbin in “Three Smart Girls.” No less persistent has been the demands of the management to Universal Films to arrange this screening. “Three Smart Girls” has been so popular, however, throughout New Zealand, that it has taken over a year for this return screening to be arranged. It is, therefore, with pleasure that the management announces the presentation of Deanna Durbin in “Three Smart Girls” at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow, Friday. Deanna Durbin sings - three songs in the production, “Someone to Care For Me,” “My Heart is Singing” and “Il Bacio,” and they are most suitable melodies for this young lady’s charming voice. “Three Smart Girls” is brilliant in its dialogue, comedy and production. The story concerns the efforts of three sisters, played by Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey and Barbara Read, to reunite their mother (Lucille Watson) and father (Charles Winninger) who have been divorced for ten years. The mother, however, is still deeply in love with her former husband. A gold-digging blonde (Binnie Barnes) is endeavouring to win the affections of fast-spending father and a concentrated effort is put forward by the children to prevent the blonde’s success. Prominent roles are also played by Ray Milland. John King, Mischa Auer and Alice Brady. “Three Smart Girls” was the picture that made Deanna Durbin famous over night. She definitely came, saw,, conquered and charmed the entire picture world and it is certain that those who saw this picture wifi see it again and those who have not seen it are sure to avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing it. It is, however, -wise for intending patrons to make reservations at the earliest possible oportunity. ■'Three Smart Girls” will be supported by Paul Armstrong’s, “The Return of Jimmy Valentine,” featuring Roger Pryor, Charlotte Henry and concerns further adventures of fiction’s most daring and debonair cracksman. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s departmental store box office, Rice’s Majestic confectionery or the | Majestic Theatre, telephone 738.

REGENT THEATRE

“THE PERFECT SPECIMEN” A comedy riot which carries a laugh a minute is “The Perfect Specimen,” starring Errol Flynn, which is to end a busy season at the Regent Theatre today. The story deals with an eccentric old lady, possessed of many millions, who has an ambition to see her granson raised as an altogether perfect young man and who, for that reason, supplies him withan abundance of tutors but keeps him confined to the limits of the family’s vast estate. There is a strong cast supporting the principal actors, all versed in comedy presentations. They include May Robson, Edward Everett Horton, Hugh Herbert and Allen Jenkins. There is not one dull moment in “The Perfect Specimen,” which is aptly described as a gem of polished comedy. “TEST PILOT” A NEW KIND OF THRILL Much that is entirely new is presented in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s thrill drama “Test Pilot” which comes to the Regent tomorrow. Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy and Lionel Barrymore head the cast. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, in bringing their first aviation picture in more than two years to the screen, spared nothing to make it the true story of modern aviation. That it contains tHrills, dangerous dives and spectacular flying is due. to . the very nature of a man whose life is a daily bout with death. Gable handles his part superbly, returning to the type of characterization which has made him the number one star of the world. Myrna Loy, as an unsophisticated yet brilliant country girl, is the central figure of an unusual triangle. Spencer Tracy, as Gable’s bosom pal and severest ' critic, has another powerful and dramatic role. Lionel Barrymore, here given his biggest role in years, once again proves an artistry which has made screen history. “Test Pilot” is the story of a man whose life is a constant gamble with death. It is strong drama, but so realistic and so authentic in all flying sequences that every aviator in the land will undoubtedly point to a milestone in the progress of motion pictures. The startlingly realistic air scenes were made possible by a newly-perfected device for aerial photography, making “Test Pilot” the most spectacular aviation picture ever produced with thrills to keep audiences on the edge of their seats from the opening title to the final fade-out.

STATE THEATRE

BEGINNING TOMORROW “KIDNAPPED” Henry Fonda and Joan Bennett are the featured players in “I Met My Love Again,” a dramatic tale of young romance which screens finally at 2 p.m. and 7.45 p.m. today at the State Theatre in conjunction with “One Wild Night,” starring June Lang, Dick Baldwin and Lyle Talbot. “Kidnapped,” coming to the State Theatre tomorrow, Friday, at 2.0 and 7.45 p.m., the story which Robert Louis Stevenson is said to have considered his best, was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, with a cast of 5000. Unlike several Stevenson stories, “Kidnapped” never before has appeared in either silent or sound films—something of a record. Every person conversant with so much as high school English has thrilled to the adventure in “Kidnapped,” so the picture is destined to meet a host of familiar friends. It will be these “friends” who will remember that the story had little or no “feminine interest”—being chiefly the tale of the escapades of Alan Breck and David Balfour (portrayed on the screen by Warner Baxter and Freddie Bartholomew). Purists may try, therefore, to quarrel with Hollywood’s introduction into the story of a Jean MacDonald, Highland lass who becomes enamoured of Alan Breck. The role is portrayed by an astonishingly vivacious and beautiful screen discovery, Arleen Whelan. It is interesting to note, then, that the motion picture people have no less a precedent than Stevenson himself, for allegedly “tampering” with the facts. He admits he tampered with the historical facts in writing the book. “It is

more honest to confess at once how little I am touched by the desire for accuracy. This (“Kidnapped”) is no furniture for a scholar’s library, but a book ...” If Hollywood has taken liberties, it has only to paraphrase the author of the book from which it made its film. The stellar cast of “Kidnapped” includes C. Aubrey Smith, - Reginald Owen, John Carradine, Nigel Bruct, Miles Mander, Ralph Forbes, and H. B. Warner. Alfred Werker directed the film with Kenneth Macgowan associate producer. A specially-selected supporting programme will also be screened. Plans are at Begg’s or State, Telephone 645.

CIVIC THEATRE

“THE FLYING DOCTOR” FINALLY TONIGHT With international stars heading the cast, expert British technicians behind the production, and a story no ( true Australian can fail to appreciate, ‘The Flying Doctor” is now showing at the Civic Theatre. The star is Charles Farrell who appears with Mary Maguire and Margaret Vyner as leading ladies. The story has for its theme two dramas. Sandy Nelson (Charles Farrell) is a wanderer. Casual, tireless, incurably restless, ever on Ihe look-out-for wider horizons, he typifies the Australian adventurer; and he is a man whom none could fail to like and trust. Famous personalities who appear in the film include Tom Lurich and Don Bradman. Dynamic and colourful, Columbia s “Too Tough to Kill,” which features Victor Jory and Sally O’Neil, is also’ on the programme. It is a robust story of a courageous and brawny engineer, played by Jory, who fights the elements of nature and a gang of muiderers to complete a tunnel project within a set. time.

ST. JAMES, GORE

Vocal coaches were busy during the filming of “Everybody Sing,” which begins at the St. James Theatre, Gore, today, for in the picture everybody actually sings. Allan Jones, Judy Garland, Fanny Brice and Lynne Carver did not mind singing, as it was nothing new to them. But for Billie Burke, Reginald Owen and Reginald Gardiner it was something else again, for it marked their debut as singers.

REGENT THEATRE, GORE

The story of a gallant woman who died to right a wrong provides a thrilling theme for the new Paramount “Hopalong Cassidy” picture, “Heart of Arizona,” which begins at the Regent Theatre, Gore, today. William Boyd is in the title role. Also showing is “Hunted Men,” featuring Lloyd Nolan and Mary Carlisle. \