ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23735, 6 February 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

CMC THEATRE “DINNER AT THE RITZ” AND “THE £5 MAN” A famous Paris banker is mysteriously. killed and at Monte Carlo a courageous girl, masquerading as a gay adventuress, begins the most dangerous game a woman in love can play in “Dinner at the Ritz,” New World picture released by Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox, concluding tonight at the Civic Theatre. Annabella, sensational discovery of two continents, is starred in this picture as tensely exciting as she is excitingly lovely. Paul Lukas, David Niven and Romney Brent are the three leading men featured opposite Annabella. “The £5 Man,” the associate feature, is an ingenious mixture of thrills with secret passages, sliding panels and all the ingredients of a thriller, combined with delightful humorous incidents. Judy Gunn and Edwin Styles have the leading roles, MAJESTIC THEATRE “OUR FIGHTING NAVY” British Empire Films’ “Our Fighting Navy,” which, has thrilled packed houses at the Majestic Theatre since Friday, will conclude today. This picture was written for the screen by the famous writer, Bartimeus, and the picture was made with the full co-opera-tion of the Admiralty. The starred players are H. B. Warner, Richard Cromwell and John Douglas. “Our Fighting Navy” is supported by Lew Ayres and Helen Mack in “King of the Newsboys,” a drama of a newsboy’s climb from the side-walks to penthouses. DARING EXPOSURE TOMORROW “MISSING WITNESS” One of America’s greatest problems in the pursuit of justice is to get witnesses subpoenaed to give evidence against public enemies (racketeers and gangsters) in court. “Missing Witness,” the feature picture on tomorrow’s programme at the Majestic, gives a detailed account in story form of this important problem. It shows the threats ; against the ’ very lives of witnesses, against -the safety of their children and against the security of their businesses. It shows how honest men will even lie in the witness box for fear of injuring those near and dear to them, through threats delivered and executed should they intend condemning society’s enemies. Officers of justice also find that very often a witness that they knew will secure for them a convictiqn is mysteriously missing. The picture shows how the finding of such a witness invariably results in the desired conviction, and places behind prison bars yet another menace to society. The associate feature, ’ “Paid to Dance,” exposes the dance hall racket The custom in the larger American, cities of paid dancing partners in “iq cents a dance” dance halls, has been the foundation of one of the worst menaces to American morals. ’ These girls are faced with the problem. of making themselves popular with the dance-hall clients in order to earn more both for themselves and for their employers. A girl who cannot earn big money loses her job. The profession is, therefore, regarded in an unfavourable light and the girls become “marked women” and are permanently ostracized from social respectability, although the real blame is attributable to the idea rather than the individual. This is a programme that no patron should miss and plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s Department Store box office, Rice’s Majestic Theatre confectionery or at the theatre. Telephone 738. The latest Universal Newsreel will introduce the programme. STATE THEATRE GRACIE FIELDS FILM “We’re Going To Be- Rich,” starring. Gracie Fields, Victor McLaglen and: Brian Donlevy, will be shown filially! at 2 and 8 p.m. today at the State; Theatre. Gracie Fields is at her) brightest and best in this rollicking; comedy of the early gold-rush days in* Australia and South Africa. TOMORROW’S PROGRAMME “BREAK THE NEWS” \' . Jack Buchanan is well enough known to Invercargill audiences to make them fully cognisant of the fact- that when he is starred in a musical production it has an immediate claim to excellence, Buchanan has an engaging personality and an infectious smile, while his musical attainments are 1 of_ high order. All are well to the fore in his latest starring vehicle, “Break the News,” which will be presented • to Invercargill audiences tomorrow at 2 and 8 p.m. at the State Theatre. In company with the inimitable Buchanan, Maurice Chevalier makes a welcome return to the screen in this film, Once a star among the greatest stars, Chevalier has not been quite as prominent as formerly, but in this film he shows again that his day is by no means gone, and his acting ability and musical talent are paramount, in this amusing comedy. On the feminine side, June Knight distinguishes herself with a bright and vivacious performance. “Break the News” is a satirical comedy directed by Rene Clair—an additional claim to distinction. It tells of the: publicity scheme of two humble actors,! one of whom leaves evidence that:he has been murdered, but actually merely disappears to the Continent. His partner becomes involved in the plot with disastrous results that are only straightened out after many amusing incidents. The hilarious comedy of the film has a fair proportion of real “thrills.” By no means least; the picture has been beautifully produced, and the superb Cannes exteriors and the realistic atmosphere of a London theatre play an important part in the prevailing competency. There is an excellent array of featurettes. The box plans are at Begg’s or State Theatre. Telephone 645. “SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” begins at the State Theatre for positively five days only on Monday, February 13. Advance box plans are now on view at the State Theatre. Country patrons may reserve by posting 2/3 for each seat required to the State Theatre.