ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23781, 31 March 1939, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE DEANNA DURBIN TODAY The screen’s radiant star, Deanna 1 Durbin, will be seen in a return screening of her most popular picture, “Mad About Music,” at the Majestic Theatre today, Friday. “Mad About Music” sparkles with superb entertainment and with dialogue that is rich in humour and human interest. It has drama, colourful settings and clever comedy and all through is delightfully heart warming. Herbert Marshall is associated with Deanna Durbin as the father she has adopted. He is exactly the type who would fall in with Deanna’s make belief and it is hard to realize a better choice for the part. His role is one of the most sympathetic he has played and he does it well. The singing in the film is its chief attraction. Deanna sings “I Love to Whistle,” “Chapel Bells,” “Serenade to the Stars” and Gounod’s “Ave Maria” assisted by the Viennese Boys’ Choir. Supporting players in the cast include Gail Patrick, Arthur Treacher, Jackie Moran, while Cappy Barra’s Harmonica Ensemble is also featured. “Mad About Music” will be supported by “Missing Guest,” a thrilling mystery drama featuring Paul Kelly, Constance Moore and William Lundigan and the current issue of the Cinesound News depicting topical Australian and New Zealand events will also be screened. One thousand souvenir photographs of Deanna Durbin will be given to patrons attending the Majestic tomorrow, Saturday. Those interested would be well advised to attend early in order to get one of these. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s departmental store box office, Rice’s Majestic confectionery or Majestic Theatre. Telephone 738. CIVIC THEATRE “THE STREET SINGER” ADVENTURE THRILLER ALSO Matching wits on a trans-Atlantic ship for a world-famous ruby necklace, a beautiful girl and a gaily romantic adventurer, keep just one step ahead of the law but find they cannot escape from their hearts in “Not Wanted on Voyage,” a Gaumont British Dominions picture, starring Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon opening today at the Civic Theatre. The loveliest . adventuress that ever coveted a jewel, Bebe Daniels is commanded to steal Ben Lyon’s ruby necklace, but stealing his heart is her own' idea. The result is an adventure that covers two continents and turns a desperate competition for the world’s most fabulous gems into the climax of an exciting romance. Other crooks aboard the trans-Atlantic liner begin to offer competition but a neat coup lands them in the net of the law, leaving Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels to a battle of wits between themselves for possession of the gems. The climax is as surprising as it. is filled with action, with the daring jewel robbers rounded up, and an international ring smashed. “Not Wanted on Voyage” marks the first time that Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon have co-starred in a film, although they have been in many films, sometimes working in adjacent studios. The second feature is “Follow Your Star,” in which Arthur Tracy, the “Street Singer,” is seen in a story which closely follows his own romantic career. Belle Chrystall, Nina Brucicault and Mark Daly appear in prominent roles. This is Tracy’s fourth film and it is replete with characteristic melodies. Plans are at Begg’s or Civic, Telephone 1744. “SNOW WHITE” MATINEE So that all little folk may again have an opportunity to see Walt Disney’s glorious “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” this film will be screened at both the State and Civic Theatres at the matinee, tomorrow, Saturday. Two hundred special souvenir coloured pictures of the dwarfs will be given to the first children arriving at each theatre. STATE THEATRE “SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS” NEW SUPPORTING PROGRAMME Proof of its undoubted popularity and universal appeal is shown in the fact that a special repeat season of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” will commence at the State Theatre tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. It is a remarkable tribute to Walt Disney that his animated figures have captured the imagination of the public to a far greater degree than any human actors. Although everyone who has seen the picture forgets that the figures ■ have no existence off the screen, they have a personality all their own. The first full-length film created by Disney, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was planned as a single entity—it is not merely an extended cartoon. The light, imaginative touch which has done almost as much for the creator as his artistic ability has been exploited to the fullest, infusing the story with a suitable fairy tale atmosphere. The plot is drawn from one of the best known of the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales, which originated from one of the many tales told by villagers about the Hartz Mountains, and all the queer legendary folk who inhabited them. Snow White herself is a character brilliantly conceived, but the seven dwarfs will most likely enjoy a wider popularity, for they have an originality absolutely uncramped by former standards. The Witch Queen, persecutor of Snow White, is entrancingly villainous, some of the best work in the film being the scene in which she b.ews her spell. Pleasing colour effects add further to the attraction of this delightful fantasy, which sets a standard unlikely to be surpassed for a very long time. So that all children may see “Snow White” the film will be screened at both the Civic and State at the Saturday matinee when 200 souvenir coloured pictures of the dwarfs will be presented to the first children arriving at each theatre. Box plans for the State are at Begg’s or telephone 645. REGENT THEATRE “FAST COMPANY” “Fast Company,” which is having its | final screenings at the Regent Theatre | today, presents Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice in a hilarious blend of romance and fast-moving adventure. Claire Dodd, Shepperd Strudwick, Louis Calhern, Nat Pendleton and Douglas Dumbrille share acting honours with Douglas and Miss Rice. Melvyn Douglas as a rare book expert hired by an insurance company to track down rare book thieves, runs his business with the help of his wife (Florence Rice). They combine domestic and business . life with unusual results, as revealed in the picture. The opening scenes show Douglas and Miss Rice in their office with more time for domestic bliss than any customers. When their young friend Ned Morgan (Shepperd Strudwick) is sent to prison on a false charge by Otto Brockler (George Zucco), things I begin to happen. Douglas starts an in-

vestigation of the case that leads him through a maze of adventures involving a murder, assaults on his life, pursuit of a book gang, and the final capture of the murderer. “LOVE FINDS ANDY HARDY” POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT TOMORROW The fourth of the now famous “Judge Hardy Family” series of talking pictures, “Love Finds Andy Hardy” is to be the attraction at the Regent Theatre tomorrow. The undoubted appeal of these chapters in the life of a typical family lies in the fact that they deal with people and surroundings that arouse sympathetic understanding because they are familiar to all of us. “Love Finds Andy Hardy” is easily the best of the series. The centre of interest this time is Andy Hardy, whose youthful love entanglements form the basis of the story. Mickey Rooney is excellent as Andy, and deserves the highest praise for his acting. Lewis Stone and Cecilia Parker (Marian Hardy) complete the family group. Judy Garland, a young actress whose abilities and good voice are rapidly building her a strong reputation, appears as “Betsy,” a wise and pretty miss who helps Andy out of the troubles that fall upon him when he finds himself pledged to take two girls to the ball of the season. Judy Garland sings several catchy songs. There is a varied and entertaining supporting programme. The box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre.

THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON

The boldest venture a British secret agent ever faced, impersonating an officer in the German high command, forced to gamble on the love of a woman whose business was betrayal, with the opportunity to strike the deadliest blow of the Great War if he lived, is the theme of the screen’s most suspenseful espionage drama, “Lancer Spy,” Twentieth Century-Fox picture featuring Dolores Del Rio, George Sanders and Peter Lorre, which opens at Winton. The fast-paced, thrill-packed story of this most extraordinary exploit, adapted by Philip Dunne from a novel by Marthe McKenna, finds a strong dramatic treatment in the direction of Gregory Ratoff.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

“Dinner at the Ritz” features Annabella and David Niven in a story as tensely exciting as its star is exceedingly lovely. 1116 most dangerous intrigue that ever involved n beautiful woman in love whirls Annabella from the brilliant salons of Paris through the fabulous gaming rooms of Monte Carlo to a luxurious yacht on the Mediterranean. This interesting feature will be screened at Riverton tonight and Saturday night.