ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23792, 14 April 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “RICH MAN, POOR GIRL” This popular family picture, showing finally today at the Regent, js the stoiy of a rich young man who falls for his pretty, clever secretary, Ruth Hussey. Robert Young does excellently in the millionaire role, for Ruth, while accepting his offer of marriage, stalls him off the actual wedding until he can get to know her poor family and feel at home with them, and also to give them a chance to accustom themselves to the idea of living without her. She takes him home and he is faced with people whose poverty is only matched by their pride. While much of the film is quite serious and dramatic, it is chiefly a comedy with Lew Ayres again surprising by his high-grade performance. The greater part of the film gives a really splendid detailed presentation of middle-class everyday life, _ with mother Sarah Padden, Pop Guy Kibbee, brother Don Castle and cousin Lew Ayres with the two nice sisters, Ruth Hussey and Lana Turner. “CRIME SCHOOL” THE “DEAD END” BOYS AGAIN Sometimes amusing, sometimes tragic, and always exciting, “Crime School, the Warner Bros, picture opening at the Regent Theatre tomorrow, contains a powerful indictment of unthinking, brutal, out-moded methods of dealing with juvenile crime. Effectively utilizing the talents of the six New York boys who became famous in both stage and screen versions of “Dead End, as well as such adult players as Humphrey Bogart and Gale Page, the new Warner picture makes a strong case for its basic theme—that the old type of boys’ reformatory is in fact a “Crime School.” The newer methods of dealing with juvenile offenders—designed to prevent their developing into adult criminals—are effectively contrasted with the old by basing the story on the determined fight made by an idealistic young official to introduce his ideas into, a reformatory of the old type. The story, written by Crane Wilburn and made into a screen play by him and Vincent Sherman, makes the six “Dead End” boys the storm centre around which this fight rages. Bogart, for the first time in his screen career playing a hero, is the idealistic commissioner, and he plays his role not only with sympathetic understanding but also with the vigour and aggressiveness demanded of a character who successfully battles not only stupidity and prejudice but also political hypocrisy and crookedness. Remarkably true-to-life performances by the six boys have much to do with making the production both entertaining and moving.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “GRANDAD RUDD” TODAY BERT BAILEY’S TRIUMPH Bert Bailey who recently made a personal stage appearance in Invercargill at the Regent Theatre, during the season of* “Dad and Dave Come to Town” is the star of “Grandad Rudd” which opens its season at the Majestic Theatre today. Co-starred with Dad is Fred MacDonald who again plays the part of Dave, while the rest of the Rudd family are all included in the cast including Mum, Dan, Lil, Joe and Sarah which make up the evergreen “On Our Selection” favourites “Grandad Rudd’.’ is no less riotous in its humour, no less furious in its pace and no less entertaining than the previous Steel Rudd pictures “On Our Selection” and “Dad and Dave Come to Town.” Its whirlwind comedy has a distinct flavour of Australia’s original slapstick that unabashed, unbridled type of farce which has the. definite courage of its Australian convictions. Much of the appeal comes from the naturalness of the picture and the characters are true to type. Seeing the picture gives the impression of meeting a likeable and stimulating family. The acting honours are shared by Bert Bailey and Fred MacDonald who never allow the audience to become bored. As the title indicates Dave becomes a Dad which therefore, ascends Dad to the position of Grandad. All the scenes of the film are laugh provoking. The cricket match of which Dad is the hero is a gem, while another highlight of the show is the barnyard choir which sings to the cows which then produce more milk.

Associated with “Grandad Rudd” is Max Fleischer’s four thousand foot cartoon “Popeye the Sailor Meets All Baba’s Forty Thieves,” photographed entirely in the new three-dimensional technicolour. This animated coloured feature has been the subject of tremendous praise from valued motion picture critics and the humour which is always associated with Popeye studies makes for splendid and most unusual entertainment. It will be Interesting to compare the Max Fleischer effort with Walt Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” The weekly news events from Cinesound will be the first unit of this outstanding comedy programme. 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 “UP THE RIVER” “ROAD DEMON” If you are in the mood for an evening of uproarious screwball comedy, “Up the River,” the new 20th CenturyFox picture which begins at 7.45 p.m. tonight at the Civic Theatre, is just about the funniest combination of music and broad comic situations in many a season. The story focuses on a group of happy inmates in a mythical state prison which boasts a radio in every cell, gates that are practically revolving doors, and the best football team in the “Big Pen Conference.” Preston Foster is completely at home in his first light comedy role and the elongated Arthur Treacher as Foster’s partner in crime and football, gives his most polished performance. Tony Martin and Phyllis Brooks are excellent in the romantic leads and the other featured players include Slim Summerville, Bill Robinson, Alan Dinehart, Eddie Collins, Jane Darwell and Sidney Toler. “Up the River” is a welcome relief from the familiar cycle of grim prison melodramas. It is fast, boisterous, socially unconscious and enormously entertaining. “Road Demon,” the associate feature, contains several of the most spectacular and convincing motor-car racing scenes yet depicted on the screen. With a wellknit story, plenty of wide-open action, and some fine acting, especially by Henry Arthur, Joan Valerie, Henry Annetta, Tom Beck and Bill Robinson, “Road Demon” is an answer to the thrill-loving picture-goer’s prayer. Amusing comedy relief from the roaring momentum of most of the film is provided by the Gambini family, which made its screen debut in “Speed to Burn,” the first of the Sports Adventure series. Henry Armetta is the father, while Inez Palange and Johnnie Pironne are the others of the domestic circle. Race track rivalry and romantic complications form the theme of the

story. Prices at the Civic are: all stalls 1/-, all circle 1/6. Plans at theatre, telephone 1744.

STATE THEATRE “THREE BLIND MICE” SPARKLING COMEDY Sparkling and gay, “Three Blind Mice,” featuring Loretta Young in her newest romancing portrayal of a modern American girl, will be shown tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the State Theatre, with Joel McCrea sharing the’ star honours. This 20th CenturyFox production, under the personal supervision of Darryl F. Zanuck, was directed by the master of gay dramatic touches, William A. Seiter. Not content with the choice of three of Hollywood’s most beautiful women as the “Three Blind Mice,” the producer has built a cast around Stephen Powys’s as yet unproduced stage play that includes another trio of filmland’s bestknown masculine names. Beginning in inauspicious farm overalls, Miss Young and her two screen sisters set forth on the gay adventure in quest of millionaire husbands—on funds from a bequest by a departed relation. “You can fall in love with a millionaire just as easily as a plumber,” thinks Miss Young, as she establishes her coterie at a fashionable hotel. They have drawn lots, and Loretta becomes the “lady,” Marjorie Weaver her “lady’s maid,” and Pauline Moore the “secretary.” In a kaleidoscopic array of gay dancing parties, beach scenes, fiestas and ranch barbecues—lavishly deluged with modem gowns—Miss Young meets handsomely exciting Joel McCrea, Marjorie Weaver finds a romance with Stuart Erwin, and Pauline Moore meets her man in the person of the insouciant David Niven. Niven, by the way, provides a third of a diverting triangle with Miss Young and McCrea before the climax springs trouble. Binnie Barnes and Jane Darwell complete the featured cast. The screen play was prepared by Brown Holmes and Lynn Starling. Raymond Griffith was associate producer. Selected State shorts include a two-reel comedy, Terrytoon Cartoon, latest Fox Australian Newsreel, overseas newsreels, and so on. Box plans are at Begg’s or State Theatre, telephone 645. THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON Shirley Temple has got a surprise in store for you when you see “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Fann” at the Theatre Royal, Winton. It is her best of all musicals . . . with stars all round her... Randolph Scott and Gloria Stuart in a glorious romance; Shirley tapping at tap-speed with tap-king Bill Robinson; Jack Haley and Slim Summerville! Shirley, Jack and Phyllis Brooks sing-: ing new rhythm songs. When all is said and sung, who could ask for anything more?