ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23839, 9 June 1939, Page 12

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE “THE YOUNG IN HEART” Add to the host of other screen families that have flitted across the screen in the past, the latest, and perhaps, most likeable of all—the Carletons, Southlanders will be introduced to this charming domestic circle for the first time today at 2.0 p.m. and 8.0 p.m. at the State Theatre in the film “The Young in Heart,” with Janet Gaynor, Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Paulette Goddard, Roland Young, Billie Burke, and Richard Carlson. At first, the members hardly appear quite genteel. They are in fact, little more than a glorified gang of confidence tricksters who have been forcibly ejected from all “the best places” from London to Monte Carlo. The head of the household makes most of his money by cheating at cards and his offspring are just as unscrupulous in their methods of earning their bread and butter. However, just as they have all thinges arranged to pull off one of their most lucrative deals—that of consummating a marriage between the son and a wealthy heiress they are told by the police to leave London. Under unusual circumstances they meet a lovable wealthy old lady who offers them hospitality. They soon make plans to fleece her, too, but their better natures get the upper hand, and the unfolding of the plot sees them turning aside from their old pursuits, ana settling down to honest work. Even when they are crooks, however, there is something appealing about all the members of the family that wins them the sympathy of their audiences. Highest praise is due to all members of the cast for excellent all-round performances. Janet Gaynor and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., portray the children, and Roland Young and Billie Burke the mother and father. It, is hard to select one of these for special praise, for they all act sincerely and with true sense of the characters they are portraying. Paulette Goddard shows that her performance in “Modem Times” was no “flash in the pan” by doing fine acting in another of the principal roles, while Minnie Dupree, an old stage favourite, is excellent as the old lady who effects the regeneration of the irrepressible family. The story was based on an original work of I. A. R. Wylie, and the picture was produced by that brilliant young man, David O. Selznick. “The Young in Heart” is a film that should enjoy a successful season in Invercargill, for it is quite as humorous as any of the recent crop of “crazy” comedies, and yet has a more dignified and intelligent appearance. Special supports include “Rome in Symphony,” the second of the new “World Window” series in technicolour. This short feature includes views of the interior of the Vatican in colour. Box plans are at Begg’s or State Theatre, telephone 645.

REGENT THEATRE

“TOO HOT TO HANDLE” CLARK GABLE—MYRNA LOY Action is the keynote of “Too Hot To Handle” which opens at the Regent Theatre today. Yet action alone does not make a Clark Gable-Myrna Loy film. Knowing these stars you expect in addition romance and humour and in “Too Hot To Handle” you get them both in generous measure. In fact you get everything that makes for a perfect comedy-romance. “Too Hot To Handle” is a joyous adventure in which you will- share. The opening scene is laid in the beleaguered city of Shanghai, an inferno of bombs and shells and machine-gun bullets and in the midst of them Chris Hunter calmly turning the crank of his camera to take one of those authentic “front line” right-on-the-spot newsreels that are to be sped to thrill millions of movie-goers in the outside world. Hunter is not without competition, but to date he has always managed to “scoop” his rivals—and now his rivals are planning -to stage a scoop that will be “to hot” for even Hunter to handle. Alma Harding, dare-devil round-the-world aviatrix comes into it. Their paths cross and in the story of their conflict and, the romance that is engendered there is plenty of that stuff which is regarded as the best elements of perfect entertainment. Clark Gable is Hunter, the ace camera man, who takes risks which will provide thrills for even those most avid for excitement. Myrna Loy, so well known and popular, is the dashing aviatrix, quite capable of taking any knocks handed out to her in the course of the day’s work—and there are a good many knocks for her to take. But through them all Miss Loy manages to capture the same delicious comedy spirit that made her so successful in “The Thin Man,” “Libelled Lady,” “Wife Versus Secretary,” and many other successes. Also in the cast are Walter Pidgeon, Walter Connolly and Leo Carillo. Like “Test Pilot,” the last Gable-Loy film, “Too Hot To Handle” is something of an air picture, equally breath-taking and dazzling with excitement, it has running through it a vein of hilarious comedy that acts as a perfect counterpoise for the breath-taking suspense of many of its scenes. Box plans for what will be a busy season are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre. (’Phone 1938).

CIVIC THEATRE

MR MOTO TONIGHT “MEET THE GIRLS” Facing a weird wilderness of mystic temples and nameless terrors, the famous Saturday Evening Post master of mystery meets his most sensational adventure as Peter Lorre brings to the screen the character created by J. P. Marquand. “Mr Moto Takes A Chance,” thrilling 20th Century-Fox mystery-adventure story, opening at the Civic Theatre at 7.45 p.m. tonight, and showing at the matinee tomorrow and tomorrow night, with Rochelle Hudson, Robert Kent and J. Edward Bromberg featured in the supporting cast, is the latest in the series. The amazing Mr Moto, mild-mannered, nimble-witted detective, fights poisoned blow-dart guns with hypnotism, jiu jitsu, swords, burning oil, machine guns and magic in a drama motivated by mystery, teeming with thrills and alive with adventure. In tlie mysterious jungles of IndoChina, British intelligence officers strongly suspect that an uprising is being fomented by a native rajah. Into this scene comes Rochelle Hudson, a round-the-world flyer, who had landed via parachute from her flaming aeroplane. An American newsreel cameraman, his assistant and the mysterious Mr Moto, posing as a Japanese archaeologist, join her. Again Peter Lorre delights with his highly individual characterization of the famed slueth. Meeting threats of death with his apologetic, deprecating smile, Lorre makes a Mr Moto who has been highly praised by the creatoi- of that character.

The second feature, “Meet The Girls,” is the first of a new series of pictures starring Lynn Bari and June Lang as “The Big Town Girls” ready for an unlimited amount of eventful adventures and starting off by being involved in a robbery of diamonds which takes place on board a ship hailing from Honolulu. Both’’girls are well cast for their jobs.

They have a fine backing cast in Ruth Donnelly presenting a fine character act, Gene Lockhart, Wally Vernon, frequently seen just now, in the role of a drunken sailorr, and Erik Rhodes, Harlan Briggs and others. The girls lose their jobs in a night club in Honolulu and become stowaways more or less accidentally on board a vessel for their home town of San Francisco where almost all the action takes place. Erik Rhodes labours assiduously in the interests of comedy. Some nice bits are contributed by Ruth Donnelly and Gene Lockhart as a rich couple from whom an extremely valuable diamond is stolen by Rhodes, and juggled about between him and the girls. Box plans are at Begg’s or Civic, telephone 1744.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“ARREST BULLDOG DRUMMOND” “SAPPER” McNEIL MYSTERY There are many film series being exhibited on the screen' today. The Hopalong Cassidy series, the Hardy series and the Bulldog Drummond series take pride of place in public popularity. Commencing today at the Majestic Theatre Paramount Films will present Colonel “Sapper” McNeil’s “Arrest Bulldog Drummond” with John Howard in the popular character role of London’s suave society detective. Associated with John Howard is petite Heather Angel as Phyllis Clavering, H. B. Warner as Colonel Nielson, Reginald Denny as Drummond’s life-long friend Algy Longworth, E. E. Clive as Tenny Drummond’s faithful butler and rnonocled Claud Allister as Sir Basil Leghome. The story traces the campaign of Drummond to round up a gang of international spies who are endeavouring to capture an amazing British military secret and who will murder anyone who knows too much about their activities. The picture shows how Drummond forges right ahead in his own inimitable way and follows the ring leaders half way round the world, in spite of the fact that he is hampered by the stubborn opposition of Scotland Yard and the fear that his fiancee will be the next murder victim. How the detective wins his case affords probably the most exciting final sequence to any Bulldog Drummond story. The associate feature, “Pirates of the Skies,” has Kent Taylor, Rochelle Hudson and Regis Toomey in the principal roles and is a thrill-packed air drama of the flying border patrol. Latest Cine2ound News will also be' presented. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s Departmental Store box office, Rice’s Majestic Theatre confectionery, or Majestic Theatre, telephone 738.

THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON

Haunting new tunes, unusual river settings, enthralling story, big dance ensembles, five leading men and a new Jessie Matthews are the ingredients of the big new musical “Sailing Along.” Sonnie Hale was responsible for the direction of this film, which shows Jessie Matthews as the adopted daughter of a bargee who plies his way up and down the Thames. For the first time Jessie Matthews is partnered by a' dancer in his own right—Jack Whiting. Barry Mackay appears as a bargee’s son; Alastair Sim has a big part as an artist of peculiar habits—another example of the millionaire’s good-natured sponsorship, and Noel Madison forsakes the role of a gangster to appear as a high-speed Press agent.