ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23992, 6 December 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE I “FOUR GIRLS IN WHITE” SPOTLIGHT ON THE NURSES “Four Girls in White,” a new drama glorifying the nursing profession as “Young Dr Kildare” did the medicos, is the attraction at the Regent Theatre for the next three days. The four girls in white are played by Florence Rice, Una Merkel, Ann Rutherford and Mary Howard, with Alan Marshal, recently seen opposite Luise Rainer in “Dramatic School,” playing the young doctor around whom much of the action centres. The .story is that of four ■ girls who enter upon a career for four singularly different reasons, only to find that service to humanity transcends any selfish purpose. Florence Rice as Norma Page, enters training with the express idea of catching a wealthy doctor or patient for a husband. Pat, her adoring sister, goes into it just to be with Norma, and is played by Ann Rutherford. Mary Forbes, played by Mary Howard, sees in nursing an opportunity to support her child decently and Gertie Robbins, played by Una Merkel, just hopes that the food will be good. Dr Stephen Melford (Alan Marshal) is the first object of Norma’s campaign, and while he is captivated by the girl, his devotion to his work with no apparent interest in money causes her to throw him over when Robert Maitland (Kent Taylor), a wealthy patient, arrives at the hospital. In order to get Maitland’s case, Norma is responsible for Mary losing her vacation for infraction of the hospital rules. Norma goes on a yachting party with Maitland and while she is away Mary is killed by an insane patient. Norma gives up Maitland to her young sister, Pat, who has fallen in love with him, and returns to the hospital to find herself shunned by the other nurses who hold her responsible for Mary’s death. She writes her resignation and is about to leave when a disaster call comes through. A train has crashed through a trestle into the river during a heavy storm. Norma, still subject to orders, joins the others as doctors, nurses, ambulances and stretcher bearers rush to the scene. Midst suffering and human misery, Norma finds herself. Her selfish ideas disappear as she risks her life for others and comes out of the experience an outstanding heroine. She not only, wins the respect of her fellow nurses but also the heart of Dr Melford. Buddy Ebsen and Miss Merkel are teamed for comedy purposes in “Four Girls in White” and prominent supporting roles are filled by Kent Taylor and Jessie Ralph. The supporting programme includes the latest British airmail news, an Our Gang comedy and other interesting subjects.

STATE THEATRE “CHARLIE CHAN AT RENO” Charlie Chan flies halfway around the world to the playground of beautiful women in his latest film. It is not a divorce but a murderer the inimitable Oriental detective is after in the 20th Century-Fox thriller, “Charlie Chan in Reno,” which brings Sidney Toler to the State Theatre at 2.0 and 8.0 today. Chan has his most striking adventure to date in the biggest little city in the world when a glamour girl’s life is cut short with a pair of scissors while glasses clink and trombones moah, and a lovely lady is accused of the murder. The police say “Yes!” Her husband wonders. The Press condemns her. But Chan says “No!” and sets to work in his usual fascinating fashion to solve the crime. This marks the second time that Sidney Toler has played the popular detective, created by Earl Derr Biggers, having scored a smash hit with critics and public when he first played the role in “Charlie Chan in Honolulu.” A great cast assists Toler in bringing this latest Chan adventure to the screen, including Ricardo Cortez, Phyllis . Brooks, Slim Summerville, Kane Richmond, Sen Young, Pauline Moore, Eddie Collins, Kay Linaker, Louise Henry and Robert Lowery. Box plans are at Begg’s or State, telephone 645.

CIVIC THEATRE “TAKE MY TIP” AND “I COVER THE WAR” Jack Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge, the screen’s craziest comedy pair, are teamed at the'Civic tonight in a riot of nutty situations, witty dialogue, tuneful numbers and smart settings in “Take My Tip,” the first attraction on the Civic’s half-price programme. England’s greatest laugh manufacturer is in turn a British peer, an oil-well magnate, the world’s worst golfer, and Callavini, the head waiter in his former butler’s hotel.

“I Cover the War,” Universal’s vivid drama of Britain’s conflict with rebel Arab tribes in the desert reaches of Mesopotamia and starring John Wayne, is the Civic’s second attraction tonight. The picture tells the exciting story of a crack American newsreel man who is suddenly thrown into the cauldron of intrigue and death that surrounds revolt in the desert. Wayne portrays the newsreel man, supported by an outstanding cast which includes Gwen Gaze, beautiful newcomer who reached the screen via the London stage, Don Barclay, Pat Somerset, Major Sam Harris, Charles Brokaw, James Bush, Arthur Aylsworth, Earl Hodgins, Jack Mack, Franklyn Parker, Frank Lackteen, Olaf Hytton, Keith Kenneth and Abdulla. MAJESTIC ~THEATRE ’’SERVICE DE LUXE” AND “S O S TIDAL WAVE!” Universal has assembled an ambitious cast for the principal roles in its madcap comedy, “Service de Luxe,” which is now showing at the Majestic. Constance Bennett, Vincent Price, Charlie Ruggles, Mischa Auer, Helen Broderick and Joy Hodges are the principal players in this grand comedy entertainment. The story concerns Constance Bennett as Dorothy Madison, the proprietress of the Dorothy Madison Services, a firm which can iron out anybody’s troubles. However, when Dorothy Madison finds domestic troubles of her own, is when the fun starts. This is a picture with splendid dialogue and brilliant situations and all the members of this top-line cast handle their parts in the expected first-class manner. “S O S Tidal Wave!” has Ralph Byrd, George Barbier, Kay Sutton and Frank Jenks starred in a Jules Verne type of drama in which the audience sees a tidal wave envelop and destroy New York City. “S O S Tidal Wave!” is the supreme thriller among all thrillers. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s Departmental Store box office, I Rice’s Majestic Theatre confectionery shop, or at the theatre. Telephone 738. THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man,” featuring Charlie McCarthy, Eddie Bergan and W. C. Fields will be presented at Riverton tonight. It is most diverting entertainment ending with sore ribs from constant laughter. If you are not laughing at Fields you are at the dummy. Charlie’s portrayal of the little Maharajah is irresistible and he is high-

ly amusing when being extricated from the jaws of a huge crocodile. “You Can’t Cheat an Honest Han” is well worth a visit, as it is comedy from start to finish. Mary Forbes, Thurston Hall and Constance Moore make up a fine cast.