ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 24003, 19 December 1939, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “FOUR DAUGHTERS” A POPULAR PICTURE The highest praise is being bestowed on “Four Daughters” which is enjoying an extended season at the Regent Theatre. The story of . “Four Daughters” is a simple human tale of a most likeable family. The picture opens with an elderly musician at home with his four daughters and their Aunt Etta. There is a great different in each of their personalities, but they combine to make a most natural and affectionate family circle. The story really hinges around the romances of the four daughters, each of whom thinks she is in love with the handsome Jeffrey Lynn, but there is far more to it than that, for it is rich in humour and there is a natural charm about the various happenings that cannot fail to appeal to anyone who likes to see a glimpse of real life on the screen. Besides humour there are moments of tense drama, and music adds charm to many a sequence. The story runs on smoothly and entertainingly as it tells of the thoughts and actions of 10 exceedingly likeable people, and it leads up to a climax that is as satisfying as is the whole film. It has been said that the story of “Four Daughters” falls somewhere between “Three Smart Girls Grow Up” and “You Can’t Take It With You,” and theatre-goers will readily recognize from this the _ position the film must occupy. While its theme is entirely different from these notable films, it can be said that the standard achieved is equally as high and the entertainment value is equally as great. Accompanying the main attraction is an excellent supporting programme which includes an entertaining comedy cartoon, “What Price Porky?” which has an amusing application to the international situation and an extremely interesting travel film that shows New Zealanders something of the important city of Singapore. There are also several topical newsreels, dealing with recent happenings in England and Europe, including the surrender of Warsaw.

STATE THEATRE

1 —- t JANE WITHERS’S LATEST r - — 1 Law and disorder come to the West with Jane Withers and Leo Carrillo in “The Arizona Wildcat,” 20th CenturyFox’s uproarious comedy which ,com- '» mences today at 2 o’clock at the State r Theatre. Everything one could ask for in the line of action has found its way into “The Arizona Wildcat”; a fasterpaced film has not. been seen in a long time. There isn’t a moment’s let-down from beginning to end and every time you blink your eyes something happens. Gold missing from the mine! The i stage coach stuck up! A whole town shot up! The sheriff in cahoots with the crooks! There’s enough fun and excitment here to make a dozen pictures. , Jane is. seen as the adopted daughter of Leo Carrillo, who had been a famous outlaw in Mexico many years • before. When a gang of crooks, headed secretly by the sheriff himself, steals ’ a shipment of gold and kills three men in doing it, Jane decides that it is high time she and Carrillo do some- ■ thing about it. They do, and it is the most entertaining film in months. Jane Withers is excellent and Leo Carrillo gives one of his finest performances in “The Arizona Wildcat.” A fine supporting cast is headed by Pauline Moore, William Henry,' Henry Wilcoxon and Douglas Fowley. The associate feature is “The Edge of the World,” a gripping drama in which the action takes place in the Shetland Islands. The film abounds in scenes of great natural beauty, and the wild, rugged coasts of the Shetlands have been utilized as a fitting background for a dramatic story, in which the inhabitants play no little part in the telling. Niall McGinnis and Belle Chrygtall, who have the leading roles, both give convincing portrayals. Box plans are at Begg’s or State, telephone 645. MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE PATIENT IN ROOM 18” The Warner Brothers’ hospital mystery drama “The Patient in Room 18” is the principal feature on today’s programme at the Majestic Theatre. The stars of this picture are Patrick Knowles and Ann Sheridan, while Eric I Stanley and Rosella Towne are prominently cast. The story concerns the I theft of £20,000 of radium from a Metropolitan hospital and two murders committed by the thief in making the burglaries. Patrie Knowles is cast as a detective and Ann Sheridan as a sister in the hospital. The culprit of the thefts and the murders is eventually trapped by Knowles. The associate feature “Garden of the Moon,” Warner Brothers’ latest smash hit musical stars Pat O’Brien,. Margaret Lindsay and the sensational new sing-ing-dancing performer, John Payne. Melville Cooper, Johnny Davis, Mabel Todd and the famous movie critic, Jimmie Fidler, while Joe Venuti and his famous swing band play the musical accompaniments for five new swing hits. A fascinating comedy story is in- ] terwoven in this brilliant musical, ] which is packed with romance, laughter and fun. Plans are now on view at H. & J. Smith’s Departmental Store , box office, Rice’s Majestic confectionery ' or Majestic Theatre. Telephone 738. CIVIC THEATRE • “THE BLACK LEGION” A few months ago, American news- j paper readers were horrified at pub- j I lished accounts of so-called “Black Legion” activities in Michigan. The story broke when a young mechanic was taken out by a group of masked men and cruelly flogged, then shot, because of an allegation that ’"he had beaten his wife. After his 'death, h. - was proved that the unfortunate victim j was a kindly man whose wife denied , vehemently he was ever anything but , gentle and considerate. According to a later confession made by a captured legionnaire, he had - taken part in the - ruthless killing of another victim be- -I cause he was a negro. The dramatic details of this story from real life T form the basis of the film, “Black Legion,” the first attraction on the Civic’s half-price programme tonight. The cast is headed by Humphrey Bog- ~ art. Others are Dick Foran, Erin 1 O'Brien-Moore, Ann Sheridan. “Her | Husband’s Secretary,” the second pic- I ture, stars Jean Muir, Beverly Roberts g and Warren Hull.. Civic prices tonight g are 6d and 9d. | ST. JAMES THEATRE, GORE Second in the “Dr Kildare” series, featuring Lew Ayres and Lionel Barrymore, “Calling Dr Kildare,” which is now showing at the St. James Theatre, Gore, tonight, carries on the adventures of a young physician with a bent for amateur detective work. There is also a good selection of shorts. REGENT THEATRE? GORE The attraction at the Regent Theatre, Gore, tonight is “Jane Slips Out,” starring Diana Churchill and Jean Muir. The supporting feature is “Mr Wong in Chinatown,” starring Boris Karloff. (8