ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 24115, 2 May 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE ‘WEN TOMORROW COMES” Irene Dunne and Charles Boyer have the leading roles in “When Tomorrow Comes,” which is showing finally today at the Regent Theatre. It is a love story played against the background of a devastating hurricane which laid waste the countryside. Irene Dunne is a waitress who makes the acquaintance of a customer (Charles Boyer) in her cafe, and is attracted by his well-bred manners. He also is attracted to her and persuades her to accept his invitation to spend a day in the country with him. From such a casual beginning evolves a story of powerfully emotional force. A sudden hurricane forces the couple to seek refuge in a church, where they are trapped by the flood waters. Here the poignant climax develops. The production infuses a leisurely elegance to a fast-moving romantic incident, and the supreme artistry of the acting, combined with sensitive direction is responsible for the fragrance, urbanity and strict conventionality of it all. Their more serious moments come with the disclosure of the pianist’s married state, with his wife revealed as a pathetic mental case —a tragedy in his life which he accepts with gentleness and dignity. There is an excellent supporting programme, including scenes of Stewart Island. “TARZAN FINDS A SON” THRILLER FOR THE REGENT “Tarzan Finds a Son,” which comes to the Regent tomorrow, deals with Edgar Rice Burroughs’s famous ape man character and his mate in the African jungles. Built on a- larger scale than any of its predecessors, it tells the most dramatic story of them all. One of the most important new characters introduced in this picture is Tarzan, jun., played by John Sheffield, who was selected for the role from more than 200 boys who were tested for the part. He emulates the remarkable feats of strength and agility performed by Weissmuller. The rescue of the boy from a ferocious rhinoceros by Tarzan, who slays the beast; the charge of a herd of elephants, ridden by chimpanzees, against the stockade of a tribe of head-hunters to save Jane, Boy and the members of a safari; the dramatic situation provided when the safari arrives to take Boy away from Tarzan and Jane; the laughable antics of Cheeta and his 10 chimpanzee stooges, make the picture tops in entertainment. Johnny Weissmuller and John Sheffield, with Director Thorpe and the company travelled to Crystal Springs, Florida, to film some of the most amazing under-water scenes ever photographed, in the clearest water in the world. Baby, a 16-months-old India elephant weighing 5601 b and 3ft 9in in height, makes her screen debut in this production. Rhinoceros, crocodiles, elephants, tigers, lions, chimpanzees, zebras and, in fact, nearly every species of wild animal extant in the African jungle were assembled for the story. More than 50 chimpanzees were tested to get 10 sufficiently trained to play their important roles in the picture. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer took two years to prepare the production. MAJESTIC THEATRE “DAMAGED GOODS” FINALLY Every mother and father should make sure that every son and daughter sees “Damaged Goods,” Eugene Brieux’s famous play emphasizing the seriousness of veneral disease, which concludes at the Majestic today. This picture has been playing to packed houses since Tuesday. “BRITISH INTELLIGENCE” TIMELY SPY DRAMA TOMORROW With England at war against Nazi agression and with so much talk of years of preparedness behind Herr Hitler’s war machines and diplomatic corps, it is interesting to know to what extent Britain is prepared to combat the agressions against democracy. “British Intelligence,” which opens at the Majestic tomorrow, gives an inside story based on the amazingly efficient system behind Britain’s fearless spy hunters. It is most reassuring to find that Scotland Yard and the British spy system are capable of handling any emergency. “British Intelligence” cites just one example of how an ambitious plan on behalf of Germany to blow up the British Cabinet in session is frustrated, and the German agents run to earth. Boris Karloff is cast as Germany’s supreme spy, Von Schiller, and : Margaret Lindsay as Helene von Lonbeer. Karloff obtains a post as a butler in the house of a British Cabinet Minister, his supposed assistant, Mar- . garet Lindsay being a guest of the . household. A secret session of the Bri- ‘ tish Cabinet is called at this particular ■ house, and Karloff plans to set a time ' bomb for their destruction, thus ac- j complishing his task for the Fatherland, and at the same time dealing a de- f vastating blow to the British Empire. ( The associate feature, Universal’s j “Tropic Fury,” has Richard Arlen, Andy Devine and Beverly Roberts in ( the principal roles of an exciting adventure story in the Amazon jungle, j The story concerns Richard Arlen and j Andy Devine as two federal agents < sent to run a jungle Napoleon to earth. ’ Excitement, heroism and thrills, in- , termingled with bright comedy, are the j highlights in this interesting tropic drama. *

1110 Invercargill babies who were photographed at H. and J. Smith’s Department Store recently for competition in the St. John Centennial Baby Contest will begin their local screening at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. These will be screened in groups and Nos. 1 to 67 will be shown tomorrow. The photography is particularly clear and the babies have photographed beyond all expectation. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre (telephone 738).

STATE THEATRE

“THREE SONS” FINALLY Uncovering a memorable page in history, "Three Sons,” which screens finally at 2.0 and 8.0 today at the State, is a sag? of the men who established some of the gigantic enterprises which today keep much of our man-power employed. In reality a composite of the lives of several Chicago merchant princes who erected huge mercantile dynasties on the ashes of the city’s great fire of 1871, the story presents Edward Ellis in the leading role. William Gargan, Kent Taylor, J. Edward Bromberg, Katharine Alexander, Virginia Vale and Robert Stanton have other important parts. Supports include Walt Disney’s Donald Duck in “Sea Scouts.” “THE LION HAS WINGS” TOMORROW AT 2,8, 10.30 With a long experience as a successful producer of stirring films about the British Empire, Alexander Korda was the very man to choose for the production of the first full-length film story of Britain’s war effort, “The Lion Has

Wings,” which commences at the State, Invercargill, at 2.0, 8.0 and late session at 10.30 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, after record-breaking seasons in the four main centres. In the cast are many well-known British stars, headed by Ralph Richardson and Merle Oberon, but their pails, though splendidly done, are naturally subordinated to the enthralling centre theme of the might and courage of the Royal Air Force. Opening on scenes of rural quietude, the story runs on to tell of a thriving nation, proficient in the arts of peace, but based on a stubborn, martial past. The scenery is a magnificent background to a statement of the efforts to provide a decent standard of living for all, with leisure, good housing and good food. Athletes, sportsmen, children in school, men and .women at work and play, with no desire for war, are shown in contrast with the sheeplike regimentation of Hitler’s hordes, bleating in their thousands —such is the magic of the “talkies” —like sheep. Shots of Hitler speaking his unmeant promises are interspersed with thumbnail sketches of British speakers—sideshow spielers, Hyde Park orators and plain, ordinary gossips, sometimes comical, but always kindly. And then comes the threat of war followed, when the ultimatum expires., by its reality. Orders came for the raid on Kiel Canal and the film shows the clockwork smoothness and precision with which the plans for this famous air attack are put into operation. Most of them young, and all of them timed up to the highest pitch for their task, which requires not merely courage, but great technical efficiency, the men of the R.A.F. take out their huge bombers and roar across the sea to Germany. Some of the tension of the actual fight comes across from the screen, so that the audience feels genuine relief when the uninjured ’planes return to their native soil. Particular' interest is given to this episode by the appearance of some of the men who did take part in the air battle. The remainder of the film is largely devoted to a detailed and exciting explanation of British arrangements to repel enemy bombers, leading up to a climax in a series of air battles in which the German raiders are driven off or shot down. For a few minutes the story flashes back to an earlier day when another Armada was driven off by British courage, skill and determination; and with Merle Oberon speaking on behalf of the British women to her sleeping husband, the film fades out on a quiet riverside scene. Box plans for tomorrow’s 2.0, 8.0 and 10.30 session are at Begg’s or State, telephone 645. CIVIC THEATRE HALF-PRICE FINALLY “TARZAN’S REVENGE” Thrill scenes in motion pictures frequently call for technical tricks to produce a desired effect but in “Tarzan’s Revenge,” the first attraction on the Civic’s half-price programme screening finally tonight at 7.45, the exciting exploits of Tarzan (Glenn Morris) and his mate (Eleanor Holm) defied reproduction by anything but real risks to those involved. When Eleanor Holm swam to safety among a pool full of crocodiles, there was no one who could swim faster or more capably under those conditions than Eleanor herself. When Glenn Morris, acclaimed as America’s greatest athlete in the 1936 Olympics, had to swing Eleanor Holm under his arm and leap out of danger in the perfect Tarzan manner, Morris was the only one able to do it. When dozens of wild animals were turned loose in a scene no one knew when natural hatreds would start them off on an unscheduled killing orgy. Small wonder that “Tarzan’s Revenge” makes one of the most thrilling movies of the season. Directed by D. Ross Lederman, the Principal Production features George Barbier, C. Henry Gordon and Hedda Hopper in the cast.

Featuring the colourful new starring team of Margot Grahame and Gordon Jones, “Night Waitress,” the second feature on tonight’s 6d. and 9d. programme, has the glamorous San Francisco waterfront as its background. Civic prices finally tonight are all stalls 6d and all circle 9d.