ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 24162, 26 June 1940, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “LADY OF THE TROPICS’’ HEDY LAMARR—ROBERT TAYLOR Robert Taylor and Hedy Lamarr, the most talked-about woman in motion pictures today, arrive as the newest and most fascinating romantic team of the screen in “Lady of The Tropics,” today at the Regent. For the first co-starring picture for two of the most dynamic personalities to skyrocket to fame in motion pictures in recent years, a love story was chosen that has been elected as ideal for their respective abilities, with Taylor seen as a young American adventurer and Miss Lamarr as a mysterious beauty of the East. The setting of the story, written especially for the new team by Ben Hecht, takes place in the heart of the Orient, where wanderers of all races, irrespective of caste, meet and mingle, seek love and sometimes die. As the love between Taylor and Miss Lamarr progresses, it takes them to the colourful harbour of Saigon, the “Paris of the East,” along its teeming river docks, into the interesting quarters of the natives, their cafes and shops. Settings faithful to the country also include the more fashionable cafes, hotels and government buildings where mixed society meets, from whence the interest the two leading characters hold for each . other ripens within the mystifying ruins of the great enigmatic temple of Angkor Wat, shrine of a forgotten race only recently ' torn out of the jungle by French explorers. Taylor plays young Bill Carey, penniless American, who meets and falls in love with Manon, a beautiful half-caste, portrayed by Miss Lamarr, whose dream is. to . flee from Indo-China where no race recognizes her, and become a white woman. Joseph Schildkraut, as Delaroch, throws all obstacles in her path because he also loves her, and even her marriage to Taylor by Father Antoine, played by Ernest Cossart, fails to thwart Delaroch in keeping her bound to IndoChina. The supporting programme includes the latest British air mail news, a Fitzpatrick travel film, Robert Benchley comedy and so on. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre.

STATE THEATRE “I WAS A SPY” “MIND OF MR REEDER” “I was a Spy,” the State’s first attraction at 2.0 and 8.0 today stars Conrad Veidt, Madeleine Carroll, Herbert Marshall, Sir Gerald du Maurier and Edmund Gwenn. This great British film on its first issue, so thoroughly deserved the packed houses which greeted it everywhere that the present reissue during the present war is more than justified. In its essentials the story has all the simplicity of greatness. It tells the true emotional and factual history of the young Belgian woman, Martha McKenna, who, with her parents, was in the town of Roulers in 1915, after the Germans had occupied it to make it a base behind the lines. In a particular scene among German wounded installed in the market place, the woman’s slight medical training and her personal instinct show in her demeanour, and she is engaged by the medical authorities to serve in the hospital. Her untiring work there becomes invaluable. But still she is a Belgian and lives among her townsfolk; when her aunt in the intelligence service of the Allies takes brief refuge in her home, Martha helps her in furtive missions, and gradually accepts her destiny to become a unit in the machine—soon a very important unit, although until near the end, an unobstrusive one. In the second attraction, “Mind of Mr Reeder,” an Edgar Wallace, thriller, Will Fyffe is seen as J. G. Reeder, a kindly-looking old man, but behind the affable mask a particularly shrewd investigator attached to Scotland Yard. Box plans are at Begg’s or State.

CIVIC THEATRE HALF-PRICE FINALLY COMEDY AND THRILLER The sauciest escapade in the history of fun, as gay as a Mardi Gras, with three delightful stars and merry with Gordon and Revel tunes, brings Don Ameche, Simone Simon and Robert Young to the Civic Theatre finally at 7.45 tonight in “Josette,” the first attraction on the half-price programme. It is vive I’amour in New Orleans as Ameche and Young chase Miss Simon, who must think faster than one and run faster than the other—but not too much faster! An innocent romance that becomes involved in gangland intrigue and vengeance is the basis for “Law of the Underworld,” RKO Radio’s new thrill offering, the Civic’s second feature. Civic prices finally tonight are 6d and 9d.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “SECRETS OF AN ACTRESS” “CHEER, BOYS, CHEER” The Warner Brothers drama, “Secrets of an Actress,” is now showing at the Majestic Theatre. A particularly tai’ ented trio are starred in this fine picture. Kay Francis, lan Hunter and George Brent play the principal roles. The story concerns Kay Francis, a brilliant actress who has.not had the good fortune to appear on Broadway. Through the efforts of lan Hunter, a British producer, she eventually makes the grade and is a huge success. The associate feature, “Cheer, Boys, Cheer,” has Edmund Gwenn, Nova Pilbeam and Jimmy O’Dea starred and is described as a rollicking comedy. The latest Universal News will introduce the programme and plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s department store, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

“Arizona Legion,” featuring George O’Brien and Loraine Johnson, will be presented at Riverton tonight. It is a tale of the stage coach days in the Arizona bad lands cowboys, cavalry, pioneers, and a man who knew no fear, shooting his way to glory in the roaring west that was. O’Brien plays a patriotic fellow who organizes a secret group of rangers under equally secret state authority to combat a rising tide of banditry. There is an unusual amount of action to thrill screen audiences.