THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24444, 26 May 1941, Page 10

THE THEATRES

REGENT

“THE SEA HAWK”

ENGLAND’S SEA-POWER

These perilous days, when Britain faces the possibility of invasion from a foe bent on world domination, had their counterpart in 1585 when the aggressive dreams of Philip of Spain constituted a threat to British freedom. It. is of those that “The Sea Hawk,” which is now showing at the Regent, tells. Here is a film to stir British blood because it tells of exciting adventures on the sea in those days when the foundations were laid of Britain’s sea power and the establishment of the navy which has been the first line of defence of the Empire during the succeeding 350 years. The farsightedness of England’s privateer - captains, known as the Sea Hawks, could carry little weight against the Spanish agents in high office at the court of Elizabeth and the vacillation of the queen herself, but the film reveals how Geoffrey Thorpe, captain of the privateer Albatross, came through perilous adventures and finally brought Elizabeth to realize the danger that threatened from the building of the great Spanish Armada and induced her to give the order for the building of a fleet with which to counter Spanish ingenuity. Thorpe was a dashing commander who, with the assistance of a loyal and adventurous crew, preyed on | the gold galleons of Philip which crossed tire Atlantic laden with treasure stolen from the Incas and Aztecs. The film opens with his exploit when he fought and sank a galleon bearing the new Spanish Ambassadoi’ to Elizabeth’s court, releasing hordes of English prisoners employed as galley slaves. Errol Flynn gives a dashing performance as Captain Thorpe and with him in a strong cast are Flora Robson, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Henry Daniell, Alan Hale, Donald Crisp, | Montague Love, Gilbert Roland, Una O’Connor, William Lundigan, James Stephenson, Robert Warwick and J. M. Kerrigan. I The supporting programme is very interesting. It includes the latest air I mail war newsreel showing events in I the Grecian and Yugoslavian campaigns, I and English and American items. There is also a delightful technicolour cartoon.

STATE

The cowardly attack on Jesse James which caused his death is revenged in “The Return of Frank James,” the thrilling sequel to the earlier film, which screens finally today at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the State Theatre. The story is powerful, its characters superblyplayed and the direction brilliant. Henry Fonda is particularly good as Frank James and his portrayal is a fine piece of dramatic work. A strong supporting cast includes Gene Tierney, Jackie Cooper and Henry Hull. Supports include pictures of The Anzacs in Greece.

“PLAY GIRL” TOMORROW

“Play Girl,” starring Kay Francis in the title role, which opens tomorrow at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the State Theatre, lays bare the soul of a glamorous but mercenary woman of the world and reveals her inherent goodness and sentimentality. Sophisticated comedy blends with strong human drama in this stirring chronicle of the spectacular career of a fascinating fortune hunter who cleverly pries money out of rich men by threats of breach of promise suits and other unscrupulous devices. With her youth gradually slipping away, the adventuress takes under her wing a beautiful young girl, trains her to follow in her footsteps, and forms a unique partnership which proves highly lucrative. But a crisis arises when the girl falls in love with an intended victim who wants to marry her. She runs away, leaving the young man to his fate at the hands of the artful fortune hunter. How the latter’s inherent sentimentality, which she always has strived to control, suddenly floods her soul and arouses her to the most noble act of her tarnished life, provides a heart-stirring climax. James Ellison, in the romantic lead, and Mildred Coles, as the devastating decoy, head the featured supporting cast in “Play Girl.” Othei’ principal roles are played by Nigel Bruce, Margaret Hamilton, Katharine Alexander, George P. Huntly and Selmer Jackson. Excellent supports will complete the programme. Box plans are at Begg’s or the State. Telephone 645.

CIVIC

An amazing plot to smash America’s defences by means of a secrel submarine base, Columbia’s “The Phantom Submarine,” is the Civic’s first feature tonight at 7.45. This is the closing night of the season. Featuring Anita Louise and Bruce Bennett in the leading roles, the new thriller was directed by Charles Barton from a Joseph Krumgold story. Other familiar faces in the cast include Oscar O’Shea, John Tyrrell, Pedro de Cordoba and Harry Strang. The exciting film tells the story of a swashbuckling adventurer, played by Bennett, and his efforts to recover a fortune in gold that has been sunk in the Pacific Ocean. Miss Louise, in the role of a courageous reporter, stows away on Bennett’s freighter, and accompanies him on the trip. One Bennett is submerged in the dixing apparatus, the picture takes a startling turn when he is suddenly confronted with evidence of a secret submarine base being used against vital United States defences. He now realizes what was at the back >f the continual sabotage that had been hampering his search, and is determined to solve the amazing plot. As the only woman in the cast, Miss Louise adds beauty and charm to the film, while Bennett is excellent as the aggressive young leader of the treasure hunters. Oscar O’Shea is splendid as the captain of the freighter, and Pedro de Cordoba is realistically menacing in his role as leader of the foreign plotters. The issociate feature, “Girls Under 21 ’’ has the popular Rochelle Hudson in a leading role, with Paul Kelly and Bruce Cabot, who needs no introduction. Packed with furious action and blazing adventure, “Girls Under 21” is a startling exposure of a great racket that exploits loneliness. Box plans are at Begg’s or the Civic.

MAJESTIC

Maintaining the high standard of their popular film series, Richard Arlen and Andy Devine’s newest co-starring picture, Universal’s “The Devil’s Pipeline,” which will have its final showing at the Majestic Theatre, is an exciting picture.

The associate mystery thriller, “Opened by Mistake,” has Charlie Ruggles, Janice Logan, Robert Paige and William Frawley in the principal roles. The story concerns four identical travelling trunks and when two newspaper reporters find a body in one of them, serious complications set. in. Chapter Seven of the Secret Service serial, “Junior G Men,” featuring the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys, together with the current issue of the Cinesound News, will complete the programme. Plans are now on

view at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre

ST. JAMES, GORE

Tracing the fall of the Austrian Empire as file mighty background for the love story of a boy, a girl and a horse, “Florian,” spectacular film version of the novel by Felix Salton, is the attractive showing at the St. James Theatre, Gore, tonight and tomorrow. The story starts with Austria at its most opulent period and proceeds to the last World War, revolution and the fall of the Hapsburg dynasty and their effects on a pair of lovers and a magnificent Lippizan stallion, the property of Emperor Franz Josef. Robert Young and Helen Gilbert play the leading roles. The plans are open at West’s music store and the theatre.