THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24445, 27 May 1941, Page 3

THE THEATRES

REGENT

“THE SEA HAWK” EKROL FLYNN IN MAIN ROLE Background of the stirring story of “The Sea Hawk” is England in the lusty days of Queen Elizabeth. Among England’s heroes of the time are sea fighters, who prey on the Spanish galleons, stripping them of their rich booty and bringing it home to swell England’s dwindling treasury. Most daring and fearless of these privateers is Geoffrey Thorpe, the role portrayed by Flynn. The fortunes of England are at a low ebb, however, and King Philip of Spain, aided by Elizabeth’s traitorous chancellor, is planning to attack and seize the weakened country. To further his plans he sends one of his most able men to England as ambassador. Thorpe attacks the ship which is bringing the ambassador and his lovely niece Maria (Brenda Marshall) to England. Maria scorns Thorpe as a pirate and a thief until he returns her jewel casket to her, and also points out that the Spanish ship she was on was propelled by several hundred galley slaves, all Englishmen. From that time on Maria and Thorpe are allies, bound together by mutual understanding as well as romantic inclination. In secret conclave with the Queen, Thorpe outlines a plain whereby he can salvage considerable gold from the Spaniards in Panama. Before Maria can warn him that the Spaniards have learned of his plans, Thorpe sets sail for Panama. There he falls into the hands of the Spanish, and is impressed as a galley slave until he can be returned to Spain for trial by the Inquisition. The dauntless Sea Hawk, however, still has a trick or two at his com-

mand. When the slave ship arrives in Cadiz, Thorpe steals a knife from one of the guards, frees himself and his men from their chains, and under cover of night, they daringly capture the Madre Di Dios, and make a dash for the open sea. On the ship, Thorpe finds the documents he is looking for which prove that Spain had planned to attack England. Back in London, he has to fight his way through the traitorous chancellor’s guard of henchmen before he can lay his document before the Quen, but when he gets to her he is knighted for his great service to England.

STATE

“Play Girl,” starring Kay Francis in the title role, which opens today 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 marrj’ 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.” Other principal roles are played by Nigel Bruce, Maigaret Hamilton, Katharine Alexander, George P. Huntly and Selmer Jackson. Excellent supports will complete the programme. Box plans are at Begg’s or the State.

CIVIC

One of the most popular criminals in modern fiction, Michael Lanyard, the Lone Wolf, is also one of the most popular heroes on the screen. His most recent screen adventure, “The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt,” is the first feature on the Civic’s 6d and. 9d programme tonight, with Warren William as the suave international thief and Ida Lupino co-featured as a charming young woman determined to wed the man. “The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt” is the first in a projected new series of Lone Wolf films planned by Columbia. The cast includes Ralph Morgan, Virginia Weidler and Rita Hayworth. Some of the most spectacular flamefighting scenes ever thrown upon the screen are promised in the Warner Bros, melodrama “She Loved a Fireman,” the Civic’s second feature, with Dick Foran as the hero. The climax of the picture is an immense blaze on a waterfront, with boats as well as land apparatus engaged in its quenching. Foran plays a new chum fireman who comes under the command of a hardboiled captain, portrayed by Robert Armstrong. The two become bitter enemies, even though Dick falls in love with Bob’s sister—the lovely redhaired Ann Sheridan. During the waterfront conflagration, Bob is disabled and apparently doomed to death in the flames when Dick, by superhuman efforts, rescues him, and then peace Ls restored all around. Others in the cast include Veda Ann Borg, Eddie Acuff, May Beatty and Eddie Chandler Civic prices tonight and tomorrow only are 6d and 9d.

/ MAJESTIC

Much action with many laughs is the best way to describe “Girl from Havana,” which will begin at the Majestic Theatre today. A full comedy action cast is headed by Dennis O’Keefe, Claire Carelton, Alan Mobray, Steffi Duna, Edgar Kennedy and William Frawley. As the title indicates, the action of the story takes place in Havana, where tropical romance and international intrigue abound. Dennis O’Keefe and Victor Jory are seen as two adventure seeking pals who find themselves unwittingly involved in an international espionage ring concerned

with gun running and an assassination plot. Wayne Morris plays a dual role in “All Girls Are Alike,” the associate picture. He is his own twin brother. One brother is studious and the other is athletic, so they combine their talents in college. One turns in the good marks and studies while the other becomes the football hero. It all moves along smoothly for a while until they both fall in love with the same girl, who does not know they are not one and the same except that their different technique at love making confuses her. In fact, they confuse everyone, including their football rivals, and win all the games but the last. The athletic brother decides to leave and the studious brother goes on a toot that lands him in a hospital from which he is routed to play in the game. How the game is finally won makes an exciting picture which features Virginia Dale, Lillian Cornell, William Frawley and others.