THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24446, 28 May 1941, Page 3

THE THEATRES

REGENT ' \ “THE SEA HAWK” SEASON ENDS TOMORROW “The Sea Hawk,” which is to be screened again today and tomorrow at the Regent Theatre, is an exciting story of thrill and adventure. Errol Flynn heads the cast of thousands, and featured with him are Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Donald Crisp, Flora Robson and Alan Hale. Rife with dramatic incidents revolving about England s famous sea hawks, who sailed the seven seas in the pirate galleons, their sails full-bellied in the wind; “The Sea Hawk” is a tale of the Old World in the 16th Century. The film concerns itself with the intrigues of Spains King Philip and his henchman directed against the court and posessions of .England’s good Queen Bess, played by Flora Robson. Flynn is seen as Geoffrey Thorpe, daring captain of a buccaneer ship engaged in piratical pursuits against England’s enemies. With his lusty crew of privateers, he attacks home-bound Spanish galleons loaded with rich booty and robs them to swell England’s dwindling coffers. In his capacity of a sort of “Robin Hood of the Seas,” he has the unofficial but wholehearted approval of his Queen. On one of these plundering expeditions, he takes prisoner one of Philip’s emissaries to England, a haughty Spanish nobleman, portrayed by Claude Rains. With the Spanish Ambassador is his lovely niece, Martha, played by Brenda Marshall. She despises Thorpe as a pirate thief until he makes amends by returning her jewel case to her, and explaining that on the Spanish ship were hundreds of Englishmen who had been taken prisoners and impressed as galley slaves. Thus begins a romance which blossoms into true love, in spite of the barriers that strive to separate them. STATE “Play Girl,” starring Kay Francis in the title role, which screens today and tomorrow at 2.0 and 8.0 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 aw ay, 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 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 I the Civic’s 6d and 9d programme finally 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 I 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 is restored all around. Others in the cast include Veda Ann Borg, Eddie Acuff, May Beatty and Eddie Chandler Civic prices finally tonight are 6d and 9d.

MAJESTIC Much action with many laughs is the best way to describe “Girl from Havana,” which is now showing at the Majestic Theatre. 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. EMPIRE, RIVERTON “Dr Kildare’s Strange Case," featuring Lew Ayres and Laraine Day, will be presented at Riverton tonight. He struck out alone to fathom the most baffling case of his career and had five hours to attempt the strangest experiment in modern medical science. It is the startling adventure of the man who could not remember. Lion 1 Barrymore, Sheppard Strudwick and Emma Dunn are included in the cast.