THE THEATRE WEEK

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

THE THEATRE WEEK

FILMS AT NEW PLYMOUTH. The “perfect crime” forms the basis of “Shadow of Doubt,” which the New Plymouth Opera House will presept on Wednesday. While the actual commission of the crime is not stressed and dramatic comedy situations predominate, the story deals with the mysterious murder of a Broadway “playboy.” Under suspicion are the three women in his life— a screen star, a torch singer and a society girl. The sweetheart of the screen star also falls under the accusing finger.

Built on the theme of a young man who is ; given the chance to run a broadcasting station as he thinks fit, “Radio Parade of 1935,” to be shown at the New Plymouth Opera House on Saturday and at the Hawera Opera House on Thursday, is an entertaining concoction of mirth and music interwoven with romance, and it introduces the greatest galaxy of international stage, screen and radio stars ever assembled.

“To a man love is a thing apart—it is woman’s whole existence!” This is the theme of the motion picture, “I Give My Love,” which has just been booked for the Regent Theatre, starting on Wednesday with “Embarassing Moments.” A scorned woman kills her lover when he leaves her .an outcast with an unborn child. She is sentenced to life imprisonment but is released after 10 years. How she seeks her son is the theme of the story, written by Vicki Baum. •.# * *

“Embarassing Moments” double-billed at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday with “I Give My Love,” is &n hilarious comedy starring Chester Morris, a young man who refuses to take life seriously and who is constantly playing practical jokes on his best friends, causing countless embarassing moments and nearly losing his sweetheart, Marion Nixon, through his. antics.

There is opportunity in “Under Pressure,” to be screened on Wednesday at the State Theatre, New Plymouth, for Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen to be devils with women and dare-devils with men. It is a big and thoroughly human drama, with a love interest that is thrilling and comedy that is quickwitted and fast-moving.*The background is furnished by the tunneling operations beneath a New York river—and the two stars are seen as “sand hogs, battling perilously against the black waters which surround them.

The central situation in “Roberta,” coming on Saturday to the State Theatre, New Plymouth, is that of an All-Ameri-can football player who becomes owner of a feminine style salon, by accident of inheritance. A double romance moves swiftly and tunefully to a close, the location being Paris. Irene Dunne sings, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance and a bevy of beautiful girls display the latest in feminine style creations.

In “After Office Hours,” billed for Everybody’s Theatre, New Plymouth, on Saturday Clark Gable is cast as Branch, managing editor, and Constance Bennett is Sharon, the publisher’s socialite niece and Branch’s society reporter. The story deals with Branch’s attempt to uproot an imminent society scandal. He uses his socialite reporter as a wedge to enter forbidden sanctums, until she scents the ruse and rebels. When the scandal turns into a murder story realistic drama enters.

FILMS AT STRATFORD.

“The Good Fairy,” based on Ferens Molner’s play,' comes to the. Plaza , Theatre, Stratford, on Saturday with. Margaret Sullavan starring. It is light, subtle comedy often genuinely moving. # # * • “This Week of Grace,” coming to the Pfora Theatre, Stratford, to-day, sets out unashamedly to entertain the ordinary cinemagoer and succeeds beyond expectations. The simple story of a poor girl who shows a rich man how to use his wealth is told effectively and without striving for the unusual. It is one of the funniest pictures in which Grade Fields has ever been starred.

“We’re Not Dressing,” to be presented at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, on Tuesday and Wednesday, is the Paramount vehicle in which six stars combine their talents. Bing : Crosby is/‘a sailor aboard the yacht of Carole Lombard. Shipwrecked, she and her guests find haven on a South Sea Island, where George Burns and Gracie Allen are hunting big game. How Bing puts, his “guests” to work and how George and Gracie get involved in the situation create a climax of love, song and laughs.

“Sequoia,” showing at the New Plymouth Opera House .to-day and at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, on Thursday and Friday, is an unusual nature picture with strong} romantic appeal. Photography that is almost perfect, and strange animal scenes are the features.

London, although a city of a million wonderful things to see and do, has always retained about it' an atmosphere of impenetrable silence, as though she only wanted those fortunate mortals who could enjoy an actual trip to London to share in her being. Therefore, for the first time in the history of the talking picture screen a full-length feature production has been completed, titled “London Speaks.” ■ It will be shown at the King’s Stratford, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“The Lemon Drop Kid,” which comes to the King’s Theatre, Stratford, on Thursday and Friday, is a lively, humorous and often dramatic story of a fast talking, self-assured young fellow who, following an unpleasant escapade at the race track, is forced to settle down to the quietness of a small town. ■ «> * • * •' “Doctor Monica,” a story in, which both the wife and the “other woman” try to sacrifice themselves to ensure the happiness of the other, commences at the King’s Theatre, Stratford, on Saturday. FILMS AT HAWEBA. Eddie Cantor’s “Kid Millions,” tn be shown at the Hawera Opera House on Saturday, introduces him as a black sheep of the Brooklyn waterfront who inherits a fortune in buried treasure and travels to Egypt to claim it. Ann Sothem, Ethel Merman, George Murphy, lend romance, “hotcha” and hilarity to the proceedings. « * • • “The Old Curiosity Shop,” to ba shown at the Hawera Optra House on Tuesday, traces the tragic story of Little Nell in a world Of greed, weakness, wickedness and cruelty.