AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE “PARADISE FOR TWO" Audiences’ tastes in comedy have progressed to the point where the knock-about type of fun-making no longer raises a laugh, according to the popular Jack Hulbert, who makes a welcome return to the screen in London Films’ “Paradise For Two,” which concludes at the, State to-day. Co-starring with Hulbert in this scintillating comedy of a sanctimonious young millionaire who becomes innocently linked in a romance with a chorus girl, is the beautiful singing and dancing star, Patricia Ellis.

“Dinner at the Ritz” The next attraction at the State Theatre will be “Dinner at the Ritz,” a New World feature released by Fox. As befits an international star of her fame, Annabella in this picture is starred opposite three leading men. Paul Lukas, David Niven, and Romney Brent are featured in important roles. A famous Paris banker is mysteriously killed, the police term it suicide, and his bank fails. As a result, Paul Lukas breaks his engagement with the banker’s daughter, Annabella, who is determined to track down her father’s murderers. From Paris to Monte Carlo she plays the game of a gay adventuress, in the most dangerous intrigue that ever involved a woman in love. David Niven portrays the leading romantic role. Because of his efforts in Annabella’s behalf Niven finds himself suspected by Brent, who is leading Annabella in the search for her father’s enemies. It is Brent's quick thinking and ingenious disguises for himself and his lovely accomplice that sends the story to one of the most exciting climaxes the screen has seen.

REGENT THEATRE DOUBLE PROGRAMME “Ourselves Alone” and “Hitch Hike Lady" will conclude at the Regent today. “Ourselves Alone” deals with the Rebellion in Ireland in the early twenties, made sure of the authentic atmosphere by actually bringing over from Dublin a number of men who fought for the Sinn Feiners back in those days just after the war. when Ireland was in ferment and the Blacks and Tans and the gunmen made the Emerald Isle an Island of Terror. Alison Skipworth, a foremost personality of the screen, beautiful Mae Clarke, Jimmy Ellison, the inimitable Arthur Treacher, and his confederate in trouble, Warren Hymer, combine to bring you seventy minutes of helpless laughter in “Hitch Hike Lady,” the associate feature.

“Beg, Borrow or Steal” Frank Morgan heads an all-star comedy cast in “Beg, Borrow or Steal, which brings a barrel of laughs to the Regent Theatre, beginning to-morrow. Also featured are Florence Rice and John Beal. “Beg, Borrow or Steal” presents more comedians to the square foot than any recent picture coming out of Hollywood and is hailed as a fast, nonsenical, madcap feast of entertainment. Among the comics, male and female, are Reginald Denny, George Givot, Cora Witherspoon, Herman Bing, E. E. Clive, Erik Rhodes and Vladimir Sokoloff. Others importantly cast are Janet Beecher, Tom Rutherford and Harlan Briggs. The picture is suggested by William C. White’s “Saturday Evening Post” story, “A Matter of Pride,” and concerns one Ingraham Steward 11., who is making a precarious living in Europe as a “sheerer” of rich tourists. His companions are crooks and fakers of every description. Leading his estranged wife and beautiful daughter in America to believe that he is wealthy, he carries out the bluff when he hears of her Impending wedding to a banker’s son by sending his congratulations and regretting that there isn’t time for them to come to Europe and be married at his chateau on the Riviera. Things happen fast and furiously from then on and reach a startling climax when the daughter proves to be a chip off the old block and marries the wrong man.

MAJESTIC THEATRE MARLENE DIETRICH IN “ANGEL” “Angel,” the Paramount picture which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, brings to the screen a new director-star combination for which the screen has been waiting for a long time. The delicate, ethereal beauty of Marlene Dietrich and the light, whimsical directorial touch of Ernst Lubitsch make a compound that brings out a high variety of film entertainment. The production is handsome and lavish, the acting of Miss Dietrich, Herbert Marshall and Melvyn Douglas all that anyone could ask, and the work of the supporting cast is splendid. It’s “swell Lubitsch” and its “swell Dietrich.” Herbert Marshall plays the part of an absorbed dlsplomat, who gives all his time and at- , tention to political problems to the exclusion of his wife, Marlene Dietrich, who resents his lack of attention to her. She finally leaves her home to make a quiet trip to Paris, in search of some adventure to relieve the drabness of her usual life. The work of a fine cast numbering Ernest Cossart, Edward Everett Horton, Laura Hope Crews, Herbert Mundin and Ivan Lebedeff, puts the finishing touch on a fine and satisfying piece of entertainment. “Broadway Melody of 1938” Scintillating dancing, new songs, and an absorbing story all combine to make "Broadway Melody of 1938" just what it is, the brightest musical yet produced. The story happily combines thrilling horse-racing sequences with the musical episodes. The purchase of a horse by Eleanor Powell, who has not sufficient money, and the interest taken by Robert Taylor lead to many bright situations, but a quarrel, which evolves, makes way for the gorgeous climax. Heading the huge cast is Eleanor Powell, America’s ace tap dencer and personality girl. Her fascinating dancing, along with her real acting ability, place her in the top rank and she eclipses all her previous performances. Romantic support and co-star, handsome Robert Taylor is familiar to

all theatre-goers who recognise his undoubted popularity. Specially written musical numbers by well-known composers should be popular for a long time to come. “Broadway Melody of 1938” opens at the Majestic on Saturday.