AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21089, 15 July 1938, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “BEG, BORROW OR STEAL” The delightful comedy “Beg, Borrow or Steal” will open a season at ’.he Regent Theatre to-day. Frank Morgan, who has the principal role in the film, is cast as Ingraham Steward, a tourist guide on the Riviera. When he hears from his daughter Joyce (Florence Rice) of her approaching marriage, he bemoans the fact that he had not been informed sooner, so that it could take place at his chateau. Unfortunately for Steward, who owns no chateau, his daughter decides to transfer the ceremony to the Riviera. Steward summons to his aid several of his friends, who gain their livings by doubtful means, and a chateau Is procured. With the police on their tracks Steward’s friends provide many amusing situations as they attempt to escape from the clutches of the law. In the meanwhile, Joyce complicates matters by falling in love with one of her father’s friends. Bill Cherau (John Beal>. Steward, who is only too glad to cancel the wedding, unfolds his exploits and breaks up the ceremony. Bill has in the meantime been arrested, but he escapes, and the story is brought to a happy conclusion. Frank Morgan, who has previously appeared in supporting roles, gives an excellent portrayal in an amusing part, while Reginald Denny and Herman Bing provide a great deal of humour by their escapades. An interesting supporting programme will also bo shown.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “ANGEL” There comes a time in every married woman’s life when she must decide whether to accept “one more romance ’ or remain a sober wife, safe with ‘he friends she has always known. Marlene Dietrich, in Paramount's "Angel,” which is showing at the Majestic Theatre, is thus torn between two men--Herbert Marshall, her busy statesman-husband, and Melvyn Douglas, central figure in a romantic interlude in Paris. "Angel” is the first picture Ernst Lubitsch has directed in two years, and has a fine supporting cast, including Ernest Cossart, Edward Everett Horton and Herbert Mundin. “Broadway Melody of 1938” "Broadway Melody of 1938,” as its title indicates, is a year ahead of its time. The scintillating musical opens at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, costarring Robert Taylor and Eleanor Powell, with a cast that is virtually an all-star aggregation. It includes George Murphy. Binnie Barnes, Buddy Ebsen, Sophie Tucker. Judy Carland, Charles Igor Gorin, Raymond Walburn, Robert Benchley, Willie Howard, Charles Grapewin, Robert Wildhack and a chorus of lovely girls. Majestic audiences will leave the theatre in rare good mood, whistling and humming such numbers from the score as

"I’m Feeling Like a Million,” "Sun Showers,” "Yours and Mine,” "Pair of New Shoes,” "Follow in My Footsteps,” "Your Broadway and My Broadway,” and Sophie Tucker’s remembered "Some of These Days.” Eleanor Powell outdoes her finest performance as a tap dancer extraordinary. Robert Taylor proves again his versatility as an actor and he also sings very well. Without exception the players are uniformly excellent. An amusing story supports the lavish sets. Miss Powell, loyal to her horse-raising father, backs one of his runners. In order to keep the feed box full she dances in a night club. Taylor, as an earnest young playwright, buys the animal at an auction to save it for her and sure enough, the horse romps home a winner at the big race.

STATE THEATRE "DINNER AT THE RITZ” One of the most lavish productions of recent years, a feature of which «s the magnificent frocks and gowns of the beautiful French actress Annabella, "Dinner at the Ritz,” Is to commence what should prove to be a high-ly-successful season at the State Theatre to-day. Playing opposite Annabella in romantic roles are David Niven and Paul Lukas, while Romney Erent also is prominently cast as a humorous reporter-detective. The story opens when Ranie Racine (Annabella; prepared to enter a "marriage of convenience” arranged by her father (Stewart Rome), with Philip de Brack (David Niven) and becomes greatly interested in him. Shortly afterwards Racine discovers de Beaufort’s complicity in a huge financial swindle and declares he will expose him and his six accomplices. To save himself de Beaufort shoots Racine during a party at his home and escapes without detection, the murder passing for suicide. As a result of Racine’s death, his bank fails and his daughter is reduced to selling the family home. Her skill in doing this induces a jewel merchant to send her to Monte Carlo in a unique jewel-selling .scheme. She masquerades as a Spanish girl, her chief object being to find Brogard (Francis L. Sullivan), whom she has discovered to be the ringleader in her father’s death. Accompanying her is Jimmy Raine (Romney Brent) looking for the same

man. At the gambling table she meets de Brack again and the romance grows. But a few incidents serve to cast suspicion in his direction, a misunderstanding which almost ends the romance. A letter, exposing the swindlers, mailed by Racine before his death is intercepted by an unscrupulous bank employee, who proceeds to blackmail the listed men. While on board de Beaufort’s yacht, the girl discovers the existence of this letter and hastens to England in a second disguise to get it. Raine again accompanies her. The swift climax brings triumph to Ranie and leads to a satisfactory romantic conclusion with “Dinner at the Ritz.”

THEATRE ROYAL THRILLS AND ADVENTURE Spectacular drama and a fast moving comedy romance played against the colourful background of a big tent show is the theme of "Carnival Queen,” which opens to-day at the Theatre Royal. Heading the brilliant cast are

Robert Wilcox and Dorothea Kent. Miss Kent, in the title role, portrays a blonde and beautiful heiress who inherits a carnival from her father. The romantic lead opposite Miss Kent is handsome Robert Wilcox, who is a favourite with movie fans since being called to the films. Discovering that her carnival is being used as a blind by a band of unscrupulous gamblers who spend their nights robbing banks, Wilcox and Miss Kent enlist the help of the law and things begin to happen fast. How the girl and ner aids succeed in outsmarting the villains and putting the show on its feet, makes a grpping dramatic story, enhanced by sparkling interludes of humour. One of the most talented casts ever presented in a mystery thriller will be seen in “The House of a Ti.ousand Candles,” a gripping succession of surprises revolving around the operations of international spies. Phillips Holmes and lovely Mae Clarke head the cast.