AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21850, 31 December 1940, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

“TWO GIRLS ON BROADWAY ” Bright musical entertainment will be provided for patrons of the Regent Theatre at the late session to-night, for the change programme is “Two Girls on Broadway.” in which George Murphy, Lana Turner and Joan Blondell are starred. The film is packed with delightful situations, catchy music and pleasant romance, and goes with a swing throughout. High life in New York, and the adventure of youthful entertainment artists making a desperate bid for fame in the big city’s stage circles make the setting and story of “Two Girls of Broadway,” with the action revolving round George Murphy and Lana Turner in their dance specialties, and Joan Blondell vying with Lana for glamour honours. Massed stage spectacles, smart humour and snappy dancing, all fo which is Broadway’s heritage from the Ziegfeld Follies, make a special appeal to lovers of .modern dancing and music rhythm, with a mingling of romance, comedy, and melody. It has a gay irresponsibility that makes a joyous night out.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“ FORTY LITTLE MOTHERS ” In “The Story of Forty Little Mothers.” which comes to the Majestic Theatre for the late session to-night, Eddie Cantor, the Clown Prince of Gags, discards his mantle of hokum to emerge as a real human being in one of the most entertaining pictures of the year, providing a combination of comedy, pathos and drama that blends into what is indubitably Cantor’s best motion picture. The story is of a timid professor who, after .saving a distraught mother from suicide, inadvertently inherits her abandoned baby. When he gets a job in a girls’ school he takes the baby along and attempts to hide it in his apartment. But Cantor runs ino a rebellion when the students attempt to have him fired because he is not as handsome as his predecessor. A highlight of the picture is the appearance of Judith Anderson, celebrated Broadway stage star, as Madam Granville, head of the school. Miss Anderson acquits herself as if she had been in pictures all of her life. Rita Johnson plays the unfortunate mother and delivers a fine performance. Excellent also are Nydia Westman, as the old maid stooge of Miss Anderson, Bonita Granville, leader of the rebellious schoolgirls, Ralph Morgan as the kindly judge, Diana Lewis, Margaret Early, Martha O’Driscoll, Charlotte Munier and Louise Seidel. As for the infant of the story. Baby “Chum,” he comes close to stealing every scene in which he appears.

STATE THEATRE “JOHNNY APOLLO ” Not since "Jesse James” has Tyrone Power had a role like that of “Johnny Apollo” in the drama .of that title which co-stars him with Dorothy Lamour at the State Theatre to-day. “Johnny Apollo” is the alias of a young college man, a banker’s son, who turns mobster when the father he idolised is sent to prison and his wealthy friends turn against hm. Dorothy Lamour is more alluring than ever as “Lucky” Dubarry, the hard-boiled night club entertainer who understands and loves the boy, no matter what he does. There is an imposing supporting cast Edward Arnold is seen as the banker father; Lloyd Nolan plays Mickev Dwyer, the gangster whose mob Johnny Apollo joins. Charley Grapewin is cast as a tippling ex-judge turned underworld lawyer, and Lionel Atwill is seen as the banker’s lawyer, to whom Johnny appeals in vain for aid for his father. Highlighting the story are two special new song hits, sung by Dorothy Lamour, “Dancing for Nickels and Dimes” by Lionel Newman and Frank Loesser and “This is the Beginning of the End” by Mack Gordon.

THEATRE ROYAL NEW DOUBLE PROGRAMME “Smuggled Cargo,” an exciting story of the citrus industry, whch comes to the Theatre Royal to-nignt, mixes romance, vengeance and orange growers’ problems in a novel drama of one of America's most important industries. Rochelle Hudson and Barry Mackay are co-starred, with Ralph Morgan. George Barbier, Arthur Loft. Cliff “Ukulele Ike” Edwards, John Wray, Robert Homans, and Wallis Clark in featured roles. Mackay, as the playboy son of Morgan, president of the orange growers’ association, is interested only in winning automoble races until his father’s troubles—and a girl—send him into action to unravel the net of circumstantial evidence that has enmeshed his father in a maze of suspicion. In “The Man Who Made Diamonds,” the associate feature, drama, thrills, excitement and romance all play their part aided by capable team work by a cast headed by Noel Madison, famous gangster star from Hollywood and a host of British favourites.