ENTERTAINMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 94, 21 April 1944, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO-DAY’S PROGRAMMES OPERA HOUSE. How an arrogant Nazi ace discloses moral weakness under great strain, and the manner in which he abandons the code of chivalry in his dealings with his ex-fiancee, creates thrilling, suspense-laden entertainment in R.K.O. Radio’s timely new production, “Squadron Leader X," commencing to-' day at the Opera House. Eric Portman, rapidly rising young star of num. crous successes, and Ann Dvorak, remembered vividly for ’’Scarface,” are teamed in the fascinating story. Portman, as the flyer, finds himself in Britain with the identity ot an R.A.F. pilot, when a Nazi scheme fails to achieve its purpose. Resident in London before the war, he frantically searches for old members of the proNazi movement in Britain. His exfiancee, now staunchly pro-British and happily married to a doctor, is forced to co-operate with him in aiding his return to the Reich. Portman's performance is histrionically perfect, matching his grand portrayals in such successes as "The Invaders,” “One of Our Aircraft is Missing," and “Uncensored.” Ann Dvorak infuses great sympathy into her role as the girl. The strong supporting cast includes such well-known players as Walter Fitzgerald. Martin Miller, Beatrice Varley, Henry Oscar and Barry Jones. REGENT THEATRE During the past ten years, the screen has seen some amazing crooks who stole everything from pennies to gold mines. But all these infamous characters were pikers compared to I. Stanford Jolley, who actually steals a giant Trans-Caribbean clipper plane with all aboard in Producers Releasing Corporations "Desperate Cargo,” screening to-day at the Regent Theatre. Ralph Byrd and Carol Hughes are starred. Based on the story, “Loot Below,” which ran in one of the country's leading magazines a few years ago, the plot dears with a band of modern sky pirates, which steals, in mid-air, a gigantic clipper plane with a wing-spread of over one hundred and fifty feet. “Lady from Lisbon,” which is the associate feature, is just what the doctor ordered for war-weary audiences. It is a fast-paced, spy comedy of which admirable acting and attractive cabaret sequences are the highlights. Francis L. Sullivan and Jane Carr are featured artists.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. There are thrills, laughter and tears in th e magnificent picture, "The Foreman Went to France,” commencing today. Brilliantly directed, magnificently played, "The Foreman Went to France” is touched with the beauty ot courage, the grandeur of self-sacrifice and the splendour of answering devotion. It tells a stirring story of memorable effort in which comedy plays no inconsiderable part, but with realism remaining the key note. Clifford Evans turns in the best performance of a brilliant career as the foreman who went to France and after almost incredible adventures reclaimed invaluable machinery a Jump ahead of the Gestapo and Quislings. An honest, straight forward story—telling of panic, French evacuee-ridden roads, bomb and machine-gun attacks, and breathlesly exciting shooting set-to. Constance Cummings plays the American secretary who would not quit and Tommy Trinder scores the laughs as the i.ever-say-die Cockney soldier.