ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20421, 11 February 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES CIVIC THEATRE “VICTORIA THE GREAT" Interest is at a high pitch for the North Island premiere of “Victoria the Great,” proclaimed as offering the triple lure of historical accuracy, spectacular power, and romantic fervour. The production gorgeously dramatises the life of Great Britain’s famous sovereign, as girl and queen, as wife and widow, and particularly her epic love for her Consort, Prince Albert ot Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. It is the inside story of Victoria’s romance with Prince Albert, their courtship, marriage and wedded life. Anna Xeagle, England's favourite screen actress, appears as Queen Victoria, co-starred with Anton Walbrook, international stage and screen star. H. B. Warner, as Lord Melbourne, and Walter Rilla, as Prince Ernest, are featured players. No picture heroine could be more wistfully attractive than this young girl of 18, so suddenly burdened with tremendous cares of Stale and confronting problems of international importance. Nor will spectators forget such a thrilling episode as the attempted assassination of the Queen the gallantry of the courageous Princ* in shielding her with his body against the would-be murderer's bullets, ni

particular interest is the exciting scene where Victoria’s timely intervention and fearless coercing of her Prime Minister prevents Hie sending of an insolent despatch to Washington, which would inevitably have caused war between the United States and England in JB6l. REGENT THEATRE To-night will see the final screening of “Street Singer’s Return,” in which Arthur Tracy sings his way to new heights of popularity. A sparkling musical comedy romance, “street Singer’s Return” introduces six brand new song hits, including “Halfway tu Heaven,” “Street Serenade” ami “Haroun El Raschid,” which promise to rival even "The Whistling Waltz” in popularity. Tracy is supported by a superlative cast of entertainers, including Arthur Riseoe. Margaret Lockwood, Rawicz and Landauer, celebrated comedy piano duettists. Emil Boreo, Ellen Pollock and Hugh Wakefield.

“THE AWFUL TRUTH” To-morrow night this picture, which is recogmsed as one of the greatest comedy films made, will be presented. Featuring lovely Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, this feature reaches a high mark in entertainment. THEATRE &OYAL Combining the best features of the greatest detective novels' of the past, Universal’s spine-tingling production “The Westland Case,” starts to-day at the State Theatre. Heading a brilliant all-star cast is Preston Foster in the role of Detective Crane, miracle working super-sleuth. Faced with the difficult job of trying to solve the baffling Westland murder, in which a beautiful woman lias been killed in a room in which all Hie windows and doors are locked from tlie inside, only Detective Crane's unusual powers of deduction bring about his solution to one of the most perfect crimes known in police history. Much of the suspense in the story revolves about three beautiful girls. With Dad running fo«* Mayor, Mother running Dad, Roger s running a scandal sheet while Jack’s running after a blonde in the most actionfilled, hilarious and human hit the Jones Family has ever made, 44 Hot Water,” Twentieth Century-Fox picture opening to-night at the State Theatre is hilarious entertainment. Jed Prouty is boiling, the kids are in a stew and the whole family’s steamed up over the election.

STATE THEATRE A wild buckaroo out where the West begins, "Ginger” Jane Withers begins where the wild West leaves off in “Wild and Wooly,” which opens tonight at the State Theatre. Riding runaway trains, getting her gun-toting grandpop. played by Academy Award winner Walter Brennan, into a duel, scaring the wKs out of tenderfoot pals in a graveyard at midnight, chasing city gangsters on a careening stagecoach, and roping young lovers into romance, Jane, makes Buffalo Bill look like a softie. Completely surrounded by her greatest cast, in the most hilarious show these pandemonium-makers have ever been in, what the West learns from Jane makes hilarious comedy. Charles Quigley plays a daredevil auto driver in "Speed to Spare." auto driver in “Speed to Spare,” thrilling exploits of the auto track featuring world-famous drivers, are seen in “Speed to Spare.” Edie Nugent and Dorothy Wilson also play leading roles. Lambert Hillyer directed. ROXY THEATRE “Meet Nero Wolfe” is a story requiring much “atmosphere.” It is for the glory of this prosaic word that millions are poured out of movie coffers to “dress up” pictures. In its name Hollywood agents combed the corners of the earth for objects of pertinent interest to use in "Meet Nero Wolfe,” the latest screen story featuring Edward Arnold. Also in the I cast are Lionel Stander, Victor Jory, ; ■loan Perry, Nana Bryant, Russell j Bardie, John Qualen and Dennie ! Moore. Herbert Biberman directed. j “The Great Barrier" is an adventure drama with a background 1 •>f husky pioneering thrills. A special I unit, including the director, Milton Ros- ! mer. leading actors Lilli Palmer, Antoinette Collier and Barry Mackay with ' Hie star. Richard Arlc'n. went on loca- : lion to the Canadian Rockies for out- | door sequences.