ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20422, 12 February 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES “THE AWFUL TRUTH" AT THE REGENT THEATRE “The Awful Truth,” a film lull if gusto and laughter, is being screened to-night at the Regent Theatre. Irene Dunne, in the leading role, gives one of her best performances, and Cary Grant, in the leading male role, is also excellent. Admirers of “Asta,” the famous terrier of “The Thin Man," who is prominently cast, should not miss this picture. The story of the film, in spite of its brilliance and wit, is a simple one, and concerns a society pair who have nothing to do and much ability to do it gracefully. They determine to get a divorce, but at once discover that they still love each other. From that situation the film develops cleverly. It is the biggest laugh show ever produced, and is the maddest, merriest scramble of wives, ex-wives, mates and rnis-mates that ever turned the screen into a delirium of howling, laughter.

“THE WESTLAND CASE” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL Combining the best features of the greatest detective novels of the past, Universal’s spine-tingling production “The Westland Case,” is now screening at tlie 'ijheatre Royal. Heading a brilliant all-star cast is Preston Foster in the role of Detective Crane, I miracle working super-sleuth. Faced with the difilcult job of trying to solve the baffling Westland murder, in which a beautiful woman has been killed in a room in which all the windows and doors are locked from the 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. Charles Quigley plays a daredevil auto-driver In “Speed to Spare,” and many hair-raising and thrilling exploits of the auto track featuring worldfamous drivers, are seen. Eddie Nugent and Dorothy Wilson also play leading roles. Lambert Hillyer directed. Excellent short featurettes support the main film. “WILD AND WOOLLY”

AT THE STATE THEATRE Jane Withers, who plays a wild young buckaroo out where the West begins, where the wild West leaves off, in “Wild and Woolly,” delighted a large audience at the initial screening at the State Theatre. Riding runaway trains, getting her gun-toting grandpop, played by Academy Award winner Walter Brennan, into a duel, scaring the wits 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 hv her greatest cast, in the most hilarious show these pandemonium-makers have ever been in. what Hie West learns from .lane makes hilarious comedy. With Dad running for Mayor, Mother running Dad, Rogers running a scandal sheet while Jack’s running after a Monde in Hie, most actionfilled, hilarious and human hit the .tones Family lias ever made, “ Hot Water,” Twentieth Century-Fox picture, at the Slate Theatre is hilarious entertainment Jed Proutv is boiling, the kids are in a stew and the whole family’s steamed up over the election.

"A GIRL IN A MILLION” AT THE ROXY THEATRE Commencing to-night at the Roxy Theatre, in “A Girl in a Million,” the sensational skating marvel Sonja Henie, who held the world champion title for seven years against all Olympic skaters, will begin a short season. The story introduces this radiant new star, supported by hundreds of beautiful girls in numerous exhilarating skating sequences, with specialty numbers by the famed star. There are gaiety, humour, drama, glamour, lovp and laughter in song and story. The featured skating scene is a most brilliant onp and includes a sequence in which two hundred skaters participate in most involved evolutions. The supporting players include Don Ameche. the Bitz Brothers, that droll comedian Ned Sparks, .lean llersliolt as the father . Dixie Dunbar. Arline Judge and Shirley Deane. The musical score is played by Borrah Minevitcli and his band. The second feature is a mystery melodrama which should satisfy those who delight in mystery killings. “Find the Witness” is the story of a newspaperman who decides to explod*.* the murderer’s alibi. The travel and variety session pre cedes the main pictures.

“VICTORIA THE GREAT” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE “Victoria the Great.” proclaimed as offering the triple lure of historical accuracy, spectacular power, and rotuantb* fervour was enthusiastically received hv a large audience at (lie Civic Theatre last night. The l-rndurtion gorgeously dramatises the life of Croat Britain's famous sovereign, as idrl and queen, as wife and widow, and particularly her epic low for her Consort. Prince Albert d >;i\e-( lohiM'ff and Gotha. It is the inside sb.rv of Victoria's romance with Prince Mlifrt. their courtship, marri.l nd welded life. Anna Neaiile. England's favourilo screen actress. with Anton Walbrook, international stage and screen star. 11. B. \\ arnei. 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 ol' international importance. Nor will spectators forget such a thrilling episode .is • tin* attempted assassination of the Queen, the gallantry of Hie courageous Prince in shielding her wilh his body against the would-be murderer's bullels. m particular interest is Die exciting scene where Victoria's timely intervention ami fearless coercing of her Prime Minister prevents the sending of an insolent despatch to Washington, which would inevitably have caused war between the United States and England in 1801. MISS FAY COMPTON IN' “VICTORIA REGINA” The noted actress Miss Fay Compton will make her appearance in Hamilton on Monday, the 21st, at the Theatre Royal, when she will appear in “Victoria Regina.” It is announced by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., that the performance will commence at 8 o'clock, and that in order to obviate disturbance by late-comers the doors will be closed immediately the play begins. N'o one will be admitted until after the close of the first scene. Miss Compton believes that New Zealanders will appreciate “Victoria Regina” as much as London. New York and Paris have done. The play was first produced in London last year and it is still drawing enormous houses. Thus New Zealand will have a premiere almost as early, and with as much prospect of success as London. llousman’s play comprises JO remarkably powerful scenes. It covers 70 years of the great Queen’s life, and in the course of nearly three hours Miss Compton will have to represent a girl of 17 and a woman of 87, with several age periods in between. This rapid change requires masterful make-up and quick-change work in the dressing room. Miss Compton will be supported by many London principals, and the entire production will be under the direction of Peter Dearing, who was brought specially from London. Full details regarding the season are announced to-day. The box plan will open at Lewis Eady’s on Friday next.