ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20689, 27 December 1938, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES

REGENT THEATRE V The latest Geoige Formbv film, “It's in the Air,” has as its background the Air Force, where Formby finds himself “accidentally” in uniform, subjected to a bewildering discipline, and, as usual, making a hopeless mess of everything. George dons sky-blue with the mistaken Idea of saving his sister’s airman sweetheart from exposure, and almost succeeds in wrecking the camp with his sublime, clumsy ignorance, nearly giving the sergeant-major apoplexy, and becoming the butt for every practical person in the service. The fun reaches its height when “our hero” does duty as a despatch rider, careering madly over the countryside on a motor cycle combination with the local O.C. as his terrified passenger. Of course, from ; the minute he “joins up” audiences will be waiting for the inevitable sequence when Formby takes to the air. And when it does arrive everybody gets a generous money’s worth of riotous fun, because he finds himself alone in the heavens aboard a plane about which he knows nothing, performing weird figures in the sky, looping the loop, swooping earthwards in hair-raising dives, loosing live bombs and a hail of machine-gun bullets. BERT BAILEY IN PERSON A sequel to the Australian comedy “On Our Selection” is provided in “Dad and Dave Come to Town," which will be presented on Friday. The amusing story deals with further adventures of the Rudd family, when “Dad” and “Dave” and all the family go to Sydney, where they have inherited a business. As in “On Our Selection,” the roles of “Dad” and “Dave” are capably played by Bert Bailey and Fred MacDonald respectively. Mr Bert Bailey, the original “Dad” will appear on the stage in person. ROXY THEATRE The story of “Test Pilot,” against a background of spectacular flying, concerns a daring flier (Clark Gable), who in an attempt to break the transcontinental speed mark lands in a Kansas wheatfleld, meets Myrna Loy, and carries her off as his wife. His adventures as racing flier and test pilot provide the three-cornered triangle. The pilot cannot forget his first love, dangerous flying, and not until his best friend is killed while he is testing a ship does he turn his back on the testing of ships to resume his commission in the Army Air Corps. Reflecting in sincere and human fashion the joys and sorrows of a typical family, the Joneses walked right into the hearts of movie fans. The series has won constantly-increas-ing acclaim. The Joneses’ seventh picture, “Borrowing Trouble,” is one of the fastest and funniest of all their hits, reuniting Jed Prouty, Shirley Deane, Spring Bvington. Russell Gleason, Kenneth Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson, Florence Roberts and Billy Mahan in their familiar roles. CIVIC THEATRE The efforts of a millionaire, disillusioned by his wealthy friends, to live a simple life as a tramp provide a great deal of amusement in "I’ll Give A Million.” Warner Baxter appears as Tony Newlander, a wealthy young man spending a holiday on a friend’s yacht in Marseilles. At a party on board the boat he jumps overboard to rescue a tramp and, as he is drying his clothes and talking with the. rescued man the idea comes to him to give up his uneventful life for a period and take to the road. He confides to the tramp, Louis, that he is willing lo give a million dollars to anyone who will show him genuine kindness, believing him to be poor. Louis is unable to keep the secret, and this amazing story reaches the newspapers. The result is that Marseilles becomes crowded with hundreds of tramps, and the dignified townspeople go out of their way to treat them well, each hoping that he will receive the million dollars. In the meanwhile Newlander has found his way to a small town where a carnival is in progress and there meets an attractive girl, portrayed by Marjorie Weaver. They fall in love.

STATE THEATRE “Road Gang” is a picture of raw, stark realism, showing the terrors to which prisoners are subjected in certain penal institutions. Besides its terrifying aspects which make it of vital interest, there is a romance of a girl who sticks by her man even when he is convicted of a crime, and who buttles for his release until she eventually wins his freedom. The picture is set in the sombre background of a farm conducted by a county for convicts and a mine where incorrigible prisoners are shipped. There is a wea It T i of dynamic drama and fast action, with thrill upon thrill, including a convict's strike and battle with police guards who use gas bombs, in the bowels of the earth: a fight between police cars and an auto in which a corn id is fleeing for his life: and ! Hie blasting of a mine tunnel with dynamite. "Singing Kid.” bringing back the popular At Jolson, will also be screened. It is a sparkling production. THEATRE ROYAL Suddenly, in a pitch black night, people awakem-d b> Ihc torn Ivin* alarm. "Tin- Hood is cm in ! The river has broken "\er the city!” Thai is one of the hi-Hi points in “Postal Inspector." a thrilling drama. Tibs remarkable picture reproduces with startling rc.ilVm Hie Hood c.mdil'oiis that burst down upon so many ciH'-s. When Hie story begins. Ricardo Lor- • goes after >wudl.*r> wlm hv? used Hie nia-N lo defraud (be pu d'-\ usi ing torrents overflow the r banks, lie fa.-o lb** task of creating new links in Hie line of communication, to keep the mails moving. At j

tlie height of the Mood a desperate gang rohs the mails, with sensational results. Gordon Marker and Frank Pettin-raM, the two clever English comedians, have the leads in "Millions,” an exciting and amusing comedy that keeps i Mie audience interested and amused throughout. Jane Carr and ltichard llearne have the romantic leads. ,