ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20718, 31 January 1939, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES REGENT THEATRE “That Certain Age,” which is now Showing at the Regent Theatre, is attracting large audiences. Proving once again that she is one of the most talented players on the screen, Deanna Durbin gives a splendid performance in addition to giving a fine rendering of both modern and classical songs in the picture. She is heard in Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” waltz from the opera, and in several new i compositions, including “My Own,” “Be a Good Scout” and ‘‘You’re as Pretty as a Picture.” She takes the role of a 15-vear-old girl, the daughter of a wealthy New York newspaper proprietor. Alice (Miss Durbin) and her friends have arranged to stage a play in the family’s guest house, but their plans are upset when Alice’s father announces that one of his celebrated foreign correspondents will be staying in the house. The children proceed to give the intruder, Bullitt, a lively reception, but later Alice, after listening to his experiences in European wars, falls in love with him. The story continues in an amusing fashion. Other roles are played by Melvyn Douglas, Irene Rich and Jackie Cooper. ROXY THEATRE Fred Astaire, assisted by Joan Fontaine, Ray Noble, Constance Collier and Reginald Gardiner, provides his audience with a riot of laughter, romance and rhythm in “A Damsel in Distress,” at the Roxy Theatre. Five new whirlwind dances are introduced by Astaire, headed by the sensational 'Drum Dance. The musical numbers include “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “A Foggy Day in London,” “I Can’t Be Bothered Now” and “Things Are Looking Up.” The second feature. “Port of Seven Seas,” headed by Wallace Beery, with Frank Morgan and Maureen O’Sullivan In the featured roles, is a stirring drama of the waterfront. He swaps punches and trades yarns, advises the young lovers, and gives point to many comedy-dramatic scenes in his own whimsical manner. The supporting featurettes include a “Crime Does Not Pay” subject; Fitzpatrick travel film, “Czechoslovakia”; and a musical, “The Song of Revolt.”

STATE THEATRE The forbidding atmosphere of the lofty Andes Mountains in South America forms the background ■ • Flight from Glory." thrilling ai,r draiF'" - witb Chester Morris and Whitj'S

ney Bourne in the romantic leads, which will be screened at the State Theatre to-night. The story concerns the harrowing experiences of a group of outcast aviators engaged in flying condemned planes over the treacherous mountains for a mercenary employer who has little regard for their lives. Lew Landers directed this production by Robert Sisk, and the cast includes Onslow Stevens, Van Heflin, Douglas Walton, Rita Laßov and others. In the second feature the clever ringleaders of the counterfeiting ring in “Midnight Taxi,” Twentieth Cen-tury-Fox film solve one of the toughest problems facing the “queer money” makers when they hit upon the ingenious idea of using taxi drivers to distribute the contraband. They reckon, however, without the wit of Brian Donlevy. Cast as a secret government investigator in a romantic role ! opposite Francis Drake, Donlevy crashes the taxi, business and breaks up the gang. CIVIC THEATRE “My Luoky Star,” which continues to attract big business at the Civic Theatre. presents Sonja Henie in an entirely new setting, far removed from Switzerland’s alpine peaks and Norway’s remote peasant villages. A radiant modern girl, having a modern good time on a co-ed campus, wearing swank clothes, having swell dates—that's Sonja as you'll see her now, j against a background as American as a college yell. Sharing star honours with her is Richard Greene, handsome young British actor, while Joan Davis, Cesar Romero and Buddy Ebsen promise much in the way of comedy in their featured roles. Director Del Ruth has perfected some startling technical innovations in photographing Sonja’s ice I ensembles, for which Gordon and Revel have written several delightful j new melodies. The supporting cast- in- | eludes Arthur Treacher, George Barbier, Louise Hovick, Billy Gilbert, Pat- ! ricia Wilder and Paul Hurst. Darryl ! F. Zanuck was in charge of production, with Harry Joe Brown as associate produoer. THEATRE ROYAL Practically the entire cast of “Ah Wilderness!” that compelling drama 1 of home life, are reunited in the new ! M-G-M story of a typical American family, “A Family Affair,” which opens to-night at. the Theatre Royal. Lionel Barrymore again plays a typical head of the house in the new picture, and Eric Linden and Cecilia Parker once again represent romance in its adolescent phases. Others featured in the cast are Mickey Rooney, Charley Grapewin, Spring Byington, Julie Haydon, Sara Haden. Allen Vincent, Margaret Marquis, Selmer Jackson and Harlan Briggs. Mystery, with the added elemenls of romance and humour, provides the highspot of ’’The Longest Night,” the

second feature on to-night’s bill. The incidents which occur n rapid succes-' sion there combine to build a novel story, and the cast takes full advantage of it. Robert Young and Florence Rice have the leading roles, the son of the store owner and a salesgirl respectively. They frustrate a band of clever department-store swindlers by a ruse that is admirably smart and equally effective, but it won’t do to reveal it before you see the picture.