ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES “ROBIN HOOD" AT THE CIVIC THEATRE Of all the heroes of fact and fiction there is none so beloved or dashing as Robin Hood, the outlaw of Sherwood Forest. Errol Flynn, a veritable reincarnation of the legendary Robin, plays the title role. Handsome, young and adventurous, he makes the perfect Robin Hood. Sharing honours with him is the lovely Olivia de Havilland as Maid Marian. The writers of the screen play took the choicest of the, legends that have been written about Robin and his merry men, who robbed the rich to feed the poor. Action is rampant throughout, from the jousting tournament at Nottingham Castle to the wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marian at the end. Fighting with bows and arrows, quar-ter-staves, pikes and broadswords, Robin Hood and his merry men wage a constant war against the Norman forces. The due] to the death between Robin and Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone) is very thrilling. The colouring is beautiful and Sherwood Forest, Nottingham Castle and the countryside of mediaeval England are faithfully reproduced in vast sets, breathtaking in their loveliness. “THE RAT” * AT THE REGENT THEATRE Long one of the world’s “ naturals ” for powerful, realistic drama, the Paris underworld was chosen for the background for “The Rat.” Its picturesque characters, the famed French police eyeing its flotsam and jetsam, the Apaches, dangerous criminals, along with visitors from higher ranks of society who com© to see how the other half lives, are made a part of this surging panorama of life. The play by Ivor Novello and Constance Collier caught the spirit and colour of this strange iprocessicffi and had long runs in London and New York. The screen drama based on this stage success permits, of course, a wider scope, and the director took the large cast to Paris for authentic atmosphere, street scenes and panoramas. Ruth Chatterton and Anton Walbrook are ideally cast respectively as the glamorous woman of wealth and the clever jewel criminal, known as the Rat. “The Rat” is well acted in a picturesque locale and its story is tensely dramatic. The supporting programme includes a March of Time, the Cinesound Review and the British Air Mail News. “OH, SUSANNA” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL “ Oh, Susanna ” is an exciting Western drama, with Gene Autry again thrilling all with his crooning cowboy songs and daredevil riding. Gene Autry, handsome Western star, is an evening’s entertainment himself. So is Smiley Burnette, his pal, neighbour and acting contemporary. . But when there are the six Light Crust Doughboys, the popular singers, any story an assured success. Not that “Oh, sussana” lacks plot, colour and character interest. It does not. In fact, the story, which has to do with a bad man masquerading as a radio star at a dude ranch, is probably Mr Autry’s best productiog to date. “Reformatory,” dealing with a corrective institution for boys, presents both sides of the question. A State institution managed by brutal, corrupt guards and politicians, the boys it holds are turned into bitter, rebellious youngsters eager for trouble. When a humane system is introduced the boys turn into model citizens, thoughtful of their own “self-government” pledges. Jack .Holt heads the strong cast. “PATIENT IN ROOM 18”

AT THE STATE THEATRE “The Patient in Room 18” Is a mystery-melodrama with almost all of its action taking place within the walls of a hospital. This thriller is based upon a novel by Mignon Eberhart, creator of some of the finest detective yarns of recent years. And it is altogether novel, because the detective involved is able to solve several interdependent crimes while confined in hospital himself as a patient. Patric Knowles, handsome young Rritish leading man, plays the part of this sleuth, and Ann Sheridan is the lovely heroine. “Mr Doodle Kicks Off” presents Joe Penner. popular radio and screen comedian, in a comedy which pokes fun at collegiate football and campus life. The story is replete with songs, romance, and comedy, it concerns a shy collegian whose only ambition is to lead his own orchestra. His father, however, has other ideas; he is determined that his son shall become a sensational football hero, even though the young man hates athletics. To further his plans for his son the father enters into a conspiracy with school authorities, with amusing and exciting results. “SWISS MISS” AT THE ROXY THEATRE “Swiss Miss,” an amusing Laurel and Hardy comedy, and “The Texans,” a thrilling Western story, will he screened to-day. In “ Swiss Miss ” Laurel and Hardy appear as mouse-trap salesmen about to rid the cheesemaking country of its rodent population. At an Alpine inn they come upon a noted Viennese composer who is at work on a new operetta. His wife, an actress, has incurred her husband's jealousy. She follows him to the inn. hoping for a reconciliation but .lie spurns all her advances. Laurel and llardv, smitten with her .charm and beautv, become hilarious foils in the ruse she employs to regain her husband's favour. The ten-year battle of the South to regain her freedom after the war between the States, with corrupt carpet-

baggers and scalawags pitted in a life- I and-death struggle against, the proud | natives, furnishes the action of " The ! Texans.” A P<>peye Um Sailor cartoon, an f Gur Gang comedy, and interesting newsreels will also be screened. There will be the usual varietv session at 7.30 to-nislit.