ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20775, 8 April 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES

“COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO” AT THE REGENT THEATRE In “The Count of Monte Cristo" all the power, the sweep, and the ; romance of Dumas' widely-read story of a man’s dramatic revenge are brought to the screen. It tells of this man's twenty years in a dungeon, plotting, planning, learning, for the one day when he might escape! And he emerged as the Count of Monte Cristo, with riches to destroy the three who destroyed him, and power to regain the love they had torn from him. Forgotten and languishing for years in his dungeon, he finally found companionship with the venerable and learned Abbe Faria, another political prisoner. The Abbe dedicated the rest of his life to the education and training of Dantes to the end that when his fellow prisoner greeted the world again, it would he with the body, mind and soul of a superman. For years log-el her they dug toward free orn, and with victory in sight, the Abbe confided in Dantes the secret of a fabulous fortune in gold and jewels buried on uninhabited Monte Cristo island off the coast of Elba. The story then works up to one of the most dramatic climaxes seen on the screen. “SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES” AT THE THEATRE ROYAL “Springtime in the Rockies,” which features Gene Autry, the popular singing cowboy, has in the cast a bevy of beautiful cowgirls who play a prominent part in developing the plot. The girls, under the leadership of Sandra (played by Polly Rowles) graduate from an agricultural •college) i thinking they can go out west and manage Sandra’s ranch much better than Foreman Gene Autry. One can readily imagine the fireworks which ensue when the girls arrive at their destination, try to re-arrange the ranch routine, bring a herd of sheep into the heart of the cattle country, and otherwise make themselves thoroughly obnoxious to such tried-and-true cowboys as Gene and Smiley Burnette. The climax is reached when Sandra becomes the innocent victim of a conspiracy, and it is then that Gene discovers that she means much more to him than a mere nuisance, and instead of resenting her presence he protects her from the unscrupulous ranchers who w r ould cheat her of her holdings. In the exciting drama. “The Vampire Bat,” Melvyn Douglas appears as the police inspector in a small European town, where a number of murders have been committed. In each case the victims have been found dead in their beds with tiny wounds in their throats, and the inhabitants believe that it is the work of a vampire. There are many thrilling scenes before the mystery i s solved.

‘‘IN OLD CHICAGO” 1 1 1 AT THE ROXY THEATRE “In Old Chicago,” a thrilling drama of a fire that destroyed a city and “Adventure's End” will be screened 1 to-day. The story told in “ In Old Chicago ” is many-sided. It treats of the strange bond that held the threp O'Leary brothers together despite their widely different desires and ideals; a bond that could make Jack the fearless, crusading reform mayor save the life of wily, charming, scapegrace Dion at the cost of his own, even though Dion was his political opponent. This is one part of the story, find may be called the romance of the city itself. But the story is far from treating exclusively of politics, it contains too, the poignant account of the beautiful Belle Fawcett’s love for the powermad Dion, and the tender, almost pastoral idyl of young Bob O'Leary and Gretchen the immigrant girl. And through all these different elements, binding them together, runs the tale of the indomitable Mother O’Leary, strong and aspiring as the life of ] Chicago itself, surmounting disaster , and terror with enduring courage. i “GOLD IS WHERE YOU FIND IT” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE j “Gold is Where You Find 71.” is j a spectacular production in teclini- j colour. In the 1870’s in California the burning question of I lie day was | whether the should belong lu ! the wheat farmers.'who brought crops ! from the soil every year, or to the j hydraulic miners, whose IcrrilTe ; sluices, although wresting from the, ( ground the valuable gold, were eroding ! the surrounding country and render- j ing it unfit for cultivation for many j years. George Brent is cast as a young hydraulic engineer, who falls in i' love with the daughter nf an influen- j tial wheat farmer. As the daughter, Olivia de Havilland gives a fine per- ; formance. As the leader of the wheat, farmers Claude Rains gives another, impressive performance. All the bitter hatred that existed between j the miners and the ranchers is j vividly portrayed in Ibis film, and j when George Brent rescues Colonel Ferris' son played by Tim Holt from j a barroom brawl lie is thanked pub- ! liclv by the colonel, but secretly order- I ed off the ranch. Apart from natural 1 spectacular scf#s. such as floods and a vic'd. . •b n v.lu -i a ' dam is j blast'd w 't'a d Til’s is an ; awe-inspiring in tcchnicolour. “WHILE NEW YORK SLEEPS” AT THE STATE THEATRE The second film in the Roving Re- ' porter series. “Whit- New York Sleeps." with Mir! i.-l Wb-b-n and Chb-k Chandler in the pKncip >1 r >les. will be screened to-day. Whalen j

and Chandler appear as newspaper men who are called away from their vacation to “cover” a suspected suicide of an insurance detective who was investigating - a series of bondmessenger murders. They reach the scene of the tragedy in Manhattan, where AVhalcn, looking for evidence that the detective’s death was murder, and not suicide, discovers a practical joker’s toy. This leads him to suspect that Joe Marco, the owner of a cafe, who is known to be an incurable practical joker, has been connected with the insurance detective’s death. He is instrumental in his paper publishing an account of the tragedy and suggesting murder. In order to justify this view he stages an ingenious ruse which induces the coroner’s jury to return a verdict of murder. 11 is fiancee, who becomes annoyed with him tries lo trick him into publishing false news and in doing so she becomes involved and arrested for murder. The manner in which the reporters clear the girl's name and reveal the identity of the real murderer provides the theme for an exciting picture. “Pacific Liner” is another exciting drama, with Chester Morris and Victor McLaiglen heading a strong cast. STAN'.EY McKAY’S GAIETIES REVUE FOR HAMILTON Arrangements have lieen made for that talented international company of vaudeville and revue stars, Stanley McKay’s Gaieties of 1939, to appear for a season of four nights and two matinees, commencing on Wednesday, April 19. Mr McKay’s attractions visit New Zealand each year, playing the larger centres. Amongst the brilliant artists of the 1939 “Gaieties” is the international Royal Command juggling star, Geo. Hurd- .who has appeared before Ihe late King George, Queen Mary and the present King and Queen. In .Hie sparkling revue. “Life Begins at Is.” the comedians. Sian Foley and Alec | McKinnon, have plenty of scope for I I heir fooling, and manv delight ful song ! scenes are introduced with Stella Col- } tier, soprano, and R.-jrry Ross, baritone, jin the leading role*. Others prominjmi in the cast are the San Romos | Bros., matchless hand balancers; Stella j T.amend. brilliant personality girl; j Spotty and Dolly, dancing duo: Gerry • Keogh. acrobatic dancer; Snowy ! Towers, rrumic of screen stars; Assam, i Pekoe. Snucbon and Co-,-o. crazy acrojbatic clowns, and Nellie Kollo, famous 'male impersonator. The Gaieties boanl v ballet. May Brookes orchestra, crorgeaus dressing and the latest in staging are feature* of the production, j Scats may be reserved at the box : plan office.