ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20853, 11 July 1939, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES ROXY THEATRE “Sally, Irene and Mary,” a sparkling musical comedy, arid “The Ringer,” u sensational mystery drama, wil be screened to-day. The story of "The Squeaker,” a detective thriller in the best Wallace tradiion, deals with a despised figure in the underworld who gives information about bis accomplices to the police. ’Hollywood has made us familiar with such a character under the sobriquet of squealer, or stoolpigeon. in British crime circles he is referred to more simply as a "copper’s nark." Edmund Lowe stars in this Alexander Korda production and has a colourful role as a clever police inspector who is nearly ruined by an over-fondness for drink. But* his handling of “The Squeaker” case is such that he is restored to his former position at Scotland Yard. "Sally. Irene and Mary” js a sparkling musical comedy starring Alice Faye and Tony Martin. STATE THEATRE The laugh-provoking story of a newspaper man who thought he knew all about women, until a little spit lire, making good at a man's job, taught him differently, "Woman-Wise” moves through the worlds of news and sports. Michael Whalen and Rochelle Hudson head a strong cast which features Thomas Beck, Alan Dinehart, Douglas Fowley, Astrid Allwyn and Chick 'Chandler. Michael Whalen plays the crusading sports editor of a great metropolitan daily, who ffnds that unscrupulous fight promoters (led by Alan Dinehart) are victimising oldtime lighters and the public, using the once renowned “has-beens” as victims of vigorous young fighters, and staging betting coups. “•Girls’ Dormitory” is a very appealing drama featuring Tyrone Power, Simone Simon, Ruth Chatterton and •Herbert Marshall. THEATRE ROYAL Two well-contrasted films—“ Espionage,” an exciting drama, and “Pick a Star, " a rollicking comedy—will be screened to-day. “Espionage,” a story with the flavour of today’s headlines, filmed with Edmund Lowe and Madge Evans in the leading roles, is a narrative that describes the studied movements of a millionaire munitions maker who suddenly vanishes. A star reporter is promptly assigned by an American newspaper to trace him and an opposition sheet gives the same job to a girl reporter, a star worker herself. These two meet on a speeding express out of Paris, with exciting resuits. “Pick a Star" is an entertaining production, with such funmakers as Patsy Kelly, Laurel and Hardy; Jack Haley and .viischa Auer. CiViC THEATRE The brilliant screen version of Bernard Shaw’s comedy "Pygmalion” will be revived to-day. Leslie Howard makes Professor Higgins a bumptious, detached and whimsical sort of person, and Wendy ililler’s Elisa Doolittle is reniarkanie in both its extremes. The flower-girl of the first act is as raucous and uncouth a creature as a student of Cockney life could have discovered anywhere. Yet Liiza, the cultivated lady, the creation O'l’ Professor liiggins, has a singular quality of poise. As for the transitional period, that is conveyed with a skilful comic light and shade. Wilfrid Lawson is a superb Doolittle, discoursing in his dustman’s dialect about working-class and middie-class morality. Esme Percy makes Count Aristide Karpathy a florid and pretentious blackguard. others who appear are Marie Lohr as Mrs Higgins, Scott Sunderland (Colonel Pickering), Jean Cadell (Mrs Pearce), David Tree (Freddy,*, and Violet Vanbrugh as the wife of the Ambassador. The whole Lhirg is treated with typical Shavian wit. REGENT THEATRE “The Ware Case” is an exciting romantic drama, with Clive Brook as the engaging playboy, Sir Hubert Ware. Sir Hubert is a hap- j pily idle baronet, who throws money about like confetti and treats his debts with disdain. Inevitably, the time comes when the spendthrift is threatened with bankruptcy and even with the possibility of being charged with obtaining money by false pretences. Still, Sir Hubert refuses to face his responsibilities despite the entreaties of his lovely wife’ and his friend and counsellor, Michael Adye, who is hopelessly in love with Lady Ware. The result is a strong drama. “PARIS HONEYMOON” “Paris Honeymoon.” an amusing comedy featuring Bing Crosby. Fran-cis-ka Gaal and Edward Everett Ilorlon, will he screened to-morrow.