ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21037, 13 February 1940, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO=NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE Two well-contrasted films—“ There Goes the Groom,” an amusing comedy featuring Ann Sothern and Burgess Meredith, and “Hawaiian Buckaroo,” an exciting romance—will be screened today. A clever comedy is always popular, and “ There Goes the Groom ” is one of the most amusing seen in Hamilton for a long time. Its funny situations and witty dialogue keep the audience chuckling, and the final scene comes all too soon. An exceptionally clever cast put over the comedy to the fullest effect, the players including Ann Sothern, who made such a hit in “ Hotel for Women ”; Burgess Meredith, star of “ Winterset and Mary Boland, who is always very funny. Local film-lovers will enjoy this clever comedy. . “ Hawaiian Buckaroo ” is as exciting as its title suggests, while its romantic setting adds greatly to the effect. It is a picture with a real punch, being bright and snappy throughout, and with a very charming romance. Smith Ballow heads a very strong cast. The two films provide excellent entertainment.

THEATRE ROYAL

“My Dear Miss Aldrich” is an amusing romantic comedy. With Edna May Oliver, Maureen O’Sullivan and Walter Pidgeon heading a firstrate cast, the picture ranks as one of the better laugh films of the age. It tells the story of a school teacher who inherits a newspaper. The managing editor, strong in the belief that no woman is fitted for work beyond the home, attempts to block her at 1 every turn until, of course, he falls in love with her, with exciting and amusing results. Every member of the cast excells in his or her role. Edna May Oliver appears as a puzzle ad- ; diet, in the most humorous role of i her brilliant career.

“Navy Blue and Gold” is a very appealing story of navy adventure, with a strong cast headed by James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Young and Tom Brown.

CIVIC THEATRE

“The Lion Has Wings,” sponsored by the British Government, dramatises with a stirring personal story the great organisation and achievements of the Royal Air Force, and how Great Britain gradually awoke to the menace of Hitlerism and the threat to the life and liberties of Europe, which the German war machine proclaimed. It is particularly inspiring in its thrilling panoramas of British fliers and planes

engaged in defence and attack. After putting the war guilt on Hitler’s shoulders where is rightly belongs, the film shows England’s vast preparation to fight, not because she wants to, but because she must repel Nazi bombers and give the Nazis a taste of their own aggression. In a series of fascinating shots the picture contrasts the spirit of the British, devoted to sport and progress, with the spirit of Nazi Germany preparing night and day for one purpose an done purpose only—war! One of the most interesting episodes of the film shows shots of the daring raid on the Kiel Canal. Merle Oberon, Ralph Richardson, June Duprez and Flora Robson play prominent roles in this most impressive film.

ROXY THEATRE

Today’s change of programme will be headed by “The Sunset Trail,” a Hopalong Cassidy adventure, and “The Vampire Bat,” a thrilling drama. The Hopalong Cassidy adventure films are among the most popular brought to the screen, for the opportunity to see the well-known characters of Clarence Mulford’s books is always seized eagerly. In “ The Sunset Trail ” Hopalong and his pals are again seen in their exciting fight with the evil forces of the West, and the story holds the tense interest of the audience throughout. It is colourful, thrilling and romantic, while there are many humorous touches to lighten the tension. “ The Vampire Bat ” is a film of a totally different kind, but even more exciting. The title gives the key to its thrilling theme of mystery and drama. Melvyn Douglas and Fay Wray have the romantic leads.

REGENT THEATRE

“Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever” is one of the merriest pieces of entertainment in years. Mickey Rooney falls in love with his pretty dramatic teacher in high school, and actually proposes. He writes the school play, stars in it with Ann Rutherford, builds a prop volcano for it. The play is a howl of mirth from start to finish. He took Romeo and Juliet for the story, moved it over to Tahiti, and let the Tahitian Juliet jump into a volcano. There is a laugh in every line. There is tender heart interest too, in the boy’s infatuation for his very charming teacher; in their final scene together, where she brings him to a realisation that marriage isn’t the thing for a mere boy and a twenty-three-year-old girl. One of the greatest scenes, compelling in its human quality, is the scene where Lewis Stone, as the father, discusses the serious aspect of marriage with the adolescent boy.