ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21043, 21 February 1940, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

TO=NIGHT’S PROGRAMMES ROXY THEATRE Film-lovers who like their murder mysteries baffling have something to outguess them in “Society Lawyer.” This laugh-provoking and thrilling murder mystery is well cast. Walter Pidgeon was never seen to better advantage than in his role of lawyerdetective. Virginia Bruce sparkles with vivacity and even discloses one of her hidden talents when she sings as a night-club entertainer. And Leo Carrillo is at his topmost form in a human characterisation as a reformed gangster. What happens when an internal war among gang leaders involves the leading citizens of an entire community is shown in “King of Chinatown,” featuring Anna May Wong and Akim Tamiroff. THEATRE ROYAL “Between Two Women’ ’is a dramatic story of love and tense emotions, in the life of a great metropolitan hospital, with Franchot Tone, Maureen O'Sullivan and Virginia Bruce in the leading roles. The story is an original one, based on actual observations by Erich Von Shroheim. Franchot Tone is excellent as an ambitious young interne. Virginia Bruce is an heiress who goes to the hospital as a patient and falls in love with him. Maureen O’Sullivan appears as a nurse, unhappily married, who secretly loves the interne. "London by Night” is an entertaining mixture of thrills and laughs, with Rita Johnson and George Murphy in the leading roles.

CIVIC THEATRE "Yes, My Darling Daughter” is an amusing modern comedy. Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn have the main roles as two unusual lovers, while a large following of interfering relatives is played by Roland Young, Fay Bainter, May Robson and lan Hunter. The love affair of the two principals, the reactions of the girl’s family and, finally, the reactions of the young man to the family, form the basis of the plot. The supporting programme includes "Have You Got Any Castles?” a coloured cartoon; "China Today,” a coloured travelogue; “Porky’s Naughty Nephew,” an amusing cartoon; and “Blue Barrow and Orch,” a melody film. "STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE” "Stanley and Livingstone,” a thrilling story of adventure featuring Spencer Tracy, will be screened on Friday. REGENT THEATRE “Goodbye, Mr Chips,” long-await-ed picturisation of James Hilton’s novel, glorifying the school teachers of England, is drawing large audiences. The story shows through the eyes of a schoolmaster, the pageant of adolescence in a great school. Mr Chipping, affectionately known as “Chips,” becomes a teacher at an English public school as a young man and remains there the rest of his life. He meets and marries a beautiful girl whose death casts an aura of great kindness toward his fellowmen about him. He becomes a tradition. Great men’s destinies are shaped by him. Robert Donat plays various ages from the twenties to past eighty with great realism, and Greer Garson is equally convincing as his wife. The rescue of the heroine on Tyrolese mountain top. a great ball in Vienna and a sensational air raid during the World War are among the dramatic highlights.

STATE THEATRE The Ritz Brothers are always very funny, and in "Kentucky Moonshine” they have full scope for their comedy gifts. There is also much excitement in this fast-moving him, and the audience is entertained from the first reel to the last. Marjorie Weaver and Tony Martin have the romantic leads. Some very tuneful songs are introduced with good effect, and altogether it is a sparkling production. It is a long time since Hamilton filmlovers saw Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, and their reappearance in "High Flyers” is very popular. They are very funny in this comedy, keeping the audience chuckling throughout. As usual, there is a charming romance introduced into the amusing story.