ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21096, 24 April 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE “Lancer Spy” tfills a timely story of espionage and counter-espionage, and is of particular interest at a time like this, when a great portion of the world is at war. It is full of thrilling incidents, as wits are matched against wits, and as the story works up to its sensational climax the tense interest of the audience is held. A charming romance is entwined in the sensational story, and there are many touches of humour to lighten the tension. “Rawhide” is a story of a totally different kind, but equally absorbing. It is a thrilling tale of the West, and deals with the exciting activities of “rustlers.” The singing cowboy, Smith Ballew, has the leading role. There will be a special session tonight at 10.30, when the thrilling Western story, “Legion of the Lawless,” featuring George O’Brien, will be screened.

ROXY THEATRE

“ Four Girls in White ” is the story of four girls who enter upon nursing with different purposes. It treats mainly with Norma Page (played by Florence Rice (whose real purpose in embracing the noble calling is to win a rich doctor or patient for a husband. Unscrupulously she schemes to gain her end. When Dr. Stephen Melford (played by Alan Marshal), seems more interested in his work as a career than for money Norma discards him and turns her attention to Robert Maitland, a rich playboy (played by Kent Taylor), with dramatic results. “ The Lady and the Mob ” revolves around one of the screen’s most amazing characters, the autocratic, mildly eccentric Mrs Leonard. It is a very amusing comedy, with Fay Bainter giving a great performance as Mrs Leonard, supported by Ida Lupino, Lee Bowman and Henry Armetta.

REGENT THEATRE

“Fast and Furious” is an entertaining film, with an unusual combination of murders, bathing beauties and comedies. Franchot Tone plays the part of Joel Sloane, easy-going bibliophile and amateur detective, and Ann Sothern is his devoted wife, Garda. On a supposed vacation at a seaside resort, trouble starts as soon as they arrive. Sloane finds himself, to Garda’s unconcealed fury, a judge in the beauty pageant being staged; then his best friend is held for the murder of the pageant’s promoter. Feeling his friend to be innocent, Sloane and Garda set out to prove it. Clues turn to nothing before Sloane can uncover the real killer. “BABIES IN ARMS” “Babies in Arms,” a sparkling comedy featuring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, will be screened on Friday.

CIVIC THEATRE

Scenes of the funeral of the late Mr M. J. Savage, Prime Minister of New Zealand, are an interesting feature of the current programme. “The Rains Came” is an impressive picturisation of Louis Bromfield’s popular book, particularly thrilling being the scenes of earthquakes and floods. Tyrone Power, as the cultured Indian doctor, is the personification of that breeding and gentleness that have marked the true Indian aristocracy; George Brent, hardliving and indolent remittance man, sought after in spite of himself by the inevitable snob section of the community, because his people at Home have a name to conjure with; and Myrna Loy, as the sophisticated and rather bored Lady Esketh. These players give fine performances. Tonight there will be two sessions —at 7.45 and 10.15.