ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21155, 3 July 1940, Page 10

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES CIVIC THEATRE The “Dead End Kids,” who have won so much popularity, play a big part in the story of “The Angels Wash Their Faces,” and the clever Ann Sheridan has the leading feminine role. It is all very entertaining. "FOR FREEDOM” * “For Freedom,” to be screened on j Friday, is topical enough to suit the i most exacting. It depicts the River I Plate Battle, the Altmark incident, j and shows the Germans landing ( I troops by parachute. Britain’s might • and efficiency on the sea are brought I home to audiences in a very successi ful picture. Apart from the ; fact that “For Freedom” ably states the Allied cause, there is a strong story running through the production, giving it real entertainment value. Photographs actually taken during the Battle of the Plate are used to advantage, and the same note of realism is introduced into the scenes of the dramatic rescue of the British prisoners from the Altmark. THEATRE ROYAL | “Gangs of New York” moves ! fast from beginning to end, and the i audience leaves completely satisfied. | Charles Bickford plays a dual role—i that of Officer Franklin, of the New York State Police, and Rocky Thorpe, ruthless racketeer. Due to an amazing likeness to Thorpe, Franklin has the district attorney arrange for him to take the criminal’s place in prison. On his release, Franklin joins Thorpe’s old gang, in an attempt to gather evidence on how the gang | operates. Ann Dvorak has the chief teminine role. j “Little Miss Somebody” tells a very appealing story, with the lovable Binkie Stuart in the leading role. Little Binkie acts charmingly and sings delightfully. John Longden heads the strong supporting cast. REGENT THEATRE In “It’s a Date” the popular Deanna Durbin, who has matured into ! an adult role very charmingly, plays | the part of the talented daughter of • an ageing stage star, whose producer J signs the daughter to. a role cherished Iby the mother. To spare her mother i disappointment, the daughter pre- ; tends she is giving up stage ambitions i to marry a man who, incidentally, j loves the mother instead. After j much misunderstanding, the work- | ing out of which is both dramatic i and amusing, all concerned realise ! their ambitions. Hawaii forms a background for much of the screen play and lovers of Hawaiian music will be delighted to hear from Harry Owens and his Royal Hawaiian orchestra. Included in Deanna Durbin’s songs are “Loch Lomond,” “Love is All” and excerpts from “La Boheme ” STATE THEATRE j • “Dr. Syn,” a strong drama feaj turing George Arliss, heads the new ; programme. Mr Arliss has not been seen on the local screen for a long time and his return will be very welcome. In “Dr. Syn” he has full scope for his talents, the result being a film that holds the tense interest of the audience throughout. It is a very dramatic story, but there is much humour to lighten the tension and a charming romance is intertwined. “Dr. Syn” was a clergyman by day, a smuggler by night, so the develop - ments may be imagined. “Radio Revels” is a gay production, filled with music and laughter. It introduces some very talented stars of the radio world. ROXY THEATRE “Hopalong Cassidy” filmdom’s favourite hero of the wide open spaces—meets two “menaces,” one romantic, the other criminal, in “Renegade Trail.” Portrayed once again by William Boyd, the two--1 fisted “Bar 20” foreman crosses two States to help his best pal, “Marshal” George Hayes bring law and order to a frontier community and help a beautiful woman rancher outwit her convict husband who is in league with rustlers against her. Goodnatured humour paces the action throughout the picture. The girl in the case is played by attractive Charlotte Wynters. “Never Say Die” is a very funny comedy concerning a millionaire hypochondriac who, thinking he has only a month to live, marries a madcap American girl in order to save her from a fortune-hunting Russian prince.