ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21184, 6 August 1940, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

TCFNIGHT’S PROGRAMMES THEATRE ROYAL | “No Parking’’ is a very funny j comedy in which the popular English ! comedian Gordon Harker is cast as Albert, a Cockney taxi rank attendant, who finds a letter of introduction to a gang of criminals proclaiming the bearer to be James Selby. Albert assumes the name of James Selby, and by bluff and good luck gets the job. Unknown to him, his employer wanted James Selby, an American gunman, to recover some “ice” for him. Not knowing that in this case “ice” means diamonds, Albert again succeeds through the bliss of ignorance. But the biggest job is yet to be done. And how Albert accomplishes this big job makes the amazing sequel to “No Parking.” “The Mutiny of the Elsinore” is the thrilling screen version of the , famous Jack London story. Paul | Lukas is seen as an author, sailing aboard a vessel in the hope of getting some authentic copy for a new book. When mutiny breaks out, he finds all the excitement and all the copy he requires.

ROXY THEATRE

“Miracles for Sale,” featuring Florence Rice and Robert Young, and “St. Louis Blues,” the sparkling musical film, will be screened tod*.y. “Miracles for Sales,” adapted from Clayton Rawson’s “Murder in a Top Hat,” is a story laid among a group of professional magicians and clairvoyants. Robert Young plays a magician who turns detective, with Florence Rice the heroine. Frank Craven portrays Young’s fathet, a whimsical old man from the Middle West, Gloria Holden is the weird Mme. Rapport, spirit medium, Henry Hull plays a handcuff king and appears in three unusual make-ups. “St. Louis Blues” is packed with music, with specialty numbers, with clever entertainers and entertainment—yet it is a lot more than a “musical.” It’s a fast-moving comj edy-romance.

STATE THEATRE

Cast as the adopted daughter of a bargee who becomes a famous dancer in “Sailing Along,” Jessie Matthews. the brilliant English actress and dancer, has several leading men, all of whom play an important part in her rise to fame. Barry Mackay portrays the bargeman’s son, whose affectionate scorn prompts the young girl to accept Roland Young’s generous offer of sponsorship, while Jack Whiting, who is an ideal new dancing partner for the star, is seen as an influential producer. How an ineffectual bank clerk captures a gang of bank bandits and recovers the 50,000 dollars loot through an unwitting ruse, is threaded into an exciting, hilarious comedy, “Go Chase Yourself,” Joe Penner’s new starring picture. The hilarious comedy situations evolve from Joe’s inadvertent disclosure of the bank’s vault secrets to a trio of thieves, and from his luck in winning a luxurious trailer in a raffle.

REGENT THEATRE

The Hardy family is always popular. In the film of their latest adventures, “Judge Hardy and Son,” Mickey Rooney turns detective to help his father fight a foreclosure case; gets involved with three pretty girls with consequent trouble with his “regular” sweetheart, Ann Rutherford; turns hero to ferry Cecilia Parker across a raging flood to reach her sick mother’s bedside; and inspires his father to new courage in an hour of tragedy. There are poignant moments when the family fears the loss of the mother through illness. There are hilarious ! complications in Andy Hardy’s life, and several tense dramatic moments in the life of the family. Lewis Stone as the Judge and father, Mickey as Andy Hardy, Cecilia Parker as his sister, Fay Holden as the motile: and Sara Haden as the aunr, with Ann Ruthecfoid as Polly Benedict, Mickey’s high school sweetheart. again do excellent work.

i ; CIVIC THEATRE

Ralph Richardson, who has rapidly won a place in the foremost ranks of England’s screen players, scores a further triumph in “On the Night of the Fire,” which heads today’s new programme. Appearing opposite , him is Diana Wynyard, whose bestremembered film is Noel Coward’s “Cavalcade.” Excellent work is also done by Romney Brent and Mary Clare in striking character roles. A notable feature of this production is the excellent make-up of the numerous and colourful Cockney characters. The film, with its tense situations and charming ro- . mance, holds the close interest of 1 the audiences. First is seen a happy j young couple, jogging merrily along, j Then suddenly an overwhelming • catastrophe changes them into desperate creatures fighting for theiv love, their lives.