ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE Wayne Morris, Margaret Lindsay and Wiliiam Gargan have the leading roles in the mystery drama, “Double Alibi, offered as a different kind of mystery film in which clues are said to defy solution until the final scenes. “Double Alibi” presents Wayne Morris as a young engineer fighting to clear himself of murder. Margaret Lindsay as a girl reporter, and William Gargan as the hard-boiled city editor with an eye for both beauty and headlines. Barbara Read. Alan Mowbray and Helen Vinson head the cast in “Curtain Call,” which revolves around the exciting experience of an aspiring girl author. When she accidentally sells her first literary effort to a big Broadway producer, she promptly deserts her sweetheart to answer the lure of a brilliant career. But alter she learns her amateurish brain child has been purchased as a gag to humiliate a temperamental star, she returns to the man she loves. REGENT THEATRE “Dad Rudd, M.P.,” brings back the inimitable Rudd Family who have won esteem because of their ability to provide entertainment that is light-hearted, wholesome and sincere. Under the paternal wing of the be-whiskered Bert Bailey there are Mum (Connie Martyn); Dave (Fred McDonald); Joe (Ossie Wenban); Sally (Valerie Scanlan) and his eldest daughter, Ann, played by Yvonne East, the Melbourne actress who makes her screen debut in the film. The comedy character of “Cedric Entwistle’ ’is again played in uproarious manner by Alec Kellaway, while Grant Taylor is the romantic “Jim Webster,” who finally unites the two families by marrying “Dad’s” daughter. Grant Taylor’s screen “father” is Frank Harvey, stage and screen veteran, who also wrote the scenario. A notable newcomer in Barbara Weeks, Hollywood actress with some -10 American films to her credit. Others in the cast include Ronald Whelan, Natalie Raine, Lorna Westbrook, Marshall Crosby, Joe Valli, Jean Robertson. Letty Craydon and Field Fisher.

THEATRE ROYAL “Scarface,” featuring Paul Muni and Ann Dvorak may be the last gang picture, for the reason that it presents such a striking study of criminal conditions in the United States that it exhausts the subject as far as the screen is concerned. Police and civic authorities are shown co-operating in agitation for a Government curb upon the importation of firearms, this being admittedly the most effective method of scotching the gangster. “Danger Flight,” fourth in the i Tailspin Tommy series, dramatises the building of model airplanes and shows how youngsters of today come to love and understand aviation through 'models. Primarily it is the story of Tailspin Tommy’s Air Scouts, a young organisation similar to the Boy Scouts and tells of the regeneration of Whitey, a boy from , the gutter, who gives up his gang to ; join the Scouts of the Air. Witf* Tommy as his guide and hero, Whitey becomes leader of the Scouts, and things are running smoothly until his gangster brother sees a chance to use the scouts and their model planes to work a racket and Whitey unwittingly helps him. A thrilling climax ensues when Tommy embarks on a mercy flight with gangsters plotting to trap him and only Whitey and his model plane can save the flyer CIVIC THEATRE “Turnabout” is one of the gayest and most hilarious screen comedies released in recent months. “Turnabout,” which was filmed from the best-selling novel by Thorne Smith, co-stars Carole Landis and John Hubbard in the romantic roles, and features such notable players as Adolphe Menjou, Mary Astor, William Gargan. Donald Meek, Verree Teasdale and Margaret Roach. The story concerns two wealthy modern people. Tim and Sally Willows. Tim is an advertising executive, Sally a society matron. While they are complaining bitterly about their respective lots in life, they are overheard by the god Ram, who decides impulsively to give them a chance to exchange places and sexes. What ensues when this materialises provides hilarious situations, swiftmoving action and crackling dialogue. A climax, filled with unexpected turns, brings the picture to a laughfilled finish. ROXY THEATRE “The Star-maker,” a sparkling musical film featuring Bing Crosby, and “Code of the Soviet Service zvii and “Code of the Secret Service,” a thrilling drama, will be screened today. “The Starmaker” is a very entertaining production, for it provides all the ingredients of successful films —music, romance, drama and comedy. With its intriguing situations and interesting dialogue it holds the close interest of the audience throughout. ißng Crosby sings very pleasingly and also has developed into a very capable actor. The rest of the cast give good support. “Code of the Secret Service” is a film of a very different character but equally enjoyable. As its title sug--1 gests it deals with the activities of | the Secret Service, and is filled with . iventure and excitement. A charm- ! ing romance is introduced, and there is plenty of humour to lighten the