ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21242, 12 October 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT'S PROGRAMMES “U-BOAT 29” AT THE REGENT THEATRE “U-Boat 29” presents a graphic, dramatic picture of wartime espionage and submarine warfare. It tells ’of the attempt of an enemy submarine commander (Conrad Veidt) to obtain from an alleged spy information concerning the movements of the British fleet. How the attempt is foiled by the counter-activities of a British naval officer (Sebastian Shaw), and a village school-mistress (Valerie Hobson), are all episodes of stirring dramatic distinction which build to a startling climax with the \ sinking of a passenger vessel by an ! enemy submarine. Conrad Veidt has one of his most effective roles as an enemy submarine commander i who suddenly finds that he has been | tricked by British counter-espionage l agents. His desperate fight for free- | clom is tense screen narrative. | The supporting programme in- ! eludes “London’s Reply to German I Claims,” showing scenes of the bombi ed areas; the Cinesound Review, with j the Australians facing action in ! Egypt; and Air Mail News by Clipj Per.

“SOUTH OF PAGO PAGO” AT THE CIVIC THEATRE “South of Pago Pago” is a colourful romance set against a background highlighted by the beauty and tropical brilliance of the South Seas. The story is set in the 1380's when men who went down to the China sea in ships were only a mite removed in character from the pirates and robbers who sailed the Spanish Main a century earlier. Bucko Larson (played by Victor McLaglen), has heard that there is a fortune in rare pearls “South of Pago Pago,” and he makes a strange bargain with Ruby Taylor, a Singapore cafe girl (played by Frances Farmer), when they set sail to capture this booty. As soon as they land in the South Seas, Larson proceeds to trick the natives to dive for him and to still the fears of young and handsome Kehane, son of the island chief (played by Jon • Hall). A series of fast and dramatic episodes follow. A March of Time, dealing with i the United States Navy of 1940, is a ! very interesting feature of the supj porting programme.

i ~ charlie McCarthy, detective

AT THE THEATRE ROYAL Charlie McCarthy, the popular ventriloquist’s figure, attains th« status of a star in “Charlie McCarthy. Detective.” Of course, Edgar Bergen shares the starring position with Charlie, edging in on every one of Charlie’s scenes but not

attempting to steal anything from j McCarthy. Mortimer Snerd, an- j 1 other of Bergen's family, is also , starred. “Charlie McCarthy, De- , tective” is a murder mystery story, J with Charlie (with Bergen’s aid) j ultimately unravelling the maze of j twisted clues and pinning the crime ! on the guilty party. With Bergen's J inimitable comedy the combination j produces splendid entertainment. j "Outside the 3-Mile Limit” is a j colourful and exciting melodrama, j Jack Holt is starred as a daring G- j Man who battles single-handed with i a crew of villains. “London’s Reply to Nazi Claims,” i showing the air raid damage, and a ! chapter of the thrilling serial, “Flash j Gordon Conquers the Universe,” are j also screened. “MAN IN THE IRON MASK” | AT THE ROXY THEATRE j There will be three big attractions , today—“ The Man in the Iron Mask,” i the screen version of Dumas’ romantic story; “The Flying Deuces,” • dealing with the very funny adven- j tures of Laurel and Hardy in the j Foreign Legion; and “London’s Reply j to German Aims,” showing the j damage in the bombed areas. “ Man in the Iron Mask ” is i romantic drama at its most exciting, j dealing with a period in history when ; sensational things happened. The j Dumas story from which the film : was adapted has been widely read, I and the bringing of the characters j to the screen is a great achievement, i Louis Hayward, Joan Bennett and | Warren William have the leading j roles and are supported by a great i cast. “ Flying Deuces ” brings back the j popular Laurel and Hardy in one of their funniest comedies. Their experiences as members of the Foreign Legion are very funny. “ London’s Reply to German , Claims ” gives the true story of the ; damage done by bombing raids. j “BIG TOWN CZAR’’ AT THE STATE THEATRE “Inside stuff” from one of New York’s most colourful and authoritative observers, Ed. Sullivan, is brought to the screen in “Big Town Czar.” Barton Mac Lane plays the title role. The story traces the rise and fall of a gangster w’ho comes from New York’s tenements and becomes a big racketeer. One of the most unusual and effective film storytelling methods is employed as the gangster czar’s lurid career is unfolded through the observations of the famous columnist. Mr Sullivan makes his screen debut in the film, an adaptation of his original story. Tom Brown, Eve Arden, Walter Woolf King, Jack Laßue, Frank Jenks, Jerry Marlowe and Gordon Jones have important roles. “Inside Information,” featuring June Lang, Dick Foran, Harry Carey and Mary Carlisle, gives an inside picture of the activities of milliondollar jewel robbery gangs.