ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 4

ENTERTAINMENTS

1 TONIGHT'S PROGRAMMES STATE THEATRE “ Big Town Czar ” is an exciting drama, Barton Mac Lane playing the title role. The story traces the rise and fall of a gangster who 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 Ed. Sullivan, the famous columnist, with Mr Sullivan making his film debut. Tom Brown, Eve Arden, Waller 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. THEATRE ROYAL “ Charlie McCarthy, Detective,” combines comedy and thrills, with Charlie McCarthy, the popular ventriloquist’s figure, playing a prominent part. 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 McCarthy. Mortimer Snerd, another of Bergen’s family, is also starred. “Charlie McCarthy, Detective” is a murder mystery story, with Charlie (with Bergen’s aid) ultimately unravelling the maze of twisted clues and pinning the crime on the guilty party. With Bergen’s inimitable comedy the combination produces splendid entertainment. “Outside the 3-Mile Limit” is a colourful and exciting melodrama. Jack Holt is starred as a daring GMan who battles single-handed with a crew of villains. ROXY THEATRE “ Man in the Iron Mask ” is romantic drama at its most exciting, dealing with a period in history when sensational things happened. The Dumas story from which the film was adapted has been widely read, and the bringing of the characters to the screen is a great achievement. The story of the man who wore an iron mask is very thrilling, and love and hate are mixed in exciting fashLouis Hayward, Joan Bennett and Warren William have the leading roles and are supported by a great cast. “ Flying Deuces ” brings back the popular Laurel and Hardy in one of their funniest comedies. ” Their experiences as members of the Foreign Legion are very funny. The audience is kept in hilarious mood throughout by the predicaments of the famous funsters. Jean Parker has the feminine lead. CIVIC THEATRE The story of “ South of Pago Pago ” is set in the 1880’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 gives some illuminating information regarding the United States Navy of 1940. REGENT THEATRE Conrad Veidt, the Continental actor, gives a striking performance is “ U-Boat 29,” 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 jan enemy submarine commander who suddenly finds that he has been

ricked by British counter-espionage igents. His desperate fight for freelorn is tense screen narrative.