ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21245, 16 October 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

TONIGHT’S PROGRAMMES 1 THEATRE ROYAL I “Blondes for Danger” combines thrills and comedy very effectively. Cast as Aif Huggins, Gordon Harker has a hatred for blondes—his “Blonde headache” has just served him with a writ for breach of promise—and an affection for his cab, an ancient model of questionable parentage. One night an attractive blonde hails his cab and asks him to take her to Hendron, and then presents him with an ultimatum—to Berry Woods I or no fare. There is an exciting ; climax. How an amateur detective can . outwit one of Europe’s wiliest in--1 ternational spies is told in “Bulldog : Drummond’s Revenge,” with John ; Howard again in the title role. STATE THEATRE | “Gold Diggers in Paris” is a sparkj ling production, with its melodious ! music, its merry humour, 'its charming romance, its clever dances, and its lovely girls. Its diverting situations and witty dialogue keep the audience in a hilarious mood, while its cast of stars do excellent work and keep the ball rolling at a fast pace. It is all very gay and spec- . tacular. , “Mystery House,” as its title implies, is a film of a very different ki'nd and equally entertaining. It is a thrilling mystery drama, with the tense interest of the audience held throughout. Before the mystery is solved many exciting things happen, while the sensational climax is very impressive. Dick Purcell and Ann Sheridan fill the romantic leads perfectly. ROXY THEATRE “Professor Mamlock.” a Russian film, vividly demonstrates the ruthless intolerance of the Nazi regime by recounting the persecution of a brilliant .professor of surgery, j whose only crime in Nazi eyes is j that he is a Jew. Something j* ' also shown of the manner in which

all criticism of the Government has J been driven underground and of the ' terrible risks willingly faced by i lovers of freedom in maintaining adherence to their-beliefs. The pre- . sentation of the picture is compar- ' able with the methods of the great Russian realist novelists. “Going Places,” with Dick Powell and Anita Louise heading the cast, is a hilarious farce whose action is interspersed with tuneful songs, in- : eluding “Jeepers Creepers,” “Mutiny In the Nursery,” and “Say It With a , Kiss.” CIVIC THEATRE “The Battle of England” shows : twenty minutes of the latest war ! news, including an air raid on a con- • voy off Dover and other thrilling incidents in the world struggle. The spectacular musical produc- ; tion “Lillian Russell” heads the new programme. Lavish sets combine with the sincerity of Alice Faye’s act- ! ing to make the film excellent en- 1 tertainment. The gay spirit of the ' music halls of 50 years ago is con- : vincingly recaptured, and Miss Faye has a role admirably suited to her talents as the popular stage artiste Lillian Russell. Don Ameche gives an outstanding performance at the head of the supporting cast, which also includes such well-known players as Henry Fonda, Edward Arnold and Helen Westley. Several of the old popular tunes, such as “After the Ball,” are introduced. REGENT THEATRE Thrilling war news—B'ritish-Ita-lian naval battle, the Battle of Britain. Nazi bombers downed in Channel raids, and the 50 American destroyers for Britain—is contained in the latest Gazettes received by Clip- , per “U-Boat 29,” a highly topical pic- ' ture in view of the British Navy’s successes, is very exciting. The story is based on J. Storer Clouston’s famous novel, which relates the attempt of an enemy submarine commander to obtain from an alleged spy information concerning the movements of the British fleet. How .he attempt is foiled by the counteractivities of a British naval officer and a village schoolmistress, is told in amazingly thrilling style. Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson play the leading roles. j