ROUND THE SHOWS

Flak, Volume 1, Issue 3, 15 April 1943, Page 8

ROUND THE SHOWS

THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER For two years” Broadway laughed, at Kaufman and Hart’s stage comedy, “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” In the ordinary course of events Aucklanders would never get the opportunity,, to witness a performance of a play of this calibre. But .Hollywood, with one of those flashes of sense which we see . only too rarely, has bought the screen rights of this comedy gem and filmed it with the original stage star. Monty Woolley is his name, and Warner Bros, have surrounded him with a selection of their greatest talent—Bette Davis, Ann i Sheridan, Billie Burke, Jimmy Durante, and Reginald Gardiner. Monty Woolley has the role of Sheridan Whiteside, famous lecturer and vitriolic wit, who accepts a society woman’s invitation to dinner and stays a month. The cause of his prolonged visit is a broken hip, ; and it is doubtful whether any guest the world over has ever created so . much havoc. < ~ The film will open at the Civic Theatre this week-end. .

“PIERRE OF THE PLAINS” One of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s newest./screen finds, John Carroll, has the leading role in the action drama, “Pierre of the Plains,” which heads the double-feature programme which will begin a season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. First seen in the musical production “Babes in Arms,” John Carroll .has rapidly risen to stardom, and in this film is seen as a Canadian backwoodsman. Ruth Hussy plays opposite him, and Bruce Cabot heads the supporting cast. The second feature is “Almost Married,” a typical Universal comedy featuring Jane Frazee and Robert Page. That ace of fat comedians Eugene Pallette heads the supporting cast. For those who enjoy serials, chapters of “Overland Mail,” and the amazing “Captain Marvel,” are showing at certain sessions during the week-end. "THE SHANGHAI GESTURE” > A famous hit play, long coveted by Hollywood’s leading companies, has reached the screen at last, and Auck-

landers will have the chance to see it when “The Shanghai Gesture” opens at the Century Theatre on Friday, Gene Tierney, Victor Mature, Walter Huston, and Ona Munson head' a magnificent stellar cast. As is to be expected from a picture directed by the famous von Sternberg, lavish sets provide the background for the Oriental story. One of the most spectacular is the Casino 1 operated by Mother. Gin Slinga den for Shanghai’s seamiest derelicts. One of the most outstanding sets is a Chinese street scene at the time of the celebration of the New Year. Against this colourful background is played out a strange drama of love and hatred, with seven fascinating characters bent on destroying each other. Mother Gin Sling, a fascinating, glamorous women, bent on dire vengeance, is portrayed by. ; Ona Munson, and Gene Tierney plays Poppy, a girl who rushes headlong into disaster. The Century will open for troops this Sunday.