ENTERTAINMENTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 304, 7 October 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

3T. JAMES THEATRE. The many thousands ’ or lihngoers who plead for the employment by producers of England’s natural beauty will surely have their wishes gratified when they see Alexander Korda’s new picture “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” which continues its Ashburton season tonight, to-morrow night, and on Wednesday. Director Harold Young was able to take many of the scenes in this film in the open air, and a number of beautiful locations, providing backgrounds of great pictorial charm, were used. The exterior scenes have some remarkably beautiful and unusual cloud effects. Such effects can seldom, if ever, be obtained in Hollywood where the sky is usually clear bine. A unit spent several days at Laleham-on-Tliames shooting scenes at the escape of the Pimpernel from Paris. A long tree-lined road with rough and dusty surface was found, and the great coach pulled by four horses was driven at breakneck speed.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. "Drake of England,” which will conclude at the Majestic Theatre to-night, presents the life of Drake, from the time of Ills departure, with his cousin, John Hawkins, on thejt trading voyage of 1567 up to the time of the defeat of the Spanish Armada.* Interwoven with the story of his romance with Elizabeth Sydenham, a lady-in-waiting •at the Court, are the, outstanding events of his career. e see liis first meeting with Queen Elizabeth when ho comes to visit her in London, bringing news of the loss of one of her ships to the' Spaniards. His outspoken policy of antagonism to 'Spain commends her admiration. She calls him her “pirate” and in spite of Lord Burghley’s protest, smiles on his plan for weakening King Philip’s supremacy by cutting his wealth at its source—the treasure vaults of the New World of Mexico.

SCOTTISH SOCIETY’S DANCE There was a. good attendance at the Ashburton County Scottish Society’s dance on Saturday evening, music being supplied by Dabourn’s orchestra. Extras were played by Mrs T. McGregor and Messrs G. Chilton and G. A. Dolphin. The Monte Carlo was won by Miss M. Protheroe and Mr R, Williamson. Messrs T. McGregor and J. Turnbull were M.O.’s.