ENTERTAINMENTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 70, 4 January 1936, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS.

ST. JAMES THEATRE. The two most talked of stars in Hollywood come to the screen as a new co-starring team in the picture, LecUless,” which will be shown at the bt. James Theatre to-night and o.i Monday. The two stars are Jean Hailow and William Powell. The picture is one of the most thrilling and colourful ones in recent months. It is the story or a beautiful blonde dancer who rises from a back-country carnival to the dizzy heights of stardom, who becomes a nation-wide sensation, and manies a playboy with millions, capturing society by her charm. It is the story of a girl who becomes tangled m frontpage sensationalism through the suicide of her husband, who fights for hei name, for her child—a story of hei bravery and decency, her courage and her hope, with one man in the background who has always loved her and understood her and who conies to hor rescue. Miss Harlow plays her best role since “Red-Headed Woman,” as the torch singer and dancer, Mona Leslie. Too, she appears for the first time as a singing and dancing star, appearing in tlie dazzling musical numbers written by a host of well-known composers, headed by Jerome Kern. William Powell plays the role oi Ned lliley, the promoter of everything from flea circuses to bearded wrestler, as only Powell can play it. Franchot Tone again comes to us as the millionaire playboy who first wins Miss iHlarlow’s heart, and whose suicidal act drags her from the pedestal of fame into the mud of scandal. MAJESTIC THEATRE. •Gene Stratton-Porter gave to the world as her parting gift, “The Keeper of the Bees,” another nature story rich in lore of honeybees and flowers; such, a story as only Gone Stratton-Porter could write. The picturisation will be shown at the Majestic Theatre to-night and Monday. With her marvellous capacity for description she pictures a lovely cottage with a garden of most beautiful flowers, while in the rear, down toward the gentle Pacific, are hives and hives of bees. Upon this inviting scene comes James MacFarlane, a war-worn veteran of the World War, who has been given but a short time to live by doctors of a Government Hospital.' Exhausted, he reached the cottage of the Bee Master in time to see the latter, an old gentleman of aristocratic bearing, come out and call him for help. The Bee Master was ill and it was necessary for him to he sent to a hospital. Jamie was left in charge, and through the kindness of a neighbour, Margaret Cameron and the Little Scout, he learned to care for the bees and became “The Keeper of the Bees.” One night when Jamie is taking a stroll he comes upon a girl sobbing . . . and so it happened that he gave his name, a marriage license, and a wedding ring to a girl who needed them, without knowing even so much as* the girl’s name. Playing the central role in this intriguing plot is Neil Hamilton, who gives one of the most inspired performances of his successful career. Appearing opposite him in the leading feminine role is pretty Betty Furness, M-G-M featured player, while the supporting cast is of outstanding excellence.