AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 303, 22 December 1937, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

ROXY—TIVOLI. " BLAZING SIXES." Red Barton U iek Foran Barbara Morgan Henry Valkis Aunt Sarah Mira McKinney J lui Hess John Mertou 1 eewee . . . Glen Strange Also: 'IHL CALIFURNI AN," Western drama, with lticardo (Jortez. Katherine DeMille, Marjorie Weaver aud Morgan Wallace featured. "Blazing Sixes'' is the title of the thrilling \\ estein drama that delighted patrons oi the Koxy and i'ivoli Theatres to-day, when it had iUs local premiere there. This film is another triumph for the tall, singing cowboy Dick Foran, who, in the midst of crackling revolvers and thundering horses' hoois, finds time to render in his splendid baritone a number of pleasing items. Notable among the song numbers are two specially written for him, "Ridin' on to Monterey" and "In a Little Prairie town. The story opens in 1890. Bandits have been robbing coac-liee of Government gold shipments being sent from the mint at Denver. ".Red" Barton (Dick Foran) comes to town posing as a hold-up man. In reality he is a Government agent trying to solve the mystery of why coach after coach us being held up and robbed. Barton gets a job from Hess, the local saloon keeper, and before long finds out that tins is the man he has to watch. But instead of arresting the man on the spot, Barton decides that he had better apprehend the whole gang. So, learning when the next hold-up is to take place, lie goes out to the spot masked and holds up the hold-up men, taking away their loot. Back at the saloon, he confides to the leader that he was the mysterious bandit, and is declared in as. a member of the Rang.

But Hess cheats him and tells the sheriff that Barton is responsible for all the hold-ups. Things are eventually straightened out, and a posse sets out after Hess and his gang, who are fleeing with the gold bars. The bandits are apprehended in a thrilling and action-packed finale. Koran's leading lady in this film ie Htlen Valkis, a 19-year-old recruit from the legitimate stage.

By reason of his performance in this picture. Foran should add even further to his reputation as a fine actor and a singer of ability. Foran has made 11 pictures in all since his career started a couple of years ago. "Blazing Sixes" must be one of the best he has made. He rides magnificently and acts as a really modest hero.

The associate feature at the Roxv and Tivoli is the screen version of Harold Bell Wright's thrilling story "The Californian." Ricanlo Cortez and Marjorie Weaver have the leading roles, and Katherine DeMille also has an important part. The action of the story takes place in the year IRiiO. just after the great gold rush, and shortly after the American flag has taken the place of the emblem of Mexico over California. The idyllic life of the Mexican ranchers has been disrupted by the advent of renegade goldseokcrs. Cortez. plavftig the part of a rancher's son. turns outlaw to avenge his people. He throws havoc into the ranks of the dishonest raiders, until the arrival of a United States cavalry detachment, sent out. to catch the phantom bandit, brings the story to a surprising climax. ST. JAMES' THEATRE. Laurel and Hardy are featured in one of their best films to date in "Way Out West." current attraction at St. .fames' Theatre. The inimitable pair are seen as desert rats commissioned by a dying man to deliver the deeds of a gold mine to his daughter. Bursting with importiyiee they arrive at a small town in the wildest West country. Eventually they lose the deeds and through an hour of glorious slapstick comedy they struggle to regain them. Their efforts to force and rob a hotel safe are highly amusing. Laurel and Hardy fans will bp surprised by tne fact that the pair show,unexpected talent in singing and dancing. In one scene they trip daintily round the lobby of the hotel to the strains of a cowboy band. After their performance in "Way Out West'' Laurel and Hardy must surely bt accounted the two cleverest fools in the film business. The story is totally different from anything they have handled in the past. In this mild burlesque of cowboy dramas they both excel. MAJESTIC THEATRE. George Form by is the king of foolery and his latest film "Keep Fit," which will have a Christmas season at the Majestic Theatre, commencing on Friday, should cater quite completely for those who go to the theatre for entertainment. In this film Forinbv appears as a "red-blooded" tighter the "Battling Barbei." Oeorge. the comic Yorkshire comedian, has appeared in three pictures, each of them better than the last. His first. "No Limit." estabVsheil li'in mi the screen and "Keep our Si'its. Please. and •• I'd' her Your \"e«t" added to hi-- reputation. It cannot be dcii'cd that Fnrmby is a hopeless idiot, but theatregoers cannot help going into P's of" laughter at his antics. Also on the programme is "Thunder of the Orient." a graphic film telling the entire story of the bitter anil relentless struggle that is going on in the Far Fast. The Majestic has a remarkable Christmas programme that caters for all tastes. Also to be shown is "Oilding the Lily." Pete Smith odd-tv and "Floral .Tapan," a' travel colour film.

AMUSEMENT GUIDE. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Geo. Gee fn "Over She Goes." PICTURE THEATREB. ST. —laurel ami Hardy in "Way Out West." EMBPSBY —Warren William and Mad.v Correli in "Midnight Madonna." PLAZA-—"Calllnjr All Stars." ClVlC—Charles nuirirles and Frances Farmer in "Exclusive.'l MAYFAIR (fate National)— Binkie Stuarl and Dannv M alone In "Rose of Tralee" and Claude Hulbert and Frances !.. Suliivan in "Interrupted Honeymoon." REGENT —Ralph T.ynn and Tom Walls In "For Valour." ROXY—Pick Foran in "Blazing- Sixes" and Ricardo Cortez in "The Caltrornlan." BTRAND —Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall In "Breakfast For Two." MAJESTIC —William Boyd In "Hopalong Rides Again" and I.yrvne Overman and Roscoe Karns in "Partners In Crime." LONDON —Will Rog-ers in "Steamboat Round the Rend" and Tim McCoy in "The Westerner." ADELPHI—Guest Nig-ht. AMBASSADOR—Guest Night. ALEXANDRA—Guest Night. ASTOR —Guest Night. BIRKENHEAD —"A Woman Rebels." BERKELEY —"It Isn't Done." KING'S (Northcote) —"Hollywood Cowboy." AVONDALE—"Women in Trouble" and "The Calling of Dan Matthews." BRITANNIA —"The Smartest Girl In Town" and "Woman Wise." CAPlTOL—liuest Night. CRYSTAL PALACE—Guest Night. DE LUXE—"Take My Tip" and "Winterset." EMPRESS —Guest Night. GAlETY—"History Is Made at Night." GREY -LYNN—"-Guest Night, j KINGSLAND —"The Holy Terror" and "Charlie Chan at the Olympics." MAYFAIR—"There Goes su/.y" and "Kentucky Minstrels." PRINCE EDWARD—Guest Night. PRINCESS—Guest Nig: * REGAL—(Juest Night. REGENT (Epeom)—"Mutiny on the Bounty." RIALTO—G uest N i gh<t. STAR (Newton) —".Man or the People" and | "Adventure in Manhattan." 'STATE (Symonda Street) —"Call it a Day" 1 and "The Bride Walks Out." BTATE (Devonport)—"Top of the Town." STATE (Onehunga)—"Heail Over Heels' und • Border Care." STRAND (Onehunga)—-Guest Mgiit. TIVOLI —"Blazing oSixes" and "The CaliI'ornian." TUDOR — -Caniille." VICTORIA Guest Night. | THE REX "Bulldog Drummond Escapes." PICTUREDROME —"Nancy Steele is Miss--1 lng."