AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 93, 19 April 1940, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS.

"TOWER OF LONDON." CIVIC. Uicbard, Duke of Gloucester Basil Rathbone >Wd Boris Karloff yueen KlytalHMta .... UarUara O'Neill Kin? Edward I\' lan Hunter J'uke of Clarence Vincent Price Lady Alice Barum Nan Grey I'ireclor: Kowland V. Lee. Universal. I Set ia an atmosphere of the 15th century : and supposedly based upon facts dealing I wuh a not over-creditable period in English history, the picture ■"Tower of London." showing *i the Civic Theatre, is presented with all the gruesumene*e which went until Euglaud's Rojalty in those days. It is a »=:ory of Court intrigue and the unlimited lengths to which 111. went to become Km;:, auid his subsequent scheming and murderous icigi). A*is-U-J by an executioner Kichard conceives tho most, diabolical s< hemes to r:d himself of those whom he believes ait opposed to j him. Even brothers and nephews sir : removed by this brut.il muider-r, ar.ii ; except for one or two c-haiaeteiv one ferls little sympathy for them because all are steeped in intrijrue. Romance luns alone ■i stream through tlie turbulent story, but it is sw.imj.Cii by tiie drama and horror of the callous Richard and his coterie of eq>:a'_!y cruel followers. The then of the Kiuc's tn-asure adds an inteiestinc an J welcome side issue and the do-peraic j lengths to which Richaid jrocs in an I endeavour to regain possession provide I thrills in plenty." When finally Kichard !is killed in battle the audience siplw in ! relief: it is the cid of the reifm oi a j mentally warpev epomaniac who murdered I hi« consanguinary relative-a in order to ! achieve hit ambition of beconing King oi • Encland. I In the roV of Richard. Basil Rathbone I pives an excellent performance, cs iloes also Boris Karloff as Mord. the executioner. They are a callous pair, particularly Mord. The whole cast in strong and the individual roles excellently acted. The picture is lavishly presented and those picture patrons who enjoy thrills will no! be disappointed. A varied programme o< supporting shorts contribute* to fine entertainment. "SAN FRANCISCO." EMBASSY. Blaekie Clark GaM» Marv Blake Jeanette Mac Donald Father JJullin Spencer Trary .Tack F.urler j ijcTr Mrs. BurJcy Jew? Raln'j Mat T<-d HeaJ.v Director: A. W. S. Van Dyke. M-G-M Ranking among the finest fiiro featuicever made k the romantic drama "San Francieco," which last nighi bejan a return Auckland eearan before large audiences at the Embassy Theatre. If only for the magnificence of Jeanetl'll acDonalde singiae. and for the super!. techni(}ae used in the earthquake ecenc. "San Francisco*' is •n-orth anynne'i atten tion. It will be remembered that witii Mies Mac Donald a« leading man is Clark Gaiile, while the Aeademy Award minnei Spencer Tracy has one of his Iwsr a«: the priest. Jack Holt. .Tessie Ralph Ted Healy. Shirley Roes r.nd Harold Hubei are also prominent. We see again Mary Blake f3lfw MatDonald) working in the ribald saloon of Blackie, see her petting her firrt c-han<-< at the operatic career which she dreams of. *ee two men fitting for her favour.-. Then comes the show's real drama. Tli<city shudders. Earthquake, fire and explosion raze it. Blackie stalks tbro-ogih tb<ruine end eventually finds her. Amonc the items so tihriHing-ly Misß Mac Donald are "Holy City.' , "Nearer My God To Thee." and. on ib\ lighter side. "Would You?"' "Battle Hyim of the Republic."' and two arias from '"Faust" and "La Traviata." It ;% a pictureworth seeing more Hun once. For what more could be .is-ked of a picture* The title identifies .t with ono of the world's rare:, colourful cities. The ca*t is headed by three of the screenV best. The spectacle is an amazing demonstration of technical .ichievement. and Mis» MacDonaJd's music is an artistic treat. Excellent supporting items are also being eh own, headed by latest oversea* newgreek.