DE LUXE THEATRE.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 125, 23 November 1938, Page 8

DE LUXE THEATRE.

"CALL OF THE YUKON."

Lovers of the "wide-open spaces" type of entertainment will find the new Republic production, "Call'of the Yukon," which opens on Friday at the De Luxe Theatre, the most interesting and exciting screen fare offered to them for many months. The fact that the picture was based on one of James Oliver Curwoqd's most popular stories, "Swift Lightning," is in itself recommendation enough. Richard Arlen is the star, and Beverly Roberts and Lyle Talbot are seen in prominent supporting roles. The plot of "Call of the Yukon" tells of the adventures that befall Jean Williams, a writer who is living in an Eskimo village to gather material when, through her own stubbornness, she finds herself stranded in the Arctic wilds with a dog, two cub bears, a pet raven, and no food. Gaston Rogers, a half-civilised trapper, discovers Jean and tries to divorce her from the idea of staying on in the wilderness. Gaston finally wins his point, and, accompanied by Jean and her menagerie—her dog having found a mate in a wild dog, Swift Lightning—head back for civilisation. On the return trip misfortune overtakes them, as an ice-breakup leaves the party stranded on an island with no food. In the meantime, Hugo, a trader, hears news that Jean's sled has been found floating down the river. He immediately organises a search party and heads north. Hugo, accompanied by his huge dog Buck, at last reaches the stranded couple, and from this point the story builds to a powerful climax befitting to such a thrilling production. Arlen is excellent in the .role of the half-civil-ised trapper and both Beverly Roberts and Talbot also score with outstanding performances. A refreshing novel production adapted from the Annual Scouts "Gang Show," starring Ralph Reader and Gina Malo, will be the associate feature. The leader of a local Scout troop tires of his humble clerking job, his ambitions soaring in the direction of the theatre^ Rebuffed by the usual agents, he decides to utilise his showmanship by putting on a Boy Scout show to secure funds for. a clubroom. Thrown out of the theatre where they are rehearsing, the amateur performers find themselves with a show and nowhere to stage it. Rescue is at hand when a girl left in charge of a new playhouse is let down by a defaulting opera company. Taking a chance, she allows the boys to present their show in the house, with the result that it becomes a terrific hit. For sheer spontaneity, "The J Gang Show" would be hard to beat.