AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20073, 20 October 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE MYRNA LOY & ROBERT TAYLOR IX M.G.M.’S COMEDY, “LUCKY NIGHT”

In all his brilliant career Robert Taylor lias never had a role more suited to his talents than that of an irresponsible young adventurer which he takes in "Lucky Night,” the entertaining comedy which will open its Gisborne season at the Regent Theatre to-day. His amazing fortune after meeting with the wayward daughter of a steel magnate, a part played by Mvrna Loy, provides one of the most light-hearted stories ever brought to the screen. The hero refuses to take anything in life seriously and. although marriage seems for a while to be outside the scope of this attitude. the resultant happiness at length prevails. Through the thrills of an armed robbery, the anxiety of a gambling house and the reckless excitement of an early morning party, the pair go on their way unperturbed, and when they awake in the morning to face realities they the same care-free attitude. The picture is a triumph of mind over the coldness of worldly fact, and for this i reason, above all. is delightfully refreshing throughout. The supporting films are outstanding and patrons, are advised to reserve early for this delightful programme.

MAJESTIC THEATRE /AXE GREY’S “HERITAGE OF THE DESERT,” AND “UNDERCOVER DOCTOR” A specially selected double-bill providing exceptional entertainment value commences to-day at the Majestic Theatre as a race-week programme. A western that gets away from the beaten tracks while furnishing some neat characterisation and more story development than usual. Paramount's “Heritage of the Desert is a better-than-average film based on betler-than-average Zane Grey screen material. It is a western in which everyone can find something ol interest. If the bad man of the desert lands is a familiar figure, not so are the members of the family whom he has harassed over a number of years, with the aim of finally gaining possession of their cattle ranch. As produced by Harry Sherman, the story makes excellent film entertainment, splendidly photographed. The Arizona desert scenes are a feature in themselves. The dramatic content develops well, and uses the many facets of an engrossing tale in furnishing an exciting climax. Although there are no “stars” in the cast, prominent support players not usually associated with westerns make the narrative a stirring and convincing one. Donald Woods and Evelyn Venable provide the romantic interest. Robert Barret. Paul Guilfoyle. and William Robertson submit some virile portraiture. Sidney Toler furnishes some delightful comedy as an old rancher. One ol the most exciting episodes in the highly dramatic crime film, “Undercover Doctor,” the associate feature, is a sequence where Broderick Crawford. as public enemy No. 1. is fleeing from the police. The latter are certain of catching the criminal. Hoping to make a clean sweep, they trap Crawford into betraying the undercover doctor. It would be unfair to give the story away, but this much can be told: J. Carrol Naish is a brilliant but weak-willed surgeon who, because of drink and laziness, feels his ambitions thwarted. Elis nurse, played by Paramount’s film discovery, pretty, talented Janice Logan, leaves him. hoping that he will be brought to bis senses. On the trail of gangster and surgeon is Lloyd Nolan. Assisting him is Robert Wilcox as an associate Federal officer. The director. Louis King, has skilfully manipulated the cast and story, thus bringing out the exciting and dramatic qualities of “Undercover Doctor."

KING’S THEATRE

“THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK”: THRILLING PRODUCTION

-Love, war, sword-play, a King’s wickedness, and all the glamour of the France of Louis XIV adorn the United Artists picture, "The Man in the Iron Mask, - ’ which opens to-day at the King’s Theatre. When the Infanta Maria Thercse (John Bennett) went to Paris from the Court of her father, the King of Spain, to become betrothed (and eventually married) to the King of France, she was mystified to find that the French King was at one meeting a licentious reprobate, and, at another meeting, a model of kingship and of manly dignity. To the Infanta it almost seemed that the King must be two Kings. And so, in fact, he was. The King’s twin brother Philippe—stolen since birth, to prevent succession difficulties —had suddenly arrived at the Royal Court, and the King had asked his long-lost brother to "double” for him at a public ceremony. Poor Philippe did not know, but the reprobate King knew, that the Paris mob had planned an attack during the ceremony on the King’s life. But when the row started Philippe used his sword so well that he beat off the attackers, captured their admiration, and angered the real King by forgiving them. Then Philippe "doubled" for the benefit of the Infanta, who found him as magnetic as the real King was repcllant; but their likeness as twins prevented her detecting the substitution. Of,course, the real King could not tolerate all this virtue in a twin brother, and the latter was put in the Bastille with his head permanently enclosed in a heavy iron mask. After that, swords got busy again, Philippe was rescued, and the iron mask was put on the King himself, who then look Philippe’s place in the Bastille, but escaped. Louis Hayward makes a magnificent success of the knightly leading vole.

OPERA HOUSE

THE GREAT NORTH CHINA TROUPE

Box plans for the unique show of the Great North China Troupe will open at Tattersall and Bayly's to-mor-row, where 5s and 4s seats may be reserved, and if local interest is any criterion there will be a capacity house to welcome this talented band. Speaking of talent, the London Daily Mirror of February 14, 1939, said: “It is no small feat for a s'ate theatrical

troupe to exhilarate a cinema audience so as to make the talkies seem by contrast old fashioned. Yet this is what Lau Fu Cluing and his agile crew do in an hour or so. Lau Fu Chung, heir of a centuries-old tradition of showmanship, enthralls where other types of entertainment cannot. These gymnasts, dancers, contortionists, singers, balancers and acrobats excite the audience the more successfully, perhaps, because nowadays the true excitements of fast-moving sensational variety are seldom offered here. Lau Fu Chung has returned from his world tour with a team of physical wonder workers, whose feats have never been equalled in vaudeville.” The Oriental part of (he programme takes one and a half hours and is preceded by six English and Continental vaudeville specialties, which include Latona and Sparkos, sensational dancers from the London Hippodrome. The season of three nights and a matinee commences at the Opera House on Thursday, October 28.