AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20141, 10 January 1940, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST DAY: “BLIND ALLEY” AND “THE GAME THAT KILLS” An outstanding double programme of thrills will conclude a highly-suc-cessful season to-night. “Blind Alley,” starring Chester Morris, Ralph Bellamy and Ann Dvorak, is a thrilling story of a doctor who toys with the brain of a gangster. “The Game That Kills,” starring Charles Quigley and Ri’a Hayworth, is an exciting story of ice hockey in the toils of racketeers. An added attraction is the “Lone Ranger” serial. —To-morrow: “Television Spy” and Outlaws of the Prairie” — A drama which plunges boldly into the world of to-morrow, one which shows a brilliant young scientist fighting courageously to keep his discoveries in the field of long-range television out of the hands of enemy Powers, which finds him falling in love with a lovely girl via television across 3000 miles of space, will open to-morrow at the Majestic Theatre. It is Paramount’s “Television Spy,” featuring William Henry, Judith Barrett, William Collier, sen., Anthony Quinn and Richard Denning. Briefly, the story tells how Henry, a young scientist, perfects long-range television for a crusty, wealthy old sponsor. William Collier, sen. Testing his equipment, Henry tunes in on a bootleg station using his own wave-length. A lovely girl, Judith Barrett, is operating, and photographs of his plans are on a table near her. Henry subsequently learns that Miss Barrett’s father has been duped into constructing Ihe set by a gang of spies, which plans to sell the equipment to enemy powers. When the schemers attempt to destroy Miss Barrett and her father, Henry fights back with ail the scientific knowledge at his command, and the picture speeds to a dramatic conclusion. ■ Red-blooded adventure, blended with trigger-fast action, soft mellow range ballads and a stirring story, is two-fisted Charles Starrett’s latest Columbia picture, “Outlaws of the Prairie,” the associate feature. Adding to the spell of "Outlaws of the Prairie,” which is undoubtedly one of the finest outdoor dramas in many months, are the Sons of the Pioneers, a unique musical quintet. They accompany Donald Grayson in singing four beautiful ballads introduced in the picture. One, “Blue Prairie,” is easily an outstanding hit. The programme opens with the serial, “The Oregon Trail.” KING’S THEATRE “NEWS IS MADE AT NIGHT” AND "YOUNG MR. LINCOLN.”

Good melodrama which contains quite a deal of smart comedy and is filled to the brim with exciting, fast going that sweeps you along with it from start to finish —such is “News is Made at Night.” which opens at the iKsng’s Theatre to-day for a twoday season. Preston Fosle l- is the editor of an influential news sheet, a hard-boiled, real heman with no desire to see skirts fluttering round his editorial domain. Paul Guilfoyle, supposed murderer, is to be executed, but Foster is sure he did not commit the crime, and because Lynn Bari is too well informed on the case, he has to shelve his determination not to employ women reporters, and takes her on. By sabotage Foster holds up the execution, gains time for their investigations, and proves that the real criminal is far from being Guilfoyle. The associate feature, “Young Mr. Lincoln,” depicts stirring incidents in the early life of Abraham Lincoln (Henry Fonda). Although the later political career of the great American is of much more interest in the United States than elsewhere, the story of his early struggles as an earnest and quietlyhumorous young lawyer, as depicted in the film, is packed with enough human interest to guarantee the picture an appreciative audience anywhere. —“Chicken Wagon Family,” “Quick Millions,” and March of Time: Friday.— One of the biggest programmes ever presented at the King's Theatre will have its initial screening on Friday. Jane Withers and Leo Carrillo are together again, this time in the 20th. Century-Fox screen version of “Chicken Wagon Family," a heart-warming story by Barry Benefield that stirs the wanderlust in all. The merry tale concerns a carefree family who hear the call of the open road, toss their cares into a red bandanna and travel around the country, with Jane and Leo in the driver’s seat, bartering trinkets for chickens, which they sell when they reach the big city. En route they meet adventure, excitement and romance —as well as plenty of laughs. Marjorie Weaver, Spring Byington—the famous Jones Family mother —who plays Jane’s Ma this time —and Kane Richmond are prominently featured with Carrillo in the supporting cast, with Marjorie and Kane supplying the romantic interest. Added laughs and romance are supplied for the latest of }he _ Jones Family pictures by Eddie Collins, the rotund little comedian of “Young Mr. Lincoln,” Robert Shaw and Helen Ericson. For the last two "Quick Millions” marks their first, featured roles and the director, Malcolm St. Clair, predicts a good future for tooth. The film features the members of the family in their familiar •roles-—Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Ken Howell, George Finest, June Carlson. Florence Roberts and Billy Mahan: all arc in the 20th Century-Fox film. REGENT THEATRE COMEDY SUCCESS: JOAN BLONDELL AND MELVYN DOUGLAS IN “GOOD GIBES GO TO PARIS” Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas are the two main players in the gay modern comedy “Good Girls Go To Paris,” which will head the programme at the Regent Theatre to-day. At well as having a bright dialogue, the film lias an excellent plot concerning the efforts of a waitress to seek more of the gaiety of life. —Friday: N.Z. and Australian Premiere of “Andy Hardy Gets SpringFever”— In the latest of the Hardy saga, “Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever,” which will have its New Zealand and Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre on Friday, the family gets a taste of romance and drama. The judge, portrayed by Lewis Stone, becomes involved in a crooked promotion stunt which threatens the savings of the Hardys as well as of their friends. The irrepressible Andy,