MAJESTIC THEATRE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20187, 4 March 1940, Page 5

MAJESTIC THEATRE

RICHARD DIX IN “MAN OF CONQUEST,” AND “MY WIFE’S RELATIVES.”

“Man of Conquest,” to-day’s change of programme for the Majestic Theatre, is a powerful historical melodrama dealing with the bringing of Texas into the American Union. Most people—not even the Americans—realise the strength behind the story ox Texas. First a Mexican province, it became an independent republic under a former governor of Tennessee. Sam Houston, who had taken up the cause of the Cherokee Indians after they had been evicted from their homeland as a sequel to a “treaty.” The film traces Houston’s amazing career from the time he joined up with Apdrew Jackson in the war against the British in 1812, through his election to the Tennessee governorship and the scandal that broke him (his wife divorced him), through his subsequent “drunk,” lasting four months, his setting up of the Texas independency, his dramatic but vain attempt to rescue the heroes of the Alamo and his vengeance in a long and tragic pursuit', up to his final acceptance of the incorporation of his own Texas into the Union in 1845. Richard Dix, one of Hollywood’s most virile actors, who has not had a role comparable with this since his unforgettable “Cimarron” in 1931, stars as Sam Houston. Gail Patrick and Joan Fontaine share feminine leads in the picture, while Edward Ellis provides a magnificent portrayal as Andrew Jackson. The Majestic is also screening a' riotous comedy of the Higgins family, “My Wife’s Relatives,” starring James Gleason, Lucile Gleason and Russell Gleason. An added attraction is “Well Done Achilles,” showing scenes of Auckland’s enthuasiastic welcome to New Zealand’s naval heroes. The programme opens at 1.45 and 7.30 p.m. with Chapter 13 of “The Lone Ranger."