AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20254, 23 May 1940, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

KING’S THEATRE “CITY OF DARKNESS” AND “THE HONEYMOON’S OVER’’ Film “fans" of two distinct types will find enjoyable entertainment at the King’s Theatre to-day. Charlie Chan unravels a baffling espionage plot in the first film, "City in Darlenes.;.” and a comedy chuckle full of fun, “The Honeymoon's Over,” is the associate attraction. —“Swiss Family Robinson:” Exciting Adventure Story, To-morrow.— Marking something new in the way of film entertainment the “Swiss Family Robinson" which begins at the King's Theatre to-morrow, comes as a vivid picturisation of the intensely human story that has been beloved by generations of readers. It deals intimately and vividly with the adventures of a family wrecked on a South Sea island, and with their regeneration after a struggle with nature in the raw. A Swiss merchant in London feels that the shams and pleasureseeking of London society, coupled with the warlike atmosphere and uncertainty of the Napoleonic period, are rapidly spoiling his four children. In a desperate effort to make men of them, he sells his home and business and with lii.s family takes passage on a sailing vessel bound for Australia, where lie hopes to create a new life for those he loves. But the vessel is wrecked on a reef during a storm, and the Robinsons arc the only survivors. When the storm subsides, the Robinsons build a crude raft by which they reach a luxuriant tropic island. There they establish their home, bringing live-stock and tools from the wrecked brig. After a series of adventures that tax their resources to the utmost and that provide a wealth of thrills for the audL ence, the father brings his family to a real understanding, reconciles his wife to his ideas, and sees the boys become the self-reliant young men that lie hoped they would be. And when finally an English ship visits their island paradise, the Robinson family has found itself. Thomas Mitchell, one of America's greatest character actors, plays the idealistic father. Edna Best, the famous British actress, is seen as the wife who blames her husband for their plight. And the four boys are portrayed by Freddie Bartholomew. Terry Kilburn, Tim Holt and Baby Bobby Quilian - a quartet of the most talented juveniles in pictures. Much of the action of "Swiss. Family Robinson" takes place against one of the most picturesque backgrounds ever brought to the silver sheet —a tropic island with its barrier reef, lagoons and a sparkling river, and covered • with a vast forest and huge palms, magnolias, pandanus, tamarinds and other native trees. One of the most unique settings of the picture is the amazing treehouse constructed in a giant tamarind. Against this background occur the exciting crises of the story—the wrecking of the brig on the jagged | reef. Jack’s rescue of hys father from drowning, the terrific electrical storm | that splinters the great trees on the : island into matchwood, destroys the 1 family’s home and smashes the boat > they are building. And these crises parallel .the gripping emotional drama ] of the story itself—Robinson’s dogged , efforts to convince his uncompre- j hending wife that their greatest ' duty is to make men of their sons. , not parasites. It is this drama which ] has made “Swiss Family Robinson’ j the human document that it is, and i which has been so vividly brought | to the screen in this offering. (

REGENT THEATRE LAST DAY: MICKEY ROONEY IN “BABES IN ARMS” Tuneful song “hits” and the infectious gaiety of the talented young cast make “Babes in Arms,” the .main attraction at the Regent Theatre to-day, entertainment that should appeal to all tastes. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland lilt the leading roles, the former’s most amusing moments being his impersonation of Clark Gable and Lionel Barrymore. Guy Kibbee. Charles Winninger and Barnet Parker head the supporting players. A splendid supporting programme also will be shown.

—To-morrow: Gary Cooper in the New “Beau Geste" A roaring, lusty tale of the indomitable gallantry of three loyal brothers will blaze across the screen of the Regent Theatre when Paramount's new production of “Beau Geste” is presented to-morrow to local audiences for the first time. Gary Cooper, Ray Milland and Robert Preston, are starred in ‘this glorious picturisation of the P. C. Wren novel, produced and directed by William A. Wellman. The supporting cast is headed by Brian Donlevy. Susan (Hayward, J. Carrol Naisli, Donald O’Connor and James Stephenson. Thousands of other players round out the cast, serving as legionnaires, and members of wild desert tribes. With Cooper, Milland and Preston cast as the three brothers—“ Beau,” John and Digby, respectively, the picture tells how they gallantly join the French Foreign Legion to avert having the finger of suspicion point at any of them as guilty ot the theft of a valuable sapphire, the “Blue Water,” from their guardian. In the legion, / there is desperate conflict between the brothers and a mad, brutal sergeant Markoff, played by Brian Donlevy, who. suspecting that one of the brothers has the gem in his possession, determines to get it for himself. The picture reaches high peaks of adventure when Markoff, . having chosen only “Beau” and John for duty at an isolated desert fort, Fort Zinderneuf, gains command, and drives the men to mutiny with his savage treatment. I-lis efforts to force “Beau” and John to shoot the leaders of the mutineers are interrupted b.v an attack by a wild desert tribe, the Touaregs. As the Legionnaires are killed in successive attacks, Markoff props their bodies in the fort’s embrasures fo create the impression that it is still well-manned. A violent climax is readied when “Bead” is fatally wounded, and John plunges a bayonet through Markoff’s chest as the latter tries to search “Beau" for the jewel The ultimate fate of the brothers Geste and of the ,iewel is explained in an exciting flashback in which Digby figures prominently. Although “Beau Geste” is predominantly a great adventure picture, there are many romantic scenes in which Ray Milland and Susan Hayward, cast as Ihc lovely ward of the Geste brothers’ guardian, figure prominently. —Saturday, 10.30 a.m.: “Nechlo’s" Talent Quest, and “Checkers”'— Saturday morning at the Regent Theatre should prove most entertaining with another series of “Neddo's” talent quest. Great interest has been shown through these quests, and now that they are drawing to the final stage they will be very interesting. The picture this week is “Checkers,"

starring Jane Withers. The box plan is now on view at the Regent. MAJESTIC THEATRE lIOPALONG CASSIDY IN “RANGE WAR.” AND “WHAT A LIFE" “Range War.” the newest and best of all Paramount’s popular “Hopalong Cassidy” outdoor films, brimming v/Uh action, thrills and romance, will be presented to-day at the Majestic Theatre. With William Boyd seen again, as the hard-riding straight- 1 shooting “Hopalong,” and Russell Hayden as “Lucky,” his saddlemate ol many a range adventure, the Clarence E. Mulford story deals with “Hopalong’s” efforts to trap a wily, wealthy landowner who is trying to prevent ranchers from building a railroad spur which would make it unnecessary for them to pay tolls for their cattle to cross his property. Woven into the action of the story is a romance involving Russell Hayden find Betty Moran, cast as‘the daughter of the rancher who is in charge of the building of the railroad spur, and “Hopalong" has a new saddlemate in Britt "Speedy” Wood, harmonicaplaying favourite. A delightfully typical schoolboy with a super-agility for getting into trouble is the central figure of Paramount's scholastic com-edy-drama. “What a Life." Jackie Cooper is the star, portraying the role of Henry Aldrich. The picture tells of his many tribulations—of how every teacher always associated i-lenry with any trouble that occurred. After cheating at an examination, Henry is expelled from the school, and then, to add to his woes, lie is accused of the theft of some hand instruments. How lie clears himself and discovers the true perpetrator of the crime provide some excitement amidst the laughs predominant throughout the film. Also in the cast of “Whip a Life" are Betty Field and Janice Logan, two members of Paramount’s Golden Circle, Joint Howard, Vaughan Glaser and Hedria Hopper. By request the serial, “The Green Hornet,” will be screened just, before the interval, approximately at 9 p.m.