AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

majestic theatre LAST DAY; “CALL A MESSENGER” AND “MISSING EVIDENCE” Hunt Hall and Billy Halop, two of tlie “Dead End Kids,” and the “Little Tough Guys” are featured in “Call a Messenger,” the main attraction at the Majestic Theatre. There is plenty of . action. The little tough guys this time are on the side of law and order. The associate thriller, “Missing Evidence,” stars Preston Foster and Irene Hervey. —Monday: “The Man From Montreal” And “Behind Prison Gates” — Richard, Arl'eh and Andy _ Devine share starring honours in Universal'? drama of the Canadian north-woods, “Man From Montreal,” which comes on Monday to the Majestic Theatre. Unusual action scenes, romance and a strong element of suspense are said to be combined m this picture, which has Kay Sutton and Anne Gwynnc in the leading feminine roles opposite the stars. Others in the cast include Reed Hadley, Addison Richards, Joseph Sawyer, Jerry Marlowe, Eddy C. Waller and Lane Chandler. Aflcn is seen as the young Canadian fur trapper who falls in love with a girl who betrays his devotion. Serious complications develop when Arlen is falsely arrested and charged with fur thefts and murder. Devine portrays tlie friendly mounted officer who comes to Aden’s aid and helps him bring the real criminals, tp justice.. Highlights of the story include tights between mounted police and fur thieves. Hailed as a, dramatic revelation on the,inside workings, of a huge penitentiary., is Columbia’s , “Behind Prison Gates.” which .is the, associate feature. More than three-quarters of the film takes place within the wails of a large cellblock .and startling exposure? are sai’d to be made of the manners and habits of present-day prison life. A new and novel element is injected when a daredevil detective masquerades as a convict in order to get a gang of desperate criminals. Brian Donlevy, who is now famous for his powerful characterisation of Sergeant Markoff in “Beau G'este.” portrays a member of the State Attorney-Gen-eral's office who is trailing a gang of bank robbers. The clever crooks get themselves in gaol.for a minor offence so as to divert suspicion from themselves. The detective is .sentenced to the same, prison and then the fun begins. The mounting tension, bursts its bonds with a gaol break, and .from there the film goes to its interesting finish. KING’S THEATRE “RAFFLES": EXCITING FILM Based on ..the, famous story by HornuWg; “Raffles,” how drawing pack'e.cl houses to the .Icing's ,Theatre, continues .to cigligbt large crowds with its hurnour,, excitement and romance. In the,. title role, as tlie aristocratic thief, test, match cricketer, and society is David Niven, .(now in, the Royal Air Force at Home), and oppo- j site him is the .beautiful, Olivia de j Havilland. Raffles baffles. Scotland Yard, with' his dating.ro'oberie?, most of which are committed with', some charitable motive. , When, however, he becomes engaged to a charming young lady, he swears to leave the, life oi crime. Tlie. supports include a “March of Time.” featuring “Crisis in the Pacific.” REGENT THEATRE “RULERS OF THE SEA,” WITH DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, .TUN. “Rulers of the Sea’,’ now showing at the Regent Theatre, is a seafaring filn) of outstanding merit. Taking its titlf into consideration, one might mistake it for a navy picture, but, in fact, it ijs based on the story of the battle between sail and steam which raged early in the nineteenth century. One of the most remarkable features of a fine film' is the beauty and realism of the scenes at sea. There is nothing more appealing on the screen than the sight of tall ships under canvas, and “Riders of the Sea” shows both sailing ships and early steamers in calm and storm. Despite all this, and despite the fact that some of the action takps place in tlie engine-room of a steamer of 1838, there are no anachronisms. The job has been well done, and the result is a film which should make a deep impression on tlfose who see it. Douglas Fairbanks, jun., Will Fyfi'e, and Margaret Lockwood head the cast. The associate programme includes “The Battle of Narvik,” which was taken on board a British battleship during the action. This is a remarkable film and the first to be shown of the real battle. The balance of the featurettes are of the Regent’s high quality. On Monday there will be three sessions, 2,5, and 8 p.m., and intending patrons are advised to reserve immediately.