AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20477, 11 February 1941, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

- REGENT THEATRE

“NEW MOON”: ATTRACTIVE

SINGING

Solos and choruses are sei against extravagant backgrounds in “New Yoon.” which is enjoying a successful season at the Regent Theatre. Nelson Eddy appears as a bondsman who is really a French duke, bought as a

cutler for a New Orleans planter, porrayed by Jeanette MacDonald. They nsult one another for a long time and eventually become wrecked on an unnhabited island with large numbers if other men and women before love vnunphs in a setting full of encour-

agement. .Teanctte MacDonald commands a wider number of tricks and gestures, and these give background for her share of the singing. Others in the cast are Mary Boland aS Jeanette MacDonald's aunt, George Zucco. John Miljan, Grant Mitchell -nd 1-1. B. Warner. The role of a priest has fallen to H. B. Warner only three limes in his career, and each time it has been in a Robert Z. Leonard picture. His latest characterisation is in “New Moon." In it Warner portrays the role of the kindly Father Michel, guardian of 100 young women on their way to Martinique to marry settlers. When the ship capsizes in a storm and passengers and crew are tossed upon a tropic island, he becomes the priest of the republic set up by Eddy. Born in London, and educated at its university college, Warner represents the fourth generation of his family in the acting profession. Ho was a stage star for many years in London and New York before he made his first appearance in films for Cecil B. De Mille in 1915 in •‘The Ghost Breaker." He returned to the stage, then came back to films for De Mille in 1925. Nominee’ for the Academy Award for supporting players in 1937, due to his work in “Lost Horizon,” he has been appearing in one role after another during recent years, among his recent pictures being “The Girl of the Golden West,” “Kidnapped” and “The Toy Wife.” MAJESTIC THEATRE VIRGINIA BRUCE IN “FLIGHT ANGELS” “Flight Angels,” which opened at the head of the Majestic Theatre bill yesterday is a film of the skyways with a brand new twist. This Warner Brothers’ picture tells the story of airline hostesses, a theme which has never before been dealt with on the screen, and one which makes for drama until the final fade-out. Dennis Morgan, an ace pilot is grounded when his eyesight starts to fail. He is persuaded to accept a job as a teacher in a school for airline hostesses. The climax of the film is reached when Morgan makes a test flight in a new stratosphere plane, despite his poor eyesight. This particular scene must come very close to being one of the most exciting sequences ever filmed. More than 10(J girls appear in the film, all meeting the requirements set down by American Airlines—a very exacting employer of charming hostesses. Featuring Virginia Bruce and Jane Wyman, the cast also includes a number of mere men. headed by Dennis Morgan Ralph Bellamy and ‘Wayne Morris. A fine array of featurettes includes Captain Frank Hurley’s world-scoop film “'The Capture of Sidi Barrani”; a musical comedy. "Broadway Buckaroo”;

“Mechanics Illustrated." in colour; a comedy cartoon.; and the serial "Wild Bill Hicock.

KING’S THEATRE

THE RETURN OF THE FROG” AND “MANHATTAN HEARTBEAT"

In tht' Edgar Wallace thriller, “The Return of the Frog” Gordon Barker is again a detective, and in the vole of Inspector Elk, of Scotland Yard, lie is able to interest one on the serious side, while often convulsing one with laughter by his witty dialogue. The picture is crammed full-of thrills, and tiie fast action is sustained right until the denouement. The "Frogs” association, defeated previously by the same clever detective, has been resuscitatedunder a new head, Charles Lefeaux well concealed until the end. “Manhattan Heartbeat,” which introduced a new romantic team in Robert Stirling and Virginia Bruce, is a fast-moving comedy-drama of the trials and tribulations of the young folks of to-day.