AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 158, 20 June 1935, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

— REGENT THEATRE A REMARKABLE PICTURE As has been the experience elsewhere, the Hastings public has given an enthusiastic reception to “Lives of a Bengal Lancer” at the Regent. This film concludes to-morrow evening. Taking the attendances so far as a criterion, this remarkable and stirring and extremely beautiful picture will be among the most popular of the year. It deserves all the praise that has been given it. There is some quality in it that defies definition, and that makes it quite different from anything else of the romantic-adventurous kind that tho film-producers have yet evolved. 'There is some comedy in it, and very lightsome and natural comedy too. But that element is merely a leavening to the sincere and restrained drama underlying the story of a handful of British officers serving on the Indian Frontier. Not the least of tho finely portrayed dramatic themes is the battle which is waged in the heart of the colonel of tho frontier outpost when he is confronted with his son who has come unannounced to join Ins father’s regiment. UNUSUAL JUNGLE FILM “Sequoia” the long-awaited film which will commence its Hastiugs season at the Regent on Saturday, is said to contain some of tho most beautiful and artistic photography seen on the screen since “Man of Aran.” With the Sequoia National Park, in the high Sierras, the film unfolds the unusual story of a love between a deer and a mountain lion. Some remarkable animal scenes are included, while human romantic interest is provided by Russell Hardie and Jean Parker, one of the beautiful actresses who appeared in “Little Women”. Oversea critics describe “Sequoia” as one of tho most wholesome, entertaining and thoroughly delightful productions of its type to have been seen for many years. COSY THEATRE CENE GERRARD IN COMEDY “There Goos Susie,” the British Dominions film which will be at tho (Joey Theatre to-day, is a sparkling comedy with romance and music. This cheery picture presents genial Gene Gerrard as ar. impecunious artist (Andre Cochet) in love with a wealthy soap manufacturer’s daughter (Madeline Sarteaur). For patrons who enjoy a good song and plenty of sparkling comedy, here is entertainment of the first water. Gene Gerrard invests the role of Cochet with his customary charm, bringing all his well-known resource to the role. Wendy Barrie is attractive and charming as Madeline, and Gus McNaughton provides much fun as the faithful old servant and valet whilst Zelma O’Neal gives another first-rate original performance. Previously Gene’s film parts suffered consistently from the mother-in-law blight, but in “There Goes Susie” there are no domineering features. This bright and unusual production was directed by John Stafford and W. Victor Hanbury. Britain has given us many excellent comedies in the past, but “There Goes Susie” has many directorial touches as deft as those of Lubitsch himself. It has a happy, carefree atmosphere that should appeal to all types of theatregoers. ARCADIA THEATRE TWO COOD COMEDIES. “Topaze,” R.K.0.-Radio picture playing at the Arcadia Theatre today, recommends itself on many counts.. In the first place, it stars John Barrymore. In tho second, it is a very smooth and brilliant version of the play that was an outstanding success in Paris and New York. Then again, it is comedy-. Brittle, fresh,* sparkling and utterly nonsensical comedy—a thing Barrymore does so splendidly and so seldom. Brilliantly acted* with an exceptionally beautiful mounting and expert direction, “Topaze” has a French savour that is distinctly refreshing and gay. Co-starring with Barrymore is Myrna Loy. The English comedy, “Excess Baggage,” which is also on the programme at the Arcadia to-day, starts out by being frankly an extravaganza, ft begins on a note of complete and comical absurdity and maintains the absurdity and comicality right tho way through to the very end in a manner which shoud assure it of its quota of laughs from any type of audience. The main players are Claude Allister, Frank Pettingell and Sydney Fairbrothcr.

STATE THEATRE “THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH.” “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” the Gaumont-British film which screens at the Hastings State Theatre to-day, is a real melodramatic thriller, a British picture that is altogether firstrate entertainment and has been aptly described as good. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, who has once again demonstrated his flair for the rapid action story with backgrounds of reality. Tho story is human although its aspects arc, fortunately for Peace of mind, unusual. Thu father (with wife and little daughter) on holiday in Switzerland, obeying the dying behest of a Secret Service agent, finds and holds a vital clue to the intentions of a gang of terrorists who have planned to kill a foreign dignitary when he visits England. He knows too much and his daughter is kidnapped—if ho reveals his knowledge, she will die. A particularly strong cast enacts this line story: Leslie Banks, Edna Best, Nova I’ilbeam (heroine of “Little Friend”), Frank Vesper, Peter Lorre, and others. ARLISS IX “THE 11,‘OX DUKE” ' One of the greatest films ever pro duced in any studio, whether British or American, is “The Iron Duke,” recently completed by Gaumont-British, and which is the first British screen appearance of the eminent English actor, George Arliss. The Gaumont-British organisation has distinguished itself by the conception, scope and treatment of this inspiring spectacle of European history, vividly depicted by the camera i in such impressive scenes as those which occur in the sequence representing the > historical Battle of Waterloo. The i film comes to the State Theatre on Saturday. The picture is the perfect l Arliss vehicle. “The first gentleman of

the screen” has excelled himself in this splendid dramatic portrait of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington. For ■sheer virtuosity it surpasses his “Disraeli,” his “Rothschild” and every other character-study he has presented. Masterful, grim, remorseful, playful, obdurate, scornful —flashes of all these reactions in the complex character of the great Duke illuminate the interpretation, each as the situation of the moment demands. Behind the soldier and the statesman there is always the man; and it is through his sensitive divination of the human side of Wellington that Mr Arliss has found his way into the very heart of the character.