AMUSEMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1937, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

T—r-r . r~* ( EVERYBODY’S PICTURES, TO-NIGHT! TO-NIGHT! “THE GREAT ZIEGFELD.” In attempting to portray on the screen the life of the great FJorenz . Ziegfeld, the man who ‘‘glorified the American girl,’’ and made the word “Follies’ 1 ' synonymous with all tliait was best in musical entertainment, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer undertook a task worthy of the firm’s enterprise, “The Great Ziegfeld,” rpakes history. It will ho a long time before anything like it is seen again. Everything is here, and when one tries to review its many great features, it is difficult to find.words to convey appreciation. Not only does a superb cast provide the background to the ups and downs of America's greatest showman, hut the infectious gaiety, brilliant spectacle, sparkling melody, V stirring drama and delightful humour all go to it s success. William Powr ell, dashing hero of many films, has '.never had. a part which suited him so well .as that of Ziegfeld. No actress could ; have been chosen to grace the leading lady’s role with more credit -than Myrna Loy, who plays Billie Burke. She and Powell have built up a tradition together for the bril'liance of their starring partnerships. In ’’The Great Ziegfeld,” she attains the pinnacle of her career. Another notable figure is Luis.e Rainer, the las cinating Viennese stage star, who portrays Anna Held, the Parisian s iuger .who was discovered and made world- | famous, by Ziegfeld. The cast in- * eludes scores of other figures, famous on stage and screen, of whom only a few can be mentioned. Frank Morgan, Fannie Brice, Virginia Bruce, Reginald Owen, Ray Bolger, Nat Pendleton/and. Jean Chatburn are some of the celebrities who sparkle in “The Great Ziegfeld.” Excerpts are shown from.-“ Rose Marie”, '“Show Boat,” “Sally,” and other world-famous, musical comedies originally staged by the great producer, and innumerable old and new melodies, the best in the notable collection of Follie hits, are a constant source of delight. Needless to say, hordes of' gorgeous Follies girls play their part. The story, which, . after all, is the main ingredient of the film, opens to show u s Ziegfeld as manager for Saiidow, “the strongest man in the world,” goes on to trace faithfully his meteoric rise to fame and fortune, and ends with his death. REGENT THEATRE. TO-DAY, TO-NIGHT, MONDAY. “UNDER TWO FLAGS.” Four great stars, a cast of ten thous and, and- a.'story.' th'at', flames with the intensity of Sahara’s burning sands, brings one of the -mightiest spectacledramas of motion picture history.to the screen, in 20th Century’s “Under Two Flags” now at the Regent Theatre. Topping the star-studed story of flaming love and smouldering rebellion are j Ronald Qblrnan, Claudette Colbert, i McLaglen and Rosalind Russell, | who lead a, supporting . cast of forty I . character stars and, numberless extras. The setting of the story is a sun-baked ] post,of empire on the edge of the Ba- | is.the hard-bitten com-J i'jnander of a battalion of Legionaires T ax'd his outstanding' soldier ,i s Ronald . Cdi’man. The supporting cast is filled! with such superlative performers as Gregory Ratoff, Nigel Bruce, C. Henry Gordon, Herbert Mundin and J. Edward IBrmnberg, star of the New York stage l making hi s film debut.. Personally pro- J dimed by Darryl F, Zanuck, and was ! directed by Frank Lloyd.