ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 January 1936, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC CLOSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS In the short space of a day quite a transformation has already been ellectecl in the Majestic. Almost half the scaffolding, which resembles a veritable forest has been erected and decorators are proceeding apace with the new interior colour scheme. The theatre will re-open again on Saturday January 18tli at tbe matinee with Jack London’s “Call of the Wild,” a gloriously different outdoor romance produced on a grand scale. Adapted to the screen, “Call of the Wild” remains realistic and exciting, while there is just that extra spice of romance which makes the fine picture more attractive. Clark Gable produces some of his best acting as Thornton, and Loretta Young as Claire Blake shows convincing transformation or her former roles. Jack Oakie is splendid as Shorty Hoolihan. Already there is a keen interest for seats for the premiere performances, plans for which are now open at tlie theatre. REGENT ATTRACTIONS: “RATH* ERINE HEPBURN IN “ALICE ADAMS” Commencing at the matinee today and screening to-night and to-morrow afternoon and evening, I3ooth Tarkington’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel “Alice Adams” will be presented with Katherine Hepburn in tlie title role. In this characterisation another triumph is added to her brilliant portrayals. Miss Hepburn creates in every mood, inflection of voice and mental attitude the part of the girl of poor family who pretends that she is someone important in the social scale and struggles through life, despite snubs, to find a basis for happiness. The book has been brilliantly adapted, to tbe screen, and in the incidents which reveal Alice Adams’s relation to her community there is a dramatic value which makes the film one well above the average in entertainment. Every character in “Alice. Adams” is vividly drawn. An exceedingly entertaining pre-interval session comprises two Pathe gazettes, a comedy, “In Love at Forty” and an all coloured symphony cartoon “Scotty Finds a Home.”

Commencing at the matinee on Thursday Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s enthralling picture “The Age of Indiscretion” will be introduced. Compelling in theme and daring in truth “The Age ol Indiscretion” is a society drama which deals with the rights of children when parents are divorced. Patrons of the cinema are reminded that a matinee will ho held at the Regent every afternoon at 2.30 this week. THEATRE ROYAL: “LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE,” THURSDAY The story in “Lightning Strikes Twice” is an unusual combination of the comic and melodramatic. It deals with the day’s experiences of a wealthy man, having one last lling with a friend before liis fiancee and his aunt arrive on the scene, and whose butler has a horror of cats. To this last point is keyed the laughably exciting “murder mystery” interwoven with the main theme. When the butler, unnerved by the meowing of a cat —black at that!—shoots into the darkness, things begin to happen. Police arrive, and another bullet accidentally knocks the cap from an officer, who drops through a manhole cover. Between this episode and its consequences, plus the fact that the butler disappears, giving rise to the conviction that he, too, has been slain, and tlie complications when aunt and fiancee arrive—separately —“Lightning Strikes Twice” develops an exciting twist of plot and sub-plot. A fan dancer and her male accomplice get tangled in the skein of happenings, and are mistaken by the aunt for the fiancee and her father. As the aunt, Laura Hope Crews gives a splendid characterisation. Thelma Todd is fine as thq sweetheart, with “Skeets” Gallagher scoring as the hero’s pal, and Ben Lyon shining as the hero himself. Walter Catlett and Pert Kelton, as the “mistaken identities,” furnish, some grand fun. Ollier good contributions are from Chick Chandler, as a reporter turned detective; Margaret Armstrong, as the maid, and John Davidson as the butler.