ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 May 1936, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

MYRNA LOY-SPENCER TRACEY IN “WHIPSAW,” “DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY” FINALLY TO NIGHT “Death Takes a Holiday,” now in the last day of its season at the Majestic, presents' Fredric March in the starring role as a “Shadow,” Death. For three days this strange figure takes a holiday from bis grim task to taste life as a human being, to discover if he can, what makes life so sweet, and himself, Death, so abhorrent. In addition to Evelyn Venables, who plays opposite March, other outstanding players are Sir Guy Standing, Kent Taylor, each of whom gives a splendid performance in this most audacious screen play. _ Not one. but three exceptional attract tions are listed for screening at the Majestic commencing to-morrow at the matinee. The featured film, “Whipsaw,” one of Metro-Golchvyn-Mayer’s important offerings of the new season, introduces Myrna Roy with Spencer Tracey in her first starring role, after ail absence of some months from the screen. The plot of this adventure, romancedrama, concerns itself with smuggled jewels, which Miss Loy, as a member of an international ring of jewel thieves, is presumed to have in her possession. Tracey is a secret service man, who attempts to trap her through romantic intrigue. He manoeuvres her into a situation in which she must pass as his wife and the story moves swiftly through a chain of events keeping excitement and suspense at fever heat. The supporting attractions, Laurel and Hardy in another of their classical gems, “Fixed Uppers” and “Camera Thrills,” a vivid record of the adventures encountered by a newsreel cameraman in bis daily search for sensationalism orovide the highlights in a really entertaining programme. STATE: “THE PASSING _OF THE THIRD FLOOR BACK” FINALLY TO NIGHT. “LAST DAYS OF POMPEII” TOMORROW Conrad Veidt will be seen to-niglit at the State for the last time in “The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” which has created no little comment. The story which is identical with the stage play is absolutely out of the ordinary and is treated with superlative artistry , by an almost perfect cast headed by : Veidt in the part of “The Stranger.” To-mor-row’s picture is spectacle on the lavish scale. “The Last Days of Pompeii” tells a story as true to-day as it was nineteen centuries ago—drama that is amazing beidve .your very eyes —man against man until'death iii “games”—pagan revelry midst architectural splendour—the eruption of the mighty Vesuvius—the, breaking up of a magnificent city—the fearmaddened mobs struggling from a doom that is inevitable. Throughout the story, the stern Roman code governing slaves is depicted, and the extreme cruelty to which they were subjected. “The Last Days of Pompeii” is a revelation as well as entertainment that assumes the pinnacle of perfection. The pages of history are turned back nineteen centuries to reveal on the screen the lesser-known facts that served to break the mightiest Empire of the time. Few pictures have ever surpassed this. blaze of pagan revelry in sheer filmcraft and magnificence of settings. Patrons are reminded that telephone reserves cannot be held later than 7.30 p.m.

REGENT FINALLY TO-NIGHT: VICTOR HUGO’S MASTERPIECE, “LES MISERABLES.” SATURDAY, COMEDY, AND THRILL SENSATION, “SHE , COULDN’T TAKE IT” The picturisation of; “Lesl Miserables” can unhesitatingly be describe'd; 4 s a cinematic achievement and it- was inevitable that this powerful story should be brought back to the Regent by popular request. It flings the salient features of Hugo’s narrative on the screen in sweeping strokes, and is a masterpiece of condensation. “Les Miserables” stars the screens’ mightiest actors Charles Laughton and Fredric March and there is also a third of note in Sir. Cedric Hardwicke. Apart from the power of the story and the great interest it creates, a fascinating aspect of the picture lies in a comparison with the acting of March and Laughton. Each in his respective role does excellent work, so nlucli so that it is something that will be remembered. There is a firsKclass supporting programme. The eagerly awaited opening of what has been acclaimed as the fastest film fun in months, “She Couldn’t Take It” will take place on Saturday. This is the film which has heaped new honours on George Raft and Joan Bennett which have not been equalled in filmdom for some time- Raft, seen as the determined ex-gangster, Spot Ricardi, returns to a comedy-tempered modification of Iris famous roles in “Scarface.” “Quick Millions,” and “Hush Money.” The blonde and beauteous Miss Bennett, whose recent performance in “Private Worlds” established her as one of screendonTs most versatile actresses, plays opposite Raft as Ihe petulant, madcap heiress who gets her own way too often. Featured in the supporting cast are Walter Connolly, patriarch and patron of his family’s tempestuous escapades; Billie Burke, as his giddy, scatter-brained wife, and Wallace Ford in the familar role of one who says too much and thinks too little.