ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 May 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

THRILL DRAMA, “WHIPSAW” AND SHORT FEATURES AT MAJESTIC.

Rarely, if ever has there been presented a better all round combination programme than that which was witnessed by crowded audiences at the Majestic on Saturday. Thrills, comedy and interest vie for supremacy in the first half of the programme, while the featured film “Whipsaw,” one oi' Metro-Goidwyn-Mayer’s important new season offering's, brings Myrna Loy with Spencer Tracey as her co-star, together for the first time. Miss Loy’s characterisation gives her an opportunity for the whimsical lightness she first displayed so fetchingly in “The Thin Mard’ and which marked her as a vivid new screen personality. The piot 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. Tracy 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 excitment and suspense at fever heat. A high-snot in

a programme of rare excellence is contained in “Camera Thrills,” taken by Universal newsreel cameramen,

ness that brings vividly to life, the story of those days of barbaric splendour and pagan revelry. The pages of history nave been turned back to present a true picture of one of the greatest eras in the history of man..

The adventurous career of that benign detective, Charlie Chan, very nearly comes to an untimely end as Warner Gland, again playing Chan in “Charlie Chan in Shanghai,” (which comes on Wednesday) ventures into China’s soaring metropolis to bran'-, e;, - dangerous gang of international smugglers. From the moment Chan sets foot in Shanghai, his adventures begin with the murder of his host, an English secret service man. Chan’s own life is menaced by mysterious assailants who shoot at him during the night, attempt to kidnap him. but fail to match his Oriental wile. Joining forces with the American secret service, Chan lakes up the threads of the crime. The Englishman’s secretary, Charles Lochcr, is suspected of the murder and held, despite the protasis of his lovely fiancee, Irene Hcrvey. The motives and the positions of the various members of the ■ drama become more and more involved until finally, in a thrilling gun fight in a water front cafe, Chan gets his men and uncovers the forces behind the mystery. Keys Luke, 'prominent Chinese actor, is featured as Chan’s son, and Russell Hicks and Haliiwell Hobbes are prominent in supporting roles. Patrons arc reminded that telephone reserves cannot be held after 7.30 p.m.

screen, alive with action, rollicking choruses and teeming' with thrilling adventure. It is a picture to be hailed with delight. One can almost smell the gunpowder and the tang of the salt seat as this immortal story is brought to bounding, vigorous life !on the screen. It is a film which cannot fail to appeal to every member of the family. Here is a tale of youth and high advetnure, of storms at sea, desperate fights and last minute rescues, of crashing broadsides and boarding parties, of encounters with Sicilian brigands and the saving of beauty in distress, and running through it all is the infectious humour of a young midshipman who went to sea in Nelson’s-- navy, firmly believing in the equality of man and willing to a?guc the point with all and sundry.