ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 15 June 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

“ROSE OF TIIE RANCHO” GLADYS SWARTIIOUT’S TRIUMPH One of the most delightful musical romances of the screen for some time in “Rose of the Rancho,” a-product of Paramount studios was presented to huge audiences at the Majcslic on Saturday. Co-starring Gladys Swarthout and John Boles, the film as an entertainment, deserves to rank among the best sound pictures of its type. It introduces to the screen a new singing star in Gladys Swarthout, of the metropolitan opera house. Gladys Swarthout reveals a glorious voice, an attractive appearance and acting ability. Her songs include operatic excerpts and popular numbers, and all are sung very charmingly. John Boles is her leading man, and he, too, contributes to the delightful musical score. The early scenes depict Monterey at the time when the Spanish landowners were striving to hold their ranches and property against the attacks of invading American land-grabbers. Endeavouring: to combat this menace is a band of faithful vigilantes led by a mysterious person known as Don Carlos. A price is laid on Don Carlos’ head, and a Federal agent from Washington (John Boles) is summoned to Monterey to investigate the situation. Charles Bickford as domineering leading of the raiders plays excellently; and Herbert Williams as an insurance agent and Willie Howard as the insured, about to die, are responsible for many funny episodes. Of all the numerous efforts to recapture the mood of “It Happened One Night,” Paramount’s new comedy, “Hands Across the Table” for Wednesday, must rank amongst the most successful. In the shrewd perfection of its timing and the whip-like crackle of its wit, the production is an outstanding example of the type of entertainment, for which Hollywood is unexcelled. Based on a story by Vina Delmar, the brilliantly written screen play presents Carole Lombard as a cynical manicurist, whose ambition is to defy the call of love and snare herself a wealthy husband. Fred MacMurray is the impoverished son of an aristocratic family who plans to wed an heiress for exactly the same reason. The humour is clean and many of the little by-play witticisms are especially delightful. “FIGHTING STOCK” TO-NIGHT AND TO-MORROW. GEORGE O’BRIEN AND ED. HORTON IN DOUBLE BILL AT STATE, WEDNESDAY. The never-flagging ability of Walls, Lynn and Hare, to keep audiences laughing is demonstrated again in “Fighting Stock” which is as good as anything they have made. This team has made its name in purely English comedy and in this film their efforts as knight’s errant to a distressed damsel, are guaranteed to keep any picturegoer in a state of hilarity, which is never allowed to die away for a single instant. The excitement of a gold rush, the primitive justice of the lawless West, the romance of a strong man and a lovely woman are the entertainment elements offered in Fox Film’s grand new film of- outdoor adventure, “Thunder Mountain,” which opens on Wednesday. Adapted from the novel by Zane Grey, famous writer of Western stories. “Thunder Mountain” stars George O’Brien with Barbara Fritchie and Frances ’ Grant in ihe principal romantic roles. The Idaho gold rush of the 1880’s is the scene of the film. The plot deals v/irh a man wiio staked his ail on a false woman’s love, lost and fought desperately to regain his fortune and to give his | love to a loyal girl. Edward Le Saint and Dean Benton are prominently featured in the picture which was directed by David Howard. Forjnore than a year movie natrons have demanded that Edward Everett Horton be made head man of a comedy instead of popping onto the screen briefly in every second reel to breathe life into pictures featuring less interesting personalities. “$lO Raise,” the new Fox Film picture which is the second feature on the programme, is the answer. Horton is co-featured with Karen Morley in the romance of a Romeo whose pay was enough to live on but not enough to love on. Everytirne he goes in like a lion, to the boss’ office, he goes out like a light, and the marriage gets indefinitely postponed. Recent pictures which have won Horton praise, are “The Merry Widow,” “The Gay Divorcee,” “Biography of a Bachelor Giri,” “The Night is Young” and “All the King’s Plorses.’’ The supporting cast is composed of Alan Dinehart, Glen Boles, Bertor. Churchill, Rosina Lawrence, Ray Walker, Frank Mellon and William Benedict. REGENT FINALLY TO-NIGHT: “TWO FISTED” AND “BIG EX ECUTIVE”. TUESDAY, "THE GLASS KEY” The double feature programme currently screening again proves the high standard of excellence attained by the Regent in their selection of entertainment to suit all tastes, Saturday’s audiences were high in their praise about “Two Fisted” and “Big Executive.” “Two Fisted” a grand comedy, full of breezy dialogue, and fast action stars Lee Tracy, R.oscoe Karns and Gail Patrick. There are many thrills in this film, too, incident mounting on incident until the climax is reached in an exciting boxing bout and even here comedy holds sway. The film has been adapted from the play .“Is Zat So?” which playgoers will remember received a triumphal season in New Zealand, when brought here some years ago by J. C. Williamson. The associate feature “Big Executive” has everything which makes for splendid entertainment. Ricardo Cortez, Elizabeth Young, Richard Bennett and Sharon Lynn head the cast of this exciting drama, which relates the story of a new-generation financier played by Ricardo Cortez, who skyrockets to fortune with his clever manipulations in the market. He has clear sailing until he attempts to swing a deal with a gruff, blustering old-school financial power, played by Richard Bennett. The story is convincing and compelling, the dialogue clever, with plenty of human interest and comedy, Ihe settings lavish and variedin fact everything it takes to please. Mystery addicts will have the opportunity of unravelling the intricacies of another Dashiell Hammett murder mystery with "The Glass Key” to be presented to-morrow and Wednesday afternoon and evening. This newest film from the justly famous author of “The Thin Man” stars George Raft in the type of role which first gained him stardom. In the well-rounded supporting cast are Edward Arnold, Claire Dodd, Rosalind Keith and Ray Miland. “The Glass Key” is undoubtedly one of the most tangled murder mysteries ever conceived.