ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 20 June 1936, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

EMPIRE EPIC FILM, “THE LAST OUTPOST” WITH CLAUDE RAINS, CARY GRANT, COLIN TAPLEY AT MAJESTIC TO-DAY The tale of two courageous and gallant officers on active service in India and Egypt during the war is unfolded in “The Last Outpost” one of the most dramatic soldiering tales of recent years, which heads the Majestic Theatre programme today. The story is centred on a character strikingly reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia, and with its theme of British military valour and daring in the farflung outposts of Empire this new film has a similar appeal to “Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” but has romantic interest in the persons of Gertrude Michael and Kathleen Burke. The plot is developed in three different locales—-in Kurdistan, where two British officers (Claude Rains and Gary Grant.) foil an attempt by the Turks to strike at India; in a hospital, where one of the officers (Grant) falls in iove with a nurse (Gertrude Michael), not knowing her to be the wife of his comrade-in-arms; and in the Sudan, where there are thrilling scenes of desert warfare, mass attacks by enemy tribesmen on lonely outposts of British troops, and a gallant lastminuter escue. It is in the Sudan that the strange romantic problem evolved in Cairo is finally solved. Claude Rains is cast as the secret service agent, Stevenson, and .Cary Grant plays the role of his brotherofficer. A fairly important role is played by Colin Tapley, the New Zealand actor. The supporting programme includes “Cavalcade of Music,” a musical novelty; “Hooked Lightning,” a Sportlight film; the popular Cinesound Gazette, and the British Sound News. Booking plans are as advertised. Patrons are reminded of the necessity of collecting telephone reservations by 7.30 p.m.

STATE: ASTAIRE-RGGERS IN “FOLLOW THE FLEET”

There doesn’t seem to be any limit to the rhythmic exuberance that the talented Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers can invent. Critics declared “Top Hat” was their greatest, but Astaire, Miss Rogers and a stellor cast have conspired in production of “Follow the Fleet” to make reviewers dig deep for new superlatives. This time Miss Rogers whose whirlwind stepping has always been done in a team number with her co-star in their previous hits, solos for the first time in “Follow the Fleet.” This first lady of the personality dance does it alone to the catchy rhythm of “Let Yourself Go,” one of seven songs composed for the nautical RICO Radio romance by Irving Berlin. As in “The Gay Divorcee,” “Roberta” and “Top Hat,” however, the co-starring masters of melody and rhythm combine their talents, doing three numbers that range from interpretive to comedy pantomine. The paces are set by “All My Eggs in One Basket,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” and “Let Yourself Go”—all by Berlin, who again as in “Top Hat,” has contributed the complete musical score. Astaire abandons top hat and tails for a sailor’s blues as a lad from the battle fleet with music in his soul and wings on his feet, whose only ambitions are to lead a band and marry the girl—whose romantic road is as rough as the Atlantic in February. Ginger brews the storms as an entertainer whom bad luck has landed on the singer’s stand of a dance hall. The picture’s cargo of romance and melody is added to by Harriet Hilliard, brought from the national broadcasting studios in New York to make her screen debut in a romantic team with Randolph Scott who plays a sailor buddy of Astaire. Astrid Allwyn makes their affair a turbulent triangle.

REGENT TO-NIGHT AND MONDAY “EXCLUSIVE STORY” WITH FRANCHOT TONJ2 AND MADGE EVANS Fashioned on three great news events, “Exclusive Story” is justly heralded as one of the most exciting pictures yet screened and gives, conclusive proof that truth is stranger than fiction. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have indeed sprung a surprise in this exciting film which commences its two day season to-morrow. Franchot Tone clings to the rung he reached with “Mutiny on the Bounty,” and he is ably supported by the lovely Madge Evans. “Exclusive Story” was written by Martin Mooney, who it will be remembered was sentenced by a grand jury for refusing to divulge his source of information anent his crusade against the racketeer overlords of New York. The film is thrilling in the extreme and amazing because it is true. It weaves into its plot three major

events, the “Policy Racket,” the Morro Castle fire, and activities of “G” men. Stuart Erwin, Joseph Calleia, and many other well known names from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio are assembled with Tone and Miss Evans in this exciting picture, which is also in that for the filming of the story no fewer than 30 different sets were used. The “interiors” of these include cabin scenes on a ship burning A': sea, scenes on a rescue ship, a police station at the time of a night raid, a publisher’s office, a newspaper city room in full swing of last-minute activity, a hospital, a gambler’s headquarters when a trap is laid, and a night club in a smart hotel. The “exteriors” concern an aeroplane flying low over the ocean in a fog, various New York streets from Harlem to the Battery, and several thrilling sequences at sea. Commencing at the special 2.30 session on Tuesday (the King’s birthday) the Regent will celebrate the occasion with an excellent British programme consisting of “No Limit” a really good comedy thriller which uses for its background the famous Isle of Man Tourist Trophy contest. An interesting and entertaining documentary film sponsored by the 8.8. C. and entitled “The Voice of Britain’ deals with life behind the scenes at Broadcasting House. The following well known personalities are presented, Mr Stanley Baldwin, Ramsay McDonald, Sir John Simon, Bernard Shaw, J. B. Priestley, H. G. Wells, Sir Josiah Stamp, Clapham and Dwyer, the 8.8. C. Dance Orchestra and also the Symphony Orchestra.