ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 22 June 1937, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS MAJESTIC FINALLY TO-NIGHT, “BORN TO DANCE.” AT THE MATINEE TO-MORROW WALLACE BEERY IN “OLD HUTCH.” COMING SATURDAY “CHINA CLIPPER.” A sparkling musical romance “Born to Dance” concludes its fun-filled season to-night. Starring the world’s greatest female tap dancer, Eleanor Powell, who is ably assisted by a bright cast of comedians and boasting many spectacular settings this Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer production has much to commend it to the picture lover. That grand old actor Wallace Beery plays one of his most human roles in “The Adventures of Old Hutch” which commences a season at the matinee to-mor-row. The story will be remembered from its original appearance in “The Saturday Evening Post.” The author was Garret Smith. The narrative is ,an acount of the highly amusing adventures of the laziest man in town, following his discovery of £25,000 in thousand dollar bills. Beery in the title role is at his best while an able supporting cast includes Eric Linden, Cecilia Parker and Elizabeth Patterson. An entertaining bracket of short subjects on the programme include News services, a colour musical cartoon, and an “Our Gang” comedy. Made with remarkable restraint “China Clipper” which commences a Majrs'i? season on Saturday next still has all the thrill of a great description of aviation. It is an American description, concerned with the aspirations, the disappointments and the achievements of American flying but it is none the less tensely exciting and interesting. In the film you see all the incidents that lead up to the great aeroplane “China Clipper” making her famous voyage across the Pacific. Pat O’Brien, Ross Alexander, Humphrey Bogart and Beverly Roberts head the talented cast. Patrons are advised to make early reservation.

STATE: LAST TWO DAYS OF “TEXAS RANGERS.” THURSDAY, THE ALL-TECHNICOLOUR SENSATION “BECKY SHARP.”

“Texas Rangers” again proved its popularity last night by drawing a big audience. Dedicated to the men who formed an organisation in order to preserve law and order in the state of Texas, this film is acclaimed as being ideal picture entertainment. A picture of magnificent beauty is the film “Becky Ssharp”—a lavish production screened in entirety in technicolour. Adapted from William Makepeace Thackery’s immortal book “Vanity Fair,” it has beautiful Miriam Hopkins in the leading role. From' the drab, cheerless quarters of a menial, in ’ the home of an aristocratic old maiden lady of the early nineteenth century, to the brilliant court of the Prince Regent, who later became George IV of England, is the career of the vivacious, beautiful and clever Thackeray heroine, Becky Sharp. Miriam Hopkins, as the' sparkling Becky, overrides the towering social barriers that her insignificant birth have thrown up against her. She reaches a pinnacle of triumph when she astounds noble society by her intimate, whisper I conversation with the Prince Regent during her presentation; court. In this masterpiece of literature which has come down through the legitimate stage, and the silent and talking screens to grace the beginning of the full-colour era in motion pictures, it is pointedly demonstrated that any objective can be reached if it is sought with sufficient fervor and also can not last. Miss Hopkins brings a sparkling personality to the picture that the original Becky would have difficulty in matching. She follows in the footsteps of the beloved Mrs Fiske who gave the stage a notable interpretation of the Thackeray heroine. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, as the old roue Lord Steyne, brings all of his great ability, that won him the distinction of English knighthood, to the role. Nigel Bruce, Alison Skipworth, Alan Mowbray, Frances Dee and Billie Burke are included in the picture’s great cast. “Champagne Waltz” will be screened commencing Saturday.

REGENT, NOW SHOWING: “HEAT WAVE” AND “HARD ROCK HARRIGAN,” GUEST NIGHT ATTRACTIONS

Commencing to-night at the Regent is another popular Guest Night programme. The two features are outstanding attractions, and both are first class entertainment. “Heat Wave” features Cyril Maude, Vera Pearce and Albert Burdon in the leading roles. Set in a typical South American background. in the picturesque little town of San Felipe, the story develops the adventures of Albert Speed, a wholesale seedsman and vegetable merchant, who visits the place on the eve of a revolution. Hoffman a gun-runner, is aboard the boat that brought Speed, and is awaiting an opportunity to lan-l his supplies for the revolutionaries. As luck would have it, the names of vegetables Were chosen as code words for references to rifles and ammunition, and the innocent Speed, mistaken for Hoffman, becomes involved in a maze of high-speed, farcical adventure, ranging from riot and revolution to comedy romance, finally escaping the consequences of all. George O’Brien and Irene Hervey are the featured players in “Hard Rock Harrigan,” an exciting and breathless picture depicting the lives of tunnel workers. Patrons are advised to be early and avoid disappointment.