ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 26 January 1939, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS MAJESTIC FINALLY TO-NIGHT-UNIT PROGRAMME AND “WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN.” AT 2 P.M. TO-MORROW SPECIAL “THE TEXANS.” A new acting trio that could be well teamed again for other vehicles, Herbert Marshall, Virginia Bruce and Mary Astor. are together for the first time iri Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s polished production “Woman Against Woman" which screens finally to-night. Marshall gives a convincing and appealing portrait of the husband in this picturisation of Margaret Culkin Banning's story, “Enemy Territory,” dealing with a second wife w r ho fights against public censure in her husband’s home town. Miss Bruce and Miss Astor, who plays the unsympathetic first wife, present a vivid contrast in appearance and types of beauty, at the same time contributing compelling characterisations of exacting roles. Outstanding in the supporting cast are Janet Beecher, Marj jorie Rambeau, Juanita Quigley, Zeffie Tilbury, Sarah Padden and Betty Ross | Clarke, an exceptionally strong supporting programme includes as usual news service, an historical mystery, a Metro miniature musical, another of the “Crime Doesn’t Pay” series and a cartoon. A picture with a great amount of movement, incident and a rapid succession of events that keeps the attention from wandering is “The Texans,” which commences at 2 p.m. to-morrow. Extraordinary care has been lavished upon detail and made very spectacular with natural forces largely contributing, such as fires and storms, while fights with the Indians hit up the thrills and suspense. It goes back to the Civil War period in America, after the war when law and order is struggling to lift its head above the chaos and to re-orga-nise life upon sane grounds. May Robson and grand-daugl t er, Joan Bennett, are the owners of large estates and huge herds of cattle, which the new government has cast eenvious eyes upon with intent to grab and tax. Randolph Scott advises them to get out of the taxing area and to take their cattle to Kansas and sell them there. This they attempt to do, and are pursued by government cavalry with Robert Barrat leading up hill and down dale, through every kind of hardship and obstacle that cature knows how to present. “The Texans” is a notable film about cowboys and Indians. On account of its historical background it is as interesting to sober as well as to frivolous theatre-goers. STATE: LAST NIGHT OF “OH. MR PORTER.” TO-MORROW AT 2 P.M., MADELEINE CARROLL IN “BLOCKADE”, SENSATIONAL DRAMA OF THE YEAR. A large audience last evening attended the State to witness one of the finest laughs it is possible to see. By this is meant Will Hay in “Oh Mr Porter” surpassing all his previous pictures in a riot that leaves you helpless with laughter. Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt supply Loads of grins in support. The most dramatic situation of the present day—the Spanish civil warforms the background of the tempestuous love story which is told in “Blockade,” Walter Wanger’s thrilling romantic drama which str.rs Madeleine Carroll and Henry Fonda. This is the romance of a man and a girl drawn into the conflict almost against their willlovers who were at the same time bitter enemies. “Blockade,” though it employs the war only as a background and favours neither side in the conflict, furnishes a highly interesting and remarkably accurate picture of Spain’s civil strife. Produced on a lavish scale, its many elaborate settings are outstanding examples of Hollywood’s uncanny skill in achieving realism in locale and atmosphere. This unusual picture was directed by Wililam Dieterle, whose recent “Life of Emile Zola’* was adjudged by vote of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences the greatest motion picture of 1937. In addition to Leo Carrillo, the cast supporting Miss Carroll and Fonda in “Blockade” includes John Halliday, Reginald Denny, Vladimir Sokoloff and Robert Warwick. Excellent featyrettes consist of two fine travelogues, a Pathe the weekly Fox Aussie News. Plans which are filling fast are open at Beggs. REGENT: GUEST NIGHT FINAL, “THREE KIDS AND A QUEEN.” AND “THE INVISIBLE RAY.”— TO-MORROW, “WHEN G MEN STEP IN” AND “MIDNIGHT INTRUDER.” "Three Kids and a Queen” has May Robson in the leading role of an excellent comedy-drama. Never before has Miss Robson been seen in a characterisation so appealing and so human as this. As Mary Jane Baxter she is presented as a bitter and imperious old maid, crabbed and vet filled with an acid quality of delightful humour, and even in her most indignant moments one feels that she is slyly poking fun , at a world in which she is very much | disappointed But it is a runaway accident which renders her unconscious that opens the way for the happiest period of her life, and she “comes to” in the East Side barber shop of a basement flat Here her great adventure in happiness leads to more exciting adventures in which she is kidnapped by gangsters, and the story is tilled with absorbing interest to its unusual climax. The associate feature is "The Invisible Ray.” More than any other screen stars. Karloff and Bela Lugosi are so indelibly associated with certain characters that Karloff has been nicknamed "Frankenstein” and Lugosi "Dracula." Both these players are costars in ‘The Invisible Ray.” a thrilling mystery drama of a man who drew power from the Heavens in his worldshaking invention. “Radium X." and wielded his power for good and for evil. Commencing to-morrow night will be a thrilling racketeering exposure film “When G Men Step In.” starring Don Terry. Robert Paige. Jacqueline Wells and Paul Fix It is a fast-action story of brother against brother and the unscrupulous tactics of the racketeer The other feature will be "Midnight Intruder.” with Louis Hayward. Eric Linden and Barbara Read, an amusing story of laughs and excitement. PICTURES AT RICHMOND Screening at Richmond Town Hall on Saturday next will be a picture sure to please all patrons at both afternoon and evening performances. “Grandad Rudd” released by British Empire Film* features Bert Bailey and Fred Mc- . Donald.