ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 29 June 1939, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS MAJESTIC: “SWEETHEARTS,” FINAL SCREENING TO-NIGI3T. To-night "Sweethearts” the beautiful coloured musical comedy starring Jeanette Macdonald and Nelson Eddy will be screened finally at the Majestic after a season of six crowded days. In addition to the glorious singing of the popular stars this film has the distinc- ! lion of being the first that these two 1 have made in modern drejs, and in technicolour. Both stars appear to greater advantage in colour than they did in black and white. Jeanette is much ; more beautiful, her auburn hair greatly enhancing her charm, while the succession of gorgeous gowns which she wears throughout the picture are a I delight to all beholders. Ladies, particularly, should not miss seeing this; beautiful picture. In one of the news reels there is a series of intimate personal pictures of the King. Queen and Princesses at home in Buckingham Palace, and one cannot fail to be impressed with the demociatic domesticity of the Royal family. "HOUSEMASTER” : ANOTHER OUTSTANDING FILM Continuing the run of “super” at- ! tractions, which the Majestic has been presenting to its patrons. "Housemaster” is to follow "Sweethearts” on Friday for a short season of three days. Based on reports received from other places where the picture has been screened with the Oxford Group short "Youth Marches’On,” it is difficult to understand why a film which has been rated so high by competent critics, and has proved such a huge box-office attraction everywhere, should screen for only three days in Nelson, which has a greater appreciation of things' English, than most other New Zealand ' towns. That of course is a matter for the management. What does concern the picture-going public is the type and entertainment value of the film "House- . master” is a film of the highest merit irrespective of “country of origin, and is one of the six best pictures to be ! made in England since the advent of 1 sound. Written by lan Hay, the story is extremely amusing, with a type of subtle humour we so much prefer to the slapstick American variety, but at the same time has a foundation and solid structure of human drama which cannot fail to please people of all tastes. Briefly, the story deals with the reaction of the boys of an old established English public school, to the curtailment of their long-cherished privileges by a new soulless and very severe rector (played with exasperating perfection by Kynaston Reeves). Naturally the boys resent it intensely and are just on the point of revolt, passively encouraged by some of the younger masters, when two nieces of the senior housemaster (Otto Kruger) take up temporary residence with him and incidentally add the finishing touches to the utter demoralisation of the school discipline. The outcome of the students’ upheaval appears to be the retirement, under pressure of the beloved housemaster, Donkin, but forces hitherto unreckoned with, find a more pleasing solution to the perturbing problem. In the meantime the audience has been treated in ample measure to the most delightful and refreshing entertainment it is possible to conceive, "Robin Hood.” "Sweethearts” and other splendid films notwithstanding. No one can find a flaw in this gem from a British studio, which is wholesome, amusing and artistic, and comparable with the greatest films the New Zealand public has ever seen.

REGENT, TO-NIGHT: GUEST NIGHT, "FORLORN RIVER” AND “HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD” Some of the finest action pictures of wild horses in their native haunts ever caught by the motion picture camera form some of the high spots in Paramount’s “Forlorn River.” the actioncrammed story of the West which is screening at the Regent Theatre to-night. These scenes, of which there are many, are calculated to satisfy the most rabid horse lover and to more than please the casual film goer who is after novelty, action and a robust story. An excellent story, from the capable pen of Zane Grey, a competent cast of players headed by Larry Crabbe, June Martel, Syd Saylor and Harvey Stephens, round out an excellent evening’s entertainment. The second attraction. "Hollywood Boulevard,” a Paramount production featuring John Halliday. is a colourful story of the comeback of a fallen screen idol and has in it a big parade of famous names of the silent film days and current players of prominence. Halliday. who plays John | Blakeford, the egotistic fallen star, is supported by pretty Marsha Hunt, of the Paramount scarlet staff, and young Robert Cummings who supply the loveinterest; Esther Ralston is the blonde menace; Frieda Inescort, of the New York stage,, the unhappy wife, and C. Henry Gordon, the ruthless fan magazine publisher. Supporting these players of to-day is a host of former screen stars including Francis X. Bushman, j Charles Ray. Maurice Costello, and j more than a score of other old time j stars of the silent days. I STATE: FINAL SCREENING OF "SALLY, IRENE, AND MARY.” I TO-MORROW, GARY COOPER AND MERLE OBERON IN “THE COWBOY AND THE LADY” Th' final screening takes place tonight of the fine musical comedy, "Sally, Irene and Mary.” Containing a huge cast of prominent stars, plus gorgeous melodies and loads of laughs, it offers unexpected entertainment. Alice Faye and Tony Martin, songsters, head the players, the famous "Town Hall” comedian, Fred Allan, is excellent, while Joan Davis, Jimmy Durante, Marjorie Weaver and Gregory Ratoff all add to the brightness of this musical gem. Contrasting the glitter of smart society in Washington and Florida with adventure of Cowboy * Land in the Golden West, Samuel Goldwyn has lavished his unusual showmanship talents on his first major production of the new film season—“ The Cowboy and the Lady,” a comedy romance for modern-day life starring Gary Cooper, and Merle Oberon. Cooper is cast as a cewboy who rides the range alone — until he comes East for a rodeo show and meets Merle Oberon, spoiled and petted society darling. As the story opens. Merle Oberon is rushed out of Washington to Florida to avoid a scandal involving her m a night-club raid. Merle becomes bored with the quiet out of season Florida life, and impetu-

ously decides to go out on a blind date with—of all the people in the worldlier maid and her cook. Misadventure follows when she is partnered with Cooper. Not suspecting that the lady is just seeing how the other half lives, it is love at first sight for the cowboy. Afforded an opportunity to display I again the talents which first brought j him screen fame, Cooper is seen not only as a fast riding, cow-punching bronco-busting cowboy, but arousea additional interest by singing for the first time on the screen. Miss Oberon. { who proved herself a master of the vo ledy technique in recent pictures, plays her most romantic role to date ir. her always effective and versatile manner. “The Cowboy and the Lady” reveals the pictorial brilliance of the gieat outdoors in the East and the West in a story that has romance, humour and drama. Supporting the new “gi: 1-meets-boy” team of Cooper and Miss Oberon. are such notable players as Patsy Kelly. Walter Brennan, Fuzzy Knight and Henry Kolker. The direction was in the capable hands of H. C. Potter, and th? picture is a United Artists release. PICTURES AT RICHMOND Irish versus Scotch: Will Mahoney and Will Fyffe, famous comedy stars of "Said O’Reilly to McNab,” released by G.8.D., bring the funniest feud ever written to the screen, their arguments even pitting their country’s whisky 1 against the others. This gloom-chaser screens at Richmond Hall on Saturday afternoon and evening.