ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 1 July 1939, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS MAJESTIC: lAN HAY’S COMEDY “HOUSEMASTER” WITH “YOUTH MARCHES ON” SHORT "Housemaster*’ which is now running al the Majestic is one of the six best , pictures, to be made in England since the advent of sound. Written by lan 1 Hay. the story is extremely amusing. I with a type of subtle humour we so j muc h prefer to the slapstick American I variety, but at the same time has a foundation and solid structure of human drama which cannot fail to please people of all tastes. Bhicfly. the story deals with the reaction of the boys of an old established English public school, to the curtailment of their long-cher-ished privileges by a new soulless and very severe rector (played with exasperating perfection by Kynaston i 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 ft n. ishing touches to the utter demorah*- ! a tion 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 leasing solution to the por--11 turbing problem. In th? meantime the audience has been treated in ample measure to the most delightful and refreshing entertainment ft is possible te | conceive. “Robin Hood ” “Sw-eethearts” and other spendid films notwithstands mg. No one can fird a flaw in this gem . J from a British studio, which is whole- * | s °me. amusing and artistic, and com. . | parable with the greatest films the New . , Zealand public has ever seen. A “short” . j subject of f pecial interest is “Youth , I Marche * On” which was made by the L ! Oxford Group to bring to the publie I some conception of the. • work and ob II *ectß- . REGENT TO-NIGHT BORIS KARLOFF IN “MR WONG DETECTIVE” AND “SERGEANT MURPHY ".lames Lee Wong in the person of I Bor ( s Karloff makes his bow in “Mr Wong Detective” Ihe first of a new series of detective stones. Joining the company of Charlie Chan. Mr Moto. the Saint. Philo Vance, and others, James Lee Wong, newest screen sleuth, is a fugitive from “Collier* Magazine.” and a creation of Hugh Wiley, because for many years Mr Wiley’s “Wong” stories have been appearing in that publication. James Lea Wong is a native of San Francisco, an ’ educated, cultured Chinese. He is a j scientific “test tube” detective who reI v els in intricate cases. The more baf- . fl:ng the mystery, the more intrigued is jMr Wong. “Mr Wong. Detective.” ia ! the story of a rare poison gas. and the | murder of three men who tried to steal J its formula. Outstanding in the cast are Evelyn Brent. Grant Withers, and John St. Polis. “Mr Wong in China- ! town," ‘Mr Wong at Headquarters.” and I ‘ The Mystery of Mr Wong” are to conI tinue the adventures of the screen'* ! new sleuth. The associate attraction, i “Sergeant Murphy.” a melodrama of ■ army life, stars two good-looking ncw f - I comers, Ronald Reagan and Mary MaI I md concerns a cavalry hoise that failed to pass inspection for fitness of an army post, yet under the training of hi* cavalryman master was developed into a great steeplechaser that was good enough to win the famed Grand National jumping race in England. Young Reagan plays the part of the soldier I who loved his horse so well that he

bought and trained him after both left the army. This is Mary Maguire's fourth picture, the most recent of the others being with Kay Francis in “Coni fession.” She plays the part of a Colo- ! nel's daughter at an army post. Doneld Crisp plays her father. Most of i “Sergeant Murphy” was made at the !; Presidio of Monterey. Caloforma. with j the aid of 2.000 regular soldiers. The j picture was directed by B. Reeves [(“Breezy”) Eason, a master of fast j action. STATE: NOW SHOWING “THE COWBOY AND THE LADY” WITH GARY COOPER PLUS BRILLI ANT FIRST HALF. | With a story as intriguing as its title suggests comes United Artists’ excellent ; film "The Cowboy and the Lady,” •tar* I rkig two of Hollywood's best known stars, Gary Cooper and Meric Oberon. i Successful runs througtiout New Zea- ! land have brought big acclaim to thi* I grand entertainment and the Nelson j public, too. will enjoy to the utmost J a pleasing performance. Contrasti ing the glitter of smart society jin Washington and Florida with adventure of Cowboy Land in the Golden West, Samuel Goldwyn ha* | lavished his unusual showmanship talents on his first major production of Ihc new film season—" The Cowboy and ! the Lady,” a comedy romance for j modern-day life starring Gary Cooper, i and Merle Oberon. Cooper is cast as a c w boy who ride* the range alone—until he comes East for a rodeo show i and meets Merle Oberon. spoiled and i petted society darling. As the story • opens. Merle Oberon is rushed out of j Washing tot. to Florida to avoid a scan- [ dal involving her in a night-club raid, j f./erle becomes bored with the quiet , out of season Florida life, and impetuously decides to go out on a blind dale with—of all the people in the world—- ! her maid and her cook. Misadventure 1 follows when she is partnered with 'Cooper. Not suspecting that the lady I is just seeing how the other half live*. | it is love a. first sight for the cowboy. Afforded an opportunity to display again the talents which first brought him screen fame. Cooper is seen not only as a fust riding, cow-punching ; bronco-busting cowboy, but arouse*

, additional interest by singing for the tirst time on the screen. Miss Oberon, who proved herself a master of the to iedy technique in recent picture*, plays her most romantic role to date j n*. her always effective and versatile manner. More brilliant than has been offered for some time, is presented a series of fcaturettes. Listed for screening are ! "The March of Time.” with two current day topics, a world-wide window (excellent new' travelogue series). a Pathe Pictorial (an Andre de la Varre's popular travelogue) and finally the interesting Fox Australian News. Box plans are now on view at Begg’s immediate reservation is necessary