ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 24 August 1939, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS

MAJESTIC: METRO’S “THE TOY WIFE,” WITH LUISE RAINERMELVYN DOUGLAS. FRIDAY: RONALD COLMAN, “IF I WERE KING” Luise Rainer, only star ever to be accorded two Academy Awards, proves her unqualified right to the honour with another character gem as outstanding as her “Anna Held” in “The Great Ziegfeld,” and her “O-Lan” in “The Good Earth.” Her “Froufrou” Brigard in “The Toy Wife” at the Majestic Theatre, adds a delineation which may well nominate her for the third time. In the masculine leads Melvyn Douglas and Robert Young live up to the high standard set by the picture’s star. “IF I WERE KING” Of interest to the legion of theatregores who have been patiently waiting for Ronald Colman's latest picture, “If I Were King,” which the masterful Frank Lloyd has produced for Paramount, is the news that this magnificent picture is to be the next attraction at the Majestic, opening on Friday. Glamorous Paris during the unforgettable days when powerful Burgundy hammered at the gates of the city ana all France breathlessly waited on the commands of a vagabond poet, forms the setting for “If I Were King,” epic story of the life of Francois Villon. Ronald Colman has the lead role of the roguish poet from the Paris underworld who became the ruler of France for a week and, inspired by the love of a royal princess, drove a powerful enemy from the gates of the city. He is supported by Frances Dee, Basil Rarthbone, and a cast of thousands. A splendid supporting programme with latest air mail newsreels is also offered on this programme. REGENT: FINALLY TO-NIGHT, “MY AMERICAN WIFE” AND “HOTEL HAYWIRE.” COMMENCING TOMORROW “THE MYSTERY OF MR WONG” AND “TRAPPED IN THE SKY” The thrilling story of a fatal jewel that is responsible for three murders is Monogram’s exciting drama. “The Mystery of Mr Wong.” Continuing the adventures of James Lee Wong, famous Chinese detective, it is the second in a series of “Wong” pictures which Monogram is making with Boris Karloff in the title role. “The Mystery of Mr Wong” concerns the theft of the fatal “Eye of the Daughter of the Moon” from China by Brandon Edwards, well-known collector. At a house party where James Lee Wong is one of the guests, Edwards is murdered, and his death unveils bitterness and hatred enshrouding the household, as a result of Edwards’ cruelty and pettiness. Various , motives for murder are uncovered, but it is not until two others meet violent j deaths that Wong finds the missing clue I that brings the case to a surprise ending. Outstanding is the performance of Boris Karloff as the Oxford educated “James Lee Wong.” Always an intelligent actor, Karloff plays Wong quietly, giv- I ing the detective character an integrity and a quality or kindness not always possessed by screen sleuths. The associ- \ ate attraction is Jack Holt’s latest and most excitingly dramatic starring vehicle, Columbia’s “Trapped in the Sky.” The film is based upon a sen- ■ sational aerial invention of high military value whose plans are sought by enemy spies. Ralph Morgan, C. Henry Gordon and Katherine DeMille are featured members of the supporting case J which includes Sidney Blackmer, Ivan Lebedeff, Regis Toomey and Paul Everton. Lewis D. Collins directed from a t screenplay by Eric Taylor and Gordon Rigby.

STATE: FINALLY TO-NIGHT, A FINE DOUBLE FEATURE BILL

After over a year’s absence from the screen. Nova Pilbeam was delighted to find that she was neither threatened nor overcome by tragedy in “Young and Innocent,” her new picture. Her role in the new Alfred Hitchcock picture is in a much lighter vein. She appears as the daughter of a chief constable, and assists a young man, suspected of murder, to elude the police. True, in one sceen she is the central figure in a free-for-all rough and tumble in a dilapidated pull-up for car men, and another incident shows her being pulled to safety from a crumbling mine by Derrick de Marney, who plays opposite her. “Not Wanted on Voyage,” the second feature, is the first film which has brought Ben Lyon and Bebe Daniels together on the screen. And undoubtedly it marks the beginning of a new film partnership likely to become as famous as the real-life partnership of Mr and Mrs Lyon. The story of the film is a thrilling and amusing one. It deals with an insurance company detective who has to pose as a crook on a luxury liner in order to protect a valuable necklace from sundry thieves who are determined to get hold of it. ‘PYGMALION.” SMART STREAMLINED COMEDY TO-MORROW Pygmalion, King of Cyprus, the hater of woman, in cold marble created a lovely female, whom he called Galatea. She was so beautiful that he prayed to the gods to breathe into her the breath ot life and she became a living soul. And so “Pygmalion.” a brilliant comedy, was adapted and flowed from the pen of George Bernard Shaw. It discloses a bold experiment, the outcome of a crazy bet. to transform a cheap little flower girl into a society debutante, and she is actually through gossip and her own perfect speech and demeanour received as a Duchess at the Ambasasdor’s reception. Wendy Hiller plays the flower girl who becomes the object of the experiment and Leslie Howard the Professor of Phonetics, Henry Higgins, who essays the task. PICTURES AT RICHMOND Screening at Richmond Hall on Saturday afternoon and evening is R.K.O.’s “High Flyers,” which was designed to intensify the comic antics of Wheeler and Woolsey. Their experiments with a trick flying machine in an amusement concession, in a real plane while trying to salvage a floating packet at sea and their plane crash inland later are only a starter to the complications that follow. GOLDEN BAY THEATRE At the Golden Bay Theatre, Takaka, on Friday and Saturday of this week George Formby leads a talented cast in a mirth-provoking film entitled, “It’s in the Air.'’ Typically topical, the latest Formby film has as its backgrounn the Air Force, where George finds himself in uniform, subjected to

bewildering discipline, and, as usual, making a hopeless mess of everything. George dons sky-blue with the mistaken idea of saving his sister’s airman sweetheart from exposure, and almost succeeds in wrecking the camp with his sublime clumsy ignorance, nearly giving the Sergeant-major apoplexy, and becoming the butt for every practical joker in the service. It’s all exhausting exhilarating fen with George right at the top of his form. He also finds time to sing three excellent numbers and has a romance with the Sergeantmajor’s daughter. The whole film goes with a real swing and is one long laugh from beginning to end.