ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS MAJESTIC: DANCING. MUSIC AND COMEDY, FAMOUS ARTISTS IN FILM EXTRAVAGANZA » Most enjoyable entertainment is pro- . vided for Majestic Theatre patrons with the present change of programme. •‘Talking Feet.” the main feature, is one of those pictures that please everybody. r It is full of entertaining qualities and has some novel and attractive aspects In make its appeal universal. The chief attraction of “Talking Feet” will no doubt prove to many to be the appearance of the world-famous pianist. Mark Hambourg, who appears in company with an unusual mini-piano ensemble of 14 boys and girls playing the ‘William Tell” Overture and. in addition, plays a Chopin solo of appealing beauty in his well-remembered style. Another member of the cast who is known personally to the people of Nelson is Wil- ■ liam Heughan, the eminent Scottish : baritone, who is famous for his chari acter songs and the effectiveness with L which he presents number of a drama- ■ tic nature. But these are only two in • a galaxy of stars. One of the most ■ popular members of the cast is bound tr be Hazel Ascot, who takes a leading part and is well known as “Little Sunbeam.” England’s champion dancer at ; nine years of age. this remarkable child acts her way through the film like a veteran and shows herself to be a sing- ’ er of no little ability. She is the little girl who is trying to save the hospital, and the way in which she manages to do so makes a picture of more than usual attraction. That she is assisted by a cast of great ability is shown by the fact that, in addition to those already mentioned there also appear in 1 the film the band of the famous Seaforth Highlanders, and the Dagenham Girl Pipers to thrill the hearts of those whose fancy lies in the direction of Scottish music. But the attractions do not end here, for a fine symphony orchestra appears in a scene entitled. “The Meeting of the Clan,” and in an imposing climax there is an impressive appearance of the Band of the Royal Marines. Much Cockney humour is introduced throughout the film—the sort of humour that must be found a great comfort during the present days in London. The supporting cast includes such well-known players as Enid Stamp-Taylor. David Burnaby. John Stuart, Jack Barty and Kenneth Cove.

STATE: "REBECCA,” SEASON NOW EXTENDED TILL THURSDAY.

An exciting event in the history of motion pictures took place at the State Theatre, where David O. Selznick’s production of “Rebecca.” based on the best selling Daphne du Maurier novel, was unreeled in all its moving brilliance and dramatic impact. Directed by the brilliant and gifted Alfred Hitchcock, “Rebecca” is one of the most exciting and suspenseful pictures to reach the screen this season. It is not only excellently and thrillingly staged, it is acted by a cast of topnotch actors who were chosen carefully for their special talents. Heading this line-up are Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, who play the starring roles, while in their support are Judith Anderson. C. Aubrey Smith, George Sandei's, Nigel Bruce, Florence Bates and Gladys Cooper. Olivier is cast as Maxim de Winter, a prominent society man who is famous for his vast Tudor estate called Manderley. To this house he brings his second wife, played by Miss Fontaine, a shy and unsophisticated person who can hardly be compared to the glittering and brilliant former mistress of Manderley. Rebecca, now dead. But though Rebecca is dead’ her forceful personality and dramatic beauty still continue to dominate Manderley and to haunt the lives of those who wander through its immense rooms. Judith Anderson, as the sadistically cruel Mrs Danvers, turns in a screen portrait which is unforgettably brilliant, and the performance of Olivier and Miss Fontaine must be rated as being unsurpassed on the screen this season. Alfred Hitchcock, the director who brought a new status to screen intrigue and melodrama, has directed “Rebecca” with startling impact, with amazing sublety as to character delineation and with rich dramatic overtones. The picture moves with telling and engrossing swiftness from its initial scene to the final fadeout. Add to this brilliant pictorial background, an excellent musical score and you get a pretty neat idea of why David O. Selznick’s newest picture, “Rebecca,” is not to be missed by all those who seek real entertainment.

REGENT, TO-NIGHT: “HENRY GOES ARIZONA” FEATURING FRANK MORGAN AND “LISTEN DARLING”

“Henry Goes Arizona” is a highly amusing comedy-drama of the adventures that befall a Broadway vaudeville performer who takes his bowler and stiff collar to one of the wildest towns in the West and braves smoking six-shooters to save the family ranch and untangle a murder case. Among the comedy and dramatic highlights of the story is the initiation of Henry into Arizona life when he is almost peppered with lead by two bad men in saloon; Henry’s first encounter with a herd of steers that drive him to cover in a road culvert; the attack of the townspeople on the ranch for the purpose of lynching Henry whom they suspect of trying to cut off the water supply; the terrific fight between Danny Regan and Rickey, the crooked ranch foreman; the attempted shooting of j Henry right in the midst of a “peace! picnic” with the townspeople and the j climax of the story when Henry, i single-handed, traps the outlaws and j catches the ring-leader, almost shooting himself by accident in the excitement of the occasion. When a couple of imaginative adolescents set out to find a husband for a girl’s mother, anything can happen and does in “Listen Darling,” which is a story embracing just that situation. Featuring Freddie < Bartholomew and Judy Garland with | Mary Astor as the mother, whose i romance they attempt to guide, it is a | gem of adolescent nonsense with i laughs galore, interrupted only by choice serious bits that provide relief ! with pathos and effective tugs at the ! heart strings. Alan Hale, Walter I Pidgeon and Gene Lockhart form the trio of would-be suitors who fall victim to the plans of Freddie and Judy and what they go through is plenty.