ENTERTAINMENTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 4 December 1940, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT ATTRACTIONS (REGENT, GUEST NIGHT PROGRAMME "THE BARRIER" AND i “ROMANCE IN THE NIGHT” A story by Rex Beach combining ‘ the roaring days of 1898 in Alasaka with a beautiful love story of the i : North Woods! That’s the combination I • | that makes Paramount's “The Barrier” ■ >!an unforgettable picture! Leo Carrillo., Jean Parker, James Ellison, Otto i Kruger. Robert Barrat, Andy Clyde : and Sara Haden are part of the magi nificent cast. Some of the most thrill- j i ing action scenes that have been seen ! j in recent years and outstanding outdoor photography make “The Barrier” I 1 “tops” in visual appeal, while the story, t one of Rex Beach’s best, is fascinating ? as well as thrilling. The film was , directed by Les Selander. Music, ' comedy and romance blend in Para- - mount’s “Romance in the Dark.” the - associate feature. Gladys Swarthout is seen in the role of a country ser- • vant-girl who is turned into a bogus t Persian princess by John Boles. His s ruse works better than'he expects—she s captures his heart. When her first ? night’s audience denounces her as an imposter, Boles steps in and turns her f disgrace into a smashing success by t means of his own singing. John Barry- ; I more furnishes the high comedy of l the piece. Others in the cast are - Claire Dodd. Fritz Feld, Curt Bois and j Carlos de Valdez. , MAJESTIC: DANCING, MUSIC AND J COMEDY, FAMOUS ARTISTS IN J FILM EXTRAVAGANZA r Most enjoyable entertainment is provided for Majestic Theatre patrons with the present change of programme. \ “Talking Feet,” the majn feature, is one of those pictures that please everybody. 4 It is full of entertaining qualities and ' t has some novel and attractive aspects j s to 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 1 member of the cast who is known pers sonally to the people of Nelson is Wile liam Heughan, the eminent Scottish e baritone, who is famous for his charf acter songs and the effectiveness with which he presents number of a dramatic nature. But these are only two in a galaxy of stars. One of the most 2 popular members of the cast is bound to be Hazel Ascot, who takes a leading , part and is well known as “Little Sunbeam.” England’s champion dancer at t nine years of age, this remarkable child acts her way through the film like a veteran and shows herself to be a singer of no little ability. She is the little girl who is trying to save the hospital, and the way in which she manages to 5 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 alii ready mentioned there also appear in the film the band of the famous Seaf forth Highlanders, and the Dagenham Girl Pipers to thrill the hearts of those t whose fancy lies in the direction of Scottish music. But the attractions do t not end here, for a fine symphony orchestra appears in a scene entitled, “The ! Meeting of the Clan,” and in an impos- ? ing 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 s London. The supporting cast includes . such well-known players as Enid Stamp-Taylor. David Burnaby, John j Stuart, Jack Barty and Kenneth Cove. STATE, FRIDAY: “MY FAVOURITE WIFE” STARRING CARY GRANT AND IRENE DUNNE. “My Favourite Wife,” brings back Irene Dunne and Cary Grant to the ( screen in a gay sophisticated romantic ■ comedy. A large share of their success s in this breezy film is due to the hilari- ' ous story which was especially designed : for the stars’ talents by Bella and ? Samuel Spewack. Miss Dunne is cast as ■ a wife presumably lost at sea whose 1 husband, Cary Grant, has her declared • legally dead after seven years’ absence • and then marries Gail Patrick. The ; j newlyweds no sooner depart on their 5 honeymoon than the first wife returns, very much alive. She was rescued from an uncharted Pacific island on which she had been marooned all these years with Randolph Scott, portraying a handsome scientist. She overtakes the l honeymooners at a Yosemite hotel, and ; presents herself to her startled husband, i Unable to blurt out the truth to his ■ bride, Grant tries to keep his first wife ; hidden—with some hilarious and disas- • trous complications. Now starts a mad : pace which is heigthened until the up- ■ roarious climax. The kissless bride and : her distraught husband flee home only ’ to find Miss Dunne awaiting them and 1 posing as an old friend of the family. ! And soon after the double-groom learns 5 that his first wife and the virile ex- ■ plorer were alone on that island for 1 seven years! Contributing lavishly to ; the laughs are Gail Patrick as the bride • who can’t comprehend her husband's sudden aloofness and Randolph Scott, ’ whose desire to marry Grant’s first wife | after being stranded with her for seven ; years aggravates the burden the jealous , husband is already carrying. In other ; fine performances are Ann Shoemaker. ! Donald Macßride, Granville Bates, and r two youngsters, Scotty Beckett and ! Mary Lou Harrington, who portray the I Dunne-Grant children. "My Favourite i : Wife” was produced by Leo McCarey, who guided the stars in "The Awful ; Truth” several years ago, while Garson Kanin. responsible for “Bachelor II Mother,” directed. ; j "LONDON CAN TAKE IT” j By special arrangement with the High 1 Commissioner for the United Kingdom. 1 Sir Harry Batterbee, a film entitled “London Can Take It” has been airi mailed from London for screening : throughout the Amalgamated Theatres , circuit in New Zealand. This special! j film screens at the State Theatre at 2.0 j and 8.0 Friday. Brought direct by air across three continents in the fastest ' .time yet recorded, "London Can Take It” is one of the most inspiring film< ever produced and shows how London meets the brutal attacks of Hitler’s airmen. "London Can Take It” is a deeply impressive picture, excellent in photography, and outstanding in its sound accompaniment. All through the pic ture runs the keynote of the steady morale of the “civilian army.” The commentary is by Quentin Reynolds, the war correspondent of “Collier’s Weekly” and he concludes “Bombs Cannot Kill An Unconquerable Spirit.”