AT THE PICTURES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 February 1944, Page 4

AT THE PICTURES

State: Commencing to-morrow. Richard Dix. Preston Foster. Frances Gifford in American Empire,” and Hopalong CjUttfar (William Boyd) in “Undercover American Empire” portrays life in the South-west, in that formative period of history after the Civil War, the scene being laid in the ranges of Texas. Two cameramen risked their lives to get closeup shots of a cattle stampede, and the on - rush of those thundering steers is one of the most exciting scenes ever filmed. The stampede takes place across the ranch belonging to Paxton Bryce, played by Preston Foster, and to Dan Taylor, who is Richard Dix in real life. It’s the answer of Pax’s neighbours to his decision not to allow them to drive their cattle to market across his grounds. But it is not only thrills that are brought across the screen with the furiously rushing hoofs of the cattle, but tragedy. which strikes at Pax’s little son.

Regent: To-night, two outstanding action and comedy attractions, “The Great Plane Robery” and “This Thing Called Love.” Popular Jack Holt is the star of “The Great Plane Robbery” and he is seen as a two-fisted private detective assigned to the strange task of protecting a killer. The action takes place aboard a transcontinental plane. The second feature brings together Rosalind Russell and Mervyn Douglas in a merry marital comedy. With three eternal triangles all in one picture, plus three sets of husbands and wives, and a very attractive secretary one can imagine the fun they provide when each erring husband refuses to acknowledge the secretary.

Majestic: Commencing Tuesday, the most famous of all Ben Travers farces, ''Banana lodge,” with Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton. When it’s farce, a name that springs to mind without undue effort is that of Ben Travers, author of more farcical stage successes than any other playwright and producer. This story fells of the misadventures of two business partners who years before had each had an affaire with an attractive woman. Now happily married, the partners are more than surprised when one day Sue Long, the lady of their past, turns up with a 20-year-old son, and she claims that either of the two partners is the father of the lad. The hilarity of the situations that iollow can be well imagined, and as each of the partners makes every effort to extract himself from the predicament each becomes more and more involved through their bungling schemes.