AMUSEMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23992, 15 December 1939, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

THE NEW PROGRAMMES GRAND THEATRE An up-to-date cattle war. with a courageous rancher fighting a singlehanded fight for his herds and those of his neighbours against a grasping monopoly, is the basis of “ Racketeers of the Range,” George O’Brien’s latest film offering, now at the Grand Theatre The scheme revolves around the efforts of the monopoly to buy out a little Arizona packing plant to which O’Brien and the other cattlemen of the district have been shipping their beef. Knowing that such a move will ruin all of them, O Brian strives to forestall the purchase He suffers many set-backs, however, with kidnapping, shootings, " high-jackings and rustling herds by means of fast motor trucks all combining to furnish thrills and action to the story and its swift climax. Action, romance and comedy are thoroughly mixed in ” The Girl and the Gambler,” an exciting story of Mexican border life, which is the second attraction and has Leo Carrillo, Tim Holt and Steffi Duna in the leading roles. Giving the Latin-American star a notable opportunity for one of his colourful characterisations, the film presents Carrillo as a combination Robin Hood and Casanova of the border who alternates his robbing of the rich to give to the poor_wlth a carefree pursuit of the ladies. The box plans are at the theatre and Beg£ s STRAND THEATRE With Bob Hope dispensing his distinctive brand of humour. Shirley Ross as sweet and swingy as ever, and Gene Krupa beating out hot rhythms on hi. drums. Paramount’s new comedy, some Like It Hot,” will have its premiere today at the Strand Theatre. Bob Is a brash, cocksure, fast-talking promoter who wants to put his act up In the big time,” He is also angling for a break for Gene Krupa and his orchestra. But he does not get much encouragement froi an agent. Then he meets Shirley Ross. She lets him pawn her ring so that he can put on his own act but he loses it in a dice game. Penniless he all sorts of wild schemes—side shows, street carnivals—for months so that he can win back Shirley Two new songs, “Some Like It Hot” and "The Lady s in Love with You,” provide musical outlets for the stars. Una Merkel and Rufe Davis have featured roles Behind a good portion of American crime is a beautiful, demanding and brilliant woman That is the belief of J Edgard Hoover chief of G-men, who has written a thrilling stop' about such a character, which, under the title of “ Persons in Hiding, will be in support. Heralded as the most amazing and frankest of all Hoover’s crime dramas, “Persons In Hiding” traces the career of one of these “ crime queens, a beautiful and thrill-mad girl, who gives up everything worth while In life to follow the star of a desperate killer. With him she embarks on a spectacular career of plundering, killing and eluding the authorities. until her uncontrollable feminine instincts betray her and her partner. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. STATE THEATRE The premiere of the highly satisfying “Peck’s Bad Boy With the Circus will be shown at the State Theatre to-day. Seventeen years ago Jackie Coogan portrayed "Peck’s Bad Boy.’ Five years ago Jackie Cooper carried un the tradition with a reissue of the film. Now Tommy Kelly characterises fun-loving American youth in “ Peck’s Bad Boy With the Circus ” in an entirely new background for George W. Peck s juvenile hero. In this compilation of Bill Peck’s activities he is seen as a youngster on holiday cheated out of his railroad fare by an unscrupulous circus attendant He joins the show to ” hitch-hike ” to his camp. Determined upon revenge, he feeds sleeping pills to the lions, converting a hair-raising exhibition of animal mastery into a comedy fiasco between a bewildered trainer and five sleepy lions After this the fun piles up rapidly Bills ludicrous equine acrobatics, his pranks which plunge him into mounting difficulty, and his youthful romance with the show’s young bareback rider lead to a merry and wild chariot race to the summer camp in lime for the opening obstacle race

even!. It’s one of the most exciting climaxes of the new season’s picture output. Splendid assistance is offered by Ann Gillis, Edgar Kennedy, Benlta Hume, Spanky MacFarland, Louise Beavers, William Demarest, Nana Bryant, and Grant Mitchell. Box plans are at the theatre and Begg’s. ST. JAMES THEATRE Faith Baldwin’s magazine story, "Comet Over Broadway,” which was adapted for the screen by Mark Hellinger and Robert Buckner, will be the new feature attraction at the St. James Theatre to-day Kay Francis heads the cast of stars, which also Includes lan Hunter, John Litel, Minna Gombel, Donald Crisp, Melville Cooper, Sybil Jason, lan Keith, and a host of others. At the outset of the tale, Kay Francis is seen as a stage-struck girl in a middle western town who is married to John Litel, a man much her senior While she is Innocently visiting a famous actor who has come to the town, Litel walks in, there is a fight, and the actor is accidentally killed. Her husband, sentenced to life imprisonment, Kay promises to devote her life to obtaining his freedom. She becomes an actress in travelling tent shows and then in a burlesque troupe, of which Minna Gombel is the prlma donna. She meets a producer, played by lan Hunter, and they fall in love. Several years later Hunter follows her to England and offers her a part in a Broadway production expressly written for her. She returns and scores a great triumph in the play, but she proves to be just a “ Comet Over Broadway ” because she gets news that her husband can be freed at last. And although she loves Hunter, she takes her small daughter and goes back to her old home and her husband, to make up to him for his years in prison Republic’s modern melodrama. ” Woman Doctor.” is the supporting feature. In this production Judith Randall, a talented woman surgeon, is played by Frieda Inescort. Henry Wilcoxon enacts the role of her husband, Alan Graeme an aeroplane designer, and her daughter Elsa is portrayed by Sybil Jason. Because of the demands of her profession, Dr Randall has been neglecting her husband and daughter. The supporting cast includes Claire Dodd, Cora Witherspoon, and Dickie Jones. Box plans are at the theatre, the D.1.C., and Jacobs’s \ EMPIRE THEATRE The exciting career ol San Houston. " Man of Conquest,” forms the attraction at the Empire Theatre Richard Dix is in the title role, Gail Patrick, Joan Fontaine, Edward Ellis, George “ Windy ” Hayes, and Victor Jory are in support. “ Man of Conquest ” tells of Sam Houston’s life from the time he lived with the Cherokee Indians for a year to his smashing victory as Commander-in-Chief of the Texas army that crushed the might of the invading Mexican army, to make Texas a state in the Union The whole story Is literally alive with action and spectacle, and the terrific battle between Houston’s forces and the Mexican army has seldom been equalled for thrilling realism. Punctuating the excitement of “ Man of Conquest ” is the romance of Houston and the two women in his life. His first wife was Eliza Allen (Joan Fontaine), a proud daughter of the aristocracy, who could not, or would not, tolerate Houston’s rough and easy methods of fraternising with the people. Divorce followed, and a broken-hearted Houston went back to live with his staunch friends, the Cherokee Indians But bo was too great a leader —too much a man to remain long in the background, and when Texas, the new land of freedom and opportunity. beckoned, Houston answered the call. It was then that he met Margaret Lee (Gail Patrick), a courageous woman, who dared defy her times to follow this “ Man of Conquest ” beyond the farthest frontiers. Box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C REGENT THEATRE Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who gave the screen “ David Copperfleld ” and "A Tale of Two Cities,” are said to have excelled even those great productions in Dickens's "A Christmas Carol,” which is brought to the Regent Theatre to-day In every respect it is a remarkable achievement in that the high values of the book have been retained with commendable fidelity whilst the work of principals and cast is lifelike, and the direction shows Edwin L. Marin as a deep student of Dickens and a lover of the famous author. Reginald Owen, English himself, takes the chief part of Scrooge the old miser, and gives a top grade performance. In the story, he Is shown as discharging his head clerk.

Bob Cratchitt (Gene Lockhart) with vicious spite, and going to a mean and lonely home, where in a dream three spirits visit him, frighten him so much and make so deep and powerful an appeal to that profoundly-buried better nature of his that when he wakes in the morning he is completely redeemed. He journeys forth filled with goodwill, overflowing with kindness and generosity to the Cratchitts and all mankind. Barry Mackay, the English actor, often seen to advantage on the British screen, as Fred Scrooge’s nephew, is admirable in the role playing opposite to beauteous Lynne Carver, as Bess. Terry Kilburn is Tiny Tim in a characterisation that will add much to his credit. Ronald Sinclair (Ra Hould) the New Zealander, is good as young Scrooge. All detail of the period Is most carefully attended to, dialogue and simple plot are strictly authentic to the writer’s script, and its ethical value is high. A fine first half introduces the main feature. Box plans are at the D.I.C. and the theatre. MAYFAIR THEATRE Those who remembei me thrills of “ Frankenstein ” will not be at all disappointed in the sequel, “ Son of Frankenstein,” which is at present attracting crowds to the Mayfair Theatre, Three brilliant " horror ” actors in Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone, and Bela Lugosi have Ihe leading roles, and Josephine Hutchinson and Lionel Atwill are also prominently cast. It is a thrilling film, and good‘entertainment The supporting picture is “ Personal Secretary.” featuring William Gargan and Joy Hodges. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.