TOWN HALL TALKIES

Patea Mail, 6 March 1936, Page 4

TOWN HALL TALKIES

yATUIHiAY—TWO BIG FEATURES. ■ 'The programme for to-morrow, matinee and night, will consist of two big features, “Home on the Range'' and “it's a Gift.’’ In Paramount’s pic-turis-ation of Zaac Grey’s outdoor romance, “Home on the Range,’’ Jackie Coogan and Evelyn Brent, both of whom have been away from the screen for a long time, return to Hollywood. Jackie Coogan, now a strapping six foot man, .makes his adult debut, and Miss Brent returns, after more than two years, in another of her typical “bad girl’’ roles. Randolph Scott is also featured. “Homo on the Range’’ deals with the efforts, of a band of smooth crooks to swindle Randolph Scott and his brother, Jackie Coogan, out of their ranch and racehorses. With the money from the sale of his" cattle stolon, and the mortgage on his ranch in the hands of the ring leader, Scott seems in an unenviable position, . But the girl accomplice of the crooks, Evelyn Brent, falls in love with him and turns the tables on them. With her aid Scott recovers the' money stolen from him, although their lives are threatened by a forest fire set by.- the crooks. In the final dramatic scone Jackie Coogan rides their prize horse to victory in the big race, while -Scott and Evelyn celebrate the event by announcing their forthcoming marriage. Arthur Jacobsen directed “Home on the Range’’ and Joe Morrison is heard singing the theme song throughout the picture. ‘/It’s a Gift’’ is the newest Paramount Him to star W. C. Fields, bul-bous-nosed comedian. Norman McLeod, who has directed some of Hollywood ’s list comedies, guided the noted comedian through his laugh tricks in this Him, which has Baby Leßoy once again teamed with Fields. The story opens up in a small grocery store in New Jersey. If it were not for the customers, the boss, played by Fields, could loaf all day. One of his chief worries is Baby Leroy, who can’t resist the tendency to destroy everything he sees. However Fields’ problems are practically solved 'when he Inherits an orange grove. Anyway, lie thinks he will have more room in which to loaf, so ho packs the family in his broken down automobile for a 3000 - mile jaunt across country, only to learn that his orange grove is just a huge lemon-. ’The maimer in which Fiplds innocently brings wealth to his family and himself, furnishes the comedv climax of the film.