AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18632, 16 February 1935, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME The first feature at the Majestic is “The Line-up,” a picture depicting in great detail the plottings of a powerful group of fur racketeers, who eventu<silly land in the police “line-up,” from which the picture derives its title. Coupled with this dramatic theme is the story of a young detective and the girl whom he is forced to subject to the humiliation of the “line-up.” lie arranges for her temporary release, plants her as a "stool pigeon.’ and solves a series of fur robberies which have battled his colleagues for months. In the second half, Will Rogers is seen and heard in a new type of role, in “Too Busy to Work. ’ Roger.-; has been seen on the screen as a plutocrat, an ambassador, a sueeessiul business man and in various gilded surroundings, but in “Too Busy io Work” lie appears as a wandering vagabond without a place to lay his head. This role affords him opportunities for both comedy and pathos that he has never before enjoyed in a film. The love interest’ in the picture is furnished by Marion Nixon and Dick Rowell. Another tealure of the programme is the appearance of a star who enjoyed considerable popularity in “silent” days—Richard Tnlinadgo—in iho first episode of a new serial .“Pirate Treasure.”

REGENT THEATRE ‘ ; SPLENDID FELLOWS’ ’ The Australian, studios, in their youth, have tackled some,thing comparatively new and d,one it with surprising success. .They have produced in “Splendid Fellows,” which is til lhe Regent at present, a picture which draw's upon history only four months old atid still hot from life mould. The venture has been a daring one, but tlie Anist raliaii producer, in emphnsing the attractions of a story written about events which are still fresh in everyone’s memory, has ia sonie measure hidden its disadvantages, and the picture is pleasantly topical as well as an interesting and thrilling piece of fiction. It is really good entertainment. The story is about the adventures of the Hayseeds at the time ot the Centenary Air Race, and into it is brought a fair smattering of comedy, drama, and' romance. Tl is . a story about a “flying parson,” the Rev. Arthur Stanhope, whose parish in the backbloeks of Australia stretches across practically the whole width ol the continent. He lives with the Hayseeds, Dad, Mum, and Eileen AleBride, in the middle of the Australian blish, ami flies from lioiiie to home in the vast expanse of bush and desert country. There arrive ,at the homestead a young Englishman, the Hon. Hubert, Montmorency Ralst,oh and his valet, sent out by a disgusted' father, and it is not long before they set off for London in an aeroplane of the parson’s design to compete in the air race. The Hayseeds go down to Melbourne for the finish, the parson arranges to fly down after them, and the stage is set for a triumph. Erie Colman. brother of the famous Ronald Column, plays the principal part, and with Frank Bradley, who is “Dad” Mcßride, lie is one of the two most impressive players. Frank Leighton is the Hon. Montmorency Ralston, and others in the cast include Leo Franklyn, Isabelle Mahon, and Andrew Higginsoit. Another film, “Service With a Smile,” is a notable feature of the programme, being the first film produced with the aid of a new color process. ,

kING'S THEATRE ‘■HELL IN THE HEAVENS”: THRILLING AIR STORY A thrilling .ami spectacular story of desperate war in the air is told in the outstanding romantic drama, “Hell in the Heavens,” which heads the line [iiograinme presented for-tlie first, time at rhe King’s Theatre 1 to-day. Warner Baxter, who has recently been seen mainly in musical films, returns to the virile roles in which he Hist gained prominence. He lakes the part of an American aviator who has just arrived in a bitterly-contested sector of the French front. His senior officer is killed in a tight with “the Baron,” Germany’s foremost airman, and Baxter takes command. He falls in love with a simple French girl, who culms his growing fears. At last he meets “the Baron’s” aeroplane, and the ensuing battle of wits keeps the audience in a state of intense excitement. Contrasting touches of comedy are introduced by the popular Herbert Muiidiii and Andy Devine. Other well-known players are Frank Morgan and C.oneliita Montenegro. Herbert Muhdin has finally convinced studio officials ho can sing. In “Hell in tlie Heavens” M tin din renders a piece called “Archibald Certainly Not,” which was a favorite of the English anisic halls about 11)14 and is very apropos to this particular picture and the time. According to Mundin and Ted Parsons, technical director and co-author .of “Jlell in the Heavens, this song was written in commemoration of a certain British flier who was sent on a very dangerous mission. His duty was lo photograph a German ammunition dump, ami ,ns lie neared his goal, the anti-aircraft guns, or “Archie Guns” as they were called, foiled his'range and began a bombardment.

OPERA HOUSE “THAT’S A GOOD GIRL’ ’ Jack Buchanan, “the finest dancer on the English stage and one of the world'’s most popular lilm stars, ;| P' pears at the Opera House in “ that’s a Good Girl,” which ran for a year :,r Ili r- London Hippodrome. fhe London .Morning Post regards it as the “merriest musical comedy ol I he day nod the best, vet made in England.” Tt has proved its popularity throughout Great Biitain and also in America, where Buchanan is as highly thought of as lie is in London. Huchanan personally directed' “Thai’s a Good Girl.” ’ tie selected the cast and also chose the locale of the picture, many of the sections being made in the beauty spots of the Riviera. At the head "of a supporting ensemble of 100 artists stand the clever Nets Zealand comedienne, Vein Pearce, ■tml Elsie Randolph, who, on this occasion gets a chance of demonstrating just uhat a fine character-comedy actress she really is. Garry Marsh, Kale (hitler,' Dorothy Carson, William Kendall, Prank FUrtnmore, Antony Holies, and other equally well-known West End' artists appear. There are excellent supports, including “What IMco Speed,” a sports film, and “Radio Dough,” a comedy, as well as newsreels.