AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE

"CEILING ZERO" & "PAROLE": TO-MORROW I "Ceiling Zero.'' which commences al the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, stars that inimitable team .lames Cagney and fat. O'Brien, introduces a charming new leading lady in June Travis, and oilers an exeeptio'nally large all-star east in support. In ii picture dealing with the commercial, mail, and passenger service of the air, the plot is essentially dramatic, but in the evcry-day events in the lives of the flyers and ground men there is plenty of humour. No one could keep the iVrepressihle Cagney and O'Brien from iujrcling lain Its in such silualkms. Cagney and Vlinen and Stuart Ith in haw the roles of Ihree Hying war comrades who have turned 'to commercial aviation. Cagney is the dovil-mny-enre, stunting, irresponsible member of the trio, while O'Brien is the superintendent ol the Avers and K-rwin a somewhat steadier pilot than Cagney. The second feature "Parole." deals hugely with convicted criminals in the United States. There is a quantity of interesting character sketching and the audience is brought into close contact with a section of the community which is not given much publicity, ilenry Hunter and Ann Preston have the leading parts. The comedy "Bonnie Scotland" will he presented to-night for the Tap! time. —Mickey Mouse Tarty: Saturday—To celebrate Mickey's eighth birthday there will be a. big party at the Majestic Theatre at 1.45 p.m. on Saturday. A special children's programme is .being arranged, including "Ceiling Zero" and cartoons of Mickey, Pop-eye and Elmer Elephant. On the stage a party of AO children will lake part in "Pop-eye's Whoopee Party to Mickey Mouse." arranged by .Miss Mam-eon Kenny. Reservations' may he made for circle seats only. REGENT THEATRE G-IGLI IN "FORGET-ME-NOT":

TO-MORROW

There are features of "Forget-Mc-Not," the. London Films production which commences a. season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, that place it far above the average entertainment. It introduces to the screen Beniamino Gigli. claimed to he the greatest tenor since Enrico Caruso. The principal feminine vole is taken, by the recent Alexander korda "find," .loan Gardner, who immediately impresses by her wonderful charm'ami ability. The story is really worthwhile: it is not, as so often happens when a great singer is featured, simply a. succession of unconnected episodes. Gigli may well be featured, for he sings with the feeling and sympathy that marks a great, artist. lie can be passionate and fiery, and in the next breath plaintive and subdued, lie can he sad, and then boisterously happy. Cigli's songs include several excerpts from grand opera, and such numbers as "Say You Will Not Forget." "Lullaby." "Venetian Serenade," "Come Back'to Me," and the very popular "0 Sole Mio." Above all he demonstrates: that he is an actor of no mean order. Miss Gardner takes her ■first big part with remarkable success. Her charming manner is reminiscent of Winifred Shotter in the 'early Ralph Lynn-Tom Walls comedies, but she also has the ability to enact, really emotional drama. It. will he surprising if this gifted player is not seen in many more leading roles. Minor parts are taken with distinction by Hugh Wakclield and Ivan Brandt. The story tells -how Gigli,, as Enzo Curti, an internationally famous singer, falls in. love and marries ■a girl (Joan Gardner), whom he sees one night, in 'his audience at the opera. Touring the world, they arc happy together until a. chance meeting with a. former acquaintance of his wife's threatens to upset his career and their happily planned lives. What is notable in the! film is the photography, several very line effects having been achieved. "Forget.Me-Nd" is supported .by a programme of short films of high merit. These include one of the "March of Time" series. "Laburnum Grove" will be screened for the Inst time In-night. KING'S THEATRE "REGRET AGENT" "Secret Agent," a Gaumonl-Brilish offering, winch started to-day al. the King's Theatre, stars Madeleine Carroll, Peter Loire, John Gielgtid, and Roherl Voting. This is a grand successor to the Hitchcock thriller.'"The 39 Steps.'' and outshines even thill. "Secret Agent." is a gripping! ; daptation of Somerset Maugham's "Ashenden," and is the story of a secret serviceman who sets out to thwart a German spy during the Great War. Fluent staging swings the action front London to the Swiss Alps, thence to mid-Europe, where suspenseful events culminate in a realistic train smash, following bombing by British planes. A piquant romantic ihitil and deft comedy touches relieve the engrossing canvas ot espionage. -Under the assumed: name of "Ashenden," Edgar Brodie, in private life a best seller novelist, proceeds to Switzerland, where lie finds the Secret Service has provided him with a woman ally, who masquerades as his wife. Another assistant is "the Hairless Mexican," I

so-called because lie possesses a mop of curly hair and is not a Mexican. He is the professional killer. The plan is to put. "paid", to a German spy who is about to visit Palestine to buy Arab support, with the Fatherland's money. Firstly, Ashenden suspects a completely innocent man. who is sent to his doom. Later he discovers the true spy is an alleged American who has been paying attention to "Mrs. Ashenden."