AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19826, 31 December 1938, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE

LAST DAY: "CRIME BAKES A HOLIDAY" AND "PERSONAL SECRETARY" An extra strong' programme will conclude to-niglht, headed by Jack Holt in "Crime Takes a Holiday." In this action-packed drama Jack Holt is a district attorney, famous for his honest efforts to rid a city .of racketeering. In the associate feature, amateur and professional sleuths will be well entertained in solving the mystery contained in the sparkling murder-mvstery comedy, "Personal Secretary.' Midnight Preview and N.Z. Premiere of "Men Willi Wings": To-night at 10.15 Plans are fi'lling up for the New Zealand premiere of "Men With Wings." which »s to be the Majestic'? New Year attraction. This is the first big aviation picture to bi screened in Technicolour. Fred MacMurray, Louise Campbell and Ray Milland lha-ve the leading roles. The season will commence at the gala midnight preview and whoopee New Year party at J 0.15 o'clock tonight and will continue an extended season until Thursday. How man made himself wings to supplement his equipment of arms and legr is a near-miracle apt to be obscurer." by the vary common-plnce of aviatioi to-day. "Men With Wings" brings tf mind t'h'e immensity of the achieve ment and the super-human quality o' the invention. With its survey ox 31 years oil' aeronautical history, "Mer With Wings" .takes its place with the most valuable films so far produced It is intelligent, exciting and human, and altogether.-a brilliant film. It is the first aviation film in colour. "Men Wji'ih Wings" is a milestone ir the progress of the screen. Paralle' with the aviation history, "Men Witf Wings" tells of three fictitious characters whose lives are bound up with flying. A small-town editor is included for further sheet-anchor, te reflect the lowest average and unimaginative human response to each epoch in aviation progress. The editor (Porter Hall) refuses a siorj en the 'Wright Brothers' flight at Kith Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903, wher they rose 12ft. and flew 40ft. By 1-91'' Bleriot had conquered the Englisl Channel, the American continen had been crossed in 50 clays; Ger many had 000 planes, France abou the same, England 90 and the Unite Slates 25. But the newspaper head line runs: "Government to Wash Money on Aeropl'anes." The ediloinvariably prefers some trivial Stor.' of "local boy makes good" interest dealing with a stunt pilot <Fred Mac Murray), than a report of any significant achievement concerning a pilo (Ray Milland), who flics and build; planes bv scientific rule. At the end the film'reviews the great flights including Sir Charles Kingsforc Smith's crossing of the Pacific in botl directions. KING'S THEATRE "MY LUCKY STAR": TRIUMPH FOR SONJA HENIE At last the brilliant Sonja Ilenie returns to Gisborne, in the fourth and greatest picture of her career, "My Lucky Star," which is doing turnaway business at the King's Theatre As ' a dazzling modern girl wearing fashionable clothes, gliding over the ice in awe-inspiring spectacles—that's Sonja as one sees her in "My Lucky Star." A credit to Darryl F. Zanuck and to everyone who had a hand in its making, this is a picture that winks and glitters with fun and romance and the magic of stars hanging low on a still frost} night. It has songs and laughter thai seem to sail through the air like ski jumpers and Sonja's magnificent "Alice In Wonderland" ice balletclimaxing what is by all odds her happiest screen story—is a thing tc make you cry out in wonder and delight. Sharing star honours with Sonja is Richard Greene, whih Joan Davis, Cesar Romero and Budd> Ebsen are featured in widely divergent comedy roles which will delight Their fun-loving "fans." REGENT THEATRE LAST SCREENING: "SII! THE OCTOPUS," ana "DAREDEVIL DRIVERS" To-night at 8 o'clock will see Un final screening of Hugh Herbert n. the comedy, "Sh! The Octopus, anc the thrilling drama. "Darcdevi Drivers."

—To-night: New Year Midnight Matinee, For First. N.Z. Screening

of "Holiday" —

••Holiday,", featuring Gary Gran and Katharine Hepburn, which wilt have its first screening in New Zealand at the Regent Theatre at the midnight matinee, is a sparkling romantic comedy that is said to be greater than "The Awful Truth. The story of the Fifth avenue black sheep" who tries to conceal her affection for her sister's fiance, and ot the promising young business man who wants to take a "Holiday" in order to learn the real meaning ot life but certain that it doesn't lie in moneygrubbing, is brought to glorious screen fulfillment by Columbia, based on the Philip Barry stage success. As the heroine, Miss Hepburn loses herself in an understanding humour that will widen her field of admirers. Cai.v Grant, as her vis-a-vis, has a role with more serious motivation than in any of his previous pictures, but a role which bubbles over with the good spirits he is so apt at reflecting. Lew Avres creates a new and attractive figure Of himself as the insouciant brother, while Doris Nolan brings loveliness and a carefully toned touch of coolness to the role of the sister. Edward Everett Horlon shows himself at his best as the very human Professor Potter, with Jean Dixon appearing as his wife. Their performance as Punch and Judy is something to remember. Binnie Barnes, Henry Danicll, and George Pauncefort are others of the talented and well chosen cast. At no time in her career has Katharine Hepburn appeared so brilliantly as she does in "Holiday. Equally brilliant is Gary Grant, greater 1 in this picture than he was in "The Awful Truth," in which he was excellent. Now he reaches close to the greatest portrayal of his career. As the bookings for the 10.30 o'clock session this evening are heavy patrons are advised to reserve early. "Holiday" will be the holiday attraction at the Regent also on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.