AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19880, 6 March 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE "THE LADY VANISHES": EXCITING SPY DRAMA "The Lady Vanishes," which is con. sidered by some London critics to be tiie best thriller ever made in Britain and certainly Alfred Hitchcock's best picture, will conclude at the King's Theatre to-night. It concerns an English couple who board a Continental express and find that an aged Englishwoman is missing, and probably murdered. The cast is headed by Michael Redgrave. —"Gate-way": To-morrow — Ellis Island—last portal of freedom —provides the background for the absorbing story in which 20th CenturyFox stars Don Amcche and Arleen Whelan, "Gate-way," opening to-mor-row at the king's Theatre. Accordm? to the associate producer. Samuel G. Engel, the screen play by Lamar Trotti. based on an original by Walter Reisch. provides a marked departure from the usual Hollywood romance. " 'Gate way," " he said, "depicts those caught ,ii the human wave beating against Ellis Island, most, dramatic spot on jarth. Since 1802 more than 20.000,000 Human beings have passed through there. Adventurers, lovers, fake princes, hungering peasants—-all flung .ogether where old lives end and new loves begin—that is the Ellis Island in I .vhich Don Ameche and Arleen Whelau as the stars of -Gate-way' line! themselves. 'Gate-way,' therefore, provide: m excellent field for line portrayals from the most capable actors ana stresses. Darryl F. Zanuck, in charge if the production, selected Gregory iatofT, Binnie Barnes, Gilbert Roland. Raymond Walbuu.i. John Carradine, Vla'urice Moscovich, Harry Carey. Marjoric Gateson and Lyie Talbot to head lie featured cast. REGENT THEATRE ADVENTURES OF RODIN HOOD' Starring Errol Flynn, the dashing young Irish star who has made such ', phenomenal rise to stardom, as Robin, the Warner Bros' production [•'The Adventures of Robin Hood" was Nupervised by two of the outstanding Mm directors of Hollywood. William Keighlev and Michael Curtiz. Curt./. previously directed Flynn in such pictures as "The Charge of the Light Brigade" and "The Perfect Specimen/' and Keighley directed him in •■The Prince and the Pauper." Olivia ric Havilland, the petite and lovely •itar who played opposite Flynn in -Captain Blood" and "The Charge of the Light Brigade," plays Maid Marian, his lady-love. Claude Rains is the villainous King John, Basil Rathbone jlays Sir Guy of Gisborne, lan Hunter is King Richard the Lion Hearted, and Patric Knowles, Herbert Mundin, Montague Love, Melville Cooper, Alan Hale, Eugene Pallette and Una O'Connor have supporting roles. Norman ftcilly Raine, who recently received the Academy Award tor his writing job on "The Lite of Emilc Zola," collaborated with Scion I. Miller on the screen story for "The Advcnturus of Robin Hood." Adapting the best of l.he Robin Hood legends, and weaving them into a well-rounded story with many original touches, they have surpassed all the previous stage and Screen versions of the famous outlaw's life.

MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST DAY: LAUREL AND HARDY N "BLOCKHEADS" AND "THRILL HUNTER" A bright double-feature programme will be finally shown today at the Majestic Theatre, where the Trrain picture will be the Laurel and Hardy comedy "Blockheads," a Mctro-Goldwyn-'Mayor production. The two comedians give a hilarious performance in the picture, which opens with Laurel guarding a military post in France and quite ignorant of the fact that the war has been over for 20 years. Hardy, his former comrade, discovers him and tlie pair forthwith become involved in a number of exceedingly funny adventures. The second picture on •lie programme is "Thrill Hunter," starring Buck Jones. Additional items are "Think it Over," Crime Doesn't Pay series, and "Red Barry," detective serial. —To-morrow: Bob Burns in "Arkansas Traveler," and "Big Town Girl"— One of America's most picturesque figures—the fearless, crusading editor of the small town newspaper -is glorified in Paramount's new Bcb Burns comedy drama, "The Arkansas Traveler," which will have its local opening to-morrow at the Majestic Theatre. Bums, in a role reminiscent of the one he played so successfully in "Wells Fargo," vill be seen as a light-hearted wanlering printer who stops in a small American town i. ■*% enough to clean up local politics .ad bring to the citizens a new sense of neighbourliness, friendship and communal pride. When a girl with a past steps into 'he spotlight of fame anything can happen—and Cor Claire Trevor it happens ail at once in "Big Town iirl." the exciting new Twentieth 'entury-FoN picture which is the as:ociate" attraction. Three menDonald Woods, Alan Dinehart Bnd Man (Baxter—provide the background for Claire's adventures. One wants to share her life, one wants 'o lake her life and one wants to write t'iie story, of her life! When her bank-robber husband, Alan Baxter, breaks out of prison, Claire Trevor realises that her life is in danger. She takes a job as a singer in a live-and-len where she meets Alan Dinehart, <a press agent, who Dorsuades her that she has a marvellous voice. The story comes to a successful, thrilling climax in a Hood-Besieged hotel where Claire. Woods and Baxter meet in a tense. danger-hiden situation. Three new song "hits" by Sidney Clare and •T-Tarrv Akst, "Argentine Swing." "Don't Throw Kisses" and "I'll Settle for Love" enhance the colourful story.