AMUSEMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATEE JOK E. BROWN IN "THE GLADIATOR," AND "CRIME RING" 'The Majestic's "hilarity week" opened to crowded audiences yesterday with Joe E. Brown heading the revels in "The Gladiator." He does not look like a super-man but . . . lie can carry the ball unaided through an entire football team! He can break every record in track and Held without even gasping for breath! lie can wrestle Man Mountain Dean to a fare-thee-well! He can do anything and everything better than anyone else! In this hilarious comedy Joe E. Brown makes his greatest appearance! A human guinea pig, unwittingly turned into a superman by the scientific magic of a henpecked collage professor, Brown's roie Ls like nothing he has ever before portrayed. It is different, exciting and funny. And Brown supplies the proper balance of whimsy which makes "The Gladiator" believable despite the humorous intent of its Columbia technical stall. You wiil like the other members of the cast, who have never been .seen to better advantage. They include June Travis, who makes a most charming leading lady; Robert Kent, who is a convincing villain; Lucien Littlefield, the eccentric professor: Ethel Wales, his nagging wife; Dickie Moore, the boy actor; and Man j Mountain Dean. How unlicensed and unscrupulous "mystic fortunetellers" can delude gullible clients and rob them of millions annually is vividly depicted in the associate feature, "Crime Ring," in which Allan Lane and Frances Mercer are teamed. The programme commences at 7.45 p.m. with the third chapter of "Red Barry."

KING'S THEATRE "SUEZ"—MEMORABLE FILM Produced with the magnitude, possible only on the screen, one of the most memorable pictures ever to come out of Hollywood is the Twentieth Century-Fox production—" Suez," now playing to capacity houses at the King's Theatre. "Suez" is a truly great picture, in spectacle, emotional experience and sheer entertainment it is unsurpassed. The story tells of the amazing Ferdinand de Lesseps. who dreamed of creating the short route to the' East, sought vainly by Columbus and Magellan, by tearing continents apart and joining the Mediterranean with the Red Sea. The \ great canal he built has become the jugular vein of the world. Out of the choking sand, from the clutch of the raiding Bedouin, in the face of the terrifying Sahara simoon—with blood, tears and passion de Lesseps built

ms canal, driven by the love of two women to realise the dream men -coifed at. Tyrone Power gives thrilling realism to the central character, .vith Loretta Young and Annabella, appearing in the feminine leads.

REGENT THEATRE ROONEY AN I) BARTHOLOMEW IN "THE HOY FROM UARNADO'S" Two of Hollywood's most accomplished boy actors Freddie Bartholomew and Mickey Rooney, are brought together in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production, "The Boy from Barnardo's", which is now screening ing at the Regent Theatre. Both give splendid performances in portraying characters similar to those which they played in "Captains Courageous." Bartholomew appears, as an orphan boy "Lord Geoffrey," who acts as the decoy of jewel thieves while posing as a member of the British nobility. Later he is arrested by the police, but the judge treats him leniently and sends him to the Barnardo Homes, where he is assigned to the mercantile marine department. Here he becomes unpopular with all his companions because of his conceited attitude, and one of the boys, portrayed by Mickey Rooney, does his best to reform the ex-jewel thief. After numerous troubles "Lord Geoffrey" reveals his better character and both boys are given positions on the liner Queen Mary. The picture gives a splendid insight into the work achieved by these homes in saving thousands of boys from 'failure in life. The main supporting roles are played by Terry Kilburn, the late Herbert Mundin, Charles Coburn and Gale Sondegaard.