ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22766, 17 December 1935, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME It would be hard to imagine more joyous film entertainment than that being served during the season at the Majestic Theatre of two brilliant English films. The audience is sent into peals of laughter in the first half when Leslie Fuller is starred in “What a Night!” Then comes a less hilarious but wittier, more lyrical and no less amusing comedy entitled “Radio Pirates” containing a cast of London favourites headed by Mary Lawson, Leslie French and Will Jenkins. Sandwiched between these mirth-makers is a charming revue in technicolour by tiny tots. It will be generally found that while British pictures do not indulge in colossal spectacles and grandiose backgrounds they are streets ahead of American productions in humour, wit and ingenuity. In “Radio Pirates” a great deal of ingenuity is shown in the conception of the story which deals with the successful attempt of Mary, a cafe proprietor, Billy, a song writer and Charles, a wireless expert to gain much-needed publicity through advertising their wares illegally on the air. Several captivating songs are admirably sung by the trio, notable among these being “Not got a bob,” which had everyone’s feet tapping. Then for a time the audience was taken to Teddy Brown’s famous dance cafe where one of the finest jazz bands in the world gave a new interpretation to such American songs as “Old Faithful.” This was a delightful quarter of an hour—a programme in itself. And all through the comedy there was the thrill of the chase with the 8.8. C. officials spurring on Scotland Yard to arrest the pirates of the air. There is a great climax and one which convulses the audience with laughter. Excellent exercise for the mirth-manifesting muscles is also provided before the interval by Leslie Fuller in “What a Night!” in which most of the funny business takes place in a haunted inn.

COMMENCING TO-MORROW. “THE GLASS KEY” AND “THE LONE COWBOY.” George Raft, is the star of “The Glass Key,” which is co-starred with “The Lone Cowboy” at the Majestic tomorrow. This enthralling murder mystery by Dashiell Hammett, the author of “The Thin Man,” presents the popular star as a hard-fisted battler who defies the lordlings of the underworld to aid his friends. In the well-rounded supporting cast of “The Glass Key,” are Edward Arnold, Claire Dodd, Rosalind Keith, Ray Milland, and Guinn Williams. The story revolves about Edward Arnold, the shrewd but honest political boss of a big city. When the son of the man whom he supports for Senate is murdered, Arnold’s underworld enemies attempt to pin the crime on him. Raft, who is Arnold’s trusted aide, pretends to join his enemies in the fight on the big boss. But he is trapped by them, held prisoner and subjected to torture, without learning the secret of the murder. It is only in the gripping climactic scenes that Raft stumbles on the solution and pins the crime on the man who could be least suspected. Rosalind Keith, a blonde newcomer, draws the assignment opposite Raft. Others in the cast of the picture which was directed by Frank Tuttle are Charles Richman and Emma Dunn. “Lone Cowboy” is the story of a killer’s regeneration through the love of a child, which has Jackie Cooper as the star. In addition to Cooper, the picture, which was directed by Paul Sloane features Lila Lee, Addison Richards, John Wray and Gavin Gordon. It tells the story of Scooter O’Neil, played by Jackie, who is lifted suddenly from his tenement home in Chicago to the wide open spaces of Nevada. Here he is reluctantly accepted by a hardened killer who wants “no kid hanging around.” With characteristic child-like innocence, Scooter tries m prevent a murder almost at the cost of his own life and wins himself a life-long place in the heart of the man who has learned to love him. CIVIC THEATRE. “BROWN ON RESOLUTION.” BRILLIANT NAVAL FILM. Exploits of Able Seaman Brown on Resolution Island. A stirring naval drama of the British Fleet. For the first time the Royal Navy lent its entire resources to the producers for the making of this film, so the spectator can be assured that he is witnessing actual ship interiors, display of ncnclads and working methods of gun-fir-ing. Young Brown is the son of a tradesman’s daughter and a lieutenant in the navy (Barry Mackay), whom she refuses to marry, and courageously brings up her son herself. At her last meeting with the father, he gives her a watch which Lord Nelson had presented to his grandfather, and this is handed on to the boy when he grows to youthhood. He is brought up in a navy school and knows no life but that of the sea. Albert Brown has a great pal. Ginger, which role is taken with real humour by Jimmy Hanley. When the war breaks out there also comes a cleft in the friendship which had been cemented between Brown and Max, a .young German on the Zeithen, the vessel being shortly in action against them. Their ship, the Rutland is beaten off, the two boys—Albert and Ginger, being picked up by the Germans who nurse them back to health from their wounds during their stay in the harbour of Resolution Island. Brown discovers the Zeithen is patching up her gaping holes to set forth after the enemy, innocent of its whereabouts, and he knows that if he can keep the Zeithen from leaving the island for twelve hours things will be O.K. for his side. He manages to steal a rifle and cartridges and swim ashore to the high rocky islet, where he climbs among giant boulders into a position of vantage from whence he is able to fire on those who are trying to mend the ship’s sides. He picks off his old friend, Max, by shooting him in the back as he works on the boat, and another who takes his place. The Germans send some of their sharpshooters on land to rout out the enemy, but he holds them at bay for some time, disposing of more of them, until they are called off. when the island is bombed and young Brown, is hit. Meanwhile an English ship comes up to triumph over the Zeithen, and to erect a cross on the highest point of the island to the valour of Albert Brown. Tire supports include “Art Where Art Thou?” Cinemagazine, “Bakoner,” scenic, “Mirror,” and British News.

KEGENT THEATRE. GRACIE FIELDS. “LOOK UP AND LAUGH.” In “Look Up and Laugh,” her new 8.1. P. picture, which is enjoying a successful run at the Regent Theatre where it is to be shown for the last time to-night, Gracie Fields is given every opportunity for that delicious brand of comedy which has made her

so deservedly popular with picturegoers. lake her recent success, “Sing As We Go,” the story of the new film was written specially by J. B. Priestley, and it provides wonderful opportunities for effortless comedy, each of which is snapped up by the star and her supporting team, including Gracie’s brother, Tommy Fields, and Douglas Wakefield and Billy Nelson, of English music-hall fame. J. B. Priestley this time takes us to the rural haunts of Plumborough, there to stage an hilarious battle between the stallholders of the local market and a pompous shopkeepei - who seeks the demolition of the market. The cause of the stallholders is gallantly led by Gracie, who heads a deputation to the comical mayor of the town, makes fearless whoopee at the opening of a new store by her rival and entirely spoils the whole function, creates a state of seige by barricading the market against the forces of law and order, and finally flies to the Town Hall in a runaway plane with the triumphant news that the market belongs to the people by right of Royal Charter granted centuries before. The end of the film sees everybody extraordinarily “matey,” with the one-time enemy installed as the new mayor, and a notability opening the brand new market that has been erected. One of the highlights of the hilarious story is the kidnapping of a famous prima donna engaged to sing before the mayoress when the new store is declared open. Gracie takes the singer’s place, and sets the whole store by the ears with one of her inimitable renditions. The supporting programme is exceptionally good.