ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 22767, 18 December 1935, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE “BLACK SHEEP” A thrill-packed, fun-capped advent-ure-mystery that dispenses laughs and suspense in equal measure, is offered by Fox Film in “Black Sheep,” which starts its engagement to-day on the screen of the Civic Theatre. A new Edmund Lowe—far from the Sergeant Quirt type of character—is revealed in his portrayal of a professional ship gambler, who finds the cards stacked against him when he tackles a game wherein everything he counts worth while is at stake. Claire Trevor, who is expected to reach the front rank of film favourites this year, enacts the role of “an actress in spite of what the critics think,” who is walking home from her first trip abroad. Lowe joins forces with Miss Trevor to back a romance and save the life of Tom Brown, a misguided youth, who is under the influence of Adrienne Ames, a smooth kleptomaniacal adventuress, who is trying to smuggle a stolen necklace of priceless pearls through the customs. Eugene Pallette, a millionaire oil-man out for a good time and a trimming, and Herbert, Mundin, a gently plastered knight of the bottle, have kept audiences in stitches wherever “Black Sheep” has been shown, /’’ord Sterling, first famous on the screen as the Chief of Police of the Keystone Cops, has the part of the ship’s detective, who knows the passenger-fleecing Lowe only too well. Praise has followed “Black Sheep” everywhere for its fine comedy and tense emotional sequences and audiences are assured of a vanload of throbs and thrills, chuckles and guffaws in this unusual sea-going comedydrama, which was produced by Sol M. Wurtzel and directed by Allan Dwan. The supporting p;Dgramme includes two British Newsreels, “Three Cheers for Love” (comedy) and a cartoon. REGENT THEATRE. “WE'RE IN THE MONEY.” ANOTHER COMEDY PROGRAMME. Good and boisterous fun is provided in generous quantities throughout the new programme to be presented at the Regent Theatre to-night. Apart from the continuous succession of laughs contained in the main feature, “We’re in the Money,” there is to be presented a Polly Moran comedy, “Pretty Polly,” and a Roscoe Ates comedy with music, so a good night’s fun is assured during the currency of the programme. Of the main feature, “We’re in the Money,” different reviewers have said; “Here’s fun in a blonde and boisterous way.” “Will provide a continuous succession of laughs.” “A bright and amusing comedy, quite the best of the Blondell-Farrell ‘gold-digging’ series.” The story concerns the efforts of two girl gold-diggers who are process servers for an attorney specializing in breach of promise cases. The romance between one of the girls and a wealthy young man disguised in a chauffeur’s uniform, with whom she falls in love while strolling in the park, provides one of the main attractions in the film. The love is mutual, although neither knows who the other is, nor that the girl is trying to serve a subpoena on the man in a breach of promise case. However, the amusement provided by the two girls in their endeavours to serve the subpoenas provide; the main comedy element in the film. They prove their ability as process servers by going right into the locker room of a men’s club to get their man. Other men to whom they are to give the subpoenas include a singer in a night club, the owner of a dubious club, Man Mountain Dean, the wrestler, and Richard Courtney, who, although a millionaire, is the chauffeur whom Joan Blondell met in the park. Some very reckless driving by the crooked lawyer Hugh Herbert, first in a motor car, and later in a speed boat, neither of which he knows how to handle properly, provides some more excellent comedy. The picture concludes with Joan Blondell marrying her millionaire chauffeur and Glenda Farrell collecting the 1009 dollars for delivering the subpoenas. This picture and its supports provide an excellent and diversified programme. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “THE GLASS KEY.” JACKIE COOPER IN “THE LONE COWBOY.” George Raft is the star of “The Glass Key,” which is co-starred 'with “The Lone Cowboy,” commencing to-day at the Majestic with special matinees on Thursday and Friday. 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 lordings 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 to 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. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s or Patrick’s Sports Depot.

EMPIRE THEATRE, RIVERTON. Right out of the pages of classic history on to the screen comes Dickens’s “Great Expectations,” the greatest and most absorbing human story Charles Dickens ever wrote. The story will never grow old; it is just as fascinating and thrilling to-day as it was almost 100 years ago. No greater romance, no tenser drama, no more thrilling situations, have been seen on the screen. It will be shown at Riverton to-night. It is a picture every parent will be happy to have his children see and every child will be proud to have his parents see. “Great Expectations” will meet. every audience’s expectation. The opening scene in the churchyard where the adventure with

the escaped convict takes place is one of the most realistic ever seen. Supporting HenVy Hull and Jane Wyatt are Phillip Holmes, Florence Reed, Alan Hale and others. The supporting programme includes “Jolly Little Elves” (coloured cartoon) and Universal News.