AT THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 23026, 21 October 1936, Page 9

AT THE THEATRES

COMING ATTRACTIONS

I A personal appearance by Miss Jean Batten, the Dominion’s most famous aviatrix, will be an outstanding attraction at the State Theatre within the next two weeks. The date of Miss Batten’s arrival has not yet been fixed, but further details will be published shortly by the management of the theatre.

In “Drift Fence,” the new Paramount drama adapted from a Zane Grey story, which opens to-day at the Regent Theatre, Tom Keene portrays a Texas Ranger who comes into the Arkansas cattle country in the guise of a “new chum” in order to rid the land of cattle rustlers who refuse to let a large rancher enclose his property. Katherine de Mille plays opposite him in the romantic feminine lead.

Directed by Otho Lovering. A Paramount production. * * * *

A swiftly-moving story concerning the adventures of a dashing brigand who organized a veritable army of outlaws and terrorized the mining settlements in Southern California, is presented in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film “Robin Hood of El Dorado, which comes soon to the Majestic Theatre. Warner Baxter is seen as the colourful character Joaquin Murietta, a laughing peon, whose life was ruined by the invasion of American gold miners into the sunny districts where the people were still more Mexican than American. Driven to banditry to avenge the murder of his wife and brother, he finds a price upon his head in every township and village. An appealing romance is interwoven into the main historical plot, and in this connection the performance of Ann Loring calls for special comment. In the part of Joaquin’s sweetheart she is given wide scope for the exercise of her dramatic talents, and her performance is said to be one of the most outstanding in the film.

Directed by 'William A. Wellman. An M.G.M. production. * ♦ * ♦

Another of her unmistakably individual characterizations is given by Mae West in “Klondyke Annie,” which opens a season at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. Playing opposite the star is Victor McLaglen, who is acknowledged to be one of the finest actors on the modem screen. The combination is an excellent one. The story written by Miss West, has plenty of drama, splashes of comedy, and many typically Westian lines. The star is also heard in three distinctive song numbers, “I’m An Occidental Woman,” “Mr Deep Blue Sea,” and “Little Bar Butterfly,” while the song interludes at the settlement house meeting are excellently arranged. “Klondyke Annie” is excellent entertainment.

Directed by Raoul Walsh. A Paramount production.

“F Man,” an amusing new comedy relating the adventures of a boy who wanted to be a “G Man” opens to-day at the Regent Theatre with Jack Haley in the title role. The supporting cast includes Grace Bradley and William Frawley. Haley goes to the big city to become a G Man, but succeeds only in making a pest o fhimself at the Department of Justice offices. To get rid of him, they tell him he is an F Man and must work secretly, making sure not to come to the department’s offices under any conditions. Bursting with pride, Haley begins his adventures—the first of which is to capture a man who turns out to be chief of the government operatives. In the end, of course, he makes good; but the end does not come until he has .passed through a series of hilarious situations. Directed by Edward F. Clive. A Paramount production.

The latest Laurel and Hardy comedy, “The Bohemian Girl,” comes on Friday to the Majestic Theatre. This is a most unusual production, for the reason that the inevitable comedy of the famous pair is superimposed on the story and music of Balfe’s delightful opera. The story is burlesqued to a certain extent, but in outline it is the plot of the opera. Antonio Moreno, Jacqueline Wells, Mae Busch, James Finlayson, William P. Carleton, and, lastly but far from least, four-year-old Darla Hood, who essays the role of Princess Arline as a child, in'erpret their respective roles in a convincing and entertaining manner. Stan and “Ollie” are happy-go-lucky members of a gipsy band. The latter’s wife, Mae Busch, is enamoured of Antonio Moreno, a dashing and romantic nomad. But so is the gipsy queen, and right here is where the complications start. To prove her love for “Devilshoof,” Mae Busch as Mrs Hardy, kidnaps the baby daughter of Count Arnheim when he flogs Moreno for skulking about the grounds of his palace. Leaving the baby with

her henpecked husband, she induces “Devilshoof” to elope with her. Directed by James W. Horne and Charles Rogers. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production. * * « *

A beautiful girl is madly in love with a man about whom the "tentacles of suspicion squeeze tighter and tighter, until he is almost convinced himself that he committed a brutal murder. That is the situation in which Margot Grahame and Walter Abel find themselves in RKO Radio’s nerve-tingling mystery drama, “Two in the Dark,” which opens at the State Theatre to-day. Margot, in the role of a destitute show girl, is drawn, first by sympathy, and then by love, to an amnesia victim (played by Abel), and she fights to extract him from the ominous, web of ugly circumstances. The baffling mystery, based on the original story by the distinguished author, Gelett Burgess, packs a thrill a minute on to the celluloid.

Directed by Ben Stoloff. An R.K.0.Radio production.

“Come out of the Pantry,” which comes to the State Theatre on Saturday, is rich comedy, with Jack Buchanan in the role of a penniless peer who, finding himself stranded in New York, is obliged to take a j'ob as a footman in a fifth Avenue household. There he falls in love with his employer’s pretty niece (Fay Wray) and after sundry adventures persuades her to share his title. Everyone will soon be humming “Everything Stops for Tea,” Jack’s song hit in the film. The picture has everything to offer the lover of bright screen entertainment. Action is swift, laughter comes spontaneously, the singing is bright and the love theme romantic. What more could be wanted? Buchanan plays the aristocratic footman with tremendous verve; as the niece of the wealthy New Yorkers, Fay Wray is her most winsome. A strong cast supports every situation, from comedy to action.

Directed by Jack Raymond. A British Dominion Films production.

Bright comedy, delightful and quiet adventure are to be found in “Chasing Yesterday,” which opens to-day at the Civic Theatre. Anne Shirley, who achieved stardom in “Anne of Green Gables” plays the leading role. She gives an outstanding performance, but O. P. Heggie, the famous character actor, also rises to great heights in the leading male role. The story centres upon the transformations wrought in

the life of a famous French scholar by an orphan girl whom he comes to worship more than his priceless collection of ancient books; and that in the life of the orphan created by the old man’s sympathetic interest in her romance with a young man. Directed by George Nicholls jun. An R.K.0.-Radio production.

“A Broadway Angel” ventures in where even fools have too much sense to trespass in “Hooray for Love,” which features those popular favourites, Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern. Inspired by the age-old lure of the theatre, this young college man stakes the family fortunes on a wildcat venture, and through courage and initiative, wins out over trickery and misfortune. Gene Raymond is cast as the “angel” who crashed Broadway with a bang. The role offers ample opportunity for his particular type of light comedy and in addition gives him the chance to put over a musical number in his own inimitable style. Ann Sothern adds the alluring combination of youth and beauty to her skilled

portrayal of a young musical comedy star. Tuneful music and rousing dance numbers by Bill Robinson, Jeni LeGon and Maria Gambarelli enhance the plot. “Hooray for Love” opens at the Civic Theatre to-day.

Directed by Walter Lang. An R.K.0.Radio production.

“Living Dangerously,” which is at present at the St. James Theatre, Gore, is a modern society drama which introduces the chamber of the General Medical Council hearing the case of a doctor who is being tried for “unprofessional conduct.” The doctor is played by Otto Kruger, and the chamber sequence is one of the most dramatic ever staged in a British film.

“Frisco Kid,” at present at the Regent Theatre, Gore, is a thrilling tale of the Barbary Coast of San Francisco with an all star cast headed by James Cagney, Margaret Lindsay and Richard Cortez. The picture is set in the colourful background of the early fifties when the waterfront at the Golden Gate was a flaming panorama of the gilded gambling halls and palaces of pleasure.

Frank Morgan and Cicely Courtneidge head the cast of “Perfect Gentlemen,” which will be shown at the St. James, Gore, to-morrow. They are a perfect combination—Hollywood’s perfect comedian and England’s perfect comedienne. This picture is an outstanding comedy.

“Parole,” which comes to the Regent Theatre, Gore, to-morrow, is intended as an exposure and a dramatic illustration of what is happening every day in the United States of America, and it is of absorbing interest apart from its fine entertainment qualities. Also showing is Buck Jones in “Man Trailer.”

“Captain Blood,” starts at the weekend at the St. James, Gore. Rafael Sabatini’s immortal tale of piracy on the high seas is now acknowledged to have taken its place among the classic stories of adventure written in the last century. In the immensity of stark drama, its tremendous sets, its bizarre |

and picturesque background, its thrilling action and its marvellous characterizations, “Captain Blood” stands out as one of the great film masterpieces. Heading the cast are two young film players, Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.

Gaiety is the keynote to “Jack of All Trades,” coming to the Regent, Gore, on Saturday. The inimitable Jack Hulbert is the featured player. He takes the part of a j'olly young man who bluffs his way to success. Gina Malo, with Jack (Hulbert, provides some excellent dance numbers. Richard Cromwell and Billie Seward have the principal roles in “Men of the Hour,” also to be shown. It tells of the adventures of a newsreel camera man.