ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE TWO FEATURES TOMORROW Two outstanding pictures, “Adventure in Manhattan” and “Hellship Morgan” will open at the Majestic Theatre tonight. The former, in which Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea are the principals, is a gay comedy romance which relates the amusing adventures that come to a successful writer of mystery stories when he enters the newspaper field and there disrupts all known traditions by successfully predicting a series of involved robberies long before they are committed. Jean Arthur appears as a Broadway actress who, in the course of her engaging romance with McCrea, brings him all manner of woes in his crime detection efforts. Reginald Owen is seen as the polished continental criminal genius who hides behind the mask of a theatrical producer in order to commit the intricate thefts without arousing suspicion. The screen play is based on a well-known story and was adapted to picture form by Sidney Buckman, Harry Sauber and Jack Kirkland. Ann Sothern, George Bancroft and Victor Jory have the principal roles in “Hellship Morgan,” a thrilling tale of adventure on the high seas. Bancroft is cast as brawny Captain Ira Morgan, master of the tuna fishing ship Southern Cross, a man who always gets what he wants by right of might. This type of role is perfectly suited to the powerful and robust Bancroft and his performance in “Hellship Morgan is undoubtedly the best he has offered motion picture fans to date. Ann Sothem plays the part of Mary Taylor, a penniless girl whom Morgan marries and brings aboard the Southern Cross to live. She falls in love with Jim Allen, played by the handsome Victor Jory, first mate of the Southern Cross.

“IT ISN’T DONE”

BRILLIANT AUSTRALIAN COMEDY “It Isn’t Done,” a modern comedy romance which transports audiences on the magic wings of entertainment from Australia to England, as the laughterladen story of a lovable, big-hearted Australian squatter and his inherited Earldom unfolds, is to have its New Zealand premiere at the Majestic Theatre on Friday. “It Isn’t Done is the first Australian picture with a genuine all-star cast, including such sterling favourites of stage and screen as Cecil Kellaway, John Longden, Frank Harvey, Nellie Ferguson, Harvey Adams, Campbell Copelin, and Sylvia, Kellaway, together with Cinesound s new lovely star “find,” Shirley Ann Richards. “It Isn’t Done” includes some of the most ambitious sets yet built for an Australian picture. Among these were the Blaydon lounge, with its rich panelled walls, the Great Hall, also one of the largest interiors ever used at Cinesound, the picture gallery, with its huge framed portraits, Hubert Blaydon's bedroom, and a London night club. The latter set, designed by Mr Eric Thompson, Cinesound’s art director, who recently returned to Australia after 10 years in Hollywood, gives a lighter mood to the film, with its white and silver walls, tall windows and decorative doors in ebony, scarlet and silver. Box plans open today at H. and J. Smith’s and Patrick’s Sports Depot, where reservations are advised.

REGENT THEATRE

‘‘THE RETURN OF SOPHIE LANG”

STORY OF A “LADY RAFFLES”

The matching of two brilliant brains, one of a reformed diamond thief and the other of a man who still seeks to steal other people’s jewellery, forms the basis of Paramount’s cleverly produced film “The Return of Sophie Lang” which comes to the Regent Theatre today. Sophie Lang once troubled the police of Europe and America by her sensational coups, but she has foresaken her old life and appears in the picture as the devoted companion of a rich New York woman who is crossing the Atlantic homeward-bound with the famous Kreuger diamond in her possession. On the same liner, is Max Bernard, former associate of Sophie’s, who.sets out to procure the precious stone. Sophie’s attempts to protect her companion, her incidental romance with a newspaper reporter, and the subsequent entanglements with the New York police provide excellent entertainment which is interspersed with numerous thrilling passages ana amusing situations. Gertrude Michael gives a delightful interpretation of the quick-witted, charming Sophie, while Sir Guy Standing, in the part of the suave Bernard, is excellent. Much humour is provided by Elizabeth Patterson, as Araminta Sedley, the rich American woman, and there is always plenty of action when Ray Willard, as James Dawson, the reporter, is about. An interesting member of the cast is Colin Tapley, formerly of Dunedin, who is seen as the purser on the liner. “The Return of Sophie Lang” is supported by a selection of excellent short subjects including the screen song “The Hills of Old Wyomin’,” “Broadway Highlights,” “Lucky Spills,” “Gipsy Revels,” etc.

STATE THEATRE

“WALKING ON AIR”

When two ingenious college boys find themselves with nothing between them and starvation but a dry unappetizing piece of sheepskin, the fun starts in the film “Walking On Air,” starring Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern, which opens a season at the State Theatre today. This zestful RKO Radio offering presents Miss Sothern as a beautiful spoiled heiress who employs Raymond, playing an impecunious college graduate, to pose as an obnoxious French count and a suitor for her hand. Supposedly he will so insult her father, who opposes the man o’f her choice, that suitor will look like a fine choice by comparison. Things are further complicated by the fact that the boy’s college chum is simultaneously hired by the father of the girl to act as a bodyguard to keep her from eloping. A highlight is an episode in which Gene interrupts a broadcast, over which he is singing, to appeal to the girl, who is on the way to elope with his rival, while his college friend “holds that line” against all the radio station attendants. “Walking On Air” is further enlivened by the three songs from the pens of Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Sid Silvers. “Cabin on the Hilltop,” “My Heart Wants to Dance,” and “Let’s Make a Wish” give Raymond and Miss Sothern excellent chances to use their voices to advantage. Henry Stephenson, as Miss Sothem’s iron-willed father, plays his role to the hilt. And the same can be said for Jessie Ralph, who gives her role of the girl’s aunt a wealth of the rich Ralph humour. Gordon Jones, as Raymond’s friend blessed with more brawn than brains, demonstrates that he is one of the screen’s rapidly rising young character actors. Rounding out the cast are Alan Curtis, George Meeker, Maxine Jennings and Anita Colby. There is an excellent supporting programme.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

Gracie Fields will be seen in “Look Up and Laugh” at the Empire Pictures, Riverton, tonight. It is the riotous story of a fight between a town market and a big rival storekeeper. The picture is a brilliant musical comedy Entertainment that is sheer delight. The comedians include Harry Tate and Billy Nelson,