ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23310, 21 September 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE GREAT DOUBLE BILL “There is no law west of the Pecos.” This saying, current during the settling of the western part of the United States, had truth as well as circulation. There was no law west of the Pecos, except the law of the rope and gun, and that law was administered strictly on a non-professional basis, in that there were no courts, no judges and very few sheriffs. Zane Grey’s story, “West of the Pecos,” which RKO-Radio has made into a starring vehicle for Richard Dix, and which is now showing at the Civic Theatre, concerns the stirring days of that particular territory, “west of the Pecos.” The Pecos river rises in New Mexico, flows through the western section of Texas, forming the Eastern boundary of Pecos county, and empties into the Rio Grande in Valverde County. RKO found locations in California that resembled the Pecos country described by the author, and used them for the photographic backgrounds of the picture. The cast includes Martha Sleeper, Fred Kohler, Sleep’n’eat, Louise Beavers, Russell Simpson and Maurice Black. Few stars have the vivacious appeal of Ginger Rogers. Through her RKO musicals she has established an enormous following and they flock to see this favourite star in “Romance in Manhattan,” a, picture that gives her a marvellous opportunity to show what a great actress she really is. A good short story and a famous star make it a most delectable entertainment. “Romance in Manhattan” and “West of the Pecos” combine to make a fine programme. STATE THEATRE “HIS LORDSHIP” George Arliss gives a brilliant performance in “His Lordship,” which concludes a season at the State Theatre today. Arliss strikes good form in this stoiy of twin brothers who are as unlike as chalk and cheese. Playing both parts, he succeeds in tricking Eastern murderers, outgeneralling the British Cabinet, and bringing two young people together. Arliss can boast real versatility. He confounds the critics by playing in “His Lordship,” two very dissimilar and difficult roles with polish and rare genius. BEGINNING TOMORROW “THE JUNGLE PRINCESS” “The Jungle Princess,” which, is the main feature on the excellent twofeature programme which comes to the State Theatre tomorrow, shows a new star of the screen, Dorothy Lamour, in a role that cannot fail to grip the attention of the filmgoer. She is cast as the child of a white doctor, left with a band of Malays in her early infancy and robbed of her protecting native friend when she is still a tiny child Thereafter, hidden in a cave in the jungle, with the companionship of an ape and a tiger that she has reared from a cub, she is safe in a land which becomes known to the terrified Malays as the home of the tiger that laughs. Into this unknown land comes a biggame expedition, and one of the number, hunting the tiger, meets with an accident and is nursed back to health by the girl. Thereafter, the story becomes full of rapid action, with a most unexpected and spectacular finale crowning the whole. Ray Milland is cast opposite the new star. The second feature, “Terror Aboard,” which stars Charles Ruggles, John Halliday, Neil Hamilton and Shirley Grey, is the story of a madman’s attempt to kill three dozen persons aboard a ship. Halliday, in the role of a world-famous financier whose frauds are exposed while he is at sea on his private yacht, decides that he can escape only by disposing of everyone aboard the yacht with the exception of Miss Grey, with whom he is in love. REGENT THEATRE “LOVE FROM A STRANGER” Those seeking thrills and excitement cannot do better than see Ann Harding and Basil Rathbone in “Love From a Stranger,” the most thrilling film of its type of the year, which is showing finally today at the Regent Theatre. It is not just a “horrific” film but an intensely interesting, brilliantly acted study of the macabre. The film is a grim psycho-analytical drama of a murderer, and was adapted by Frances Marion, Hollywood’s highest paid scenarist, from the successful play by Frank Vosper, which in turn, was based upon an Agatha Christie short story. Much is expected of a brain-child of such distinguished parentage and “Love From a Stranger” superbly directed by Rowland V. Lee, also from Hollywood, fulfils every expectation. The film opens cautiously, but soon builds up to a tremendous and almost nerve-wracking climax, in which Ann Harding and Basil Rathbone rise to magnificent heights of dramatic acting. “ANTHONY ADVERSE” RETURN SEASON TOMORROW Few pictures have had such universal appeal as “Anthony Adverse,” which, in response to many requests, is coming again to the Regent Theatre for a three-day season, beginning tomorrow. In dynamic action, intense drama, glamorous romance and thrilling adventure, probably no story was ever better fitted for screen material. And Warner Bros, have caught all the vividness, the fire and colour of the original and have transmitted it to the film. The cast is a tremendous one in size and remarkable for the number of talented players, there being 98 speaking parts, with 2550 bit players and extras appearing. Besides March and Miss de Havilland, some of the most important players include Edmund Gwenn, Claude Rains, Anita Louise, Louis Hayward, Gale Sondergaard, Steffi Duna, Billy Mauch, Donald Woods, Akim Tamiroff, Ralph Morgan, Henry O’Neill, Pedro De Cordoba, George E. Stone and Luis Albemi. MAJESTIC THEATRE “TOP OF THE TOWN” FINALLY Universal’s giant musical extravaganza, “Top of the Town” will be screened for the last time today at the Majestic Theatre. A varied selection of features make up the pre-interval section of the programme, including the match between the Springboks and Otago. MYSTERY THRILLER TOMORROW “UNDER COVER OF NIGHT” Christopher Cross, the newest detective character of the screen, will make his bow at the Majestic Theatre when “Under Cover of Night,” Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer’s scientific detective story with Edmund Lowe, begins tomorrow. Instead of the old detective formula with the solution as a finale, the new story takes the audience into the secret and the spectators dramatize them-

selves as detectives, working out each clue, side by side with the detective in the picture. Florence Rice plays the leading feminine role. Dorothy Peterson, Nat Pendleton, Henry Kolker, Henry Daniell, Theodore von Eltz, Sara Haden, Jaggers and Frank Reicher are others in the cast. Much of its action is laid in a university, with strange scientific experiments adding a bizarre touch to the series of mysterious murders and the implacable pursuit of the detective on the case. The romantic angle in the story is between Miss Rice and Dean Jagger.

COMMUNITY SING FINAL NIGHT NEXT TUESDAY The final community sing on behalf of the Plunket Society is to be held next Tuesday and already there is a steady demand for seats. An excellent programme has been arranged. Included in the performers will be Ewan McEwan, the boy soprano, who won high honours at the recent Wellington competitions festival, and Mr Trevor Grainger, who will sing “Old Man River” and “Rose Marie.” The song leaders, Messrs C. Trim and P. Linton Hodge, will give special numbers and Mr Howard Moody will play a pianoforte solo. To make the final ;~ffort for the Plunket Society a complete success, those who have been unable to attend the sings have been asked by the organizers to send in their donations to the secretary, Mr D. K. Torrance. Cheerios will be broadcast during the evening.