ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23336, 21 October 1937, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE “THUNDERING HERD” It is claimed that no theatre in New Zealand offers such a bargain programme as that given in the middle of the week at the Civic Theatre. There is no doubt about the quality or quantity of the entertainment and these are in contrast to the low amount charged for admission. That the public is aware of this is shown by the big audiences which assemble weekly for these family programmes. “Thundering Herd” is one of those super films and is in the same category as “The Plainsman” and “Texas Rangers.” It is based on the mighty theme of the pioneer conquest of the untamed West when men pursued the thundering herds of buffalo which flowed like rivers over the grassy plains, avid for the wealth that could be secured for their hides. “A picture of the type which appeals to most people,” says The Sydney Morning Herald. “In this story there are so many quaint angles and exciting adventures that the producers could have made three stories out of the ingredients.” Warner Baxter proves his versatility when he plays the role of Cesar, the gaucho, in Fox Films’ “Under the Pampas Moon.” It is a role similar to his old character of “The Cisco Kid.” In it there are a number of song hits. Ketti Gallian, the beautiful blonde French star, plays opposite Warner Baxter in the picture. Tomorrow night a unique venture is being tried at the Civic, when three great pictures will be shown on the one programme. First there is the exclusive film of the FarrLouis fight for the world championship. This picture has been shown to big audiences through the North Island. It is a very clear picture of the fight from start to finish. Next on the programme is “Fifty Roads to Town,” with Don Ameche, remembered for his playing of the Indian in “Ramona” and the reporter in “Girl in a Million,” Ann Sothern as the girl, and Slim Summerville, who is said to be hilariously funny, as a trapper in the wilds. The final picture of the triple programme is “Everybody’s Old Man,” with America’s greatest humorist, Irvin Cobbe. Probably never in the history of Invercargill has such a feast of entertainment been provided in the one evening. MAJESTIC THEATRE THREE SPORTING FEATURES Some things are said to get into the blood and make the pulse beat faster, including swing music, horse-racing and beautiful women. “Breezing Home,” the Universal picture which opened yesterday at the Majestic Theatre, contains all those elements, besides exciting drama, brightly-paced, humour and gay-spirited romance. William Gorgan portraying a horse trainer, arouses the affections of two girls. One of them is a millionaire horse owner, played by Binnie Barnes. The other is a night-club singer, a part taken by Wendy Barrie. The drama develops when Alan Baxter, portraying a night club owner and race-track bookmaker, presents Wendy with a horse he cannot race under his own name. The bookmaker does some crooked work, causing Gargan to suspect Wendy is in the same deal. Later, Baxter has Wendy ruled off the track. Gargan finally sets the facts straight and clears Wendy. The climax of the stirring narrative is presented in a different manner from that which any other racing picture has developed. The audience does not learn until the very finish which horse wins the race or which girl wins the man. The other sporting feature, “Motor Madness,” as the title implies, is a story of motorboat racing, telling the story of how Joe Dunn, played by Allen Brook, is offered a bribe to prevent the boat he is driving, the Peggy, from winning an important event. He gets into a fight which ends in Joe becoming arrested by the coastguard. Then Peggy, whose father owns the boat named after her, decides to drive in a preliminary race, but she gets into an accident and is seriously injured. When Joe leaves gaol he hears that money must be obtained for Peggy’s operation and he accepts a large sum from the gangsters but is arrested once again, this time as an accomplice. Rosalind Keith is seen as the charming Peggy and other members of the cast include J. M. Kerrigan, Marc Lawrence, Arthur Loft and Joseph Sawyer. Round by round scenes of the Louis v. Braddock boxing contest are also featured on the programme. BEGINNING SATURDAY “THE MAN IN POSSESSION” Beginning on Saturday at the Majestic Theatre is “The Man In Possession,” one of the most brilliant comedies ever brought to the screen. The debonair Robert Taylor and the dynamic Jean Harlow have the leading roles. REGENT THEATRE “A STAR IS BORN” HOLLYWOOD AS BACKGROUND In “A Star Is Born,” which will begin a season at the Regent Theatre on Saturday motion picture lovers are promised the greatest picture with a film background that has ever been filmed. It is said to be an entertainment achievement endowed with the master touch of David O. Selznick. Selznick produced such memorable productions as “David Copperfield,” “Dinner at Eight,” “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” and “The Garden of Allah.” “A Star Is Born,” his latest picture, is stated to be the most remarkable account of motion picture making that has yet reached the screen. For the first time the audience is taken “behind the scenes” in Hollywood and shown a bold revelation of the people and places, the laughter and love, the bitterness ana jealousy, the talent and tears that all go into the making of pictures. The entire production has been filmed in technicolour and is the first modern story to be done entirely in colour. The story has been studded with gems of comedy and hilarious situations. Janet Gaynor makes her reappearance as the little country girl, unassuming, untrained, unknown, who went to Hollywood with the high hopes and dreams cherished by most girls, and faced the odds of 100,000 to one against her. Fredric March plays the role of the established star, an exasperating, spoiled, lovable wastrel. Adolphe Menjou, May Robson, Andy Devine and Lionel Stander are featured in the supporting cast, which also includes Owen Moore, Peggy Wood. Elizabeth Jenns, Edgar Kennedy and Guinn Williams. A Walt Disney cartoon in technicolour entitled “Mickey’s Circus” will be included on the programme.

r— —.—_■ STATE THEATRE TWO EXCELLENT FILMS Some of the world’s biggest lumber camps provide the picturesque background of George O’Brien’s latest action-packed, comedy-sprinkled drama of the great outdoors, “Park Avenue Logger,” which, in conjunction with R.K.O.’s hilarious comedy, “Don’t Tell The Wife” starring Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel and Lynne Overman, concludes a season at the State Theatre today. BEGINNING TOMORROW “LOVE IS NEWS” The romance of three whose escapades crash the headlines and sell extras, Tyrone Power (the star sensation of “Lloyds of London”), Loretta Young, and Don Ameche, provides hilarious excitement in “Love is News,” which will begin at the State Theatre tomorrow.- With Loretta Young in the role of a beauitful heiress heckled and pestered by sensation-seeking newspapers, the pace is set at once when she vows vengeance against Tyrone Power, a reporter, who has just tricked her again into the headlines, without, however, reckoning with his harddriving managing editor, Don Ameche. To give Power a dose of his own medicine, Loretta Young determines to make him a public figure, and not only announces her engagement to him, but also states that she has presented him with 1,000,000 dollars. Besieged on every hand, Power strives to expose the hoax but his efforts serve only to increase his notoriety, as well as his unpopularity with the managing editor. On a wild chase into the country, both the reporter and his quarry are arrested for speeding and gaoled by a county judge, Slim Summerville, an incident which results in some of the most hilarious moments in the film. Lcretta Young’s revenge works itself up to a bewildering and amusing climax in which the tables are suddenly turned. Slim Summerville, Dudley Digges, Walter Catlett, George Sanders, Jane Darwell, Stepin Fetchit and Pauline Moore are featured in the supporting cast.