ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23374, 4 December 1937, Page 21

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE TWO SPLENDID FILMS Picture audiences which have a liking for fast action, excitement and romance in their entertainment will find these ingredients in good measure in the new programme at the State Theatre, the principal production being a virile full-blooded Western film of the Hopalong Cassidy series, and an impressive and thrilling mystery story. The main feature is “North of the Rio Grande,” in which William Boyd again appears as the resourceful Cassidy. An outbreak of lawlessness in a Western mining township is attended by _ the mysterious shooting of Cassidy s younger brother, and Cassidy, whose identity is unknown in the township, sets to work to discover the perpetrator of the crime, and also to lay the train robbers by the heels. In a series of exciting episodes he unmasks the leader of the gang of desperadoes, but at the same time unwittingly discloses his own identity, with startling results. A furious chase after fleeing bandits, who are themselves in pursuit of a runaway train, and a gripping climax bring the story to a successful conclusion. The associate feature is “A Night of Mystery,” in which Philo Vance, the popular detective of fiction, returns to the screen in an adaptation of S. S. van Dyne’s thriller, “The Greene Murder Cased’ Thrown into the midst of a series of murders that threatens to extinguish a whole family forced to live in a mysterious mansion, Vance unearths clue after clue that leads up a blind alley. He finds pitted against his coldly scientific methods of crime detection a maniacal strength that eludes each trap. The picture’s big cast is headed by Roscoe Karns, Grant Richards, Ruth Coleman, Colin Tapley and Harvey Stephens. The latest Fox Australasian Newsreel completes an excellent programme.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“KEEP YOUR SEATS PLEASE” A BRILLIANT COMEDY A thousand persons were almost helpless with laughter at the extremely funny antics of George Formby in “Keep Your Seats Please,” which opened at the Majestic Theatre last night. “Keep Your Seats Please” has been drawing big houses in northern towns and its appearance here has been eagerly awaited. The huge enjoyment derived by last night’s audience will be shared by those who see the picture before it is again sent north to satisfy the demands of those who missed it before. In “Keep Your Seats Please” George Formby is seen as George Withers, who contorts his unhapnv but finally successful way through a sustained search for one of a set of chairs which holds a fortune. Unfortunately for George, the chairs have been auctioned off to separate purchasers—thus, he spends his whole time looking for THE chair. He has a rascally partner, and, further, is persecuted by an unscrupulous lawyer—also seeking the chair. Among the laughprovoking incidents are those of George taking “crooner” lessons from a prima donna, with the misunderstanding husband adding to the fun, and the scene in a doctor’s office with George’s frantic efforts to escape the nurse who wants to undress him. Not the least contribution to the comedy is that supplied by a goat, disguised at one time as a dog. Mention must be made of Fiona Stuart, a child actress, who, in the role of Binkie, gives a wholly delightful portrayal as Florence Desmond’s little niece. Binkie is just three years old and it is predicted that she will carve the same niche for herself in screen fame as has her famous prototype, Shirley Temple. On the same programme is “Crimson Romance,” the theme of which is to prove the futility of war. The dialogue and presentation are both directed towards a powerful condemnation of war. The air sequences in this film are among the most thrilling and spectacular ever filmed. Dozens of machines are seen in deathly combat, and over two million feet of film were used in the aerial shots alone, while 25,000 gallons of petrol were consumed. In the principal roles are Ben Lyon, Sari Maritza and Erich von Stroheim.

REGENT THEATRE

“HIGH, WIDE AND HANDSOME” IRENE DUNNE SINGS Spectacular melodrama, which rises to a thrilling climax, adds particular vividness to “High, Wide and Handsome,” which is to have its first screening at the Regent Theatre today. One of the most colourful productions ever made by Paramount, it has been frankly developed as entertainment in the broad and picturesque sense, and in this it has the advantage of a well-conceived narrative with a sprinkling of historical fact. Paramount has put into it the best talent available for this particular type of picture, and the result is an outstanding production, which begins as a romantic love story, but suddenly develops into a gripping melodrama, so exciting that suspense is not only well sustained, even its quieter moments, but almost breathless on many occasions. It has all been done with so much gusto and frankness that there is keen enjoyment even in the ultra-melodramatic climax which reaches an unusual degree of tension. No Wild West tale ever held a more thrilling finish, and one in which the thrills almost create hysterical appre - ciation. It is a spectacle wonderfully done and with a precision that reveals the genius of the producer, Reuben Mamoulian, for this kind of thing. The canvas spread for some of the scenes is immense and the colourfulness of the tenser moments is vivid with thrilling episodes which reveal the melodramatic struggles that marked the early days of the oil industry in America, when the people of Pennsylvania had to fight ruthless railway. magnates tooth and nail to get the crude oil of their gushers to the refineries. The cast which has been assembled to portray the characters of the story is an outstanding one, and is headed by Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott. The former is shown from still another refreshing angle, which considerably enhances the reputation she gained in such productions as “Show Boat” and “Theodora Goes Wild.” She acts and sings with her usual vivacity and charm, adding to the colour of the production with a sturdy interpretation of a medicine showman’s daughter who marries into Pennsylvanian aristocracy. Her beautiful voice is heard to advantage in several numbers written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Kammerstein II who also wrote the story, her songs including “High.

Wide, and Handsome,” “Can I Forget You?” and “The House on the Hill.”

CIVIC THEATRE

“UNDER TWO FLAGS”

“TALK OF THE DEVIL”

The big audience which assembled at the Civic Theatre last night to .see the double feature programme was more than pleased with the entertainment provided. Two good pictures on one programme is the policy of the Civic Theatre management. Four great stars, a cast of 10,000 and a story that flames with the intensity of the Sahara’s burning sands, bring one of the mightiest spectacle-dramas of motion picture history to the screen in 20th Century’s “Under Two Flags.” In the story of flaming love and smouldering rebellion are Ronald Colman, Claudette Colbert, Victor McLaglen and Rosalind Russell, who lead a supporting cast of 40 character stars and numberless extras. The setting of the story is a sun-baked post of the Empire on the edge of the Sahara. McLaglen is a hardbitten commander of a battalion of Legionnaires and his outstanding soldier is Ronald Colman. McLaglen is the slave of the tantalizing “Cigarette,” played by Miss Colbert. When he discovers that she has given her heart to Colman, he comes to hate his subordinate. Colman, however, falls madly in love with the beautiful Rosalind Russell. On the same programme is “Talk of the Devil,” a mystery drama with Sally Eilers and Ricardo Cortez. There will be a huge matinee today, when a specially selected programme of comedies, musicals etc., and the big picture “Under Two Flags” will be shown.

REGENT THEATRE, GORE

A double-feature programme, “Oh, Doctor,” and “Nancy Steele is Missing,” will be shown at the Regent Theatre, Gore, while the next change on Tuesday and Wednesday will be Wallace Beerv in “Viva Villa.” On Thursday and Friday anothe rbig double bill will be presented.

ST. JAMES THEATRE, GORE

Tonight and on Monday, the main attraction at the St. James’s Theatre, Gore, will be “The Road Back.” On Tuesday and Wednesday “Love is News,” featuring Loretta Young and Tyrone Power will be screened, while on Thursday and Friday “Student Doctors Can’t Take Money” will he the main feature.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

“The Country Doctor,” with a brilliant cast of stars in one of the greatest human interest stories ever written, will be screened at Riverton tonight. This picture provides drama, thrills, romance, suspense and comedy. The Dionne quintuplets, acting in their first full-length picture, “steal” the picture from the stars, including Jean Hersholt, June Lang, Slim Summerville and Michael Whalen. “Popeye and Sinbad,” in colour, which took three years to make, will also be screened.