MAJESTIC THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 23443, 25 February 1938, Page 5

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“BULLDOG DRUMMOND COMES BACK” Colonel "Sapper” McNeil’s popular novel “The Female of the Species” presented as “Bulldog Drummond Comes Back,” featuring John Barrymore, John Howard, Reginald Denny and William Gargan in the mystery-comedy “She Asked For It,” will conclude a suc- | cessful three-day season at the Majestic today. HOPALONG CASSIDY TOMORROW A colourful, fast-moving, romantic portrayal of outdoor life in the West, “Hills of Old Wyoming” has William Boyd in the star role of “Hopalong Cassidy,” which commences tomorrow at the Majestic Theatre. The film centres round a large reservation in Wyoming where a crooked Government agent tries to use his Indian wards as a screen for his * sinister operations as head of a cattle-rustling gang. Cassidy with his pals “Windy” and “Mesquite ‘Lucky’ Jenkins,” is a peace-loving rancher when the picture opens. The three together with their neighbours rise in protest, however, at the continued cattle thieving. The Government agent inflames the Indians against the white men. The threatened result is a sanguinary and reckless conflict which the hard-riding, straight-shoot-ing and quick-thinking “Hopalong Cassidy” undertakes to avert. This ii the tenth “Hopalong Cassidy” picture in which William Boyd, who created this exciting screen personage, has appeared. He is supported in his excellent performance by George Hayes, Russell Hayden, Stephen Morris and Clara Kimball Young. Miss Young, who is continuing her screen comeback, is amusing as “Ma Hutchins,” a typical hearty Western woman store keeper. Lew Ayres, Benny Baker and Eugene Pallette turn detective in “The Crime Nobody Saw,” a thrilling mystery story well spiced with comedy which begins on Saturday also. The three are playwrights who are up against a stone wall for a plot. A play must be delivered the very next day or there is a singularly ominous “or else” from a producer who had given them a liberal advance. Fate comes to their rescue by staging a murder right in their living room. The latest ever popular “March of Time” will also be shown and this week’s Cinesound News.

SPECIAL MATINEE As “The Crime Nobody Saw” is not suitable for children and as “Hopalong Cassidy” is probably the most popular star with children today, the management has arranged for an attractive array of short features for the matinee in conjunction with “Hills Of Old Wyoming.” The second “Wild West Days,” comedy, sports thrill, cartoons and news will be shown, and these with Hopalong make up an ideal matinee programme. Plans are on view at H. and J. Smith’s or Rice’s Majestic shop, telephone 758.

THE CIVIC COMEDY AND DETECTIVE STORY EDWARD EVERETT HORTON When a band of gem thieves tangles with Dan Cupid almost anything can happen—and everything does in “She’s No Lady,” Paramount’s merry tale of life and love among gem thieves, playboys, society women and a mysterious beauty, coming tomorrow at the Civic Theatre. Beautiful Ann Dvorak and John Trent are the boy and girl in the picture, and the cast includes Aileen Pringle, Guinn Williams and Harry Beresford. “Tightwad,” The Saturday Evening Post story by Paul Gallico, has been made into a film. It is “Wild Money,” Paramount’s comedy with Edward Everett Horton, Lynne Overman, Porter Hall and Benny Baker, which opens tomorrow as part of the double-feature programme.

REGENT THEATRE “IT’S ALL YOURS” Scintillating with bright comedy and packed with romantic situations, “It’s All Yours,” Columbia’s latest comedy

venture, has a captivating charm and must rank with the best light films that have come to the Regent Theatre, where it will be screened tonight for the last time. Credit for its charm goes to Madeleine Carroll and Francis Lederer for their outstanding interpretations of the light romantic leads and to Mischa Auer, who rose to rapid fame after his brilliant debut in “My Man Godfrey,” for his delightful comedy. A novel theme and sparkling dialogue, assisted by polished acting, left the production high above the usual standard of screen entertainment. The story concerns a millionaire who leaves his fortune to his earnest young secretary in order to teach his spendthrift nephew a lesson. She accomplishes this by pretending to squander the money, Regardless of the young man’s protests, and encouraging the suit of a fortune-hunter. This latter step is intended to separate him from the actress with whom he fancies himself in love.

“THE GOOD EARTH” SEASON OPENS TOMORROW Four years in the making, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film version of Pearl S. Buck’s novel, '■‘The Good Earth,” is one of the most distinguished motion pictures to reach the screen. It is to commence a season tomorrow at the Regent Theatre. Not only is it an artistic achievement, but it is one of the most stirring, most vibrating and gripping stories ever to be unfolded on the screen in the history of picturemaking. No little of this is due to the portrayals of its two stars, Paul Muni and Luise Rainer, in the respective roles of the poor Chinese farmer, Wang, and his obedient, self-effacing, slave-girl wife, O-Lan. In support of the stars is a cast headed by Walter Connolly, Tilly Losch, Charley Grapewin, Jessie Ralph and hundreds of Chinese players. The story of “The Good Earth” is familiar to the thousands of readers of Pearl Buck’s best-seller. It describes the rise of the Chinese peasant, Wang, following his marriage to the slavegirl O-Lan, who works beside him in the fields. Famine sweeps the country, and they are ruined, but through O-Lan’s efforts their fortunes are restored. The tragedy of the Chinese peoples is laid bare in a series of interludes which shift from the barren lands of the poor peasants to the palaces of the aristocracy. Direction, camera work, the spectacular backgrounds are outstanding triumphs, but above all will be remembered the portrayals of Paul Muni and Luise Rainer as the central figures of the narrative.

THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON The newest thing in screen musicals, Universal’s “Top of the Town,” has been booked for the Theatre Royal, Winton, starting today. The offering hits a high note, emphasizing swing music, varied types of comedy developed by ten different comedians and a dancing, singing chorus that captures the eye and ear. Doris Nolan, new screen find who scored on the stage in “Night of January 16th,” plays the feminine lead. George Murphy, successful in the New York stage plays, “Of Thee I Sing” and “Roberta,” as well as several screen offerings, has the leading male role.