ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23677, 28 November 1938, Page 9

ENTERTAINMENTS

CIVIC THEATRE COMEDY AND DRAMA Joe Penner, leading comedian of radio and screen, appears in his first starring comedy, “Go Chase Yourself, now showing at the Civic Theatre. Said to be one of the season’s fastest comedies, “Go Yourself” comes to the screen with Lucille Ball heading a popular cast, including Richard Lane, June Travis, Fritz Feld and Tom Kennedy. Penner’s hilarious role is that of a bank teller who wins an elaborate trailer in a raffle, but has no car to pull it. When his wife, exasperated, forces him to sleep in the vehicle that night, it is stolen by a group of bandits, who have looted his bank, to disarm suspicion. Joe, bewildered, wakes up the next morning, with his strange companions, and from this point the action becomes fast and furious, leading up to the side-split-ting climax. “Night Spot” is the title of the second film, which features Allan Lane, Gordon Jones, Joan Woodbury and Lee Patrick. Although drama is the keynote of the entertainment, a fair amount of comedy is included. Briefly, the story deals with two youthful police officers who are instrumental in bringing about . the capture of a murderer. An additional attraction is the official film record of the recent world’s title bout between Joe Louis and Nathan Mann fought last February at Madison Square Gardens, New York. MAJESTIC THEATRE DEANNA DURBIN “THREE SMART GIRLS” FINALLY Intending patrons are advised that the outstanding Universal production, “Three Smart Girls,” which stars the screen’s most charming and popular singing actress, Deanna Durbin, will conclude at the Majestic Theatre today. The management regrets that the season cannot be extended under any circumstances as the programme is urgently required for screening in Whangarei, on Thursday night next. The mystery thriller “The Return of Jimmy Valentine,” which features Roger Pryor and Charlotte Henry, will also conclude today. THRILLER AND WESTERN TOMORROW Universal’s “State Police,”’ which will open at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow is a punch packed, action drama and has an excellent cast headed by John King of “Three Smart Girls” and with Larry Blake, Constance Moore and J. Farrell MacDonald in support. The picture whirls rapidly through a series of thrilling and romantic situations without a single let-up. The plot of the story centres round the efforts of a patrol of State police, headed by John King as the sergeant, to halt murderous racketeering in the coalmining areas. King is also endeavouring to make a man out of a ne’er-do-well youth, who takes his enlistment in the police force as a lark. The youth returns King’s favours by making advances towards the sergeant’s fiancee, played by Miss Constance Moore. John King rises to dramatic heights he established in Universal’s “The Road Back” and his character part in “Three Smart Girls.” Larry Blake as a racketeer killer turns in a very fine performance. The supporting picture, Columbia’s “Justice of the Range,” has Tim McCoy starred in this outstanding Western drama which deals with the efforts of a ranch hand’s terrific fight to restore law and order in the lawless backwoods where might is right and the weak and honest suffer in the hands of ruthless and rustling cattle thieves. This programme will appeal to patrons who appreciate action entertainment. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s departmental store box office, Rice’s Majestic confectionery or Majestic Theatre, telephone 738. REGENT THEATRE “TEST PILOT” DRAMATIC FLYING FILM There have been many flying films but not one seen before in Invercargill can compare with “Test Pilot,” the dramatic, thrilling picture which is screening at the Regent. This picture, glorifying the heroes of civil aviation, combines the thrills of “Hell’s Angels” and the pathos of “Wings” and also portrays for the first time the risks taken by the test pilots who gamble their lives on the airworthiness of a designer’s models. A better choice than Clark Gable for the role of Jim Lane, the test pilot, could not be imagined; he has just that touch of recklessness that is necessary to detail correctly the characterization and his intense determination relieved by just enough waywardness to stop him from being “too perfect,” revealed him as the outstanding actor that he is. “Jim Lane” is a figure that will remain etched in the audience’s mind long after the title of the film has been forgotten. In an ordinary picture, Spencer Tracy, as the crack mechanic and great friend of Jim Lane, would have been outstanding. In “Test Pilot” he almost steals top honours. But if he and Clark Gable had exchanged roles the picture would not have been the success it is. That is practically the only difference; they are both excellent in their respective roles. As in “Big City” Spencer Tracy displays that quiet aggressiveness and intensity of purpose that have become almost copyright to him. Myrna Loy has an unusual role to play, and although it calls for considerable emotional, dramatic, and, at times, joyous, acting she plays her scenes well. Early in the film (soon after she marries Lane) she sees another test pilot killed and from then on realizes the inevitability of Lane’s death if he keeps up his dangerous occupation. Not knowing whether her husband will be killed when he takes off on endurance, record-breaking, altitude or stunting flights, she admirably portrays the suspense and mental agony that a woman in such a position would go through. Whether a scene calls for tense, emotional acting or just happiness she gets the right effect. Lionel Barrymore, veteran of a thousand characterizations, handles his role with the confidence and understanding of long experience. Marjorie Main and Gloria Holden both appear to gain credit in small but effective parts. A trans-continental record-breaking flight is interrupted in a Kansas Wheatfield and as Jim Lane, his face spattered with oil, climbs from the cockpit, Ann Barton’s dream of a “prince from the skies” comes true. They marry. When Lane quarrels with his employer and leaves him he contracts to fly a mystery aeroplane and although near the end of the classic aviation contest in which he flys, a fire starts in the engines, he pilots the machine to victory. A friend is killed in the race and the fact that Lane will, sooner or later, die in the same way, is impressed on Ann. Lane eventually goes back to his original employer (Barrymore) and many thrilling flights take place. Finally Tracy is killed and the tragedy awakens Lane and he realizes that with Anne he can live the kind of life that he had always believed impossible.

“Test Pilot” is a splendid film and it sets a standard in aviation productions that will be hard to live up to. Robert Benchley is at his nonsensical best in the feature “An Evening Alone” and this, and newsreels, make up a brief, but entertaining, supposing programme. STATE THEATRE FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW “KIDNAPPED” From the world’s great stories (i ca PJ e the greatest motion pictures and “Kidnapped,” which Robert Louis Stevenson considered his best, proves this axiom at the State Theatre where it is screening at 2 and 7.45 daily. With the typical lavish hand that ear-marks all the 20th Century-Fox productions which come under the watchful eye of Darryl F. Zanuck, “Kidnapped” brings an array of fine motion picture thrills to the screen in a romantic adventure story. Warner Baxter portrays in all his swashbuckling, vigorous best, the never-to-be-forgotten Alan Breck, fugitive clansman of the highlands. And Freddie Bartholomew, a size or two larger than when he last appeared so brilliantly on the screen, gives a fine performance to the role of David Balfour, the boy hero of the piece. The picture takes liberty with the original script in introducing a “heart interest” to the life of Alan Breck. But this reviewer is willing to concede that even Robert Louis Stevenson might have rewritten his story had he known Arleen Whelan. This bright-eyed, mischievous Irish lass brings a freshness and beauty to the

story that makes “Kidnapped” a treat for eyes jaded with glamour girl after glamour girl. The story concerns Alan Breck’s leading the clans in revolt against union of the North Country with George Ill’s domain. David Balfour is the lad with the unscrupulous uncle who tries to keep the boy’s rightful estate by having him kidnapped and shipped to America. The lives of Alan Breck and David Balfour cross at the point where the girl, fiancee of a lesser rebel, falls in love with Breck. An impressive cast headed by C. Aubrey Smith, Reginald Owen, John Carradine, Nigel Bruce, Miles Mander, Ralph Forbes and H. B. Warner appears in the film, which was directed bv Alfred Werker. Supports include a two reel comedy, Terrytoon cartoon and latest newsreels. Plans are at Begg’s or State. Telephone 645.