MAJESTIC THEATRE

Southland Times, Issue 23848, 20 June 1939, Page 2

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“MY WIFE’S RELATIVES” “GAMBLING SHIP” TODAY You have all seen the Hardy Family, you might have seen the Jones Family, but you must meet the Higgins Family, Republic’s new typical neighbourhood family who are starred in “My Wife’s Relatives,” which begins today at the Majestic Theatre. . The Higgins family consists of James Gleason as Pa, Lucile Gleason as Ma, Russell Gleason as Sid, the oldest son, Mary Hart as Jean, the pretty daughter, Tommy Ryan as the young son, Harry Davenport as Grandpa and Sally Payne as Lizzy, the maid. The trials and tribulations of Pa Higgins are numerous. He loses his job because his boss, played by Purnell Pratt, is angry when he discovers that Higgins’s daughter is keeping steady company with his son, played by Henry Arthur. Pa Higgins, on top of his other troubles, finds it necessary to contend' with looking for a job, preventing Grandpa from eloping with a rich widow, keeping out of gaol for non-payment on an anniversary ring for Hs.wife, curbing his inventive son, Sid, fft>m wrecking the home and straightening out the romance of his daughter. This, in addition to the other “normal” troubles encountered by a family head.'This picture is literally a comedy scream from start to finish and a show that nobody should possibly miss. — . The associate feature, Universals “Gambling Ship," has Robert Wilcox, Helen Mack, Ed Brophy, Joseph Sawyer and Irving Pichel in the principal roles. In this picture the racketeering methods of gambling rings are dramatically disclosed. Wilcox appears as an undercover man masked as a gangster, while Miss Mack protrays an entrepreneur of the gambling racket he has been assigned to investigate. Romance of the pair that is interwoven with the gangland expose is complicated by the series of misunderstandings arising out of his double identity. Supporting roles are played by Ed. Brophy, as “Innocent, ’ comedy gunman; Joseph Sawyer, an ex-prize-fighter and captain of the gambling ship; Irving Pichel, erudite chief of a crooked gaming ring, who pilots racketeering • coups mathematically. Latest Universal News will also be screened to open this grand programme. Plans are on view at H. and J! Smith’s, Rice’s Majestic shop and the theatre. Telephone 738.