ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 23988, 1 December 1939, Page 2

ENTERTAINMENTS

KEGENT THEATRE “HOTEL IMPERIAL” Action, drama and romance are blended in “Hotel Imperial,” showing finally today at the Regent Theatre giving it strong appeal for almost all classes of filmgoers. One of its notable features is that it marks the screen debut of the much-publicized Continental actress, Isa Miranda. With physical attributes similar to those of Marlene Dietrich, she has been hailed by overseas critics as a definitely better actress, one who is likely to make her mark in the realm of moving pictures. Her leading man is handsome young Ray Milland, who .gives a slashing performance as an Austrian cavalry officer. He is well suited to this part, for he was at one time a member of the Royal Household Cavalry. The supporting cast includes Reginald- Owen, Gene Lockhart, J. Carrol Naish, and the famous Don Cossack chorus. The supporting programme includes a Popeye cartoon, an underwater Sportlight, musical, and up-to-the-minute newsreels. . ' “VALLEY OF THE GIANTS” PETER is. KYNE’S STORY Wayne Morris and Claire Trevor head the cast of “Valley of the Giants,” the technicolour picture based by Warner Bros, on the famous Peter B. Kyne novel of the same name, which opens a three-day season with a special 10.30-midnight session at the Regent Theatre tonight. It is the story of the successful fight waged to prevent the utter despoliation of California s famous redwood forests by ruthless lumber interests (represented by Charles Bickford) around the turn of the century. While it is concerned with one local aspect of this fight, telling in highly exciting manner Of the clash between one such despoil er and altruistic young local lumberman, it is typical of the situation in California throughout the redwood country at that time. Modem audiences will discover a curious parallel between the methods employed by the exploiters of more than 30 years ago and those of the men who have come to be known today as racketeers. Graft ana corruption, legalistic trickery and physical violence all have their part in the story, but it is the last-mentioned method that gives the new Warner picture its most thrilling moments. The picture has two hair-raising sequences. One depicts the rescue of the. heroine from a runaway freight car just -a moment before it reaches a trestle which, with supports deliberately cut away by the villain’s henchmen, collapses under the weight of four lumber-laden flat cars. The other shows a terrific battle between villain and hero on top of a dam and the dynamiting of the dam. Supporting the two stars are Charles Bickford, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale, Jack Laßue, Donald Crisp, John Litel and Dick Purcell. CIVIC THEATRE “UNDER TWO FLAGS” “Under Two Flags,” which begins at the . Civic Theatre at 7.45 tonight and screens at a special matinee tomorrow afternoon, is the film version of the famous story by “Onida.” Ronald Colman and Claudette Colbert are in the leading roles arid the strong supporting cast is headed by Rosalind Russell and ■ Victor McLaglen. The story tells of “Cigarette,” adopted daughter |of the famous foreign legion, who falls in love with an obscure corporal and risks death to save him from the vengeance of the Arabs. Her happiness is threatened when an Englishwoman ap.pears in the garrison town and resumes an interrupted romance with the corporal, who is really the son of a noble English house in voluntary exile. The climax is full of action, and the battle scenes in the desert are among the best ever filmed. ■ . , A new kind of Western picture is the Civic’s second attraction tonight, Buck Jones in “Stone of Silver Creek.” It tells an exciting story of events in a frontier town, with a sharply drawn picture of the straggle between good and evil. Never before has an outdoor drama combined so many features which furnish real entertainment to a theatre audience, including as it does a story of exceptional power, acting of the highest quality, lilting songs and the breath-taking scenery of the great West. Noel'Francis, Marion Shilling rind Peggy Campbell are Jones’s three leading,ladies in this thrilling picture. Box plans are at Begg’s or Civic. Telephone 1744. • ■ . . • STATE THEATRE “CAPTAIN FURY” TODAY • Dramatizing the roaring adventure and rich romance of the pioneering days in Australia in the early 19th century, Hal Roach’s “Captain Fury," costarring Brian Aherne, Victor McLaglen and June Lang, will have its premiere showing at the State Theatre at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. today. Rounding out the hand-picked cast of stars who portray the heroes and heroines of those dauntless days are such wellknown Hollywood players as John Carradine, George Zucco, Paul Lukas and Virginia. Field. Briefly, the story concerns the high, wide and handsome adventures of Captain Fury, a political prisoner from Ireland, who arrives in Australia to discover the perfidious and greedy practices of land barons who are trying to oust the settlers and colonists so that they can establish vast feudal estates and rule them like medieval tyrants. Fury is set to work, shearing sheep, on the compound of Arnold Trist, a cold-blooded villain who has been terrorizing the entire settlement, a few hundred miles outside of Sydney. How Fury outwits this man and brings civilized law and order to the community provides a thrilling climax to the story which is filled with many, hairraising, blood-and-thunder episodes. Special supports include the newest “March of Time” entitled “Background for War: The Mediterranean.” Box plans are at Begg’s or State Theatre, telephone 645.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

HOPALONG CASSIDY TODAY

Clarence E. Mulford’s latest western drama “The Frontiersman” featuring William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy with Windy Hayes and Lucky Jenkins in support will open a three-day session at the r Majestic Theatre today, Friday. The story concerns the adventures of these three trail blazers of the west who bring law and order to the far flung frontiers of a growing Empire The associate feature “Tom Sawyer, Detective,” depicts the new adventures of Mark Twain’s lovable mischief makers, Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. The whole world knows and loves these kids and the entire family will enjoy this picture for the warm tenderness and lusty humour that only Mark Twain could inspire. The character parts are played by Donald O’Connor as Huckleberry Finn and Billy Cook as Tom Sawyer with Raymond Hatton, Porter Hall and Janet Waldo in support. Latest Cinesound News will in-

troduce the programme. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s Departmental Store box office, Rice’s Majestic shop or Majestic Theatre. Telephone 738. THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” featuring Shirley Temple and Randolph Scott assisted by Jack Haley, Gloria Stuart, Helen Westley, Slim Summerville, Alan Dinehart and Bill Robinson, will be presented at Riverton tonight and Saturday. It is adult entertainment that is the keynote of this greatest of all Shirley’s pictures, a great show for everybody. The cast is the best that has ever appeared in one of her pictures—a star surrounded by stars. Six new songs stud this happy musical score. THEATRE ROYAL, WINTON Tonight at the Theatre Royal, Winton, Danielle Darrieux, France’s eyefilling gift to' the American screen, came and was seen. And so far as this reviewer and a wildly applauding and laughing house were concerned .. . she conquered. There need be no hesitation in adding that the dainty, winsome, pouting, prattling Parisian who flashed through every feminine mood in the space of a couple of hours will add the rest of the country to her debut conquest. Universal’s fair visitor is superlative and her first American film, “The Rage of Paris” is a gorgeous comedy romance.