ENTERTAINMENTS

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 19

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “GOODBYE MR CHIPS” ROBERT DONAT-GREER GARSON Few pictures have merited and received the praise bestowed on “Goodbye Mr Chips,” which is now to be seen at the Regent Theatre. A hauntingly beautiful production with Robert Donat giving a brilliant characterization, is one of the few really great photoplays the screen has so far produced. “Goodbye, Mr Chips” is one of those rare offerings in which story, direction and acting have been blended so skilfully that it becomes a perfect unit. Every actor in the cast is beyond criticism, the adapters have done their job so dexterously that the film loses none of the spirit and flavour of the book and the director has guided his players so unerringly and allowed this sentimental story to tell itself so naturally that the total effect is one of genuine beauty and simplicity. You will find more humanity, more truth, more real charm and sentiment, more honest drama and heartache in this story than in all your strident melodramas and lavish spectacles. If any further proof were needed to convince the churlish that Robert Donat is by all odds the finest young actor on the screen today, he himself has provided it by his characterization of “Mr Chips.” But the real delight among the players is a young actress named Greer Garson, who plays Katherine, whom Chips later marries. Effortless in her playing, lovely to look at and a joy to listen to, Miss Garson brings both dignity and distinction to her role and by her performance here proves that she is just about the best thing that has happened to the movies in years. All of which boiled down, simply means that “Goodbye, Mr Chips” is a great picture and if you miss it you are playing a mean trick on yourself. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s and Rice’s Regent shop.

STATE THEATRE LOUIS BROMFIELD’S NOVEL “THE RAINS CAME” The power of one of today s great novels finds its full scope on the screen in Darryl F. Zanuck’s production of “The Rains Came,” the sensationally successful-best-seller by Louis Bromfield, which is screening at 2.0 and 8.0 daily at the State Theatre, with Myrna Loy, Tyrone Power and George Brent sharing stellar honours. These fascinating strangely-assorted humans, cut off from the world in the colourful mythical city of Ranchipur, India, with all restraint swept away, as the angry forces of nature made life a fading hope and love a desperate longing, are brought vividly to life in this 20th Cen-tury-Fox film. Faithful in mood and detail to the book, “The Rains Came’ preserves all of Bromfield’s characters. Myrna Loy breaks with the “perfect wife” tradition to play the amorous Lady Edwina Esketh; Tyrone Power has his most romantic role as the highcaste Hindu surgeon, Major Rama Safti, who proves the one great love of Lady Esketh’s life; and George Brent is seen as the worldly Tom Ransome, a ghost out of the lady’s romancestrewn past. Brenda Joyce, discovered by star-maker Zanuck as the climax of a nation-wide search, heads a brilliant supporting cast in the role of Fern Simon, the fresh, young beauty whose love gives the world-weary Ransome a new lease on life. Others who bring Bromfield’s colourful characters to life are Nigel Bruce as Lord Esketh, Maria Ouspenskaya as the Maharani, Joseph Schildkraut as Mr Bannerjee, Mary Nash as Miss MacDaid, Jane Darwell as Aunt Phoebe Smiley, Marjorie Rambeau as Mrs Simon, Henry Travers as the Rev. Homer Smiley and H. B. Warner as the Maharajah. Zanuck entrusted the direction of his most ambitious production to the distinguished Clarence Brown. “The Rains Came,” which has been hailed by preview critics as one of the truly great pictures of all time, was given the hearty approval of author Bromfield. The earthquake, flood, fire and plague which highlight the novel have been faithfully reproduced in the motion picture production and provide the most breath-taking spectacle scenes the screen has ever shown. Among the excellent supports, newsreel items include French troops in Action in Piercing Cold; H.M.S. Exeter returns home; new 16-inch French gun tested; H.M.S. Cossack returns to England with British prisoners from German steamer Altmark; Australia’s Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, speaks at “Win-the-War” rally; Sydney Girl Guides raise £lOOO for patriotic purposes. Box plans are at Begg’s or State, telephone 645.

MAJESTIC THEATRE i * “HOPALONG” CASSIDY “RANGE WAR” TODAY After an absence from the Invercargill screen for more than seven months Clarence E. Mulford’s colourful western hero, “Hopalong” Cassidy, will make a welcome appearance at the Majestic Theatre- today in Paramount’s “Range War.” This mighty Western is brimming with action, thrills and romance and “Hoppy” and his pals provide excitement of a new type from start to finish in this latest outdoor film. “Hopalong” Cassidy comes to the aid of desperate ranch owners by trying to build a railroad spur which will make it unnecessary for them to pay toll for their- cattle to cross the property of a greedy land baron called in by the man who is backing the ranches. “Hopalong” and his saddle mates go to work to find out who stole the pay roll needed so badly to keep the construction crews at work. “Hopalong” pretends to be an outlaw and joins a gang engaged by the outlaws to prevent the construction of the spur. “Hopalong’s” daring moves lead to a climax which tops anything ever seen in a “Hopalong” film for action and thrills. The associate feature, “What a Life,” is a fine little comedy starring Jackie Cooper and John Howard, with Betty Field and Hedda Hopper in support. Jackie Cooper is cast as Henry Aldrich, a school boy who, every time he turned round, got himself into trouble; he just could not keep out of trouble. The amazing situations, the trouble and be-

wilderment Aldrich gets himself into provide a maximum of laughs and a certain amount of pathos. John Howard plays the part of an understanding school master who eventually gets Henry out of all his troubles. “What a Life” is a grand laugh show. The latest Cinesound News will introduce the programme and plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s Department Store, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre. CIVIC THEATRE “STRANGER FROM TEXAS” “CAFE HOSTESS” One of the tragedies of the old West —the bloody feuds of the cattle country—is brought to thrilling life in Columbia’s “The Stranger From Texas,” Charles Starrett’s newest 'starring vehicle which is the first attraction at the Civic at 2.0 and 7.45 today. Starrett is seen as a young United States marshal assigned to keep law and order in a county during one such feud. The cattlemen, first to conquer the West, were used to having the same broad grazing lands that the buffalo once enjoyed. But soon the range grew a little more crowded and more settlers meant fences, homesteads, sheep and the gradual closing in of civilization. A rough, hard-living, hard-working group of men, the cattle ranchers tried to run settlers and “squatters” off land they considered rightfully theirs. It was not until the pacifying influence of Eastern civilization had a firm grip on western life that the range wars came to an end. But the old West still has a glorious tradition of heroism and daring and many a rancher remembers the days when it was necessary to have a quick “draw” to be protected from enemies and “rustlers.”

“Cafe Hostess,” sensational film dealing with the life of the average night club hostess, is the Civic’s second feature today. Preston Foster and Ann Dvorak are featured in Columbia’s film of the notorious gambling dens which prey upon unsuspecting customers. The supporting cast includes Wynne Gibson, Peggy Shannon, Bradley Page and Arthur Loft. Popular Civic prices tonight are 1/- and 1/6 and children halfprice at matinee. Box plans are at Begg’s, Matheson’s (next Civic) or theatre, telephone 1744. THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON “My Lucky Star,” featuring Sonja Henie and Richard Greene, will be presented at Riverton tonight. There is music in the air and the incredible Sonja Henie is in the air with it, scintillating in six ice spectacles of such whirling skill, astonishing novelty and colourful magnificence that they will bring audiences to their feet with cries of wonder and delight. Arthur Treacher, Buddy Ebsen, Cesar Romeo, Billy Gilbert and Joan Davis are included in the outstanding cast.