THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24300, 4 December 1940, Page 3

THE THEATRES

REGENT “REMEMBER THE NIGHT” ENTERTAINING PROGRAMME “Remember the Night,” which heads the new programme at the Regent Theatre, is a thoroughly enjoyable comedy-drama which is likely to prove very popular with all types of filmgoers. The story begins in New York, where Fred Mac Murray, an up-and-coming young lawyer, is prosecuting a beautiful jewel thief, Barbara Stanwyck. But it is Christmas time, and when the case is adjourned Mac Murray feels a little sorry for the charming young lady, so he obtains her release on bail, only to discover that she has no place to go. He takes her to dinner and discovers that she comes from Indiana, where he is headed for his holidays. “I’ll drop you off at your home town if you like,” he says, with casual indifference. When they arrive, Miss Stanwyck’s cold, hard mother refuses to unbend before her daughter who had run away many years before. Mac Murray takes the girl on to his home, where she is made welcome by lovable Beulah Bondi and Aunt Emma. After a gay round of country fun, with an old barn dance included, the two of them return to New York, where Miss Stanwyck pleads guilty to the theft charge, and vows to marry Mac Murray on her release from gaol. Perhaps that brief synopsis gives the impression of a sticky and somewhat unbelievable story. “Remember the Night” does not qualify in that class. It is delightfully treated, its happenings are at all times within the realm of possibility, its characters are real and likeable people. Among the many charming scenes is that in whicn the country people gather around an old piano and join in Carrie Jacobs Bond’s beautiful melody “The Perfect Day.” This picture has many such moments, but never does sink into anything formula or mawkish. As the Motion Picture Herald says: “There aren’t any places where a film like this doesn’t belong, and there are as many places as there are theatres where it does. It is a customers’ picture. And the customer, you’ll remember, is always right.” The supporting programme includes the latest Air Mail News covering a wide range of items: George Formby singing his latest song; a film for lifesavers, “Sink or Swim”’ a cartoon and other films. Box plans are at H. and J. Smith’s, Rice’s Regent shop and the theatre.

STATE 1 Because of his reputation as the screen’s number one singing cowboy, Gene Autry is cast with artists who are much better known in pictures than were many he played with not so long ago. Thus, in “Shooting High, the Twentieth Century-Fox production which screens today at 2 and 8 at the State Theatre, he is supported by Jane Withers, Marjorie Weaver, Hobart : Cavanaugh, and Charles Middleton. Jane Withers has made a name foi her- , self in the past without any support , from other stars, but in the present i case she teams with Autry to the ad- : vantage of both. The film is a fastmoving one, with plenty of action, a : charming romance, and a group of ’ new songs, put over in fine style by the two principals. Together they sing “Shanty of Dreams” and “Wanderers.” Autry’s numbers are “Only Once in a Lifetime” and “A Little Old Band of Gold,” while Jane sings a bright number “On the Rancho With My Pancho. ’ In the story Gene is in love with Marjorie Weavers, whose young sister, Jane, acts as the peacemaker and gobetween of the two families who are deadly enemies. Excellent supports accompany "Shooting High.” Box plans i are at Begg’s or the State.

CIVIC “Heart of the North,” the Warner I Bros.’ production in technicolour. i which is the first attraction on the Civic’s j6d and 9d programme finally tonight, is a completely authentic tale of that famous law enforcement body of the Canadian north-west, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Produced on the lavish scale characteristic of all Warner Bros.’ technicolour specials the picture has all the elements required by a first-rate outdoor film—adventure, action, suspense, the beauty and interest of unfamiliar landscapes, and a large cast of popular players. Heading the list are such well-liked performers as Dick Foran, Gloria Dickson, Gale Page, Janet Chapman, Allen Jenkins, Patrie Knowles and James Stephenson, and the chief character roles are in the capable hands of actors like Russell Simpson, Joe Sawyer, Joseph King Anthony Averill and Arthur Gardner A double case of mistaken identity leads to amusing complications in “Maid’s Night Out,” the Civic’s second attraction, with Joan Fontaine and Allan Lane in the leading roles. Miss Fontaine is seen as the daughter of a fortune-hunting society mother, while Lane portrays the role of a young scientist interested in the study of tropical fish. Through a series of unusual circumstance the two meet while the boy is fulfilling the terms of a unique wager by working as a milkman in his father’s dairy. Civic prices finally tonight are 6d and 9d.

MAJESTIC Now showing at the Majestic for a special request return season is Paramount’s British Indian Empire epic production, “Lives of a Bengal Lancer.” There have been any number of screen spectacles based on the lives and adventures of fighting men, but never one of the calibre of Lives of a Bengal Lancer.” It is a mighty tribute to the men who keep the far flung line of the Empire and a picture which makes Britons prouder of their heritage. An ambitious cast is headed by Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, C. Aubrey Smith, Richard Cromwell, Sir Guy Standing and Kathleen Burke. An attractive array of featurettes in keeping with this splendid production will be presented on the pre-interval section of the programme. Plans are on view at H. and J. Smith’s Departmental Store, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre.

THE EMPIRE, RIVERTON

“Young Dr Kildare,” featuring Lionel Barrymore and Lynne Carver, will be screened at Riverton tonight. He had everything before him, love, life and happiness, and he chose it at the sacrifice of his own happiness. It is a dramatic story of human sacrifice that will restore your faith in men if you have lost it. It is a revealing drama of the lives of medical men and their sacrifices for humanity. There is drama, comedy, pathos and‘thrills in this feature.