CINEMA PROGRAMMES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1935, Page 2

CINEMA PROGRAMMES

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL.” Lilting music, new song hits and sparkling humour characterise “Radio Pirates,” which heads the double-feature programme screening finally at Everyody’s Theatre to-day at 2 and 7.45 p.m. Leslie French, Mary Lawson and Willie Jenkins head the cast. The associate feature is “By Pass to Happiness,” a cheery romantic drama featuring Tamara Desni and Maurice Evans. “They seek him here; they seek him there. Those Frenchies seek him everywhere. Is he in heaven? Is he in hell? That damned elusive Pimpernel.” “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” which has been adapted from Baroness Orczy’s famous book of the same name, commences a season of six matinees and six nights at Everybody’s Theatre to-morrow at 2 and 7.45 p.m. Rich in historical fiction, the product of the brain of Baroness Orczy, it is one of the most widely-read novels of any day, and thousands have thrilled to the tactics of the elusive Pimpernel who, in 1792, was the bane of the French revolutionists. Foppish in dress and manner, apparently more at home in draw-ing-rooms than in manly pursuits, Lord Blakeney is a real dandy, popular with the ladies, flatteringly kind to them, yet estranged from his beautiful French wife. But the fop has a secret life; he is the saviour of aristocrats from the guillotine, and has a wonderful disguise that none can penetrate. It is fitting that the role was given to Leslie Howard, one of the most versatile of English actors, whose work is faultless in his dual role of fop and fighter. Ute scenes in France, in London, and elsewhere are wonder* ful in realism, and while the guillotine has its place in the story, it is not overemphasised, and more is made of the Pimpernel’s ruses and his romance with his own wife than of the harrowing details of mob frenzy. Merle Oberon, who has risen rapidly to screen fame, plays the role of Lady Blakeney, Nigel Brucets the Prince Regent and Raymond Massey is the detestable Chauvelin. An entertaining associate programme includes a Walt Disney Silly Symphony in technicolour entitled “Goddess of Spring,” “Screen Snapshots” and Cinesound News. Intending patrons are urged to make sure of their seats to-morrov' night by making early reservations at Collier’s Music House. OPERA HOUSE. MATINEE AT 2 P.M. TO-DAY. “Sherlock Holmes” and “Love Time” will be finally presented at the Opera House, New Plymouth, to-day at 2 and 7.45 p.m. The first picture start Clive Brook and Miriam Hopkins and the second Nils Asther and Pat Patterson. R. D. Blackmore’s “Loma Doone” has long been regarded as one of the classics of English literature. Since it first found an enthusiastic public nearly 70 years ago, millions all over the world have read the book and gloried iff its picturesque excitement. Now brilliantly translated to the screen with all its action and teeming thrills, against the wild, authentic, natural background of the story, the appeal of “Lorna Doone” is still further enhanced. The heroic figure of that daredevil lover, Jan Ridd, is splendidly portrayed by John Loder and the lovely Lorna, jealously guarded “Princess Of the Doones,” wildest gang of desperadoes that ever terrorised a_ countryside, literally lives in the person of the beautiful English star, Victoria Hopper. Produced by Basil Dean, Lorna Doone has earned the whole-hearted praise of the critics. Tire beautiful scenes of the lovely Devonshire countryside, the spectacular scenes of the attack on the Doone. stronghold, the glorious acting of the principals, are just a few of the highlights of the_ production. A fine array of shorter films Includes “Big Irons,” featuring Bobby Jones, and “The Country Boy,” a musical cartoon in. technicolour. • ... ; . STATE THEATRE. “D’YE KEN JOHN PEEL.” The rollicking hunting song from which the entertainment takes its title is only one of the songs which help to make the State Theatre attraction, "D’ye Ken John Peel,” such a fine one. John Garrick and Winifred Shotter make a fine pair who carry the burden of a film which seems not nearly long enough. Stanley Holloway caps off the comedy with the now famous monologue “Sam, pick up thy musket.” 'me story dates itself by the winning of the Battle of Waterloo, shortly after which Major Peel, of the 23rd Regiment, crosses the crooked path of a man who changes his name and location as often as his card-sharping is discovered. Major Peel wins the first encounter, but love takes a hand and the next battle between the two is considerably more desperate. Major Peel wins the day, of course, but only after two narrow escapes from death. His adventure with Captain Moonlight, a gentleman of the road, and a hunting pack in full cry are two of the most picturesque sequences. The supporting programme, mostly gazettes, is splendid, showing a full record of the wedding of the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina and the launching of the new liner Orion by wireless by the Duke of Gloucester from Australia on his recent tour. REGENT THEATRE. FAMILY NIGHT TO-NIGHT. “The Dragon Murder Case,” which finally screens at The Regent to-night, depicts the latest screen adventures of Philo Vance, S. S. Van Dine’s celebrated detective. Warren William, Margaret Lindsay and Lyle Talbot portray the principal Characters. , . - ' “The Lone Cowboy” and “Love in Bloom,” two fine Paramount.features, will begin at the Regent Theatre to-morrow at 2 and 7.45 p.m. “Lone Cowboy” tells the dramatic story of Scooter O'Neal, played by Jackie Cooper. The kid, a youngster brought up in the Chicago tenements, always dreams of going with his father out to the Wild West. Scooter finds himself teamed with a cold-blooded, silent man out to kill, and the adventures that come to the pair bring the story to a thrilling conclusion. “Love in Bloom” combines the hilarious antics of tne screen’s funniest comedians, George Burns and Gracie Allen, with the. tender love story of Joe Morrison and Dixie Lee and the hit tunes of Mack Gordon and Harry Revel Set in Manhattan, the picture tells the love story Of a girl who runs away from her father’s carnival and a boy who hopes to Win fame by his songs. The Gordon and Revel score for “Love in Bloom ’ includes “Lookie, Lookie, Lookie,\ Here Comes Cookie,” especially composed for Gracie Allen, who sings for the first tune in any picture. The other tunes include “My Heart is an Open Book” and Let Me Sing You to Sleep With a LoVe Song.” PLAZA, STRATFORD. “VAGABOND LADY.” Hilarious comedy entertainment is provided in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Vagabond Lady” which has in the principal roles Robert Young and Evelyn Venable and which was presented to a large and thoroughly delighted audience at the

Plaza Theatre yesterday. “Vagabond Lady” will be finally screened to-night. The glittering splendour of court life in a century when princely magnificence was at its height forms a splendid background for a tragic story of intrigue and over-reaching ambition which is told in the notable drama “Jew Suss” which comes to the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. In spite of the wide sweep of its drama, the brilliant performances of a talented east prevent the interest from flagging for a single moment and the life story of that dynamic personality Suss is a moving and 1 appealing tale. In the title role Conrad Veidt is brilliant. His portrayal is vividly realistic and his appreciation of dramatic values is that <jf a genius. Excellent characterisations are also contributed by the late Sir Gerald du Maurier, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, John Maud and Benita Hume. There is a diversified supporting programme. INGLEWOOD TALKIES. “THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO.” A good picture advertises itself and "The Count of Monte Cristo,” which will commence at the Inglewood Theatre today, has proved itself in other centres. Dumas' epic of Napoleonic days has long held a place in the halls of literary fame, so the story of Edmond Dantes, the sailor, who first became a prisoner to Suit the designs of a self-seeking trio and later reappeared as the Count of Monte Cristo in seach of justice that proved almost greater than vengence is well known. However, it has been brought to life on the screen with a fidelity to detail that gives it a freshness that cannot but appeal to all, even

to the closest student of Dumas. The characters are well chosen, the acting is excellent throughout and the numerous scenes are done with a magnificence ' rarely seen during recent years. Robert Donat and Elissa Landi are the principal characters in a cast of 500.