AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18491, 12 February 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. “THE CANARY MURDER CASE.” Vengeance, fear, jealousy, or robbery: which of these caused the death of Broadway’s most alluring and ambitious show-girl, Margaret Odell, known as “The Canary” who was found strangled In her apartment. Louise Brooks, who plays the part of “The Canary," is heard in various sequences, her voice being excellently suited for the talking-screen. William Powell, In the role of Philo Vance, the detective who cunningly solves the mystery of the murder, plays an important part. His arranging of a poker game among the suspects to detect the actual murderer is an interesting part of the picture. All the utterances and sound of the third degree are heard. Six men and one women have motives for wishing "The Canary" dead, and each of the seven performs suspicious actions about the time of the deed. Was it Mannix, the fat broker who loved the Canary until she threatened to show his letters to his wife? Was it Spotswoode, who feared for his son in the grasp of the scheming woman? Was it Lindquist, the half-Insane doctor, mad with love of her, or was it Cleaver, whose political career she menaced. The detectives were so confused by the many angles, that the case presented, that before long they were in a complete entanglement, with apparently no hope of bringing' the murderer to justice. With the case thus complicated, Vance works to save his friend’s son. He learns not only who did the murder, but how the murderer got in and out of the Canary’s locked apartment; why The Canary’s voice was heard screaming through the closed door; why the mysterious man hid in the closet, and what was the powerful motive for the sensational crime. Other notable players in the cast are James Hall, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Charles Lane, Louis John Bartels and Ned Sparks. An English singing and dancing comedy “Me and the Boy," is included in the supporting pictures. There will be a matinee to-day at 2.30.

GRAND THEATRE. ALL-TALKING MUSICAL COMEDY. A whole musical comedy In film form, with haunting melodies, tuneful songs and speciality dance numbers, is presented in the musical extravaganza “Syncopation.” The screen appearance of Fred Waring’s orchestra, one of the most noted bands of its kind in America, affords an opportunity to analyse the American form of musical expression of which they are the acknowledged masters, Fred Waring the director, imparts much of his own enthusiasm to other members of the orchestra. These jazz artists play a selection of nine musical numbers, ranging from the theme song “I’ll Always be in Love with You,” to “Sweet Mystery of Life.” In addition there are two numbers by the Melody Boys, three songs by Morton Downey, and songs by Dorothy Lee and Gama Zielenska, two numbers by a String Orchestra, and a piano solo by David Buttolph, “Syncopation” is just what its title implies, a big smashing musical extravaganza on the screen with hosts of sensational song numbers and musical hits. The picture is the story of two Broadway dancers seeking fame, fortune and love along the street of make-believe. A splendid cast of screen notables are featured in this film, including Barbara Bennett, Bobby Watson, lan Hunter, Osgood Perkins, Mackenzie Ward, Veree Teasdale and Dorothy Lee. An excellent number and variety of supporting pictures' are also shown in conjunction with the big picture. ROYAL. “EMERALD OF THE EAST” AND “TAKING A CHANCE.” A magnificent Anglo-Indian spectacular drama, entitled “Emerald of the East,” is to be screened at the Theatre Royal to-night. It is the story of a young man’s nerve racking experiences in the hills of Gwalior, a State in India. One part of the production he is tied to a tree in the jungle as a bait to be offered to a tiger—taken prisoner by a rebel tribe, and almost a victim of a dastardly plot to poison his young English wife. In one of the parts of the film eight thousand Indian troops are seen forming the Imperial initials G.R.I. and the British Crown. A procession of dazzling glory, in wtilch i 5 seen the jewellery of untold wealth, gold and silver guns, chariots of gold, and a score of elephants, decked in gold and silver trappings studded with emeralds and rubies, carrying golden howdahs on their backs surrounded by carved silver palanquins, State carriages, and many other scenes showing the grandeur and magnificence of the East. This picture, which was produced in India by British International Pictures, stars Jean de Kuharski, Joshua Kean, Mary Odette and Gillian Dean.

“The Locust," the mysterious masked bandit, will thunder through the screen in Fox Films latest roaring drama of the west, "Taking a Chance,” featuring their youthful cowboy, Rex Bell. Who is this lone bandit that defies, single-handed, the bad men of the west? Rex Bell, as Joe Courtney, the happy-go-lucky cowboy, who joins the preacher to establish a mission in Calamity Gulch, a tough border town, swears that he will capture “The Locust,” dead or alive and remove suspicion from the head of his aged partner. A thrilling ride through the night, a vow of vengeance on the part of Joe and the tracking of the famous bandit only to discover it is the girl he loves, are high points of the story. It is based on “The Saint of Calamity Gulch,” by Richard Bret Harte. The music Master Series (Rossini) will also be screened. Seats may be reserved through ’phone 570.

KEN MAYNARD IN “THE WAGGON MASTER,” THURSDAY.

A talking picture of popular form and of great novelty will be screened at the Majestic for Thursday and Friday only in “The Waggon Master” which features Ken Maynard who sings and talks his way through a series of exciting incidents. Ken Maynard’s reputation as an actor in Western stories is a very high one, and in “The Waggon Master" he gives of his best. The picture tells of the early mining days out west when a man’s quickness with a gun was his surest guarantee of a successful career. Just as there were opportunities for the stout-hearted pioneer so did the evildoer, almost Without fear of the law, prey on the early communities. The

story of “The Waggon Master” deals with the trials of a group of isolated mining communities at Gold Hill. As the result of questionable tactics Jake Lynch has secured a freighting monopoly to the district and the high prices charged by him for foodstuffs are sapping the life blood of the mining settlements. Bill Hollister determines to break this monopoly and sets out with a waggon train of supplies. He is joined by “The Rambler” (Ken Maynard) and although no one knows anything of him it is only his astuteness and quickness of action that enables the waggoners to defeat Lynch’s evil plans and reach their destination. The trip to the mines is filled with many grim adventures for the waggon train and the Rambler, but he is finally able to triumph over the dangers and reaches Gold Hill. Amongst other - things he has accomplished on the way is the rescue of the beautiful Sue Smith (Edith Roberts) and the mutual love of the pair adds the necessary flavour of sentiment to the story. The supports will include a Sunny Jim talking comedy and an Oswald the Rabbit Cartoon.

THE MAJESTIC. STUPENDOUS ATTRACTIONS PROMISED FOR MONDAY NEXT. Fuller-Haywards intend to give their South Canterbury patrons the ultimate in entertainment on Monday when to celebrate the installation of the mighty Western Electric Reproducing System which is now being erected by the Western Electric engineers, they will present the Paramount Musical Comedy triumph, “The Cocoanuts.” Those hilarious Four Marx Brothers, considered by many to be the most gifted and joyous of Broadway entertainers, will soon be seen and heard in Paramount’s all-talking and singing screen version of their highly successful musical comedy, "The Cocoanuts,” which played for nearly one year In New York. Primarily, of course. Harpo, Croucho, Chico and Zeppo, as they call themselves on and off the stage, are comedians. But they are naturally spontaneous, their humour springing from sources that never seem to run dry. They can elaborate on the most commonplace idea and carry it through Until the audience is convulsed with laughter. One thing is sure; there is more hearty laughing by audiences attending one of their shows than is usually accorded the most engaging of musical comedies. Harpo, as his name implies, performs on the harp in a manner that is sure to delight audiences everywhere. As a matter of fact, the red-headed Harpo, the only one of the brothers who never speaks one line, always stops the show as his graceful fingers glide over the strings, bringing to life silver-toned captivating music. Then theer is brother Chico, who plays the piano. Employing a comedy finger technique, this other musically talented comedian, always proves to be a laugh-getter. For those who have never seen them, it is hard to explain the art of the Marx boys. They are so distinctly different from any of the comedians on the stage to-day, that mere words are inadequate to express their incomparable antics. Suffice it to say that the debut of the Marx Brothers on the audible screen is one of the happiest events since the screen was given a voice. The supporting cast includes two other famous Broadway stars in their own right, namely, Mary Eaton and Oscar Shaw, who co-starred in “The Five O’clock Girl” during the long run of this popular musical comedy in New York. Together they sing many of the tuneful melodies that Irving Berlin wrote for “The Cocoanuts.” During a recent interview, Groucho Marx was asked by a reporter if he and his brothers ever had family quarrels. To which the never smiling Groucho replied: “We fight onyl on Saturday nights. We take the family pay, throw it in the middle of the floor, and then fight for it.” Of such stuff are the Marx Brothers made. Box plans will open at the Bristol on Thursday morning. Special matinees will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.