AMUSEMENTS,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18511, 7 March 1930, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS,

MAJESTIC THEATRE. ALL DIALOGUE PICTURE. Two of the most popular leading male screen stars are cast in Paramount’s picturisation of W. Somerset Maugham’s comedy drama, “Charming Sinners.” at present showing as the main feature at the Majestic Theatre. They are Clive Brook and William Powell, two of Paramount’s moot versatile actors. Ruth Chatterton, wellknown on the Broadway stage and recently seen in Paramount’s picturisation of James M. Barrie’s “ The Doctor’s Secret.” has the leading j feminine role with Mary Nolan and I Florence Eldridge in support. The pic- ; lure presents the problem of a woman | who knows her husband is flirting with i her best friend, and who chooses to j ignore the situation until she is forced | to recognise it in a startling climax. i The solution is the hiehspot of this | scintillating comedy-drama of a husi band who erred, and of the wife who j outplays her husband xz his own game. ! Several modern and charming frocks ■ are worn by Ruth Chatterton, and | Mary Nolan. Other special features of ! the picture are the excellent speaking ! voices of the principals, and the sparkling wit that is to be found at unex- | pected turns of the story. The supI porting programme is one of the best j that has yet been screened at the ; Majestic Theatre. Something original | is to be found in a cartoon featuring j Mickey the Mouse in “A Barnyard j Battle,” and this, with Lois Wilson in ! the all-talking comedy. ’A Bird in the I Hand." kept the audience ' last night ! convulsed with laughter. A novelty j -jhort, “Good-bye, My Lady Love,” and |an interesting Fox Movietone in | sound, completes a splendid pro- ; gramme.

“ FOUR DEVILS.” THRILLING FOX FILM. Some of the greatest thrills ever recorded by the motion picture camera are incorporated in “Four Devils.” Herman Bang’s story now showing at the Theatre Royal. In brief, the story tells of four children, trained under a brutish circus master, who are rescued from their plight by a kindly clown, who fits them for success as trapeze performers. In later years, the “4 Devils” as they are known, become the sensation of Europe through a deathrdefying leap which forms the climax of their acrobatic act. Under the guardianship of the clown (Farrell Macdonald), they are mutually Affectionate and happy. Louise (Nancy Drexel) and Adolf (Barry Norton) are in love while Charles (Charles Morton) is deeply devoted to Marion (Janet Gaynor). A fashionable woman of much money and high temperature (Mary Duncan) conquests the troupe leader, Charles, who finally awakens to his true love when Marion is injured in a fall during their aerial “leap of death.” Running through the extravaganza of circus glitter is one of the most powerful human interest themes imaginable. As “Aifhee,” Janet Gaynor gives her most brilliant performance, while the acting of the other stars is no less commendable. Excellent short variety films were shown in support.

HERE AT LAST. “FLIGHT.” “Flight,” the Columbia all-talking aviation production, which will commence at the Grand Theatre to-night, was made with the co-operation of Government officials in Washington. Captain Francis E. Pierce, of the United States Marine Corps, was detailed to supervise war scenes in the picture. Colonel Harry Ley, temporarily in charge of the Marine Base at San Diego, was also actively engaged in the direction of the battle sequences. In commenting on the work done in San Diego, army officials have stated that the machine-gun firing, the aerial action, and the manoeuvres of the soldiers are true to actual warfare. All the machine-guns and other artillery were copied from what was used in the recent Mexican rebellion, and the ’planes are accurate duplicates of those used in the Government marine base. Before a single scene had been made, a crew of technical men, under the supervision of United States marine officers, were sent to San Diego to prepare the battle ground. The fort used by the marines in the picture is an exact duplicate of the one that played an important part in the Mexican revolution. Jack Holt, Lila Lee, and Ralph Graves are the featured players. Holt end Graves, the “buddies” of “Submarine,” portray the same sype of role in this attraction. This time they perform daredevil feats in the air, which are as thrilling and hazardous as the stunts they performed under the ocean.