AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18520, 18 March 1930, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS.

DOUBLE FEATURE BILL. AT THE GRAND. Not since “The Volga Boatman” has William Boyd had as fine a stellar vehicle as he has in “The Leatherneck,” a P.D.C. picture in dialogue and sound in which he is starred at the Grand Theatre to-night. There is considerable romance and adventure suggested by the United States Marines, and in “The Leatherneck” the producers have centred their drama on the human adventures of three “Devil Dogs.” The result is screen entertainment that grips because of its drama, thrills because of the adventures experienced, and holds unusual interest because of its romance, and the humorous situations woven into its plot. Alan Hale has been seen with William Boyd so often that the friendship of the two on the screen is most convincing. They make a great duo, and when you add Robert Armstrong you have a trio that carries something of the appeal of both “The Three Musketeers” and “Beau Geste.” Diane Ellis, a newcomer to the films, plays opposite the star. Boyd, Hale and Armstrong, “devil dogs,” are three of the most interesting characters ever seen on the screen. They are devoted to one another, and when Boyd’s bride is stolen from him, his comrades go to her rescue with tragic results. The entire cast of “The Leatherneck” is imposing. Fred Kohler plays an important part, and minor roles are enacted by Mitchell Lewis Jules Cowles, Jimmy Aldine, Paul Weigel, Philo McCullough, Wade Boteler, Lee Shumway, Richard Neill, and Jack Richardson. Howard Higgin directed.

Lovers of Booth Tarkington’s stories will be delighted with the fidelity of adherence to the author’s vision of modern youth which marks P.D.C’s picturisation of “Geraldine,” which comes as the second attraction. Eddie Quillan, as the wise-cracking, witty and wistful Eddie Abel of the film, is said to be the average effervescent American youth to the life. Marion Nixon, in the title role, catches faithfully the spirit of American girlhood, with its hardly blamable desire to be sophisticated and charming at any price. Every American city has at least one Beau Brummel, a shandsome, spoiled, and yet likeable as the Bellsworthy Cameron portrayed in “Geraldine,” by Gaston Glass, while Albert Gran is excellent in the role of the adoring father of Geraldine. Originality of plot, meticulous attention to small but important details, and beautiful backgrounds contribute their part to making this picture a thoroughly delightful one. Patrons are reminded that on account of the long programme offering, screening commences at 7.50 sharp. Seats may be reserved as usual, ’phone 486.

“INTERFERENCE.” ENGLISH TALKING PICTURE. In “Interference,” now screening at the Majestic, the public of Timaru have the opportunity of seeing a really fine picture, and of hearing “talkies” with clear, English-speaking voices. William Powell, Clive Brook, Doris Kenyon and Evelyn Brent are starred. With such a cast to enact it, practically any story would make good entertainment, but “Interference,” besides being presented by some of the screen’s best players, is a story which has a gripping interest from start to finish. Briefly, it concerns Deborah Kane and Philip Voaze, who is a suave roue. For a time he is faithful to Deborah, but, meeting Faith, he falls in love with her, and marries her. His dissolute habits kill her love for him, and when he goes to the war, and is reported to have been killed, she marries Sir John Marlay. One day, at a memorial service to the men who fell in the regiment to which Philip belonged, Deborah sees him and follows him home. Ke insults her openly, though she tells him she still loves him, and he tells her that Philip Voaze is dead, and that he is now living under an assumed name. Philip is ignorant of his wife’s second marriage and her whereabouts, and, for revenge, Deborah blackmails Faith, who, rather than let her husband know that she is a bigamist, pays. Sir John is a specialist, and Philip calls at his office for a physical examination. There he is astounded to meet Faith. The story reaches a dramatic climax, in which grim tragedy plays a large part. Powell has become well established as a favourite on the talking machine, as has Brooks. Both players are seen at their best in “Interference.” Evelyn Brent and Doris Kenyon are both well-known to picture theatre patrons, and the remainder of the cast has been well chosen. The supports were of such a nature as to please all, and included a Fox Sound News, in which scenes of brilliant pageantry were witnessed in “Trooping the Colours,” also a short address by Mr Ramsay Macdonald on the question of naval disarmament. But most humour of all was provided by “Mickey the Mouse,” whose latest cartoon caused continuous laughter. “DANGEROUS CURVES.” AT THE ROYAL. A brilliant new romantic drama, with Clara Bow more alluring than ever, a glittering story of the show world, of a girl’s fight for the man she loves, with the back-ground of a travelling circus and two hundred circus performers, is “Dangerous Curves,”

now showing at the Royal Theatre. Miss Bow is a bareback rider in love with Richard Arlen, a tight-rope walker. Kay Francis is a vamp who gathers all of Arlen’s misplaced love to herself until the hero learns that Kay is false. Miss Bow displays vigour and enthusiasm of a new kind. She appears as the striving little trouper who is not satisfied with her success as a bareback rider, but who has ambitions in other fields. The practises courageously on the tight-rope in order to be near the man she loves, and finally wins laurels as a clown wire performer. Splendid support is furnished by David Newell, Anders Randolph, May Boley, T. Roy Barnes, Joyce Compton, Charles T. Brown, Stewart Erwin and Jack Luden. In addition, there is a large company of circus “extras,” including clowns, trainers, pot-wallopers, aerialists, barkers, venders and sundry others. The foregoing brief account of the tale gives only a hint of the many extra thrills contained in the picture. The audience hears the peremptory call of the ring-master, the roar of the crowd, and sees the greatest acts of celebrated Continental artists. The theme is, faithful to the general run of circus life—in exceptional circumstances—and the picture is really an excellent show within a show. In addition to the big picture, a Fox news, a singing cartoon, and an amusing comedy, are shown in the supporting programme.

ALEXANDER WATSON. E. J. Gravestock, Ltd., announce that Mr Alexander Watson, the English platform celebrity, will give one of his inimitable recitals in the Theatre - Royal, Timaru, on Thursday, March

27. Mr Watson has been familiar to New Zealand audiences for many years, and passing of time has made no differencme to the merit of his work. For his Timaru recital, Mr Watson has drawn of the best in his repertoire, including the Forum scene from “Julius Caesar,” with the frenzied orations of Brutus and Mark Antony; the first episode from Sir J. M. Barrie’s “The Little Minister”; Rudyard Kipling’s “The Ballad of the Bolivar,” “Mandalay,” “The Bell Buoy,” and “The Married Man”; two excerpts from Dickens. “Mr Winkle on the Ice,” and “Mr Picwick in the Water”; selections from A. A. Milne’s books, “When We were very Young,” and “Now We are Six,” concluding with Mark Twain’s hilarious nightmare, “Punch Brothers, Punch.” The box plans open at the Bristol on Monday next.