AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18551, 24 April 1930, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

“THEIR OWN DESIRE.” AT THE GRAND. Norma Sheafer, looking more beautiful and meticulous than ever in a variety of pyjamas, polo outfits, swimming suits and dance frocks, scores an instantaneous hit in her latest all-talk-ing picture, “Their Own Desire,” which opens at the Grand Theatre to-day. There is undoubtedly something about Miss Shearer which sets her apart from her contemporaries on the screen and accounts for her ever increasing popularity. Besides having the dynamic Miss Shearer as a drawing card, “Their Own Desire" has three good reasons for being considered one of the screen’s best pictures, and these three are an unusually appealing young leading man, a good plot and a supporting cast that could not be improved upon. Robert Montgomery, the leading man,

strangely enough, has been seen in only two pictures previous to playing the part of Miss Shearer’s lover, namely, “So This Is College,” and “Untamed," in which he played opposite Joan Crawford. But his work in these productions has been of such a calibre as to make it easy to predict an important film career for this young man. As for the second factor, the plot, while it is one of the most original stories ever to be filmed, it contains those ingredients of fast action, diverse settings, human motives and interest and suspense and climax which satisfy the fundamental necessities of good drama, keeping the audiences alert in their seats to see what’s going to happen next. Moreover, the story has that glamour of depicting the pleasure scenes of the wealthier classes which goes far towards satisfying the appetites of the typical movie-goer who likes to be taken out of his own environment and given a glimpse of something different. Getting on to the third factor, the cast, it is almost sufficient to mention the names of such established players as Lewis Stone, Belle Bennett, Helene Millard, Mary Doran, June Nash and Cecile Cunningham, to indicate the high standard of acting maintained in this Shearer vehicle. Stone as the father who has grown tired of his fading wife gives his usual understanding and penetrating performance, while Belle Bennett as the wife and Helene Millard as “the other woman" are. utterly convincing in their contrasting roles. Something unusual is promised in the supporting programme containing the latest Metrotone News, “Clyde Doe’s Saxaphone Orchestra,” Harry Langdon in his latest all-talking comedy entitled “The Fighting Parson." Patrons are reminded that screening commences at 7.45. Seats may be reserved as usual. 'Phone 486. “THE BLACK WATCH.” MAJESTIC THEATRE. “The Black Watch,” which is nearing the conclusion of its Timaru season, is a wonderful achievement for an American company, for it is essentially and obviously a British story, and for such a tale to be successfully produced, the British spirit must pervade. That this has been effected i in “The Black Watch," is apparent throughout. The leading actors are English, Irish or Scotch, and the only woman in the cast, the lovely Myrna Loy, is an American. Victor McLaglan has the role of Captain Donald King, of the 42nd. Highlanders (the Black Watch), who, on the eve of his sailing for France, is sent to Northern India to quell a threatened uprising in the Himalayas. “The Black Watch” is all talking, and every voice, from the brusque tones of McLaglen to the melting inflections of Yasmani, the rebel leader, is carefully trained. Perhaps the best acting m the entire picture comes from Mitchell Lewis, as Mohammed Khan, a native officer, who is King’s lieutenant in his activities against Yasmani. Called upon many times to despatch from behind some suspicious rebel, Khan runs his sword through, carefully wipes it, and piously prays: “For all the violence I have ever offered any creature, Allah forgive me." He raises the only, but necessary, smiles in • the picture. One might scan this picture thoroughly and not find .a flaw. It has romance, adventure, the seething colours and life of India, and it has all the gallantry and chivalry of the service. In the supporting programme a brilliant military spectacle is seen in “Trooping the Colours,” and Mickey the Mouse in his latest sound cartoon provoked much laughter. A Fox Sound News completed a most interesting programme.