AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18616, 11 July 1930, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. “ BLACKMAIL.” “Blackmail,” the all-British talkie which has met with such instantaneous approval at the Majestic ] Theatre, will conclude its Timaru ; season to-night. When talking films were first launched on the movieI going public of the world, much coni troversy as to the effect it would have on the British film industry was aroused. It was stated by some, that it would be the downfall of Britain’s newly-formed studios at Elstree, whereas others foresaw that perfect English spoken on the screen, and the musical geniuses of the Continent which are in easy reach of British producers, would prove the foundation of Great Birtain as the foremost picture producing country in the world. That the latter theory is correct has already been made evident by the British International Picture, “Blackmail,” which is incidentally the first all-talkie to be made in England with British players under British enterprise. Even in America critics eulogised the film, one reviewer saying: “The English players perform with grace and clarity.” Without a doubt “Blackmail” places itself at the head of the now lengthy list of outstanding films. It is the story of a little London girl, played by Army Ondra, who. after a slight quarrel with her fiance, accepts the escort from a cabaret of a stranger, an artist. On his invitation she foolishly goes with him to his studio in a notorious artists’ apartment house in Chelsea. There the artist drops the mask and to defend herself from him, and in a state of utter fright, she kills the artist. One glove belonging to the girl is found next day by the detective-lover who is put on the case—the other falls into the hands of a blackmailer. Anny Ondra, the loveliest and most exquisite blonde on the British screen, acts with her usual lightheartedness and grace the part of the little girl who finds herself in a pitiless trap. John Longden is seen as her lover, and proves that not only is he an excellent actor but possesses a fine speaking voice. Donald Calthrop is the blackmailer, and Cyril Ritchard. an Australian stage player, is seen as the artist. London is shown in all its glowing, fascinating life. There is silence where silence is golden, and talking where talk belongs. Sound, vision and dialogue are so equally and expertly blended that neither one nor the other detracts from the story. ROYAL THEATRE. “HARD TO GET.” The First National attraction which opened at the Royal Theatre last night. “Hard to Get.” stars Dorothy Mackaill, and opposite her is a new leading man. Charles Delaney. Miss Mackaill plays Bobby Martin, a mannequin in a fashionable modiste’s shop in New York. Despite the humble surroundings in which she lives with her family Bobby manages to present a good appearance in smart clothes brought on the instalment plan. It so happens that frequently while she is waiting on the corner for a car to take her down town, philanthropic gentlemen, passing in automobiles, offer to give her a lift which Bobby ijees no harm in accepting. It was through a chance acquaintance of this kind that she met Dexter Courtland on one morning and Jerry on another. Dexter, being a millionaire of philandering habits, invited Bobby to have lunch with him. an invitation which she accepted, although she was much more taken by the sprightly Jerry with his flow of merry conversation. Bobby thought it would be an amusing deception to fool Courtland into thinking that she was a wealthy society girl. It happens that she gives the home address of Courtland’s mother as her own. Even when he knows that Bobby is trying to fool him, Courtland is fascinated by her beauty and innocence and pursues her with invitations. On an evening that she is spending at home, her brother brings Jerry to the house as his guest, which leads to a closer acquaintance with Jerry, who invites her to take a ride with him in his flivver. The following night Jerry’s car goes bad, Courtland arrives first, and she goes out with him, steering him to Jerry’s favourite rendezvous. Jerry gets another girl and meets them there accidentally. Bobby and Jerry are in a huff, but Jerry gets rid of the girl he had taken, and their little differences are happily patched up. An excellent supporting programme is screened, including several musical numbers. Johnny Marvin and his orchestra render a number of popular selections, and Adele Rowland is heard

in “Songs in Stories.” Other featurettes are Harry Way man and his Debutantes, the Record Boys and a Paramount Sound News.