AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18762, 29 December 1930, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

“THE GAY NINETIES.” GOOD COMEDY AT GRAND. When Marion Davies’s new starring vehicle, “The Gay Nineties,” opened at the Grand Theatre on Saturday night, a large audience comprising many of the modern generation had one big laugh in seeing how their parents and grand parents dressed and courted in the '9o’s. The picture, chock-full of laughs, romance and music, revives such ghosts of the picturesque past as the bustle, the muff, the plumed hat, the petticoat, the path-sweeping train, red flannels, and the voluminous costumes fastened at the rear by hooks and eyes. “The Gay Nineties” abounds in scenes of the old New York, when prohibition wasn’t even thought of, and “wet” cafes were well-known; scenes of Coney Island when it was considered “fast” to be seen in a bathing costume higher than 12 inches below the knee, and old-fashioned bicycles, the “tandems”—“built for two.” As regards the tandems one of the most humorous sequences that have ever graced the screen takes place in “The Gay Nineties," when Miss Davies is being courted by Lawrence Gray and he calls to take her home on one of these twoseated bicycles. Another funny sequence is one in which a football match takes place, with the players so much padded that they are really about twice their natural size. A large cast supports Marion Davies in “The Gay Nineties,” headed by Lawrence Gray, Walter Catlett, Jed Prouty, Sam Hardy, Nance O’Neill and other favourites. The inclusion of famous old-time songs round out “The Gay Nineties” as one of the most enjoyable comedies of the year. Good supporting films assist in making the programme such a very entertaining one.

“THE BORDER LEGION.” ZANE GREY WESTERN AT MAJESTIC “The Border Legion,” Zane Grey’s thrilling story of romance and outlawry in the early days of the West, has been brought to the talking screen as one of the most outstanding spectacular action dramas, so far filmed with dialogue. It thrilled a regular holiday audience at the Majestic on Saturday night, and will be repeated this afternoon at 2.15 and to-night. Zane Grey’s stories are high spots of screen entertainment. More than twenty-four of them have been filmed by Paramount. With the introduction of dialogue, the characterful tales of the wide West have become even more gripping than they were in silent form. To add to this realism, Paramount left no stone unturned to make “The Border Legion” true in every detail, to the adventurous period it represents. The story has the colourful gold-rush days of the 1870’s as its background, and the desperate outlaw band which harried the adventurous miners for its subject. Spectacular scenes, of daring deeds, raids on a typical gold settlement, a troop of mounted men breasting a raging mountain torrent, and tender moments of glowing romance make rare entertainment, filled with suspense and hair-raising action. Featured are Richard Arlen, hero of “The Light of Western Stars,” and previously seen in “The Virginian,” Jack Holt, who has played in eleven of the twenty-four Paramount Zane Grey stories. Fay Wray, who distinguished herself in “The Texan,” and Eugene Pallette, who plays a comedy role comparable to his Sergeant Heath parts in the Van Dine murder mysteries. Quality and variety are provided in the short supporting subjects.

VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURES. ROYAL’S APPEALING PROGRAMME. After an extended tour of the world. Colin Campbell, the well-known concertina artist, has returned to delight Timaru people, and at the Royal on Saturday night, his numbers were received with similar enthusiasm as was evident on his previous appearance here. The picture programme was also of a very high standard. Set in the colourful, dashing romantic atmosphere of a United States Cavalry post, “His First Command,” Pathe’s all-dialogue picture starring William Boyd scored decisively. Boyd, as a rookie cavalryman, has the finest opportunity of his career for comedy, and he has taken full advantage of it. In addition to laughs, “His First Command” furnishes thrills, drama and pathos, so cleverly blended as to keep the interest of the audience keen every moment during the entertainment. “His First Command” is the story of a rich man’s son who joins the army in order to be near a girl with Whom he has fallen in love. Bill’s weakness is women, and because the girl, plaj'ed by Dorothy Sebastian, learns of this, she does everything possible to discourage him. The girl is a Colonel’s daughter and the impossibility of a romance between the daughter of an officer and an enlisted man makes the breach between them even harder to span. The way Bill overcomes this and earns the respect of his officers takes the audience through a series of laughs and thrills that make the production thoroughly enjoyable. Bright short features added materially to the success of the programme.