AMUSEMENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18833, 23 March 1931, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS.

THEATRE ROYAL. DOUBLE PROGRAMME. An attractive double feature programme was presented at the Theatre Royal on Saturday. The first presentation “None but the Brave,” has Gary Cooper in the stellar role, with his sweetheart of “The Virginian,” Mary Brian, again opposite him. “Only the Brave” is from an original story by Keene Thompson. It is an adventure of the old South in the days of the Civil War. Gary Cooper is a captain of cavalry on the Union side who. embittered because his sweetheart has jilted him, volunteers for spy duty. Accordingly he is sent behind the Southern lines with a packet of false dispatches. His plan is to be arrested and to have the false dispatches discovered by the enemy, w r ho will then be misled to a fatal movement of troops. But he meets Mary Brian and the plot then becomes a series of adventures in which love and duty fight for eminence. The ending is a happy For many years the matinee idol of the English stage, Carl Brisson, has the leading role in “The American Prisoner.” His perfect English spoken in this picture is a' treat to hear, and ranked him overnight, to be the idol of the screen as well as that of the legitimate stage. In this picture he is cast as a young American officer, a prisoner of war, who meets and falls in love with a beautiful English girl, who helped him to escape. While sitting in the old-world drawing room of the girl’s home, he sings to her “Remember,” a beautiful melody, which is also the theme song of the film. Supporting Brisson in the picture is Madeleine Carroll, Cecil Barry, Bromley Davenport, and several other famous British artistes.

MAJESTIC THEATRE. DOUBLE FEATURE PROGRAMME. The current programme at the Majestic Theatre comprises two entertaining pictures, “Alias French Gertie” and “The Hottentot.” “Alias French Gertie” may be considered Bebe Daniels’ most serious characterisation in the talkies. Concerned with an expose of the smooth methods of high society crooks, the story, thrilling and vividly enacted, allows Miss Daniels broad scope for her latest talents as a dramatic player of distinction. The underworld atmosphere is startlingly real and exciting, and much of it is due to the splendid playing of the leading performers, Miss Daniels and Ben Lyon. This is Ben Lyon’s first appearance opposite the star, and spirited and sympathetic performances are given by the two. Bebe is portrayed in the dual role of a French maid and crook. The part calls upon her to speak both French and the argot of the underworld.

Edward Everett Horton supplies many laughs in “The Hottentot,” the second offering. In order to appeal to the girl of his heart—played by Patsy Ruth Miller—Horton agrees to ride in the great annual steeplechase although he has never been astride a horse in his life! His decision made—he begins to find out all sorts of new and horrifying facts about his mount, Hottentot, and the more he learns about the habits of the wild animal, the more his teeth chatter. The situations which develop are ludicrous in the extreme. Others in the cast of “The Hottentot,” include Edmund Breese, Edward Earle, Stanley Taylor. Otto Hoffman, Douglas Gerrard and Maude Turner Gordon.

GRAND THEATRE. TWO FINE ATTRACTIONS. A double feature programme, providing the elements of comedy and western drama, was screened at the Grand Theatre on Saturday evening, when “For the Love o’ Lil,” and “The Fighting Legion” were shown. In “The Fighting Legion” Dave Hayes (Ken iaynard), is given a Texas ranger star y a dying ranger who has been myseriously shot, and goes on a mission to avenge his death. Hayes and his pal, Cloudy, ride into the tough town of Bowden, where Hayes establishes himself as ranger. There he meets Molly Williams, whose father is attempting to put down lawlessness. Blake, a banker, and Edwards, cattle buyer, are secretly behind the tough Bowden gang. Blake details Jack Bowie, a henchman, to get Hayes. Bowie is about to confess and name the men higher up in the crime when he is shot. Molly sees Edwards fire the shot that killed Bowie. Edwards carries her away and makes her his prisoner. Hayes rescues her after a terrific fight with Edwards. Bowden is cleaned up; Hayes is made a real ranger, and settles down to a happy life with Molly. “For the Love o’ Lil,” is a delightfully diverting piece of entertainment. The plot is one of those triangular affairs. Sandy, a lawyer’s clerk, and his pretty sweetheart, Lil, are obviously made for one another, but true love cannot run smooth for them because of the interference of Lil’s wealthy suitor, Wyn Huntley. The story, however, ends on a pleasing note with the young couple reunited.