AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19523, 24 June 1933, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

“JACK’S THE BOY.” RIOTOUS COMEDY AT REGENT. "Jack’s the Boy,” an eminently successful British comedy featuring the inimitable Jack Hulbert, will be the attraction at the Regent Theatre today. "Jack’s the Boy” comes to Timaru with many glowing tributes from the cities, and is said tp be the funniest film Hulbert has yet made. Built on light and carefree lines, “Jack’s the Boy” is a musical extravaganza of burlesque and romance. The catchy melody of the theme song, “The Flies Crawled Up the Window,” which is so effectively sung by Jack Hulbert, runs through the first part of the production, and is.later replaced by “I Want to Cling to Ivy,” .to the presentation of which Miss Shotter adds her talents. Cicely Courtneidge plays a cafekeeper, and she is one of the few British comic actresses who are fit to rank with the priceless lantern-jawed Hulbert. Roars of laughter are heard In the humorous sequences that arise from the antics of Hulbert and Cicely Courtneidge in Madame Tussaud’s “Chamber of Horrors.” Hulbert leads a double life as an irresponsible fellow and a very zealous but clumsy policeman. Clothe' with the full majesty of the law he does some terrible .things with London traffic. This sparkling musical comedy is preceded by a variety of short subjects of exceptional merit.

“A SUCCESSFUL CALAMITY.” GEORGE ARLISS AT MAJESTIC. Whimsical, shrewd, and Invariably polished, Mr George Arliss has perfected to a much greater degree than the majority of screen actors the subtle art of attracting the lion's share of attention, even when he is not the central figure of a film scene. In his latest picture, “A Successful Calamity,” which was screened to a large audience at the Majestic Theatre last night, the characteristics which have made him immensely popular the world over are much in evidence, with the result that the film, no mean production even without Mr Arliss, is assured of an enthusiastic reception. As Wilton, he returns from a lengthy sojourn in Europe to find that his’ spoilt family is spending his money recklessly in pursuit of pleasure, and have no time for him. In his disappointment he turns to his old butler, and learns from him that the poor enjoy family life much better because of their circumstances. So Wilton suddenly Informed his family that he is ruined. Their reactions are most interesting; so are those of his business rival, Partington. A supposed intrigue between Mrs Wilton (handsome Mary Astor) with an Italian pianist, also serves to heighten the dramatic interest. Mr Arliss acts with irresistible charm and finesse, and is always the master of the subtle and richly humorous dialogue. Supports are excellent.

“RIDER OF DEATH VALLEY." THRILLING TOM MIX FILM. The Theatre Royal has another good Western attraction on its programme to-day, when Tom Mix (and the inevitable Tony), will be seen in the star’s latest talkie, “The Rider of Death Valley.” It is a typical Tom Mix hardriding, hard-fighting picture, with beautiful Lois Wilson, Fred Kohler and Forrest Stanley In featured roles. In addition, there are a number of the stars and featured, players of yesterday mixed up to this desert adventure in which a sand storm and a gigantic explosion play dominant parts. (They are Mae Busch, Otis Harlan, Pete Morrison, Max Asher and Edmund Cobb, all of whom have had feature light billing in the silent days of the screen. The theme, concerning a beautiful girl and a gold mine and a heroic cowboy who rescues both from the clutches of a group of cowtown villains, is a gripping one, and Lois-Wil-son, more beautiful and charming than ever, presents an incomparable performance as the girl. No less an attraction will be another Instalment of the thrilling “Detective Lloyd” serial, and other entertaining supports also will be screened.