AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19623, 18 October 1933, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT/’ “The Phantom President,” will be featured on the new bill opening at the Regent to-day. Burlesque, if cleverly executed, is probably the most enjoyable type of stage or screen entertainment, and in “The Phantom President,” there is some of the finest burlesquing the screen has yet offered. The film marks the talking picture debut of one of America’s best-known personalities of the stage—George M. Cohan, actor and producer. He is cast in a dual role, a return to the evereffective trick of appearing on the screen as two different persons at the same moment. This part is particularly well dene, being borne out by the splendid acting of “George M.“ as two men with entirely different personalities, but similar faces and figures. The hilarious theme deals with the supplanting of a powerful banker by a cheap medicine showman who simply oozes personality, in a campaign for the Presidency of the United States. The electioneering is very interesting, since it might almost apply to any country to-day. Mention must also be made of the sterling acting of Claudette Colbert in the role of would-be “Mrs President,” and of Jimmy Durante, a rapidfire comedian whose “schnozzle” is a most amazing portion of his anatomy and of his personality. MAJESTIC THEATRE. “ SWEEPINGS.” The new programme at the Majestic to-day will be headed by “Sweepings,” featuring Lionel Barrymore. Lester Cohen's popular novel of a man w T ho rests the whole foundation of his life squarely upon his faith and hope in his children only to totter to a grand, pitiful ruin as each fails him, has been adroitly transferred to the screen by the author, who, it is said, also aided in selecting the cast. Certainly, Daniel Pardway is a made-to-order character for the eldest Barrymore. After death of his wife, a sacrifice to his ambitions, Daniel is vitally bound up in two interests—his store, w r hich he founded In the ashes of the Chicago fire—and his four children whom he hopes will some day come into the store as his partners. But the success of Pardway becomes the ruination of his family. Eric Linden plays Pardyoungest son, his favourite, and the only one who realises his own contribution to his father’s death. William Gargan, an expert in nonchalance, blithely goes his way to end up a moral wreck. Gloria Stuart plays the only daughter and George Meeker plays the son whose inability to become interested in anything beyond windowtrimming is a keen disappointment to his father.