AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19624, 19 October 1933, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

“ THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT.” BRIGHT ENTERTAINMENT AT REGENT. “The Phantom President,” Paramount’s political comedy featuring George M. Cohan, Claudette Colbert, and Jimmy Durante, opened to large houses at the Regent yesterday. It is Cohan’s first talking picture although he has been a personality on the American stage for three decades. The picture deals with an election campaign, in which the behind scenes wirepullers select a candidate well equipped for the job, but lacking the personality to win votes. Stumped and about to drop him as a possibility, they suddenly change their minds when they discover a medicine-showman, practically oozing personality, who is an exact double for their man. They press him into service to impersonate the candidate and win votes, and soon it looks like a walk-away, so well does he succeed. Then an amusing dramatic climax alters everything. Cohan plays the dual role, of the candidate and his double. Miss Colbert is the daughter of an ex-president of whom the two Cohans are enamoured, and for whom they battle. Durante is the showman’s pal. “ In a Monastery Garden.” A picture, stated to be as “beautiful as the music it immortalises,” will commence on Saturday. This is “In a Monastery Garden,” starring John Stuart and Joan Maude. In this picture the beauty of the glorious melody that thrilled music lovers has been transferred to the screen. LIONEL BARRYMORE AT MAJESTIC. FINE DRAMATIC OFFERING. A realistic saga of multi-millionaire fathers who ruin their children by too much Indulgence and luxury is made in R.K.O’s “Sweepings.” which created a very favourable impression at the Majestic where it opened yesterday. It is a screen version of Lester Cohen's famous novel of the ‘ same title, and pictures the futility of a man's terrific effort to give his children everything. In the title role. John Barrymore builds a great merchant structure from an humble beginning in a livery-stable, gives his children every advantage his millions can buy. only to have them laugh at his ambitions for them in the end. The production is lavishly staged, depicting with the powerful story, the parallel rise of Chicago from its ashes. Barrymore is supported by a notable cast, including Alan Dinehart, Ninetta Sunderland, Gregory Ratoff, William Gargan, Gloria Stuart, George Meeker. Eric Linden, Lucien Littlefield and many others. Saturday’s Feature. On Saturday, “Hell Below.” starring Robert Montgomery and Madge Evans, will commence a season at the Majestic. According to reports it is a particularly excellent drama. It is billed as “the mightiest cinema play of all time.”