AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19625, 20 October 1933, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE. “SWEEPINGS.” The plot of "Sweepings,” which will be shown finally at the Majestic to-day, is a strong one, and the role of Daniel Pardway might quite easily have been satisfactorily filled by anyone else, and the result would have been a good picture. But with Lionel Barrymore in the lead, the picture is lifted from mediocrity, to become a truly great work, and, although all the other players give really good performances, Barrymore is the heart and soul of the film. He conveys more with a gesture or the lifting of an eyebrow than anyone else could with words. “Hell Below” To-morrow. An epic of submarine warfare, "Hell Below.” is to commence a season tomorrow. It is assured of a successful season, for it is gripping entertainment, a talking play of stern realism. It is dedicated to the United States submarine service. Skilfully directed (the battle scenes compare with those in "Hell Divers"), this Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production is interpreted by a brilliant cast. There are Walter ' Huston, who was the evangelist in "Sadie Thompson,” Robert Montgomery, the dashing hero of "Lovers Courageous,” and Robert Young, who made his first screen appearance recently in “To-day We Live.” Madge Evans is a charming heroine. REGENT THEATRE. “THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT." “The Phantom President” will be screened finally to-day. Claudette Colbert, Jimmy Durante and George M. Cohen, famous composer, actor, producer, and author of the American stage, appear together in the film. It is an unusually diverting picture which hilariously points the finger of derision at the methods of some politicians during election campaigns. "In a Monastery Garden.” Opening and ending to the strains of that delightful melody, "In a Monastery Garden," a picture with a similar title is to be screened at the Regent to-morrow. Rather unexpected in nature, the talkie possesses a great deal of charm and is inspired by what is recognised as the most powerful and lasting of all love —the love between two brothers. It contains an ample variety of situations and a number of exciting moments. There is brightness to leaven what is on the whole an atmosphere of tenseness, with tragedy lurking in the background The ending, however, is hardly a tragic one; rather it is noble with a hint of happiness to come. That difficult way of beginning a picture, of using a scene from the end as an introduction to the story, is aptly utilised in “In a Monastery Garden.” The audience hear the melody, penetrating the quiet cloisters of a monastery, and then comes the whirl of life outside with its many passions. But peace steals in again, and once more the audience listen to the music John Stuart plays the part of Michael and does so splendidly. Joan Maude, in her talkie debut, is fine as Roma Hugh Williams is the other brother. Humberstone Williams, Alan Napier. Dlno Galvani. Fank Petttngell and Gina Malo complete the cast.