AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19803, 19 May 1934, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

"THIS WEEK OF GRACE.” GRACIE FIELDS AT MAJESTIC. One of the most popular of the English stage stars whom the talking pictures have broiight forth is Gracie Fields, who is said to make a great impression in “This Week of Grace,” which is to open at the Majestic today. The intensely arresting and amusing personality of Gracie Fields permeates the film throughout. Possessed of a charming voice of unusually wide range, Miss Fields sings her way through the picture in the most tuneful and happy fashion, featuring no fewer than six song numbers, “My Lucky Day,” “Happy Ending,” “Heaven Will Protect an Honest Girl,” “Mary Rose,” “When Cupid Calls,” and “Melody at Dawn.” Miss Fields has the support of a large and competent cast. Frank Pettingell is particularly pleasing, while Douglas Wakefield, who gives an extremely humorous characterisation in the part of the faithful helper, Joe, is a player of whom Timaru picture patrons will wish to see more. The theme of “This Week of Grace,” is based on the struggles of a poor, working girl who has been raised to unexpected wealth, to take her place in a stratum of society to which she is totally unaccustomed The story continues on its merry way to a splendid climax. “THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.” BRITISH FILM FOR REGENT. A stirring drama of to-day’s problems taken from the pages of life is “The Head of the Family,” starring the famous Ehglish stage star Irene Vanbrugh. This picture, which opens at the Regent to-day comes to Timaru with the highest credentials. The drama concerns the rivalry of two great steel magnates—Powis Porter, whose conservative ideas precipitate his ruin, and Stanmore, of the newer school of business, up-to-date in his determination for success. Even after Stanmore has accomplished Porter's downfall he cannot complete his victory of buying him out. Porter refuses to sell the valuable processes that once brought his success, despite his straightening circumstances. Guided by his wife, he successfully weathers the storm, but not before incidents of the most dramatic kind have brought the story to its thrilling and exciting climax. Throughout the unfoldment a powerful romantic note is struck by the love of Powis Porter’s, daughter for Stanmore, which she can neither admit nor cherish, because of the feud between him and her father. “The Head of the Family” may be described as a stirring commentary on the current scene, with a story that cannot fail to thrill and entertain. DOUBLE FEATURE AT ROYAL. “ WHITE WOMAN” AND “ DANGEROUS CROSSROADS.” “Dangerous Crossroads” is a railroad thriller that travels true to schedule—promising much at the start, delivering far more in an exciting run and pulling up with everyone very much out of breath—but happy. The youngish-old Chic Sale is seen to decided advantage as a retired engineer who longs for “just one more” wild, careening ride in his likewise retired engine, “Minnie” —and gets it in a cross-country pursuit of train looters over abandoned, treacherous tracks. The second feature provides another milestone of delightful screen entertainment in “White Woman,” the dramatic feature with Charles Laughton, Carole Lombard, Charles Bickford and Kent Taylor. Dramatic in its theme, the "story revolves around Laughton, Lombard and Kent Taylor. Shunned by society, which has misinterpreted the reason for her husband’s suicide, Carole seeks a livelihood as entertainer on the edge of the Malay jungles. Chapter 11 of “Clancy of the Mounted” will also be screened.