AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19862, 27 July 1934, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

THE MAJESTIC. “BROADWAY THRU A KEYHOLE.’ “Broadway Thru a Keyhole,” which has been well received at the Majestic is to receive its final presentation in Timaru to-night. “The Silence of Dean Maitland.” Fit to rank with the best productions of the whole film industry, “The Silence of Dean Maitland,” which opens at the Majestic to-morrow, is superb. It would be a most absorbing film if it had only the story to advance its merits. With the additional advantage of notable acting, the picture becomes excellent entertainment. John Longden, in the name part, gives a performance which is very, very good. He is ably assisted by Charlotte Francis in the part of the girl whose beauty is behind the whole story. The story is of a young parson who betrays a village girl and accidentally kills her father. He allows another man, the brother of his own fiancee and the fiance of his own sister, to suffer for the crime, while he, by reason of his great-hearted work, prospers in his vocation. Eventually the other man. embittered by the injustice which was heaped upon him, comes out of prison intent to avenge himself. The climax of the story, where the parson, now a bishop, publicly confesses his guilt, is one which demands greatness of its actor. The part of the doctor whose ideals lead him to shelter another man, is played by John Warwick. His performance is one of the best in the picture. Billy Kerr, as Maitland’s blind child, is one of the most appealing figures in the story. His singing of the hymn “Abide With Me” has considerable merit. “I LIKE IT THAT WAY.” FINAL SCREENING AT REGENT. The bright musical comedy, “I Like It That Way,” which has created a very favourable impression at the Regent, will be screened finally there to-night. “Dancing Lady.” I'Dancing Lady," which opens at the Regent to-morrow is an exceedingly noteworthy film of its type. In all its more important qualities it is refreshingly new, and it has the extraordinaryadvantage of having Joan Crawford as its leading lady. Joan plays the part of an ambitious dancer, who gets her chance in a show on Broadway, but is lured away by one of the rich aristocracy. But she comes back in time to save the show. That, very briefly is the story. It is in the glorious elaboration of it, in the glamorous artistry of Joan Crawford, who excels herself as dancer and as actress, and in the fine characterisation of Clark Gable, playing the part of a brusque and hard-boiled producer, that the film provides such excellent entertainment. The drama is remarkably convincing, the comedy equally as good in its way as the drama, and there is great originality in a great many aspects. Musically it is also a firstclass show. The first half of the programme provides very good support for an excellent feature film.