AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20281, 3 December 1935, Page 13

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE ‘‘CALL OF THE WILD” A production which should be of like interest to adult and juvenile audiences is Jack London’s great romantic drama, “Call of the Wild,” which will conclude to-day at the Regent Theatre. The adaptation of the story to the screen has been given the refreshing crispness and virility that the popular story of turbulent human nature on the snow-bound Yukon goldfields demands. Clark Gable as Jack Thornton has the role of a swash-buckling prospector who, with his friend, Shorty Hoolihan (Jack Oakie), meets in dramatic circumstances Claire Blake (Loretta Young), a young society woman whose husband has been lost in the Arctic. As their codes do not coincide friction follows. In time, however, the gulf between their worlds is bridged and their hatred changes into love. “Music in the Air.” Something startlingly different in the way of musical pictures will be offered to picture theatre-goers in Erich Pommer's initial Fox Film production, “Music in the Air,” according to all advance accounts. The film comes to the Regent Theatre tomorrow. Not only is the picture one of the first real operettas to be presented on the screen, as distinguished from the ordinary type of filmed musical comedy; but it promises to be one of the funniest offerings, musical or otherwise, ever to come out of filmland. In adapting it to the screen, Producer Pommer and his director, Joe May, not only retained all the laughable situations of the original, but added many new ones that would have been impracticable in the stage version. In this they were aided by the fact that nearly every important member of the cast is an experienced mirthmaker. Gloria Swanson and John Boles, who are seen as a pair of highly temperamental and jealous operatic stars, are both famous for thqjr comedy abilities, and the picture offers them their greatest opportunities in this field. Douglass Montgomery, who soared to stardom as a dramatic actor in “Little Man, What Now?” abundantly proved his talents as a comedian in earlier vehicles, and June Lang, Fox Film’s “mystery girl,” is hailed as a brilliant comedienne by those who have seen her “rushes” to date. STATE THEATRE “THE LITTLE MINISTER” “The Little Minister,” which will conclude at the State to-day, is one of the great love stories of the ages, and is already dear to the hearts of millions. Scrupulous casting was effected for all characters; minutest attention was given to authentic detail in sets, costumes and properties and appropriate music was selected to suit every mood. The featured players are Katherine Hepburn, Joan Beal, Alan Hale and Beryl Mercer. “Kentucky Kernels.” Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey come to the State Theatre to-morrow as the title characters in “Kentucky Kernels,” their new starring comedy for RKO-Radio Pictures. The comedians invade territory below the Mason and Dixon line for their inimitable hilarity in “Kentucky Kernels,” and are said to succeed admirably. They enter Kentucky to deliver their orphan ward to his family and an estate which he suddenly inherits. The boys’ mad antics as they disport with the belles, drink with the Colonels, eat with olie dames and meddle in the furious feuds result in a modern picture of sheer merriment. Mary Carlisle, up-and-coming blonde ingenue, Noah Beery, and “Spanky” McFarland. “Our GangComedy” young hero, have leading roles in V/heeler and Woolsey’s support. “One Little Kiss” is the title of the catchy new tune which is danced to and sung with entertaining results. “Roberta”—Saturday. Coming to the State Theatre on Saturday with a reputation to maintain is “Roberta,” a Jerome Kern production, which it has been claimed is “ten times as tantalising on the screen as on the stage.” Heading the cast are Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. “Roberta,” produced by R.K.0.-Radio, which made “The Gay Divorcee,” features the singing of Miss Dunne and the dancing and singing of Astaire and Miss Rogers in a swiftmoving story said to be replete with romance, comedy and colour. Jerome Kern wrote the music for the production. n addition to several of his hit songs from the stage show, including “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” new numbers which he composed especially for the film are introduced. MAJESTIC THEATRE “NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS” What famous statue would you bring to life, if you had the power to do so? Would it be some great and powerful king of a by-gone era, some great spiritual leader, or some noted statesman? In “Night Life of the Gods,” Universal’s thrilling and amazing novelty comedy coming to the Majestic on Wednesday, no less than eight mythological gods and goddesses are brought to life by Alan Mowbray, who plays the part of a scientist who discovers a formula with which to animate those cold, marble statues so familiar hi every museum in the world If you have often wondered what would happen if people came back from the dark ages to live to-day, your curiosity may be satisfied somewhat when you see this picture. Imagine such stalwart figures as Apollo, Mercury, Perseus, Neptune and Bacchus walking down Broadway to-day. Or Venus, Diana or Hebe going on a shopping tour of some of our smart, modern stores. Taken from Thorne Smith’s daring and fantastic novel, “Night Life of the Gods” in its film version it is even m M *e hilarious than it is in the book. Prominent among the players are Alan M jwbray, Florine McKinney, Peggy Shannon, Irene Ware, George Hassell, Geneva Mitchell, Henry Armetta, William (Stage) Boyd, Robert Warwick, Richard Carle. PLEASANT POINT TALKIES Stupendous in theme and sweepingin spectacle, “The World Moves On,” will be screened to-night at Pleasant Point. Heading a splendid cast is Madeleine Carroll and Franchot Tone, who give an outstanding performance. There are good supports. VIENNA BOYS’ CHOIR OPERETTA IN COSTUME Gay little soldiers who might have stepped out of a Hans Andersen fairy tale, demure little “girls” with bunched skirts and rather suspiciously large coloured shoes, miniature cavaliers resplendent in swallow-tail coats of petunia, jade and heliotrope, a middleaged couple who squabble amicably, and a grandma who wrestles furiously with a shapeless heap of knitting—these are the characters presented -with unfailing ingenuity ahd\ dKirrih. by the clever little Austrians who comprise the Vienna Boys’ Choir in their oper- j ettas by Haydn, Mozart and Schubert.

One of these miniature classics is included in each programme, and contrasts admirably with the choir’s sacred motets on the one hand and modern Viennese songs, such as Strauss’s "Blue Danube,” on the other. At the Timaru concerts which will be given next Friday afternoon and evening at the Theatre Royal. Mozart’s charming operetta “Reconciliation” will be the feature of the programme. Children will be admitted at half-price to all parts of the theatre. Plans are now open at Begg’s.