AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20284, 6 December 1935, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE NIGHT LIFE OF THE GODS” Imagine a bevy of gods and goddesses of ancient Greece adrift amid the lights and gaiety joi modern New York! Imagine an invention capable of duplicating the potency of the Gorgon’s Head of ancient mythology, able to freeze the beholder into stone! Imagine statues turning like modern Pygmalions into flesh and blood, and you will have some idea of what is in store in “The Night Life of the Gods,” now showing at the Majestic Theatre. The picture, based on Thorne Smith’s novel is so far away from the usual that it cannot be described with reference to any other production. It is entirely new, and this refreshing quality alone should commend it to Timaru audiences. The story is briefly that of a rather lightheaded young scientist with a taste for strong liquor, who discovers a process for turning flesh into marble and marble into flesh. After neatly eliminating some troublesome relations by turning them into statues, he meets a very charming young leprichaun, with whom he goes to New York to see the sights. While there, he conceived the idea of turning a few of the marble gods and goddesses in a display of statuary into flesh and blood, and this is done so skilfully that the whole operation is conducted without the censor’s approval of the picture for universal exhibition being quashed. The reincarnated company includes Mercury, Bacchus, Apollo, Neptune,

Venus (de Milo), Hebe, and Diana. Brisk and witty dialogue, a continued stream of action, and many humorous situations culminate in a grand climax. “The Broadway Gondolier ” “Broadway Gondolier,” Warner Bros’ sensational new musical comedy, which reunites the popular stars of “Gold Diggers of 1933,” Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, will be shown at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. The picture heralded as one of the most humorous, as well as romantic productions of the year, is based on a story by Sig Herzig, E. Y. Harburg and Hans Kraly. In the all star cast besides Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, are Adolphe Menjou, Louise Fazenda, William Gargan, George Barbier and Grant Mitchell. The story concerns the romance of a New York taxicab driver, who aspires to be a singer, and the secretary of a big broadcasting concern, who falls in love with him and arranges an audition. Dick Powell, in the role of the singing gondolier, renders several songs in the production. Joan Blondell, as the secretary to the radio magnate, sings a comedy song in the picture. Louise Fazenda has a strong comedy role and Grant Mitchell is the radio manager. There are many novelty features in the picture. One is a complete broadcasting station in which Powell, Blondell and Menjou sing. The Four Mills Brothers also do their act and Ted Fio Rito and his famous orchestra play. The Canova Family also appear at the radio station. The music and lyrics for the six original songs in the picture were written by A 1 Dubin and Harry Warren. Among the prominent players in the cast are Hobart Cavanagh, Joseph Sauers, Rafael Storm, Bob Murphy and James Burke. REGENT THEATRE “MUSIC IN THE AIR” “Music in the Air,” which had a remarkable run on the stage, is proving equally successful on the screen. The Timaru season will conclude at the Regent to-day. Gloria Swanson and John Boles, as a pair of temperamental opera singers, head the cast, with Montgomery and Fox Film’s "mystery girl,” June Lang, in the other two featured roles. Reginald Owen, A 1 Shean, Joseph Cawthorn and other noted comics have prominent parts in the picture. “Mr Dynamite” To-morrow “Mr Dynamite,” which will open at the Regent to-morrow, is something out of the ordinary in entertainment. Edmund Lowe, witty and clever, takes the title role in a part especially made for him. The story opens with the murder of a young man outside a gambling resort which he is leaving with £IO,OOO in his possession, though robbery was not the motive for the crime. Dynamite comes to elucidate the mystery, which, of course, baffles the police, and then follows the killing of a famous musician who is shot while playing in his own home. With these two crimes still unsolved the musician’s secretary is exterminated to complete the triology of murder. Needless to say, it is left to the hero to unravel the complexities of the plot and conduct the audience to a satisfactory conclusion. As Mr Dynamite’s secretary, J-an Dixon provides many of the laughs of this always bright picture, while Esther Ralston, as vivacious as ever, takes the part of a young lad;’ . t first under suspicion but ultimately cleared through the efforts of Dynamite. The supporting programme will be an interesting one.

STATE THEATRE “KENTUCKY KERNELS” A Southern feud is the basis for the hilarious situations in “Kentucky Kernels,” Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey’s new hit which concludes at the State Theatre to-day. The inimitable comedians portray down-on-their-luck vaudeville magicians who pose as Southern gentlemen when their infant ward falls heir to a vast estate in Kentucky. How the trio becomes involved in a family feud and their efforts to extricate themselves forms a rollicking romance, with gay melody, modern dancing by eye-filling beauties, and a friendly war between two clans with Colts and Remingtons. ‘Roberta” To-morrow Coming to the State Theatre tomorrow is “Roberta,” a Jerome Kern production, which it has been claimed is “ten times as tantalising on the screen as one the stage.” Heading the cast are Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers. “Roberta,” produced by RKO-Radio, features the singing of Miss Dunne and the dancing and singing of Astaire and Miss Rogers in a swift-moving story said to be replete with romance, comedy, and colour. Jerome Kern wrote the music. In addition to several of his song hits from the sti ge show, including “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” new numbers which he composed for the film are introduced. A brilliant fashion show in which original creations are displayed by a select group of America’s most beautiful girls, is an outstanding feature of the production. Supporting the three stars in “Roberta” is a strong cast, including Randolph Scott, Helen Westley, Victor Varconi, Claire Dodd, Ferdinand Munler, and Adrian ROsley. In the band, which Astaire leads, are such headline entertainers as Johnny “Candy” Candido, Muzzy Marcellino, Gee Sheldo, Paul McLarind, and Howard Lally, John Kent (Randolph Scott), an all-American football player, goes to Paris with his pal Huck (Fred Astaire) and the latter’s dance band. John’s Aunt Minnie (Helen Westley) owns the famous gown shop “Roberta’s.” Her head designer is Stephanie (Irene Dunne). John does not know that Stephanie is a royal princess of Russia. He does learn that she has a voice like an angel when he hears her sing at Aunt Minnie’s informal afternoon teas.