AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20465, 9 July 1936, Page 12

AMUSEMENTS

THEATRE ROYAL DOUBLE PROGRAMME “Come On Marines” and “The Torch Singer,” are the features being presented at the Royal. Roscoe Kams, who has never had an idle moment since he was signed to a Paramount contract two years ago, has a featured role in “Come On Marines!” opposite Richard Arlen. In “Come On Marines!” Kams, who has played in “Under Cover Man,” “If I Had a Million,” “A Lady’s Profession,” and many others for Paramount, appears with Ida Lupino, Grace Bradley, Monte Blue, Toby Wing, Fuzzy Knight and a cast of fifty character players. The story concerns the adventures which befall marines when they are called upon to rescue a party of beautiful debutantes from the Philippine jungle. Claudette Colbert has been given a real chance to display her talents. The opportunity came to her in “Torch Singer,” latest starring picture for Paramount, which is also showing. In the film she plays a character with two personalities—a tender, loving mother—and, a hard-hearted queen of the night clubs, singing for the man who has left her. REGENT THEATRE “ MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION ” “This film strikes a new and higher note on the scale of screen entertainment,” wrote a leading American critic about “Magnificent Obsession,” the John M. Stahl production for Universal which is showing at the Regent Theatre. This critic continued: “It captures perfectly the spirit and Inspiration of one of the most remarkable works of contemporary fiction—the novel of the same name by Lloyd C. Douglas which has now run into 45 editions and deserves every one of them. The strange and almost intangible quality of the story, which has made such a profound impression on literally millions of readers, was due in the book to the author’s keen insight into human nature, and his conviction that he was writing something really worth while: in the film it is due partly to the unique nature of the theme and partly to the sympathetic and convincing Interpretation put upon that theme by the director and by the leading players, Irene Dunne, Robert Taylor, Charles Butterworth, Betty Furness, Ralph Morgan and several others of note. Despite the serious, almost exalted quality of the story, it will pass over the head of nobody, for there are plenty of touches of hearty comedy to relieve the drama and keep it always at a level where it will be appreciated and enjoyed by the average picturegoer. STATE THEATRE “ANNIE OAKLEY” Richly blending romance and stirring action, “Annie Oakley,” romantic drama starring Barbara Stanwyck, recounts the career of the Ohio country girl who is the heroine of the film, which is showing at the State. Annie Oakley was literally catapulted from an obscure existence in Darke County, to a career with the acclaim of a world. Induced to desert her occupation of shooting quail and then selling them to a Cincinnati hotel,. Annie is pitted against one of the country's expert marksmen. Their meeting eventually results in marriage, and Annie becomes the toast of American plainsmen and European royalty while touring with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. Preston Foster plays the male lead with Miss Stanwyck, with Melvyn Douglas, Moroni Olsen, Pert Kelton and Andy Clyde, completing the featured cast. An additional attraction is the bright musical comedy "Two Hearts in Waltz Time,” which has an attractive story running through It, and a strong cast. MAJESTIC THEATRE “LADY OF SECRETS” The brilliant acting and the fine voice of Ruth Chatterton are a sufficient guarantee of entertainment in any picture, but when an excellent romantic plot and a strong supporting cast are added, as in “Lady of Secrets,” which is showing at the Majestic Theatre this week, there is no doubt that the screen is offering its best. This is a very good film in every respect; the plot is an unusual one, and it is presented in a manner which does credit to the director and the players. Ruth Chatterton has the part of a woman who has lost her lover in the war and is unable to forget her loss. She lives a lonely life, although she has every opportunity as the daugter of a prominent banker (Lionel Atwill) to enjoy the society of friends. The story opens when Jane (Marian Marsh), whom she calls her sister, has a quarrel with the young doctor (Robert Allen), with whom she is in love, and who refuses to marry her because he feels that his career has not been sufficiently advanced to justify such a step. Jane leaves America for Europe, and returns with a new fiance (Otto Kruger), a psychologist, whose wealth makes him' appear a very attractive match. However, the story takes a new turn, and all ends happily. "The Music Goes Round” Not for many years has a song so taken the world by storm as has “The Music Goes ’Round and Around.” And all too seldom does a picture inspired by a song do justice to its namesake. However, the Columbia film, "The Music Goes ’Round,” which comes to the Majestic on Saturday, is one of the happy exceptions. It lives up to the promise of its title and swings merrily along, borrowing something of the rhythm of the song. It is a rollicking musical, crammed with tuneful songs, clever dance routines and really hilarious comedy. Harry Richman, a favourite of the New York stage, and Rochelle Hudson are co-starred, while Michael Bartlett heads the supporting cast. Richman plays the role of a Broadway stage star who goes to a Mississippi town for a rest, and there Is engaged for a small part by the owner of a show-boat. Harry Richman shares top honours with Rochelle Hudson. Michael Bartlett, an operatic tenor in "Love Me Forever” and a delightful comedian in “She Married Her Boss,” Farley and Riley, the composers of the “hit” tune, Walter Connolly. Lionel Stander and Etie.nn' Girardot are also in the cast. The supporting programme is varied and entertaining.