AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20503, 22 August 1936, Page 21

AMUSEMENTS

“CHARLIE CHAN AT THE CIRCUS" POPULAR THRILLER AT STATE Criminal master minds plot his death, deadly cobras strike out with poisonous fangs, and foaming gorillas rage at his back, but Warner Oland as the famous Chinese detective calmly and silently unravels one of the most baffling mysteries of his entire career in the Fox picture “Charlie Chan at the Circus,” which will come to the State to-day. It is Chan's task in the new picture to track down a mysterious killer who, after committing one murder, returns time and again to the scene of the crime to silence those who might know his identity. ’A murder is committed hi a circus, the victim being one of the most daring and attractive of the acrobats. The usual welter of clues faces the Chinese detective when he is called in and at first his task seems hopeless. When a cobra is found in his room the task of detection becomes more serious, and Chan concentrates on members of the circus troupe as the suspects, each having been on unfriendly terms with the dead man. Finally a subtle trap is laid and the murderer is revealed in convincing manner. Warner Oland is as good as ever as the detective and his quips and quaint proverbs are novel and arresting. Prominent in the supporting cast are Keye Luke, who portrays Chan’s son, Francis Ford, Maxine Reiner, John McGuire, Shirley Deane, Paul Stanton and J. Carrol Naish.

"KLONDIKE ANNIE” MAE WEST AT REGENT Mae West gets religion—temporarily. That is the theme of “Klondike Annie,” which will open to-day at the Regent. Mae this time has a role that calls for real histrionic ability, but although there is a strong drama in the film. Mae herself—her familiar poses and inimitable wise-cracks—is always the centre of interest. A strong cast supports the blonde star—Victor McLaglen as the hard-boiled Bull Brackett, skipper of the tramp steamer, Java Maid, Phillip Reed, and Helen Jerome Eddy. The action begins in San Francisco of the ’nineties, where the beautiful Frisco Doll is kept practically a prisoner in the luxurious gambling house of Chan Lo. The infatuated half-caste finds that the Doll is trying to escape with an admirer, and in a struggle she stabs him with his own knife. Fleeing from the law, the Doll finds sanctuary on the rough coastal steamer of Bull Brackett. At Vancouver another passenger joins' the vessel, Sister Annie Alden. The rigours of the voyage are too much for the frail girl, who dies before Nome is reached. But before this she has impressed the Doll with the importance of the evangelical work, and when finally the latter cheats-justice by assuming the little missionary’s identity she feels that she owes the mission a debt of honour. The Doll sets about filling the empty coffers of the mission by making religion sufficiently attractive to the hard-working, hard-drinking and fast-spending miners and womenfolk of the town. Forrest, a particularly fine type of United States marshal, falls in love with her, but is torn between his affection and his duty when he finds she is the woman who is wanted for murder. MA.'ZSTIC THEATRE "BULLETS OR BALLOTS” A dramatic thunderbolt, “Bullets or Ballots,” a First National production starring Edward G. Robinson, comes to the Majestic to-day. As "Johnny Blake,” a hard-boiled detective who joins a gang to smash the vicious N?w York Numbers racket and other racketeering, he is more vital, more compelling, and more human than he has ever been before. There isn’t a dull moment in this film. From the first shot to the smashing climax, there is one dynamic action-filled scene after another. Lavishly mounted, beautifully photographed and with a superlative cast including Joan Biondell, Humphrey Bogart, Barton Mac Lane and Frank McHugh, it is something new in scree- entertainment. The picture opens with Robinson as a former detective and head of New York's famous strong arm squad being relegated to a patrolman’s beat in the Bronx. He is finally discharged from the force, and apparently embittered, he joins the gang run by Mac Lane, as Kruger. Mac Lane’s ‘ trigger man is Humphrey Bogart, who plays "Buggs” Finner. One smashing scene follows another as Blake sacrifices his honour and the love of Joan Biondell, as Lee Morgan, to wrest from the underworld the secrets of the higher-ups who operate the rackets, to be climaxed by a scene which is the finest and most moving that Robinson has ever made. Mac Lane surpasses his work in “GMen.” Miss B'.ondell was never given a role more suited to her talents and beauty. The humour is furnished by Frank McHugh and his scenes are really funny. Joseph King, Richard Purcell. George E. Stone, Henry O'Neill, Henry Kolker, Gilbert Emery and others are in the cast.

THEATRE ROYAL GALAXY OF ENTERTAINMENT Both "The Rocks of Valpre” and "Hooray for Love,” listed for screening at the Theatre Royal this evening, are very entertaining features. Gene Raymond is fast becoming the heart

throb king of the screen. rhis fairhaired boy is said to have the same blonde something of masculine appeal that Jean Harlow has in feminine lure. When Gene made a personal appearance in Chicago, and later in Detroit, girls and women stormed the theatres just to catch a glimpse of him. Evidently the boy has the appeal that goes deep into feminine hearts. In his current RKO Radio picture, “Hooray for Love,,’ in which he is cofeatured with, Ann Sotherii, Gene is cast as a young college man who is consumed with the desire to produce one Broadway success. The difficulties met by him provide the drama and suspense. Ever popular, and gaining readers every year, Ethel M. Dell has created some of her best-sellers for years. She seems to impart that “personal Interest” which so many readers have enjoyed in her books, and now “The Rocks of Valpre.” one of the stories which has made the name of Ethel M. Dell famous, comes to the screen, featuring John Garrick and Winifred Shorter, is an RKO British production. A special programme headed by Buck Jones in the rousing Westem feature “The White Eagle,” together with a series of cartoons, will be shown for this afternoon's sessions

DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS SOCIETY FESTIVAL ARRANGEMENTS To commemorate the thirty-fifth anniversary of its existence, the Dunedin Competitions Society (the parent body of New Zealand) is staging what is probably the most ambitious Festival ever held in New Zealand. The principal item is the Grand Opera Aria contest (first prize £5O) which has attracted an entry of 41 contestants —the cream of New Zealand’s vocal talent. The champion pianoforte competition for which a prize of ten guineas is offered, accompanied by the holding for one year of a miniature silver grand piano (valued at £100) is also another special feature. In the champion of champions elocutionary contest, 11 entries from championship winners in previous New Zealand Festivals have been recorded. Perhaps the most outstanding item is the Grand Choral Contest in respect of which prizes totalling £l4O are offered. Seven choirs (each of 50 voices) are competing; these come from Christchurch, Timaru and Oamaru, while four Dunedin choirs are engaging in the contest.