AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20512, 2 September 1936, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

SHIRLEY TEMPLE POPULAR “CAPTAIN JANUARY” AT STATE The popularity of Shirley Temple is in evidence at the State where her latest film “Captain January,” has been received by large and appreciative audiences. It will be screened finally to-night. “ Nell Gwynn ” From every standpoint “Nell Gwynn,” which opens to-morrow, can claim parity with the best, as its reception in both London and New York has conclusively proved. Particularly, the critics have been impressed with Anna Neagle’s performance in the name part; an Anna Neagle so different from her previous portrayals that her amazing versatility throws into prominence the fact that many famous stars can only play one type of role. Miss Neagle’s previous work has been marked by restraint, but she makes Nell Gwynn a character full of outspoken effrontery and devilment, holding the attention *of Charles II by giving full reign to her brazen high spirits and unlimited vitality. Charles 11, a “merry monarch” who kept his head and his throne for 25 years and died in bed, is played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke, who has never undertaken a film role more suited to his talents. He set out in the film to give a truly rounded portrait of Charles. ZANE GREY STORY “DRIFT FENCE” AT REGENT Stirring drama, such as one has come to expect of a Zane Grey story, characterises “Drift Fence,” the new Paramount action picture will open at the Regent to-day. It unfolds a colourful story of the days when desperadoes ruled the Arizona cattle lands, and refused to let big ranchers confine their herds within fences. No one is more adept than Zane Grey in presenting primitive struggles of the vanished frontier days of Arizona. And “Drift Fence” is one of the most engrossing stories that has come from the pen of this wizard of Western tales. Leading roles are enacted by Larry “Buster” Crabbe, Katherine DeMille, Tom Keene, Benny Baker, Glenn Erikson, Stanley Andrews, Richard Carle and Effie Ellsler. A “drift fence” peculiar to the frontier days, was an enclosure used to thwart rustlers, by preventing cattle from passing into the wrong hands. In “Drift Fence,” Tom Keene plays a Texas ranger who takes the place of an Eastern lad come to learn ranching, and starts to build a drift fence, knowing that the cattle rustlers will do all they can to prevent it. Complications get under way when the rustlers persuade a hardfighting small rancher to side with them, since it is to his interests to have his cattle graze at large. Interwoven through the fast fight-it-out action is a romance between the ranger and the sister of the young rancher out to protect his grazing rights. "THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR” SUCCESSFUL RUN AT MAJESTIC The powerful drama "The Story of Louis Pasteur” which is outstanding for the splendid work of the famous Paul Muni, has been well received at the Majestic, where it will be screened finally to-morrow. Muni has Josephine Hutchinson, Anita Louise and Donald Woods associated with him in the leading parts, the cast including many well-known names. “Captain Blood” Daring and debonair Peter Blood immortalised by the novel of Rafael Sabatini, has been brought to life on the screen by Cosmopolitan Productions in "Captain Blood,” a mammoth production which comes to the Majestic Theatre on Friday. The gentleman pirate of fortune is portrayed by Errol

Flynn, a young Australian comparatively new to films but who won this role, considered one of the most important of the year, over a score of famous actors after a series of screen tests. Tall, broad .shouldered, handsome, with a dashing and magnetic personality, Flynn has lived something of the life of Peter Blood, not as a pirate, but as the soldier of fortune, for he has sought adventure all over the world. The leading lady, portraying a beautiful noblewoman who falls in love with the bold pirate is none other than Olivia de Havilland. In addition to these two there is an all star cast of more than 40 principals, headed by Lionel Atwill, Basil Rath, bone, Ross Alexander, Guy Kibbee, Henry Stephensonl, Robert Barrat, Hobart Cavanagh, David Torrence and J. Carroll Naish. Several hundred bit players and extras take part in the mammoth scenes.