AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20532, 25 September 1936, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

THEATRE ROYAL ‘ SUPERSPEED" AND "CARNIVAL" Whiz-bang action, in a splendid story, enacted by experienced and talented performers, make of “Superspeed,” the new Columbia actiondrama which opens at the Theatre Royal this evening, thoroughly entertaining film fare. Norman Foster. Florence Rice, and Mary Carlisle head the fine cast. The trio’s work is outstanding in a romance that weaves its way through the dynamic story of intrigue via automobile manufacturing, and auto and motor-boat racing. Daring spills on track and water course provide thrill upon thrill. “Carnival,” Columbia’s comedy romance features Lee Tracy, Sally Eilers, Jimmy Durante and that brilliant new child sensation, Dickie Walters. Robert Riskin, front rank screen scenarist responsible for the adaptations of “It Happened One Night,” and “Broadway Bill,” wrote the story and screen play for ‘‘Carnival,,” which Walter Lang directed. It tells the human, heart-warming story of a carnival puppeteer who tries to keep his motherless infant son from being taken away from him. Jimmy Durante, the baby's comic godfather, and Sally Eilers, as the pianist at Tracy’s show who is deeply in love with him, remain faithfully with him through all his exciting, hilarious adventures.

REGENT THEATRE “ THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO ” “The Count of Monte Cristo,” a thrilling film of a famous story, will have its final screening at the Regent to-night. “ The Trail of the Lonesome Pine ” “The Trail of the Lonesome' Pine,” the first natural-colour motion picture of the outdoors, will open at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Sylvia Sidney, Fred Mac Murray and Henry Fonda are in the starring roles, with Fred Stone at the head of the supporting cast. “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” based on John Fox, Jr’s famous novel of the same title, marks a milestone in the history of the movies. It is the first picture in which the colour element is taken as a matter of course, and subordinated to the story-interest. Filmed entirely at Big Bear, California, where the scenery almost duplicates that of the Cumberland Mountain region where Fox's novel is set, “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” tells how an ancient hill feud involving two families, and resulting in dozens of deaths, is affected by the inroads of civilisation, in the person of a young engineer who arrives to construct a railroad line through the region. Colour is handled in an entirely new fashion in the film. Henry Hathaway, who won fame through direction of “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” revolutionised accepted technique in his direction of “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine” by insisting that bright colours be eliminated because they detract from the story and characters. He accentuated the realism of the setting by employing only natural shades, with mountaineers* cabins of weather-beaten lumber and rough-hewn logs; costumes of dull shades; and make-up of the players reduced to a minimum. The battle between the hill folk, and the threecornered romance involving Miss Sidney, Mac Murray and Fonda, are stressed above tricky colour effects, it is claimed.

STATE THEATRE ATTRACTIVE DOUBLE BILL There is varied entertainment at the State where an attractive double bill will be screened for the final time tonight. The pictures are “Here Comes Trouble,” a delightful comedy-drama, and “Two in the Dark,” a thrilling mystery film. “ The Private Secretary ” The change of programme for tomorrow will be headed by “The Private Secretary” starring Edward Everett Horton. The story concerns the adventures of the Rev. Robert Spalding (Horton) inoffensive clergyman who is engaged as a private secretary to a country gentleman. He is prevented from taking up his post by his employer’s nephew (Michael Shepley) who has come up to London to meet him and who intends that his best friend (Barry Mackay) who is trying to hide from an unknown and irascible uncle (Oscar Asche) shall have the job. Spalding’s many adventures when in London and in his employer’s house when he is mistaken for someone else, provide entertainment of the most joyous sort. To cast Edward Everett Horton as Spalding was an inspiration, for he is probably the greatest character comedian living. A first-rate supporting cast is headed by Barry Mackay, borrowed from GaumontBritish to play the juvenile lead, who is as usual characteristically lighthearted and clever. Judy Gunn, the pretty and talented starlet supplies the romance, and Oscar Asche is immense (in more ways than one) as the angry uncle. Davina Craig gives another of her inimitable comic servant characterisations. Henry Edwards has done a clever job of work in his direction of •The Private Secretary," which can be classes as one of the uproars of the year. MAJESTIC THEATRE “ LIVES OF A BENGAL LANCER ” Perhaps the mast ambitious and costly spectacle that Hollywood has ever attempted, Paramount’s “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” will have its final screening at the Majestic Theatre to-night. Featuring Gary Cooper, Franchot Tone, Richard Cromwell and Sir Guy Standing in the principal roles, “The Lives of a Bengal Lancer” is a stirring, colourful and action-crammed story of the exploits and adventures of England's Colonial soldiers in India. “ Sons o’ Guns ” “Sons o’Guns,” Joe E. Brown's latest Warner Bros, comedy frolic, based on the hilarious Broadway musical hit by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue, opens at the Majestic to-morrow. Besides the mirth stirring antics of the wide mouthed comedian, the picture is

spiced with the famous martial airs of the original stage play, with tuneful new songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, sung by Joe E. Brown, Joan Biondell, Winifred Shaw and the Chambers Male Chorus, and riotous dance numbers, all staged by the famous musical comedy producer, Bobby Connolly. The story is a rollicking comedy romance dealing with the humorous side of doughboy life in France during the World War. The picture is said to be most colourful and picturesque, and lavish in production values, staged with more elaborateness than any previous Joe E. Brown comedy.