AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20673, 11 March 1937, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS

DOUBLE BILL AT STATE THRILLING PROGRAMME Thrills in plenty are provided at the State, where a fine double programme is being presented. Jack Holt, popular star, is an outstanding example of a man’s man who appeals to men, women and children in the movie audience. He portrays with interesting naturalness the role of a cycle policeman in Universal’s "Crash Donovan.” This exciting picture reveals in colourful fashion the hazardous lives of motor-cycle police. Jack Holt and John King perform several spectacular feats during the course of the screen narrative, to prevent accidents, straighten out tangles on the road ana apprehend denizens of the night, bent on criminal pursuits. His supporting cast includes John King, Nan Gray, Eddie Acuff. Hugh Buckler, Douglas Fowley, Ward Bond, James Donlan and many others. “Postal Inspector,” the Universal drama which is the second attraction, presents a stirring tale of a mail robbery involving £600,000. The crime is committed, the criminals hunted out, run down and captured while a flood is raging over the country. Ricardo Cortez as the inspector gives a convincing performance of a sleuth who gets his man every time. Other players include Bela Lugosi, Patricia Ellis, Michael Loring and Dave Oliver. BRILLIANT SINGING “THE GAY DESPERADO" AT REGENT Nino Martini, the world-famous singing star of radio, opera and films, is the star of the Pickford-Lasky's sparkling romance “The Gay Desperado," which will be screened finally at the Regent to-night. Ida Lupino and Leo Carrillo are featured in support of the handsome tenor. The Garden of Allah” Glamorous blonde Marlene Dietrich, and dark, romantic Charles Boyer bring one of the most exciting love teams in film history to the screen at the Regent to-morrow as stars of David O. Selznick’s technicolour production of “The Garden of Allah." The Im mortal Robert Hitchens love story offers Miss Dietrich her most colourful role to date as the beautiful Domini Enfllden who flees to the Algerian desert to begin life anew and there meets the handsome and myterious Boris Androvsky (Charles Boyer), who is actually a Trappist monk who has fled from the monastery after taking the eternal vows. A glorious romance develops under the spell of the desert moon and the story proceeds to a gripping climax and an unexpected denouement. Basil Rathbone, C. Aubrey Smith, Tilly Losch, the internationally famous fancer, and Joseph Schildkraut are featured in the supporting cast, which also includes John Carradlne, Alan Marshal. Lucille Watson and Henry Brandon. THEATRE ROYAL CONCESSION NIGHT For the concession night to-night at the Royal “The Clairvoyant” is an intriguing story of a variety actor and his wife who tour the music-halls with a fake mind-reading act. But suddenly, when in the presence of a certain girl, the daughter of a newspaper proprietor, the man acquires real powers of clairvoyance, foretelling with terrifying accuracy forthcoming events, including a train smash and the winner of the Derby. This leads to a stirring climax which is good entertainment.

“The Daring Young Man,” is ths hilarious story of a New York newspaper man (James Dunn) who never tires of expressing his sarcastic views of marriage until he meets Mae Clarke, a reporter on a rival paper. Then th'ngs begin to happen culminating in a riotous mix-up at a wedding. Both features represent good entertainment. MAJESTIC THEATRE DOUBLE BILL PLEASES The semi-musical romance, "Palm Springs,” shows to-night at the Majestic Theatre. Palm Springs is really a vacation resort, a playground of cinema stars and millionaires, a paradise set in a desert, the world’s most famous pleasure resort. It forms the background for this bright musical romance of luxurious living and loving under the moon. Francis Langford, Smith Bellew and Sir Guy Standing have the leading roles. "Toll of the Road” deals with Frances Drake, a young, speed-mad girl, ot the modern generation, who has laughed off numerous traffic citations and has always believed it "couldn’t happen to her.” Miss Drake is riding with her brother, when the car crashes and kills a little boy. Because of her brother's drunken condition, she takes th 3 wheel and consequently is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to the penitentiary in a trial in which her sweetheart, Randolph Scott appears against her. Plans are now open for "Our Relations,” featuring Laurel and Hardy, which commences its season at a matinee on Saturday next.