EPIC SEA MYSTERY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20762, 24 June 1937, Page 13

EPIC SEA MYSTERY

THRILL AND LAUGHS AT REGENT

Thirteen souls and a black cat aboard an ill-fated ship on a thrill surging sea of mystery. This in a “nut-shell” is the story of “The Mystery of the Mary Celeste,” which heads the Regent’s double programme. Thrilling because it is founded on fact, this amazing screen solution of the world’s greatest unsolved mystery of the seas tells of the amazing series of misadventures that befell the “Mary Celeste” which sailed from New York, with a cargo of alcohol, a shanghaied crew of desperadoes, a bullying fi.rst mate, a captain and his newly-wed charming young wife, on a honeymoon cruise. Fourteen days later the vessel was found ghosting mysteriously towards Gibraltar, with everything in ship-shape order, but not a single member of the crew on board. Stanley Lupino provides laughs aplenty in “Cheer Up" a delightful musical comedy, interspersed with catchy song hits, spectacular dancing, romance, in fact, everything that goes to make bright and cheerful entertainment. The story centres around the adventures, or rather- misadventures of two penniless troubadours, Tom Denham and Dick Dirk, who together have composed a musical show, but cannot provide the where-with-all to uroduce it.

“Show Boat” on Saturday On Saturday, the ever popular “Show Boat,” starring Paul Robeson, will begin a return season at the Regent. AVIATION STORY “WITHOUT ORDERS" AT THE STATE Tire rugged, mountainous country of the north-west forms ahe setting of “Without Orders," an exciting romance of commercial aviation now at the State. The producers have packed plenty of thrills and a notable amount

of heart interest into the screen version of this Peter B. Kyne story, and a finely-chosen cast and excellent direction combine to make the picture an outstanding offering. Robert Armstrong and Sally Ellers, in the romantic roles of an experienced pilot and his stewardess, give finely characterised portrayals. “Banjo on My Knee” “Banjo on My Knee” will be screened at the State to-morrow. The story revolves around the romance of Ernie Holley, typical young shanty boater, and Pearl Elliot, his sweetheart who becomes a dancer in a New Orleans waterfront cabaret. For the latter role Barbara Stanwyck was Zanuck’s shrewdly calculated choice. Miss Stanwyck has danced professionally since she was fifteen, when she joined the Ziegfeld Follies chorus, later appearing in George White’s “Scandals” and eventually working into dramatic roles on stage and screen. For the part of the lusty young river buck playing opposite Miss Stanwyck, Joel McCrea, with his handsome yet rugged features and his splendid physique, was an obvious choice. McCrea's role in the film story, which John Cromwell directed, is that of rough and hearty young Ernie, who loves and loses the lovely Pearl, then finds and loses her again., until at last they are brought together for “keeps” by the picturesque old Newt, father of Ernie. Coronation Film A special attraction at the State on Saturday will be a film of the Coronat’on made in natural colour.