AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20781, 16 July 1937, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “RUGGLES OF RED GAP” Charles Laughton, universally recognised as one of the greatest actors of stage and screen, plays his first motion picture comedy part in the title role of Paramount’s “Ruggles of Red Gap.” which concludes at the Regent to-day. The picture is adapted from the wellknown story by Harry Leon Wilson, depicting the adventures of a stolid English butler in a bustling Western town. Mary Boland, Charlie Ruggles, Zasu Pitts and Roland Young appear with Laughton in “Ruggles of Red Gap,” which was directed by Leo McCarey. “Fire Over England” “Fire Over England,” which will begin its local season at the Regent to-morrow, is a story of Queen Elizabeth, of a little England feeling the first impulse of world power, and of the Armada that for a time threatened to overwhelm it. One says first that it is a story of Queen Elizabeth, for it is from that character that the story gains its major Impression. Played by that noted English actress. Flora Robson, the Elizabeth of the picture makes an impression that will last long with audiences. She .gives a woman and a Queen, vain, furious in her tempers, jealous, yet, withal, one who is loved by a people whom she guards, and who thinks only of their welfare and of the welfare of the nation over whom she has been chosen by circumstance to rule. There :1s the feeling that this must be in truth a picture of that great Sovereign; and hr that impression comes also the conviction that Flora Robson is a really great actress. For the rest it is a picture of England, thrilling to the victories of the great freebooter, Francis Drake, yet dreading the consequences that loom more and more ominous from powerful Spain. One feels in the action of the picture the dread of the great Armada, with its mighty armament and its mighty man-power, and the courage that while yet the fear is great calls defiance because there is not in England the will to knuckle under, STATE THEATRE “THAT GIRL FROM PARIS” Lily Pons, the famous French operatic soprano, who made a most favourable screen debut in "I Dream Too Much,” will add to her popularity by her performance in “That Girl From Paris,” an RKO Radio picture that opens a season at the State Theatre to-day. Miss Pons again sings a number of modern compositions most attractively, while the bell-like quality of her high notes hi the “Una voce poce fa” aria from “The Barber of Seville,” brings the film to a stirring climax. “That Girl From Paris” is a film that all will enjoy, not only for its singing, but also for its humour and brilliant musical score. Outstanding comic performances are provided by Jack Oakle, as a mercurial tapdrummer; Mischa Auer, as a sad-faced pianist; and Herman Bing, whose acting contributes largely toward the hilarity of "The King Steps Out.” The musical background of the film is both ingenious and attractive. Audiences will be especially interested in the clever arrangement of the popular Strauss composition, “The Blue Danube.” The plot presents Miss Pons as an opera singer who enters the United States without a passport and so falls foul of the immigration authorities. She falls in love with the leader of an orchestra, Gene Raymond, and a diverting series of adventures follow. Miss Pons is heard in three attractive modem songs in the course of the film, besides a bracket of classical compositions. Playing opposite her, Gene Raymond again shows his talent for light comedy. Tire resourceful dlrec- . tion of Leigh Jason has given the film ' many clever touches that make it one of the most attractive musical films that has been shown in Tlmaru for a j considerable time.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “MURDER OF DR. HARRIGAN” A baffling new mystery melodrama, “The Murder of Dr. Harrigan,” concludes at the Majestic to-day. The picture is based on the story by Mignon G. Eberhart, an author famous for hair raising mysteries that are practically unsolvable until the very end. In this picture the plot is woven around a strange new anaesthetic, which the head of a drug company claims as his own, but is the bone of contention of a number of doctors who have worked on the formula. Underlying it all there is a romantic love story between an interne and a nurse accused of the murder. Kay Llnaker, new to the screen, but a well known Broadway stage star, has the leading role, that of a nurse who is the chief suspect tn the crimes committed. Ricardo Cortez, playing the part of an interne who is in love with her, believes in her innocence.

“San Francisco" Picture lovers will welcome the return of the most successful film production “San Francisco” which starts a season at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow. The story is an original by Robert Hopkins, and stars Jeanette MacDonald, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. “San Francisco” places Miss MacDonald in the city of the Golden Gate in the most glamorous period of its history, the years of 1904. 1905 and 1906, just preceding the earthquake and fire. It depicts her as the daughter of a small-town minister who goes to San Francisco seeking adventure, and who rises to fame in the honkytonks of the old Barbary Coast and later in the legitimate theatre. An absorbing love story forms the backbone of the plot. A special feature of th - programme is the wondeful "Audioscopics” for which each patron is provided with a pair of coloured spectacles.

THEATRE ROYAL POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT Columbia’s “Find the Witness,” a fast-moving mystery melodrama, revolving about a “leverly conceived murder mystery, will be featured at the Theatre Royal to-night. The cast is headed by Charles Quigley and Rosalind Keith. The story is hinged on the fact that “The Great Mordini” (Henry I’ollison) is married to Rita Calmette (Rita La Roy), a tempestuous opera star, and is trying to escape from her. Larry (Charles Quigley), a West Coast news reporter, enters the action when he tries to get the story of Rita’s chase across the country by ’plane to catch up with her magic-working husband. Linda (Rosalind Keith) is the lovely young private secretary to the opera star with whom Larry falls in love. It is literally a comedy-melodrama, for it begins w’ith the swift and rather humorous chase by the irate wife to a climax which is marked by such grim things as sealed coffins, a murder mystery, and a colourful and unanticipated solution.

Sally Eilers and James Dunn are copartners in the clever comedy “Don’t Get Personal.” The first episode of the startling serial, “The Phantom Rider” featuring Buck Jones will also be shown.

"MERRY WIDOW” AND “MAID OF THE MOUNTAINS” A large amount of interest is being taken in the re-appearance here on Thursday and Friday next of the famous opera singer, Miss Gladys Moncrieff, and the J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company in “The Maid of the Mountains” and the “Merry Widow,” the recent revivals of which in Sydney and Melbourne were received with great enthusiasm and attracted record houses. It was in “The Maid of the Mountains,” in the role of Teresa, that Miss Moncrieff has scored one of her greatest triumphs, and her singing of “Love Will Find a Way” is one of her favourite “over the air” numbers. As Baron Popoff in “The Merry Widow.” and as General Malona in “The Maid of the Mountains,” Cecil Kellaway is highly amusing, and so is Don Nicol as Nisch in “The Widow,” and as Tonio in “The Maid.” Eric Bush has scored his best I successes as Prince Danilo and as Faldasarre, and the tenor of the company, Arthur Clarke, is also at his best in both the operas which are to be staged here. It was acclaimed by playgoers and critics alike that never previously had "The Merry Widow” or “The Maid of the Mountains” been better performed or more elaborately staged than they were during the recent revivals in Sydney and Melbourne. The box plans for “The Merry Widow” and “The Maid of the Mountains” will be opened at Begg’s on Tuesday next at 9 a.m. A queue will be formed from 8 a.m.