AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20786, 22 July 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

"SATAN MET A LADY” MIRTH AND MYSTERY Stamped with the earmark of humorous sophistication that characterises the Hammett mystery plays, yet starkly dramatic throughout, "Satan Met a Lady” offers fine entertainment at the Majestic. The story revolves about the attempt of a band of crooks to get possession of an ivory trumpet presumed to have belonged to Roland, the legendary hero of French history, and to be filled with a fabulous fortune in jewels. The talented cast is headed by Bette Davis, winner of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award for being the best film actress of 1936, and Warren William in the stellar roles. The cast also includes Alison Skipworth, Arthur Treacher, Winifred Shaw, Marie Wilson and Porter Hall. Miss Davis has the role of an unscrupulous woman of the world, a Lucrezia Borgia sort of character, who uses her many lovers as cats’ paws in her greed for wealth and her desire to obtain the trumpet of jewels. In fact, she is not at all above committing murder in her mad quest. She double crosses the other members of the band of crooks and finally engages a private detective firm to shadow one of her lovers and fellow conspirators, in order to get him out of the way and throw the blame on the detectives. "Mad Holiday” A splendid Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer production comes to the Majestic on Saturday. A movie within a movie—the murder of an international jeweller on a coastwise steamship between Los Angeles and San Francisco—a second murder in a Chinese theatre in San Francisco’s Chinatown—these are the ramifications of one of the most unusual mystery dramas to reach the s-reen, "Mad Holiday," with Edmund Lowe and Elissa Landl in the principal roles.

"OUTCASTS OF POKER FLAT” GRIPPING STORY AT STATE A gripping story of love, conflict, and sacrifice, played against the colourful background of the early gold "diggings” in California, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat," heads the State's programme. Peopled with adventurers from every land under the sun, electric with the lure of gold and the hope of a new “strike” any moment, the famous Mother Lode country was for a few years the most picturesque spot on the North American continent. Preston Foster and Jean Muir head the cast of this production by Robert Sisk, with Van Heflin, little Virginia Weldler, Margaret Irving, Monte Blue and other well-known players in important roles. Also on the bill is "Back To Nature,” a good comedy of family life. “The Plainsman” Famous characters of the colonising days of America make their appearance in "The Plainsman,” coming to the State to-morrow, and starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The picture gives a skilful portrayal of the lives of the main characters, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill Hickok, and Calamity Jane, the shiftless but lovable woman of the West. The unscrupulous methods of arms manufacturers, who dispose of modem repeating rifles to the Indians, and so stir up a mighty rebellion against the invasion of the white min, are what the two scouts, Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody, are aiming to suppress, but the arms are smuggled through, and the West becomes aflame with massace and war. Hickok is deputed to catch the man who is responsible for the sale of the arms to the Indians, but it is a long and tiresome hunt before he can at last bring his quarry to earth. Meanwhile Hickok falls Ln love with Calamity jane, although his pride will not let him admit it. .Tire decision to choose between his family and his country faces Cody, when he is asked to lead an ammunition column through enemy country to a besieged garrison, and he nearly loses his life in the subsequent action.

“LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY” FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW AT REGENT Freddie Bartholomew 13 proving popular at the Regent Theatre, where he has the title role in "Little Lord Fauntleroy.” The picture also marks a triumphant return to the screen after four years for the lovely Dolores Costello Barrymore, who is co-starred with Freddie in the role of the Little Lord’s adored young mother, “Dearest." It tells the familiar story of the little American lad who became a Lord and went to England to live Ln a castle with his grandfather, the gruff, goutridden old Earl of Dortncourt (C. Aubrey Smith), and was separated from the dear widowed mother, whom the stubborn Earl refuses to receive inside the castle gates, because his son had married her against his wishes. How the child wins his way into the old man’s heart and transforms him Into a loving and delightful grandfather, is charmingly depicted. Eventually the old Earl softens even toward "Dearest," but is too proud to seek her out until his new-found happiness is endangered by the appearance of another claimant to the title of “Little Lord Fauntleroy” in the person of an unpleasant little chap named Bevis (Jackie Searl). The story has a joyous ending, however, with all the difficulties Ironed out and everybody gloriously happy.

GLADYS MONCRIEFF' “MERRY WIDOW” TO-NIGHT To-night at the Theatre Royal, beginning at 8 o’clock, the J. C. Williamson Ltd. management will present the popular and brilliant comic opera soprano, Miss Gladys Moncrieff, and a splendid company of singers, dancersand comedians in Franz Lehar's de-

liclously musical, very picturesque and highly humorous operetta, “The Merry Widow.” To-morrow evening the company will present the exquisite musical play, “The Maid of the Mountains,” in which Miss Moncrieff will again delight with her brilliant performance of the role of Teresa, in which she has achieved one of her greatest triumphs. That Miss Moncrieff is just as popular here as she is in Australia was emphatically proved in Wellington w’here, on the opening night of “The Merry Widow," she received the most enthusiastic reception ever accorded a theatrical artist In that city. There is probably no better comedian on the operatic stage to-day than Cecil Kellaway, and as Baron Popoff in "The Merry Widow” and General Malona in “The Maid of the Mountains,” he has parts that may have been specially created for him, and it is said that he has his audience laughing witli him arid at him during the whole time he is on the stage. Eric Bush possesses all the natural assets that are essential for a leading Juvenile lead, including a good stage presence, lie is a brilliant dancer and he has an excellent baritone voice. He plays Prince Danilo in “The Merry Widow” and Baldasarre in "The Maid of the Mountains.” That Don Nicol is an outstanding comedian he demonstrated when he last appeared here as the waiter in “White Horse Inn,” and as Nlsch in “The Widow" and Tonlo in “The Maid,” he is said to be exceedingly humorous. Box plans for both operas are at Begg’s.

COMMUNITY DRAMA JUNIOR FESTIVAL TO-NIGHT In the Little Playhouse to-night, the Second Junior Festival of Community Drama, organised by the South Canterbury Drama League, will be held. Last year some really first-class talent was revealed, and it is anticipated that the standard of plays this year will be well maintained. The following teams are taking part: St. Paul’s Sunday School, Craighead Diocesan School, High School Old Girls, St. Saviour’s Orphanage. The festival is for young players, and much interest has been created by the activity In Junior drama circles. The box plan is at Begg’s, and the festival opens at 7.30 p.m.