AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20850, 5 October 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

“A STAR IS BORN” TECHNICOLOUR FILM AT REGENT One of the really outstanding motion pictures of 1937, the Selznick International production “A Star is Born,” is at present at the Regent. ‘‘A Star is Born" has many outstanding features and foremost among these is the photography. Technicolour is employed throughout the film but with a softness and warmth never previously seen on the screen. Throughout the scenic wonders of California have been very effectively introduced as backgrounds and they are revealed in an exquisite variety of tints and hues. The really outstanding settings include a scene of the rolling waters of the Pacific Ocean at sunset with the dark figure of a swimmer . outlined against the sun-tipped wavecrests. Another spectacular sequence is at a boxing match, which to technicolour is an intensely fascinating sight. The story of "A Star is Born” also is far more powerful than that of the average motion picture. It rises to great emotional heights but there is never any suggestion of heroics. Janet Gaynor as a country girl who rises to fame as a screen player gives a charming characterisation, the personality of the role she takes developing with the I story in very convincing manner. ( Fredric March takes the part of a successful screen player who gradually loses his hold on the motion picture public, and his dramatic acting is of a magnificence rarely seen. Adolphe Menjou as a worried producer and Andy Devine as an assistant director also give highly creditable portrayals. Other clever characterisations are given by May Robson as the girl's philosophic grandmother, and Lionel Stander as a studio publicity agent. "WINGS OVER HONOLULU" NAVAL STORY AT MAJESTIC The roar of Navy fighting planes, the languorous romance of the tropics, a vivid, swiftly paced story—these are the elements which Universal has combined to make top-flight entertainment of “Wings Over Honolulu,” at present at the Majestic. Wendy Barrie portrays a beautiful Virginia belle who marries a young Navy officer played by Ray Milland. The wife has no knowledge of the conventions, customs and taboos of the naval service. She becomes embodied to a situation which almost wrecks her husband’s career. Milland will be remembered as the leading man of “Three Smart Girls.” “Murder by an Aristocrat” A new and baffling mystery melodrama, “M irder by an Aristocrat,” comes to 'he Majestic to-morrow, with Lyle Talbot, Marguerite Churchill and Claire Dodd in the leading roles. Produced by First National from the exciting novel by Mignon G. Eberhart, the picture is said to be packed with thrilling situations, eerie and bldod curdling episodes that make the hair stand on end. Five members of a proud, aristocratic family are" being blackmailed by a black sheep ne’er-do-well, who later is found with a bullet through his heart in the library home. Another member of the family is found dead in the attic, evidently a victim of a poisonous drug. The murder is eventually solved by a nurse and doctor, who have been called to the house after a series of harrowtag events in which an attempt is made to kill the nurse. TWO COMEDIES DOUBLE BILL AT STATE The Gaumont-British-Dominions film “All In,” a most amusing comedy with the always popular Ralph Lynn to the leading role, will head the double programme at the State to-day. This type of farce exactly suits the leading actor, who is cast as Archie Slott, and he receives excellent support from Claude Dampier, as Samuel Toop, and Gina Malo, who plays the part of Samuel Toop’s attractive daughter Kay. Jack Barty is seen as the all-in wrestler Ting-a-Ltog Tom. Archie Slott who has been strictly brought up by his Aunt Genesta, played by Sydney Fairbrother, is left a racing stable and with it the Derby favourite. He Is inveigled into buying a wrestling stadium and finds himself to trouble with a group of wrestlers demanding arrears of pay. In a fit of bravado he tells his aunt and Sir James Santor, whose daughter he Is supposed to marry, about the stable and is tricked into signing it away into their hands for conversion into a working girls’ home. On Derby Day Archie learns that the Dean Pitage Is to tike possession of the stables an< jith the help of the

wrestlers he hatches a plot to thwart him. The dean is kidnapped and Toop, who is to charge of the stables, disguises himself as the dean and in an hilarious scene interviews the aunt and her party, signing the document making the stables his. Slott, Kay, Toop and the wrestlers then rush back to the stadium and watch the race by television. Extremely amusing situations ensue, especially when Archie Slott becomes mixed up in the ring with the wrestlers, but finally the picture comes to a satisfactory conclusion. The second main film, “Off to the Races,” achieved great popularity in the United States, where it ran for many months. The principal role is taken by “Slim” Summerville, and he is responsible for a performance that is highly amusing. THEATRE ROYAL THRILLS, MUSIC AND COMEDY Rhythmic, fast-paced, gorgeously mounted, filled with gay tunes and glamorous girls, Fox Film’s musical extravaganza, “Redheads on Parade," opens at the Theatre Royal to-night. The burden of the action of this hilarious new musical comedy falls on the capable shoulders of John Boles and adorable Dixie Lee who carry out their assignments in fresh and admirable style. Supported by Jack Haley. Alan D rehart, Raymond Wa.burn, Herman Bing and William Austin, and by gorgeous ensembles of adorable redheads, they play the romantic leads i.i this 1 rhapsody on red. It is a deliciously amusing story about the production of motion pictures. Without flag-waving or sentimental heroics, “Brown on Resolution,” tells a plain, unadorned tale of duty bravely carried out in the exalted spirit of naval tradition. A model of straightforward story-telling, the picture, by virtue of restrained treatment which further enhances its power, may well go down to the history of screen entertainment as the measure by which analogous productions are judged.