AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20892, 23 November 1937, Page 14

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “KID GALAHAD” A stirring story of the boxing world, full of tense drama, but chiefly remarkable for the authenticity of its fight sequences, is “Kid Galahad,” which concludes at the Regent to-day. Edward G. Robinson is a boxing manager who takes an unknown bellhop, Wayne Morris, and builds him for the championship against a drinking champ, managed by Humphrey Bogart, a detested rival.

Double Bill To-morrow One of the most unusual mystery thrillers ever filmed and a bright Western will comprise the double programme to-morrow. In “The Walking Dead,” Boris Karloff has the stellar role, while the brilliant cast includes Ricardo Cortez, Edmund Gwenn, Marguerite Churchill, Warren Hull, Barton Mac Lane and Henry O’Neill. The picture has as its central theme the bringing back to life of a man who has been electrocuted for murder, but whose innocence of the crime is proved immediately after his execution. The theme is hair-raising enough in itself, but the strange occult methods by which the “dead” man proceeds to avenge himself is calculated to freeze the blood and make the flesh quiver. The process of bringing the man to life is shown in detail, and is done along the line of scientific experiments conducted by eminent doctors in the past several years. While the picture is largely one of chills and thrills, it is relieved by comedy elements and a fascinating romance. The singing cowboy, Dick Foran, riding, singing and fighting his way through the bad hombres again in “Empty Holsters.” Devotees of the outdoor film will enjoy this one. The fight scenes are well staged and there are the usual smart gun slinging episodes. This time Dick returns bright and happy from the round-up, only to have a run-in with the leading bad man of the town, who is keen on the young cowboy’s fiancee. Several things follow, principal of which is the holdup of the stage and a couple of killings. with the men fixing the blame on the cowboy. He is convicted and sent to gaol for ten years, but after five is let out on parole.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE ROAD BACK” Reminiscent of “All Quiet on the Western Front,” and of all the disputation to which that well-remembered picture gave rise, is “The Road Back,” which is showing at the Majestic. The Remarque argument dominates both, and the new picture comes as a kind of sequel to the old.

“The Thirteenth Chair.” Players from several notable hits are assembled round Dame May Whitty in “The Thirteenth Chair,” the picture in which mysticism and psychology are cleverly woven into a baffling murder mystery story, which opens it the Majestic on Wednesday. In company with Dame May Whitty, who recently scored a sensational hit in “Night Must Fall,” are Madge Evans, last seen in “Pennies From Heaven,” the veteran character star, Lewis Stone, Elissa Landi, lately seen in “After the Thin Man,” Thomas Beck, who won plaudits for his work in “Seventh Heaven,” Henry Daniell, of “Camille” fame. Janet Beecher, last seen as Wallace Beery’s wife in “Good Old Soak.” and Ralph Forbes, of “Romeo and Juliet” and other hits. The locale of the gripping drama is in India, with an inexplicable murder committed when 13 people are sitting around a table in the dark holding hands during a seance. Although the local police are baffled, the medium takes a hand and, employing her knowledge of mysticism and psychology, brings the culprit to justice.

TN OLD KENTUCKY” FAMILY GUEST NIGHT AT STATE Will Rogers, in one of his most successful films, “In Old Kentucky.” will be seen at the State to-night in the family guest night programme. Adapted to the screen by Sam Hellman and Gladys Lehman, “In Old Kentucky” thrills and delights with a drama of pounding hoofs and racing hearts in the romantic blue-grass country. Dorothy Wilson, Russell Hardie, Charles Sellon, Louise Henry and that genius of tap-dancing, Bill Robinson, are members of the stellar cast which supports Rogers in the film. Set in the heart of the blue grass country, the story, revolves about horse loving people, their feuds, wrangles, romance and the drama in their lives.

“Hollywood Cowboy” To-morrow George OT ien, virile outdoor star, climbs into the saddle again to play a hard-riding, two-fisted cowboy in •his newest production. “Hollywood Cowboy,” which opens to-morrow. The fast action story is laid in the picturesque Wyoming plains near a cattle shipping point. Here a Hollywood motion picture company is filming a Western movie starring Jeffrey Carson, played by George O’Brien. In addition to O’Brien, the cast includes Miss Parker as the feminine lead. Maude Ebume as the ranchwoman, Joe Caits as O’Brien’s partner, Charles Middleton as the head of a gang, and Frank Milan as a ranch owner and rival of O’Brien for the favour of Miss Parker. “Shall We Dance” A terpsichorean love affair between a famous ballet dancer and a noted revue favourite which becomes the biggest news story of the day is delightfully told in “Shall We Dance,” latest of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers co-starring musical films, which opens on Friday. Studded with catchy song numbers composed by George and Ira Gershwin, and featuring some of the most spectacular dances the two stars have ever presented, the new picture is said to be the tuneful triumph of the year.

THEATRE ROYAL SPECIAL CONCESSION PROGRAMME The Paramount picture, “Ready for Love,” which comes to the Theatre Royal to-night, tells the story of a young girl who knows how to get into

trouble, but better still, knows how to get out again. The cast is headed by Richard Arlen, Ida Lupino and Marjorie Rambeau. Ida Lupino plays the role of Marigold Tate, a young, impetuous girl who upon her arrival in a small town creates a bad reputation and becomes involved in a scandal. But Marigold is not the type to be downed by a bad reputation, and vith " •• n ' , nncem makes scandal

wi perfect unconce*** - pay her big dividends. Richard Arlen, as a young editor, is actually responsible for Marigold’s plight, for it is he who misinterprets an innocent lark on Marigold’s part and spreads it across the front page of his newspaper until Marigold finds herself the centre of a national scandal. How she and the serious editor come to grips and fight each other tooth and nail, even as they fall in love, supplies “Ready for Love ’ with its drama.

The second feature is entitled “Car 99” and deals with the exciting work of the Police Patrol of the Highways and how they track down a gang of bank thieves. Fred McMurray, Sir Guy Standing and Ann Sheridan play the main roles.