AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20894, 25 November 1937, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE “HOLLYWOOD COWBOY” Thundering hoofs vie with shrieking wings as planes and ponies contribute to the fast action in “Hollywood Cowboy,” George O'Brien’s latest thriller, which concludes at the State to-day. Set against the picturesque Wyoming plains, the story records in exciting fashion a range war with cattlemen on one side and a gang of big city racketeers on the other. O’Brien is seen as a movie cowboy who inadvertently walks into the fracas, falls in love with the niece of a rancher and so decides to take part. How he succeeds in capturing the ruthless ring provides plenty of fast action and thrills. “Shall We Dance” Blending romance, melody, dancing and laughter, “Shall We Dance,” the new Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musical film, which opens at the State to-morrow, is said to hit a new high in screen entertainment. Made on a scale that surpasses all the noted duo’s previous vehicles and offering brilliant novelties in its dances, songs and settings, “Shall We Dance” is hailed as the finest and most entertaining picture of the two stars' careers. The story deals with the hectic love affair between Astaire as an outstanding ballet dancer, and Miss Rogers as a noted revue favourite. Astaire’s interest in the slender tap-dancer leads to a series of Incidents which in turn give rise to popular belief that the two are married. Despite Miss Rogers’s denials, the rumours grow and, unable to escape the resulting publicity, the two decide that the only way to obtain their freedom is actually to get married. This ingenious plot is played against a glittering background of modem life, with spectacular dances and tuneful song numbers woven into the action, and with even more romance and comedy than any of the previous Astaire-Rogers vehicles. REGENT THEATRE FINE DOUBLE BILL A fine double bill is being screened at the Regent, the chief attractions being “The Walking Dead” and “Empty Holsters.” 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 had 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 lines of scientific experiments conducted by eminent doctors in the past several years. 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. An added attraction is the latest Paramount air mail pictures of the war in China.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE 13TH CHAIR A murder mystery which will keep audiences guessing to the end is “The 13th Chair,” which heads the programme presented at the Majestic Theatre for the first time yesterday. The picture, which is the screen version of Bayard Velller’s mystery romance of the,Same name, has a story developed mostly by dialogue, almost all the action taking place in one room. Two scenes in which seances are held to frighten the murderer into a confession of guilt are played in complete darkness. One cannot see anything, but can just hear what the players say, and this eerie atmosphere held yesterday’s audiences in tense suspense. A powerful cast appears in the film, including Dame May Whitty, Madge Evans, Lewis Stone, Ellssa Landl, Thomas Beck and Ralph Forbes. The performance of Dame Whitty ranks with the finest yet seen on the screen, her sense of age, terror, affection, and every motion which hr part demands, being splendidly realised. "Saratoga”

A gripping romance, comedy, some of the finest character portrayals for years, and thrills of a thundering race track are highlights in "Saratoga," the picture that brings Jean Harlow and Clark Gable to the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. "Saratoga” tells the story of the spoiled daughter of a wealthy horseowner, and a gambler and bookmaker whom she first hates fights, then loves. The background of the swift action ranges from “penthouses” and a London hotel to a Kentucky horse farm, the Saratoga race track, and famous races on tracks in various points of the United States. The final racing climax, photographed by special equipment, provides a genuine thrill. Frank Morgan and Una Merkel are seen together as a comedy team for the first time, and more laughs as well as a song are contributed by Cliff Edwards and his ukulele. Other players are Walter Pldgeon, George Zucco, Jonathan Hale, Hattie McDaniels, Frankie Darro and Henry Stone. Thousands appear in the racing and grandstand sequences. One of the most interesting sequences takes place in Lionel Barrymore’s horse-breeding farm where thoroughbred animals ranging from famous racehorses to young colts, all brought from stock farms In California, appear.

THEATRE ROYAL CONCESSION PROGRAMME “Car 99" and “Ready For Love” are the attractions at the Royal. The first mentioned film 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. The havoc a girl with big town ideas can innocently create In a small town is amusingly portrayed in Paramount's

romantic comedy, “Ready For Love.” Featuring Richard Arlen and Ida Lupino in the leading roles, the story is concerned with amusing misunderstandings, dramatic complications and a fresh and breezy romance. Ida Lupino, as the girl, comes to Chetwattle Falls on the train that bears the mortal remains of the town’s most dignified hypocrite. Her arrival on the same train is pure coincidence, but the town’s gossips immediately deduce some connection. Then the editor of the local newspaper furthers their suspicions, and in a short time a totally innocent girl is branded as shameless.