AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE 'SARATOGA” The last film macle by the late Jean Harlow, “Saratoga,” will commence at the Majestic to-day. Brilliant in execution and lavish in spectacle, “Saratoga” is a romantic comedy dealing for the most part with horse-racing and the men and women who throng the great racecourses of the United States. The performance which Miss Harlow has given is one of her most exuberant. She represents an American girl who has been to England and there modified her original race track accent into what she imagines is cultured speech. The portrait abounds in those clever touches for which Miss Harlow was famous. After Miss Harlow’s death a “double” was engaged to Impersonate her in the scenes not then photographed, and these parts of the story have evidently been rewritten so that the substitute, Mary Dees, appears on the screen as little as possible. When she does appear it is always with her back to the camera or looking through field glasses or wearing a large hat which masks ’-'.er features. In the last scene Miss Harlow appears once m-re, and the final glimpse which the audience has of her shows her standing happily among a crowd in a race train. The train goes steaming away into the distance, and “Saratoga,” which is Jean Harlow’s motion picture memorial, is over. Lionel Barrymore takes the part of Clayton, who owns a racing stable, which has to be sold to pay his debts. His grand-daughter (Jean Harlow) is engaged to a wealthy young New York stockbroker, a part taken by Walter Pldgeon, who gives a brilliant interpretation of an impeccable but colourless man. Clark Gable, in the role of a bookmaker, rough on the outside, but inwardly of a direct and honest nature, has the leading male part, in which he gives one of the finest portrayals to date. Others in the cast are Una Merkel, Frank Morgan and Cliff Edwards. An excellent supporting programme includes a Fitzgerald travel gem entitled "Colourful Bombay,” an Our Gang comedy, and Olympic ski champions.

STATE THEATRE “SHALL WE DANCE” “Shall We Dance.” an R.K.O. Radio picture which opened a season at the State Theatre yesterday, is the seventh film which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers have appeared together and is undoubtedly one of the best. With a story, in its own way. as polished and deftly conceived as one of Astaire’s own dances, with lilting music and a generous leavening of comedy, the production is as consistently entertaining as any film that has been shown in Tlmaru for a long time. The casual elegance of Astaire and the charm of Miss Rogers, his ideal partner, have been displayed with such success in "The Gay Divorcee,” “Roberta” and “Top Hat" that, confronted with a

picture which makes them as fresh and individual and sparkling as if in a triumphal first appearance, one can only admire the skill of the producers of “Shall We Dance” and sit back to applaud the result. Here is a film in which the words “musical comedy” mean exactly what they say. Preserving an admirable balance between dancing, comedy, music and spectacle, the film presents a smooth and fluent blend of entertainment which nobody could fail to enjoy to the full. The story itself is piquantly attractive. It deals with the tempestuous love affair between Petrov, a famous “Russian” ballet dancer who is really an American, and Linda, a celebrated revue artist. They have only to board the same ship for the voyage to America to become effortlessly and ingeniously amusing. In the principal roles, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are given every opportunity to exploit the talents that have made their screen partnership one of the most popular of recent years. The comedy which they themselves do not supply is in the capable h nds of Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore and Jerome Cowan, who have rarely been in such excellent form. REGENT THEATRE “WOMAN CHASES MAN”

Miriam Hopkins has won great esteem for her powerfully dramatic portrayals in such films as "‘These Three," “Men Are Not Gods” and "The Woman I Love,”’ but in her latest success, “Woman Chases Man,” which commences what promises to be a popular season at the Regent Theatre to-day, she proves that she has a flair for comedy that is rivalled by very few motion picture actresses of the present day. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn this bright entertainment at times reaches great heights. Its excellent comedy is largely contributed to by the inimitable Charles Winninger, who scored such a great success in "Show Boat,” and Joel McCrea, the leading man, who gives what is undoubtedly his finest acting performance to date. Winninger is seen as an eccentric old man, B. J. Nolan, who cannot resist tying up his money in what prove to be worthless schemes. His late wife, realising her husband’s weakness, has left her large fortune to her son, Kenneth, a part taken by McCrea. Unlike his father Kenneth is of a serious nature and when, therefore, his fathep in heed of 100,000 dollars for the purpose of promoting his latest scheme Kenneth is adamant in his refusal to supply the necessary funds. B. J. Nolan’s project is the construction of a model village, and when Miss Hopkins, as a young woman architect, Miss Travis, enters his office in search of work the two put their heads together in order to obtain the money from Kenneth. Knowing that Kenneth is cautious when sober, but reckless when drunk, the pair set to work, with highly amusing results. The climax of the film is set in a giant magnolia tree, in the branches of which a free-for-all melee takes place between practically all the players who appear in the production. These include Erik Rhodes, who gives his customary polished performance. This morning a special Mickey Mouse matinee will be held for the children when “Empty Holsters" will also be screened. 4

THEATRE ROYAL DOUBLE BILL “The Devil Is Driving," and “Let’s Get Married” are the attractions at the Royal. Should a young attorney, fired by ambition to become a political success, defend a wealthy and influential client of a second-degree murder charge when he knows him guilty and deserving of punishment? This potent question, which raises again the ever-moot problem as to what any attorney should do if he knows his client guilty, is dramatically brought out in Columbia’s newest thrill-filled screen drama, “The Devil Is Driving.” Richard Dlx, starred in the picture, is the ambitious young lawyer. “Let’s Get Married,” is a Columbia comedy featuring Ida Lupino, Ralph Bellamy and Walter Cpnnolly. Based on a famous "Saturday Evening Post’ story, “Let’s Get Married” delves into the private lives of the official weather man and a politicians daughter. Reginald Denny, Raymond Walburn, and Nana Bryant are prominently featured in the cast.