AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20927, 5 January 1938, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

"10 MEN AND A GIRL" DEANNA DURBIN AT MAJESTIC "100 Men and a Girl,” starring Deanna Durbin, is at the Majestic. Deanna’s lovely trained voice, clear, round and true, gives her songs fresh beauty. She shows remarkable versatility in the widely varied range of her numbers. It is both amazing and satisfying to hear her rendering of Mozart’s “Alleluja,” and then "Libiamo” from "La Tosca,” after she does the popular offerings, and the new popular song, ‘‘lt’s RainSunbeams.” But the little 14-year-old girl is more than a splendid singer. She proves an actress capable of portraying all shades of human emotion, although this is only her second picture. The fine beginning she made in ‘‘Three Smart Girls” is excelled in ‘TOO Men and a Girl.” Another reason for the entertainment value of the picture is Leopold Stokowski, who conducts the orchestra of 100 musicians through several offerings of stirring appeal. Adolphe Menjou gives an enjoyable performance as Deanna’s father. Mischa Auer’s irresponsible madcap comedy, with and without benefit of musical instruments, is some of the gayest nonsense ever screened. .Henry Koster, director, and Joseph Pasternak, producer, who made "Three Smart Girls,” are responsible for the direction.

AT THE ROYAL "MAN OF THE FOREST” AND "STOLEN HARMONY” Two big productions were well received at the Royal last night. Zane Grey’s "Man of the Forest,” twentyninth of his novels to reach the screen, is the first attraction', with Randolph Scott, Harry Carey, Noah Beery, Verna Hillie and Buster Crabbe in leading roles. Like other Zane Grey stories, "Man of the Forest” is an action-drama. Every moment is crowded with red-blooded, two-fisted action, and there’s plenty of hard riding and bitter gun play in it as well. "Man of the Forest” starts a "new” note in Westerns. It gets away from the conversational Western drama, and brings back the whirlwind action of the old-fashioned frontierthriller. Scott portrays a strong, silent hero of the forests, and the story tells of his efforts to avenge the death of a friend.

In "Stolen Harmony,” a bright musical. Grace Bradley is cast opposite George Raft, who is starred with Ben Bernie and all his lads. The picture combines melody, dancing and fun in telling the melodramatic tale of a convict’s regeneration through love, friendship, and his willingness to risk his life for those of his friends. DOUBLE BILL AT STATE “MOUNTAIN MUSIC” AND "A DOCTOR’S DIARY” Good entertainment is promised at the State to-night, when "A Doctor’s Diary” and "Mountain Music” will comprise an interesting double feature bill. Bob Burns and Martha Raye are co-starred for the first time in Paramount’s "Mountain Music,” a satire of life among the hillbillies. In order to stop a feud between their families, Burns is supposed to marry Terry Walker. But he gets hit on the head, forgets about the wedding, and winds up with Miss Raye. This is all right with his brother, John Howard, who meets Miss Walker in the interim. The cast also includes George Hayes, Rufe Davis, Spencer Charters and a number of other well-known featured players.

George Bancroft is the only veteran actor among the leads in Paramount’s "A Doctor’s Diary,” a stirring drama of hospital life, which is the principal attraction. The male lead is played by George Trent, former ace transport flyer, who was "discovered” several months ago by B. P. Schulberg, noted Hollywood producer, and given a bid to films. The feminine lead is handled by Helen Burgess, who was given a principal role in "The Plainsman” by Cecil B. DeMille, despite the fact that she had never appeared in films before. There are two newcomers in the film who have never appeared in films before. These are Ra Hould, a ten-year-old youngster from New Zealand, who possesses unusual charm and ability, and Ruth Coleman, who has a small part in the film.

“MIDNIGHT MADONNA" NEW CHILD STAR AT REGENT The widely discussed problem of the ability of a law court to decide which parent is better suited to take care of a child is frankly discussed in Paramount’s "Midnight Madonna,” the drama with Warren William, Mady Correll and Kitty Clancy which opens to-day at the Regent Theatre. In the story, the child, four-year-old Kitty, is made heir to a large estate. This causes her father, Robert Baldwin, estranged from his wife, Miss Correll, to wage a court battle for her custody. Because the mother is a night club entertainer, and a friend of William, a big-time gambler, the court awards the child to the father, but the decision is reversed when William employs some novel means to show the court how it erred in judgment. Kitty Clancy, the four-year-old star, is the screen’s latest and most sensational “discovery” and critics all claim that she has the makings of a great success. Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn After a lapse of 18 months, one of the most brilliant comedy duos ever united on the screen, is once more launched on a great new laughter campaign, and the result—a film which should prove to be the comedy sensation of the year, is coming to the Regent on Saturday. "For Valour,” co-starring Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn, and which has been adapted from an original story by that prince of comedy authors, Ben Travers. Directed by Tom Walls, it is the most ambitious picture ever undertaken by this great trio, providing them with unique opportunities.