AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21029, 6 May 1938, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT'S DOUBLE BILL THRILLS AND ROMANCE A riotous comedy and a Western thriller combine to make the Regent Theatre's double bill excellent entertainment. “The Big Noise," a comedy drama, deals with a personal romance and the thrill and glamour of big business. Warren Hull plays the part of the young chemist, who falls In love with his partner's daughter, a role played by Alina Lloyd. Dick Foran, the flaming haired singing cowboy, comes on the bill in the third of his starring pictures for Warner Bros. “Treachery Rides the Range,” a new type of Western thriller. “London Melody” Everybody who visits the Regent Theatre to-morrow will soon be humming two of the catchy song numbers which are an important feature of “London Melody,” the sparkling musical romance co-starring lovely Anna Neagle, and Tulllo Carminatl. They arc “The Eyes of the World are on You,” by Lerner, Goodhart and Hoffman, and “The Jingle of the Jungle,” by Sigler. Goodhart and Hoffman, the famous composers who were responsible for many of the attractive numbers in “Street Singer’s Serenade,” the film in which Anna Neagle co-starred with Arthur Tracy, the Street Singer. Both these numbers are sung by Anna Neagle against spectacular night club backgrounds. “DOUBLE OR NOTHING" BRIGHT FILM AT MAJESTIC Bright and refreshing entertainment is provided at the Majestic where “Double or Nothing”, a picture with many attractions is being screened. Apart from the actual cast several speciality turns are introduced, some of which give remarkable performances and they include the Calgary Brothers, Ames and Arno and the Sing Band. The picture cast apart from Bing Crosby, Includes such popular entertainers as Martha Raye, Andy Devine, Mary Carlisle, William Frawley, Fay Holden, Samuel S. Hinds, William Henry and others. In addition there is an aggregation of 75 beautiful girls and handsome young men known as the “Sing Band.” This group uses no musical instruments yet “plays” popular music by Imitating the various instruments of a dance orchestra so closely that it is impossible for the human ear to tell the difference. “The Barrier” Rex Beach’s memorable story of the Alaskan goldfields, “The Barrier,” is effectively brought to the screen in the Paramount production of the same name which opens a season at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. Of principal interest is the portrayal given by Leo Carillo in the role of a Yukon miner. Jean Parker is seen as a beautiful young white girl who has been brought up by a storekeeper and his Indian wife in the belief that she is their child. Handsome James Ellison appears as a young lieutenant whose troop has been sent to the little mining settlement for police purposes. The two young people fall in love, but the romance is thwarted by the girl's fos-ter-father, who is a fugitive from justice. This theme is cleverly developed, the more dramatic sequences being effectively relieved by the magnificent settings of the rivers, mountains and forests of the district. Andy Clyde supplies an original type of humour as an old prospector with a passion for alcohol who discovers a rich mine in the hills. The presence of gold brings crowds of miners, among whom is the girl’s real father. The latter’s betrayal of the foster-father to the authorities brings the film to a stirring climax. The difficulties of the romance between the lieutenant and the girl are all solved by Carrillo, who is himself secretly in love with her. His sacrifices in bringing the two together introduce some particularly fine acting.

“UNDER THE RED ROBE" AT THE STATE Annabella, the lovely French actress who created a sensation in “Wings of the Morning,” appears opposite Conrad Veldt in “Under the Red Robe.” The film, a swashbuckling romance, based on a story by Stanley Weyman opens at the State Theatre to-day. Annabella, wins new laurels as the radiant and charming Lady Marguerite, rapturuosly in love, and unaware that her ardour can destroy a throne. And there is Raymond Massey, a noted actor of the British and American stage, as Richelieu, the hated, the revered, the courted, the feared, who conspired with the hearts and lives of lovers, to become the power behind an empire. Veidt, as the headstrong cavalier Gil de Berault, becomes embroiled with a young soldier, and to save himself from Richelieu's edict of death for duellists, undertakes a hazardous mission, the arrest of the Duke of Folx, a dangerous enemy of the Cardinal. He wins admittance to the Duke's castle, where he is greeted by the Duchess, Sophie Stewart, and her sister-in-law, Annabella. Confusing the two, he believes Annabella to be the Duchess. In spite of their suspicions, Veldt wins the confidence of the women, learns the whereabouts of the Duke, and falls in love with Annabella. Events move swiftly to a thrilling climax—the revelation that Annabella is a sister, not a wife, to Duke Gaston; the arrest of the Duke, and the consequent estrangement of the lovers. When the fearless swordsman finally decides to pay the death penalty rather than sacrifice the brother of the girl he loves, he returns to face Richelieu, in a surprise ending to a memorable film of adventure and romance. THEATRE ROYAL THRILLS AND LAUGHTER It isn't what these comedians say, but the way they say it that is so funny on the screen. Sydney Howard, British favourite in “Chick" at the Theatre Royal to-night, is an expert at making everyday gestures funny. Just os George Robey, on the stage, controls his eyebrows to an hysterical extent, and Stan Laurel tugs his inane tuft of

hair, Sydney Howard puts into an ordinary handshake a whole world of mirth. In “Chick” we have the local boy making good to some purpose. As a college porter, he is overwhelmed when an ancient uncle dies and leaves him a title and estate that took a lifetime to prove. Chick goes back to college as a student this time, sees his boy-friend expelled and join the police force, and sponsors his romance with a pretty barmaid. The old riproaring days of cattle rustling have been brought back with a vengeance by gangsters who organise cavalcades of large swift trucks, steal costly herds of dairy and beef cattle, then rush them off to dealers who sell the bootleg animals. In the old days of the .West, cattle thieves used "six-guns.” The modern crook uses machine guns to batter the cattle owners into submission. The racket has grown to alarming proportions, causing stockmen to employ armed guards to break up the racket. The new cattle thieves have run into many exciting situations, even more stirring than the experiences of the cattle runners of a former generation. The leading players include Noah Berry jnr., Larry Blake. Catherine Hughes, Bernadene Hayes, Henry Hunter and Harlan Briggs. This picture is blazing melodrama with a double romantic twist at the end. It has pathos and coiiledy, suspense and excitement. “Trouble at Midnight" is a pleasure to see any time of day or evening. HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT SUCCESSFUL SECOND NIGHT Another large audience .packed the Theatre Royal last night when the pupils of the Timaru Boys' High School repeated their annual concert. The first portion of the programme was designed on vaudeville lines, including choruses, vocal and instrumental items, a gymnastic display and the burlesque sketches which are always a feature of the School concert. The entire second half was devoted to the presentation, by courtesy of J. C. Wiilaimson Ltd., of excerpts from the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera “H.M.S. Pinafore” and in this, as on the opening night, the boys acquitted themselves with distinction. The concert was easily the best the School has presented for many years, and the ambitious undertaking was greatly facilitated by the fact that this year the pupils number among tielr ranks a wealth of vocal talent.