AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21065, 17 June 1938, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

ABSORBING STORY "THE BLACK LEGION" AT REGENT A daring and thrilling melodrama of a man. torn between the love of his beautiful young wife, and his terror of the "Black Legion”—a gang of terrorists who would stop at nothing, and from which he could never be free, will be screened finally to-night at the Regent. It is a love story that will thrill you in its intensity, and acting that will make you live this exciting film. “The Thin Man” “The Thin Man," new Metro-Gold-wyn-Mayer cosmopolitan picture opening to-morrow at the Regent Theatre, presents one of the most gripping mystery films to reach the motion picture screen. It was adapted from the bestseller detective novel of the same title written by Dashiell Hammett, master mystery story-teller. The novel was published by Alfred A. Knopf and also appeared serially in all of the Hearst newspapers. It tells the story of Nick Charles, ex-detective, and of three murders which involved him with the eccentric Wynant family—a half-mad father, a lying lecherous mother, a bewildered daughter and a neurotic son. Alexander Woollcott, ace literary critic, proclaimed "The Thin Man” as “The best detective story yet written in America.” Sinclair Lewis, famous author and Nobel Prize winner, has declared: "Dashiell Hammett is undoubtedly the best of the American detective story writers, and' The Thin (tian' is certainly the most breathless of all his stories." Brought to life upon the screen, "The Thin Man” is said to be even more gripping than the book. William Powell, the motion picture screen’s outstanding detective character, plays the all-important role of Nick Charles, the ex-detective who Is dragged into the triple-murder investigation against his will. Myrna Loy, in the co-starring role, appears as his charming and amusing wife.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “I'LL TAKE ROMANCE” Grace Moore became a notable figure in the film world because of her singing; and it is a fortunate circumstance that, though she has climbed the dizzy peaks of popularity since “One Night of Love,” singing remains a notable feature of her pictures. Her latest production, “I’ll Take Romance” which begins at the Majestic Theatre to-day, is one of her most notable contributions to the opera-film form And there is sufficient story to ensure the production wide popularity. The story deals with the attempts of James Guthrie (Melvyn Douglas) agent of the Buenos Aires opera, to persuade Elsa Terry to fulfil her contract obligations, obligations she has decided to renounce by singing at Paris. But Guthrie’s task becomes difficult when Helen Westley, Elsa’s guardian, refuses to countenance the Buenos Aires proposition. And in spite of presents of flowers, dogs, books and what not. Guthrie is unable to secure an introduction to put his case. Fortune favours him when he secures the apartment next door to Elsa. And a spurious interview, in which he impersonates a famous French critic, sets the ball rolling. From there it gathers force. But for once romance stands in the path of duty. And only a kidnapping, ot which Elsa is pretty well-informed the while, persuades her to go to Buenos Aires. There, there are more kidnappings But the hearty hand ot Stuart Erwin, Guthrie's aide in the field of kidnapping, has effect. 3ut it is the singing which makes the production outstanding, and even when she descends to "She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain," old-time hillbilly favourite, Miss Moore has the power of entrancing with her voice. There is sheer loveliness in the excerpt from “Marta.” with the stage filled with singers, and in the "Drinking Song” from "Traviata,” with the stage dressed as it never has been in New Zealand operatic productions. and with the chorus harmonising magnificently with Grace Moore. And the gavotte from ‘Manon,’’ as well as the magnificently-produced duet scene from "Madame Butterfly” with which the film more or less ends, are glimpses for which even those not passionately fond of music can be thankful. The supports Include a fine Charlie Chase comedy, newsreels, a sport sidelight, and a coloured cartoon. “CHARLIE CHAN ON BROADWAY” FINE THRILLER AT STATE Called into action on New York’s Great White Way, Charlie Chan invades the night clubs to seek the killer whose double murder casts a shadow of terror over Manhattan’s gayest spots in the newest of his Twentieth Century-

Fox screen adventures, “Charlie Chan on Broadway.” opening at the State toI day. Warner Oland is featured in his 1 familiar outstanding characterisation I of the Chinese detective, and prominent roles in the cast are played by Keye Luke, as Chan’s “number one son,” J. Edward Bromberg, Joan Marsh, Louise Henry, Joan Woodbury, Donald Woods, Douglas Fowley and Harold Huber. The blundering curiosity of Chan’s “number • one son” is the opening wedge of I Chan’s entrance into a mystery con--1 cerning a night-club singer’s secret i diary, supposed to contain sensational I information that, once published, will j cause a sensation. Before the diary is • brought to light, however, the singer is killed in Broadway’s gayest night spot, i a murder, soon followed by a second, that serves to baffle the police even more. In the attempt to imitate the wily sleuthing of his father. Lee Chan manages to place himself in a highly suspicious position, from which he has to be ignominiously extricated by the Oriental detective. A multitude of conflicting clues becloud the entire, case, with the chief evidence supplied by the amateur candid-camera “shots” taken in the club. This is a new angle in screen mysteries, used for the first time in this story. From the confusion of circumstances Chan manages, in his quiet, philosophical fashion, to piece together an amazing solution that is thrillingly proved in a surprising climax. THEATRE ROYAL GRAND WEEK-END PROGRAMME “Some Blondes are Dangerous,” an exciting story of life in and about the prize fighting ring, opens at the Theatre Royal to-night. Noah Beery has the role of the boxer, William Gargan is cast as the hard-boiled, acute, but loyal manager, Nan Grey as the heroine and Dorothea Kent as the Broadway siren. The story gives a little-known viewpoint of the trials and temptation that surround these knights of the padded gloves, who rise to fame and fortune from obscurity, enjoy their few brief moments of popularity and then fade away into oblivion again. It is the story of a prize fighter whose bound to fame blinds him to the true values of life. Pink./ Tomlin, wizard of the Hawaiian guitar is the featured player in “Sing While You're Able”. The film is a bright musical comedy, alive with melodious I songs and peppered with amusing i comedy. The story concerns the i adventures of a country boy in a big city whence he comes to seek fame and fortune as a stage, screen and night club entertainer. Five new song hits are included in the picture. Supporting Pinky Tomlin are Toby Wing, Bert Roach, The Three Brian Sisters, The Three Morgan Brothers and Prince Michael Romanoff, descendant of the Royal Family of Russia. BAND DISPLAY ON THE BAY Another treat is in store for the public of South Canterbury on Sunday when a grand display of the five Bands of Timaru will be held on Caroline Bay. One of the features of the afternoon will be the Drum-Major’s display by the Highland Pipe Band. This display was specially arranged for the championship contest at Palmerston North and was voted by all the finest display ever witnessed in the Dominion The popular Timaru Harmonica Bands, both senior and junior, will also give a demonstration of the Quickstep and a marching display. The Municipal and Salvation Army Bands are also assisting, and a good afternoon’s enjoyment is assured. A collection will be taken and the proceeds will go towards the Harmonica Band’s uniform fund.