AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 7

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE DRAMA OF SPANISH CIVIL WAR A stirring drama of the Spanish civil war, “Blockade,” with Madeleine Carroll and Henry Fonda In the leading roles, provides first-class entertainment at the State Theatre. Written by Walter Wanger, this thrilling romance is the story of a man and a girl drawn into the conflict, almost against their will—lovers who were at the same time bitter enemies. “Blockade,” though it employs the war only as a background and favours neither side in the conflict, furnishes a highly interesting and remarkably accurate picture of Spain’s civil strife. Aeroplane raids, fierce battles in rural areas, the flight of refugees—all are shown in a manner that clearly brings to the audience an understanding of a condition that has disrupted the life of an entire nation. Without being propaganda in any sense, the picture nevertheless demonstrates the complete futility of war as a means of solving the problems of the world. This unusual picture was directed by William Dieterle, whose recent “Life of Emile Zola” was adjudged by vote of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences the greatest motion picture of 1937. In addition to Leo Carrillo, the cast supporting Miss Carroll and Fonda in “Blockade” includes John Halliday, Reginald Denny, Vladimir Scholoff, and Robert Warwick.

SANDY POWELL SUCCESS “LEAVE IT TO ME" AT REGENT One of the funniest pictures that has come to New Zealand for some time is the new Sandy Powell comedy, “Leave It to Me,” which is enjoying keen popularity at the Regent. The Yorkshire comedian’s first picture “Can You Hear Me Mother,’’ which was shown in Timaru some months ago, was a disappointment, having been poorly produced, but his second picture, “It’s a Grand Old World,” was infinitely better from every point of view, and in his new picture Sandy is cast in a part which gives him much more scope for his own droll type of comedy which has made him a world favourite on record, radio and screen. As Special Constable Powell, Sandy does everything that a good policeman should not do, and his term of duty in the Limehouse district of London among the roughs and toughs of this famous spot brings Sandy many experiences which will keep audiences in a continual state of laughter.

“The Broken Melody” Glorious music is one of the entertainment highlights of Cinesound’s “The Broken Melody”, which opens at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday. Apart from other incidental music, there is a delightful operetta sequence for which Mr Alfred Hill wrote an overture, duet for tenor and soprano and finale. The A.B.C. Symphony Orchestra, led by Mr Lionel Lawson, end conducted by Mr Hamilton Webber, supplies the instrumental accompaniment, and there are 40 voices conducted by Mr R. McLelland in the chorus. Mr Lionello Cecil, the famous Australian singer, sings the tenor role in the picture, while the leading lady, Miss Diana du Cane, appears as the soprano. In Mr Hill’s music there is a melodious theme song first introduced by Mr Lloyd Hughes as a violin solo, and recurring in various forms throughout the picture. Mr Ken G. Hall produced and directed “The Broken Melody," Australia’s first modern musical romance, which has been welcomed with enthusiasm by press and public alike.

BETTE DAVIS PLEASES “THAT CERTAIN WOMAN” AT MAJESTIC Again given a photoplay that has plenty of scope for her unique emotional talents, Bette Davis in “That Certain Woman” is delighting audiences at the Majestic. Adventureromantic love—martrydom—motherlove—are all portrayed by blonde Bette in the course of this exciting drama, which was both written and directed by the celebrated Edmund Gouldlng. Her part in the play is much more important than the one in her recent “Kid Galahad,” with Edward G. Robinson, and the role is even more tense and engrossing than the one she had in “Dangerous.” “That Certain Woman” is a story about the widow of a slain gangster who, despite the scorn of the world and the persecution of enemies, wins her way to business success and to the affections of a worthwhile man. Henry Fonda carries the male romantic interest, while others in the cast include lan Hunter, Anita Louise, Donald Crisp, Hugh O’Connell. Mary Phillips and Herbert Rawlinson. Locales of the action include Monte Carlo, with some very striking sets. London, Paris and various other Old World capitals, as well as New York city.