AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 19

AMUSEMENTS

BRIGHT MUSICAL COMEDY GOOD FARE AT THE STATE There are stars enough, laughs, tunes and gags enough for a dozen big musicals, plus a screenful of romance and that extra-zing-and-sparkle that make it Darryl F. Zanuck’s top-hit show, in “Sally, Irene and Mary,” the. 20th Century-Fox picture at the State Theatre. Alice Faye and Tony Martin sing the most tuneful songs you ever heard. With Fred Allen, of radio’s “Town Hall To-night” fame, they top the great cast of Darryl F. Zanuck’s latest 20th Century-Fox success. The featured cast includes Jimmy Durante, Gregory Ratoff, Joan Davis, Marjorie Weaver, Louise Hovick, Barnett Parker and J. Edward Bromberg. Suggested by the famous stage play by Eddie Dowling and Cyrus Wood, "Sally, Irene and Mary" features eight new dancehappy, croon-lovely song hits. These include “Got My Mind on Music” by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, and "Half Moon on the’ Hudson" and “I Could Use a Dream,” by Walter Bullock and Harold Spina. Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen wrote the screen play from the original story by Karl Tunberg and Don Ettlinger. William A. Seiter directed. THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHT DOUBLE PROGRAMME Victor McLaglen and Beatrice Roberts in “The Devil’s Party” and Mae West in “Every Day’s a Holiday” provide vigorous fare in the double feature programme which commenced at the Theatre Royal yesterday evening. Though Victor McLaglen’s portrait of Marts' is the highlight of the film it is not just a solo trimuph. In "The Devil’s Party," Universal has produced a picture of shattering dramatic impact, with one of the warmest, most human stories to reach the screen in months. It tells of a gang of five children from New York’s Hell’s Kitchen who grow up to positions of power in the city. The leading feminine part is played by Beatrice Roberts, a beautiful newcomer to films. The story of “Every Day’s a Holiday" abounds in those delightful comedy sequences and sharp wisecracks which ensured the success of Mae West’s earlier films. New York was a wilder place in the final year of the nineteenth century than it is to-day, and this film gives a faithful indication of the graft in local politics, confidence tricks, and the conduct of the stage shows of that time. Needless to say, Mae West maintains the high standards of entertainment expected after her other films, and the action is maintained from start to finish. There is comedy, drama, romance, and a very satisfactory exchange of fisticuffs, in which the villain is worsted. Mae West has the support of a very capable and talented cast, Including Edmund Lowe, Charles Butterworth, Charles Winninger and Chester Conklin.

REGENT THEATRE “BOY OF THE STREETS” One of the biggest screen sensations of 1931 was a yellow-haired little boy, named Jackie Cooper, whose smiling face became famous over-night as the result of “Skippy”, his first starring motion picture. The little chap was such a natural actor that world-wide audiences clamoured for more of his unforgettable characterisations. Jackie continued to soften up hard-boiled men and make sympathetic women weep in “The Champ,” in which he was teamed with his pal, Wallace Beery. With that late beloved star, Thomas Meighan, Jackie brought "Peck’s Bad Boy” to life and added another milestone to his career. In “Treasure Island,” Jackie no longer a child but a growing boy, won further acting laurels playing opposite Lionel Barrymore. Since then he has made frequent screen appearances and his popularity has never waned. In his latest production, "Boy of the Streets,” which comes to the Regent Theatre to-day, Jackie plays his first grown-up role but still retains the wholesome boy appeal that endeared him to the world. He is nearly sixteen years old and just a little short of six feet tall. Jackie drives his own car which has six headlights and four horns, and he receives ten dollars weekly allowance. My, how that boy has grown! “Boy of the Streets” is a stirring human drama which had the proud distinction of winning the “Parents’ Magazine” medal for the best film of the month, and deals in a most frank and fearless manner with to-day’s great world-wide problem of modern youth. The story, which is at all times most entertaining, centres around a youngster, a great kid with real mettle in his make-up, born in the tenements of a big city and fighting for his rights to decent citizenship. But what chance did young Chuck Breiu. n, like thousands of other youngers similarly placed, really have, when his very home life, his companions and daily surroundings better fitted him to become ... “A Boy of the Streets.” MAJESTIC THEATRE "THE RAGE OF PARIS” Danielle Darrieux is the kind of star and “The Rage of Paris” is the kind of comedy that are worth waiting a long time for if necessary. But now that the picture will open to-day at the Majestic Theatre, there is no excuse for waiting. Unless one has an unreasonable dislike to see one of the prettiest girls in creation being extremely tunny all through an excruciatingly amusing picture, one should go to see “The Rage of Paris” just as soon as possible. Universal has done something very fine for American cinema fans in bringing Mlle. Darrieux over here from France to make pictures. The newcomer has looks. She is certainly among the most beautiful girls on the screen to-day. ' She has plenty of charm and a most fetching ease and “unselfishness” on the screen that makes her perfectly adorable in

comedy. She isn’t afraid to romp. She doesn’t mind wringllng her classic nose in amusing grimaces, and her accent is something that mus tbe heard to be enjoyed. The story of “The Rage of Paris” finds Danielle in New York without a penny, a pal or a square meal. So she takes a job posing for a famous artist in the nude. However In her eagerness for the job, even though she doesn't fancy it, she reaches a wrong address and when Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., a young advertising executive walks into his office, he finds her disrobing. From then on things get too funny to spoil by telling. Fairbanks is perfect as the advertising tycoon and Louis Hayward does a fine job as his rival in romance. Mischa Auer and Helen Broderick, those two comedy aces, are more than up 1 s form. DANNY MALONE From street to stardom appears to be a rapid rise in the world but that is what actually happened to Danny Malone, who is to be the star attraction at the Theatre Royal on Thursday November 10. This Irish tenor was discovered singing in the street and his remarkable voice attracted a wellknown manager, who Immediately presented him to the public. He was a furore and fame was his in a night. After that, he was heard on the air by the wondering world, and now there is hardly a household that does not possess a gramophone record of this wonderful artist. But now your great chance is here; you will be able to see and hear him in person, when his voice will thrill you as you have never been thrilled before. Danny Malone has just returned from a very successful tour of America, Australia, South Africa and Canada, and he is looking forward to his visit as he Intends to satisfy all tastes by singing the old and new popular favourites. If you want a really tip-top enjoyable evening’s entertainment book your seats now at Beggs.