AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21190, 10 November 1938, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE MUSICAL COMEDY AND CRIME Outstanding musical comedy success that ran tor three years on the London stage, "The Lilac Domino” showing at the State Theatre, has lost nothing of its many fine qualities in its production as a film. Music that will appeal to all, dancing, romance, spectacular scenes and a delightful plot give it all the essentials of a fine picture . and June Knight and Michael Bartlett, the leading players, will win many fans by their performances. In ■The Lilac Domino" June Knight plays the part of Shari, the mystery girl, made famous on the stage by Clara Butterworth. Tift original version ran lor 747 performances at the old Empire Theatre, where It was produced in 1818. It earned Joe Sachs, who produced, a fortune, and is linked in memory with those other long distance war-time hits. “Chu Chin Chow,” and “The Bing Boys of Broadway."' Supporting June Knight and Michael Bartlett in "The Lllac| Domino” are Athene Seyler, Richard Dolman, Szoke Szakall, Hungarian comedian, Fred Emney and Jane Carr. Frederick Zelnlk directed. How Cupid double - crosses two natural enemies by awakening love in their hearts, leads to dramatic complications In “Night Spot." associate feature’at the State. Allan Lane and Joan Woodbury have the romantic roles, with Parkyakarkus and Gordon Jones also featured. Cast as a young detective, Lane is assigned by the police department to cultivate the friendship of a night-club singer (Joan Woodbury) with the idea of gleaning from her information that will lead to the capture of a gang of gem thieves. The young officer is torn between duty and love,” and the solution to his problem comes only after several thrilling adventures shared by both the lovers. REGENT THEATRE “THE AWFUL TRUTH” In a film year that has been notable for the number of fine comedies shown “The Awful Truth" has been outstanding Und to give those people who were unfortunate enough to miss it in Its first season at Tlmaru a chance to see it The Regent Theatre has brought It back in a return season. But it is such a film that not only those who misled It will flock there on this occasion but most of those who have already seen It will be only too keen to e again what is undoubtedly one of the best,' if not the best comedy ever screened. Starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant, with Ralph Bellamy, Alexander D’Arcy, Cecil Cunningham and Robert Allen In support. “The Awful Truth" has In a prominent role Skippy, the “Thin Man” wlre-halr pup, mas-

querading as Mr Smith. “The Awful Truth” tells of the final tiff between "Mrs” Irene Dunne and “Mr” Cary Grant, which leads to the divorce courts. There, in what is the most hilarious courtroom scene ever filmed, they battle for the custody of Mr Smith with Irene the victor. Cary, however, wins the court’s permission to visit the dog once a month. Love, it seems, has no respect for divorce decrees, for the moment Cary announces his intention to re-marry, Miss Dunne sets out to win her man again by methods hilarious though perhaps not cricket. “ West of Shanghai ” Deep in China's wild interior proceeds the thrilling action of “West of Shanghai,” the Warner Bros, melodrama starring Boris Karloff, which opens on Saturday at the Regent Theatre. It is a tale of the race for ownership of some oil fields, by three Americans, and the i adventures with the native bandit general who controls the territory—this being that master of make-up and character actm Boris Karloff. Contrary to his usual custom of portraying “scary" characters, Karloff this time is a good-natured rascal, whom audiences can’t help liking even though he is a villain who doesn’t hesitate to get his foes out of the way by the quickest methods possible. The three American characters are Gordon Oliver, Ricardo Cortez and Douglas Wood, while the feminine romantic Interest is sustained by Beverley Roberts and Sheila Bromley. There are a number of noted Chinese actors in the cast, too. MAJESTIC THEATRE “OF HUMAN HEARTS" Placed in the stirring days of Lincoln, and in America's pioneer settlements in Ohio, “Of Human Hearts,” the human drama of a circuit-riding preacher and his family, brings Walter Huston to the screen for the first time since his triumphs in “Dodsworth.” The new picture, in whcih James Stewart and Beulah Bondi are teamed with Huston as his son and wife, is showing at the Majestic Theatre. “Of Human Hearts" is based on the story, “Benefits Forgot,” by Honore Morrow, and deals with the struggle of beliefs between father and son, and the everlasting love of a mother who worships her boy and also blindly adores the father. Dramatic highlights include the bitter quarrel between father and son, the dramatic moment in which Lincoln sets the boy’s erring feet on the right path, the reunion of mother and son after the Civil War, and other dramatic moments interspersed with human Interest and comedy. Clarence Brown, who filmed “Ah Wilderness!” directed the picture, his first since “Conquest.” Much of it was made in a village specially constructed on location at Lake Arrowhead. The cast Includes Guy Kibbee as the village grocer, Charles D. Cobum as the local doctor, Gene Lockhart, Ann Rutherford, Beatrice Joy Gilbert, daughter of the late John Gilbert who makes her screen debut, Arthur Aylesworth, Clem Bevans, Charles Grapewin, Gene Rey-

nolds, Sterling Holloway, Charles Peck, Robert McWade, John Carradine, Leona Roberts and Minor Watson. Nelson Eddy in “Rosalie” Eye-filling with enormous sets and beautiful ballet numbers, gay with charming Cole Porter tunes beautifully sung by Nelson Eddy and quickened to top speed by the magic tap-dancing feet of Eleanor Powell, "Rosalie,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow, is a musical of extraordinary entertainment power. Nothing is missed to make this a picture to remember. The stars are not only splendid in their separate singing and dancing specialities, but as lovers they are easy to look at and extremely effective dramatically. And they are supported by a z-st each member of which gives a f performance. It is really hard to make a choice between Frank Morgan, a king with a roving eye and a talent for ventriloquism; Edna May Oliver, a grim queen who keeps the amatory Ideas of her king well in check; Ray Bolger, who is even more remarkable than usual in his presentation of comedy dance numbers. Patrons will go away humming “Rosalie” and “In the Still of the Night,” Eddy’s top songs, but there are many others. And applause must not be forgotten for the great ballet direction of Albertina Rasch. It is to be doubted if there has ever been a greater dance number than that staged in the “Kingdom of Romanza," a set so large it almost beggars description. It can be readily believed that it is Hollywood’s biggest set of the year. DANNY MALONE \ THEATRE ROYAL TO-NIGHT Danny Malone, the Irish tenor, who is making a personal appearance at the Theatre Royal to-night, has the true Irish voice, with, as the people say, the Hills of Killarney in it. He sings all the popular Irish songs, and has been acclaimed as the legitimate successor to John McCormack. Danny Malone is a famous BBC artist and during three years, sang 33 times a year, a record for a BBC performer. He has just completed a six weeks’ broadcasting tour of New Zealand through the national stations, and appeared in Australia for Frank Neil and the Union Theatre circuit. Danny Malone will be supported by specially chosen overseas artists. Box plan at Beggs. GOLDMINER’S LUCK “Suffering severely with acute rheumatism for years, I tried R.U.R. Today I am completely cured, being able to actually run', when previously walking was torture,” writes Frank F. Gib- , son, Beatrice Street, Invercargill, i R.U.R. with money back guarantee, for rheumatism, lumbago, sciatica, neuritis 1 and gout. Procurable from E. J. Thompson, Timaru; A. N. Hancock, Temuka; B. A. Bryan, Waimate; Morris Williams, Geraldine; and other chemists