AMUSEMENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21360, 1 June 1939, Page 4

AMUSEMENTS

STATE THEATRE EXCITING DOUBLE PROGRAMME “The Challenge,” which is showing at the State Theatre, tells the story of the bitter rivalry between Edward Whymper, famous English mountaineer, and Jean Antoine Carrel, a notable Italian guide, and reconstructs their gruelling race for the honour of conquering Mount Matterhorn. A distinguished cast in this latest London Films’ production is headed by Luis Trr.iker, Robert Doriglis, Joan Gardner, Morgan Capiat and Mary Clare. “Typhoon Treasure,” the associate feature at the State, is a modern tale of courageous daring originating on the danger-fraught New Guinea coast. In addition to Gwen Munro, Campbell Copelin and Utan, an outstanding cast in this United Artists’ release includes Joe Valli, Douglas Herald and Kenneth Brampton. “Pygmalion” To-morrow After seasons up to six months in length in New York, London, Sydney and Melbourne, and seasons of eight weeks in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, “Pygmalion,” the brilliant Bernard Shaw comedy is coming to the State Theatre, r ' imaru, tomorrow. This play whic’” is so daring in its originality and so keen in its wit, has been transferred to the screen with an unusual brilliance in production, direction and actir Eliza Doolittle, the flower „irl encountered in Covent Garden Market by the eccentric professor of phonetics, is compounded of credulity, charm and sound Cockney sense. ~he submits to the experiment of Professor Higgins, played by Leslie Howard and his collaborator, Colonel Pickering, but she is always Eliza. Higgins has boasted that, with the aid of his phonetics he can pass Eliza off as a duchess in three months. Eliza goes to live in the house of Higgins, Jean Cadell, as Mrs Pearce, taking charge of her and even attending to her physical cleanliness. The girl is polished, taught to speak ard the experiment proves successful. Through it all, and through the brilliant, freshness of Bernard Shaw’s mind, she still retains her character. She is still possessed of human qualities, such as attacks of weeping which Howard calls snivelling. The play is almost wholly amusing. Shaw’s wit has the hard brilliance of the clear cut facet of a diamond. But Eliza is hard driven and pours forth on Higgins the rich vulgarity of her Cockney tongue. Then there is fine emotion. Leslie Howard, in acting which is a model of perspective, makes perhaps, his finest characterisation on the screen. As Eliza Doolittle the mobile Wendy Hiller is an ever varying creature. Her quickly changing moods are timed to perfection. Wilfrid Lawson gives all the spaciousness of character, the right richness of humour to the part. Violet Vanbrugh brings back for a moment the dignity and style of a generation almost passed.

THE REGENT “THE MURDER MAN"—“FLIRTING WITH FATE” The programme showing at the Regent Theatre is one that will satisfy the most hard to please. It combines drama, thrills and comedy. “The Murder Man” starring Spencer Tracy Virginia Bruce and Lionel Atwill, tells of the dramatic and romantic adventures that befall a newspaper man in the Metropolis. Spencer Tracy has never played a finer role. Joe E. Brown is at his very best in “Flirting with Fate,” supported by Steffi Duna and. Wynne Gibson. For those who like their entertainment sprinkled with chuckles "Flirting With Fate,” is just the show. This programme will be screened to-day and to-morrow. “The Ware Case” One of the stars of “The Ware Case,” a stirring romantic drama, which comes to the Regent Theatre on Saturday, is the famous No. 1 Criminal Court at the Old Bailey. Here Sir Hubert Ware (Clive Brook), is on trial for the mysterious murder of Lady Ware's brother, by whose death the family fortunes revert to Lady Ware, thus relieving Sir Hubert's desperate financial position, a circumstance which gives a strong motive to the possibility of Sir Hubert having committed the crime. How could this popular, handsome, smiling English baronet be guilty of such a callous crime? But was he guilty? To tell you that would spoil the teeming entertainment delights of “The Ware Case,” much of the charm of which is in the thrills and suspense of the story that runs through the evidence of the many witnesses called by the learned counsel for the prosecution and the defence. Seldom has any studio assembled so many outstanding stars for one sequence as those brought together for the trial scenes. Clive Brook. Jane Baxter, Edward Rigby (Tommy Bold) and Henson the gamekeeper (John Laurie) all had to withstand the searching examination and cross-examination of Michael Adye (Barry K. Barnes) and the AttorneyGeneral (Francis L. Sullivan) as leading counsel for the defence and prosecution respectively, which has taken place under the keen scrutiny and benevolent air of the Judge (C. V. France). The set of the Old Bailey is a marvellous reproduction of the world-famous Court, and in attendance at each session were representatives of a firm of solicitors and a fully qualified barrister, to advise the legal luminaries of the screen in the correct court procedure. MAJESTIC THEATRE PARIS HONEYMOON” , Sparkling comedy and music allied to an excellent and amusing 'ot make "Paris .iu..eymocn” at the Majestic Theatre, the ideal form of light entert. inment. With a talented cast, the film has as its stars Bing Crosby and Edward Everett Horton. Crosby is famous for his singing and is becoming more and more a< omplished as a comedian. He is aid J and abetted by a competent cast wl i. includes Snirley Ross, Franciska Gaal, the one

and only Akim Tamiroff, and many others, “Paris Honeymoon” is the story of a young American millionaire who is forced to go to Paris in order to expedite a divorce for Miss Ross, with whom he is in love. In Paris he meets Tamiroff, a castle salesman and general factotum of a Balkan country known as “Pushtainick.” In “Pushtalnick,” Bing meets a beautiful little peasant girl, played by Miss Gaal, and loses his heart to her. From there on things get pretty complicated and high comedy takes the helm. Tamiroff, who is one of the fastest-rising actors in Hollywood, turns in an excellent performance as the salesman, proving himself a comedian o. no mean ability. Up to now he has played “heavies” and villains, and the public will be demanding to see him in more -omedy roles. Also worthy of ho >urable mention are the performances by Edwar” Everett Horton and Ben Blue. The music sticks to the high standard set by Crosby, and you’ll be singing them all. Remember the names: “You’re a Sweet Little Head; che,” “I Have Eyes,” “The Funny Old Hills” and “Joobalai,” by Robin and Rainger.

“Stablemates” A new screen team that is proving most successful is promised Majestic patrons on Saturday. The new team is that of Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney who are co-starred in “Stablemates.” Beery is seen in the role of changed to a race track hanger-on changed to a rack track hanger-on because he was framed into a murder charge. Rooney, fresh from his triumph in “Boys Town,” won more admirers, if possible, in his characterisation of the stable boy and jockey who befriends Beery in order to get the latter to operate on his injured horse. The two join forces and tour the country with the racehorse, which Rooney as been given in lieu of his salary. When the horse is in perfect condition they start for Hollywood Park to participate in the big race. One day Rooney listens to a radio broadcast and learns that his travelling companion is an escaped convict. Having learned to love Beery like a father, he tries to persuade him not to come to the track without letting him know the reason. Capture is sure if he does. But Beery goes along. Then things really start to happen, with the action of the big race matching the tempo of the climax. The work of the stars is brilliant and is ably supported by the performances of Arthur Hohl, Margaret Hamilton and Marjorie Gateson. Not only does the film show Hollywood Park, but gives sport fans a chance to see Santa Anita, home of the 100,000 Dollar Handicap, Bing Crosby’s Del Mar track, and San Francisco’s Tanforan. The supporting programme is particularly good. ♦ THEATRE ROYAL THRILLER TO-MORROW The most seasoned follower of the adventures of screen sleuths will get a real thrill out of “Mr Wong, Detective,” which comes to the Theatre Royal to-morrow, for not only is it a clever mystery drama, full of action and suspense, but it serves to introduce a new screen detective in the person of that ex-horror man and master of eerie characterisation, Boris Karloff. For this first in a series of mystery films, based on the popular Hugh Wiley stories which ran in Collier’s Magazine, Karloff dons the celestial raiment of James Lee Wong, a hero well known to magazine fans. Wong, educated at Oxford and scientifically schooled in crime detecting, begins his career by unravelling a triple murder that baffles San Francisco’s police. Three partners of the Dayton Chemical Company are killed, each alone in a room which has no access. Wong is called in to help solve the crime and work with his friend. Captain Street, of the San Francisco Police Department. Heralded as one of the year's most exciting pictures, “The Vampire Bat”, starring popular Melvyn Douglas, is based on the famous story by Edward T. Lowe. It tells of the amazing adventures of an Austrian sleuth in endeavouring to track down a series of ghastly murders in a little Austrian village, where the inhabitants fear a terrible plague of bats. True to Austria folk-lore, the villagers trace the murders to a human vampire, a mysterious being that takes the form of a human by day, and a bat by night. Terror strikes the village, as one by one the vampire strikes down its prey. Supporting Melvyn Douglas are Fay Wray, Lionel Atwill. George E. Stone, Maude Eburne and Dwight