AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21531, 19 December 1939, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS REGENT THEATRE

•’“LEGION OF LOST FLYERS” The final sessions of “Legion of Lost Flyers” starring Richard Arlen and Andy Devine, ‘‘Men Are Such Fools" will be at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. to-day. “Legend of Prague” “The Legend of Prague,” with a host of famous Continental stars at the head of the cast, is a picture that Hitler thought it advantageous to ban in Germany. Dealing with a period hundreds of years ago it presents the persecution of the Jews in Prague at that time. The presentation is in English, even though it has as its place of birth, Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia. Strangely enough, scenes in this production, even though they are based on happenings in an age long past, are strangely topical to events evident in Europe to-day. This film will open to-morrow. Perhaps there is no more potent influence in the world to-day than that of the press. Through the medium of newspapers, careers are made and broken, propaganda both good and evil is spread and the opinion of the entire community often moulded. "Star Reporter,” the associate feature, illustrates just how these things are done. It is the story of an idealistic young man who inherits a newspaper and determines to use it for the public’s good. Co-starring with Warren Hull are Marsha Hunt and Wallis Clark. The supporting cast includes Morgan Wallace, Virginia Howell and Eddie Kane. MAJESTIC THEATRE "VALLEY OF THE GIANTS" Tense and exciting in its plot, “Valley of the Giants," showing at the Majestic Theatre, unfolds beautiful scenery as a background to the dynamic action of the story. Wayne Morris, Claire Trevor and Charles Bickford are in the leading roles and they do full justice to the parts they play. •The Hardys Ride High” Another delightful chapter in the history of the Hardys will be unfolded at the Majestic Theatre, when “The Hardys Ride High" commence on Thursday. The irrepressible Mickey Rooney as Andy Hardy, whose bustling self-importance makes him a very human, character, and Lewis Stone as Judge Hardy, with his wealth of sympathy and understanding, provide the main background for the story of how Judge Hardy inherits a couple of million dollars temporarily. The readjustment required by the translation of the Hardys from a small-town atmosphere to the extravagance of a mansion and plenty of money has a varying effect on each member of the family, the parents being the least perturbed. To Andy it is a glorious opportunity to become a millionaire playboy, but his introduction to his first top hat and chorus girl routs him completely, and his playboy complete wilts badly. However, he comes Up smiling, and in between offering his father advice and trying to grow up suddenly, he finds life pretty real and earnest. Probably his brightest effort is his attempt to camouflage a natural dislike for liquor by explaining that drink is the curse of the Hardy family, that Judge Hardy had only recently overcome the habit of beating his wife on Sundays, and that one drink would put young Hardy on the “scoot” for at least a month. It is the best picture of the Hardy series to date. A special novelty on the programme will be the new Audioscopics. STATE THEATRE "SHIPYARD SALLY” Grade Fields is at her inimitable best in “Shipyard Sally,” which will be shown for the last time to-day at the State Theatre. “The Three Musketeers" D’Artagnan, of Alexandre Dumas’ “The Three Musketeers,” rides again to thrilling adventure in the picture which opens to-morrow at the State Theatre, only this time he has the three Ritz Brothers in his hair! It is the musical comedy version of “The Three Musketeers!” Don Ameche, as a singing, loving, fighting D’Artagnan, is all you could ask, while The Ritzes pinch-hit for Aramis, Athos and Porthos, three persons more at home with a carving knife than with a rapier. Rousing songs by Samuel Pokrass and Walter Bullock add to the merry concoction of clashing blades, lovable maids and balmy buffoons. Binnie Barnes, Gloria Stuart, Pauline Moore and Joseph Schildkraut head the excellent featured cast.

"While New York Sleeps,” one of the Roving Reporter series, with Michael Whalen and Chick Chandler again playing the newshounts who made their bow in "Time Out For Murder," is the associate feature. The story is packed with thrills and humour and the boys are not averse to taking a little romance with their work. Pretty Jean Rogers, who appeared in the earlier film, is again their chief romantic headache. THEATRE ROYAL CONCESSION NIGHT PROGRAMME Sizzling with fast action, crackling with excitement and replete with romance and comedy, Harold Bell Wright’s "Secret Valley,” opens tonight at the Theatre Royal. The story concerns a two-fisted ranch owner, played by Richard Arlen, who permits a beautiful young girl to seek seclusion on his ranch. It is not until he falls in love with her that he learns she is hiding from a ruthless racketeer who deceived her into marriage. A bride of one hour, she had discovered his deceit and fled to Reno for a divorce and concealment on the nearby ranch. The gangster husband learns of the girl’s hiding place and he and his henchmen swoop down on the ranch. A thrill-laden battle ensues between the cowboys and the gangsters, climaxed by the arrival of Federal officers in search of the mob leader. A new and most interesting comedy partnership is introduced to the screen in “Two’s Company.” Ned Sparks, one of Hollywood’s leading comedians, is co-starred with that inimitable Cockney humorist, Gordon Harker, and the result is one of the funniest comedies turned out of Elstree for a long, long time. MARIST BROTHERS SCHOOL REVUE To-night, in St. Patrick's Hall, the pupils of the Marist Brothers’ School are staging their annual revue. This year’s feature promises to be equally

as good as those given in the past, and a splendid night's entertainment may be confidently anticipated. A specially chosen orchestra of 12 players under the conductorship of Mr J. Young will combine with the glorious voices of the boys, trained by Brother Marceliln, in providing an evening of delightful harmony. As usual a special feature will be the stage effects and something new in this connection is promised. The box plan is now open at Begg's and is filling rapidly.