AMUSEMENTS STATE THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21805, 7 November 1940, Page 11

AMUSEMENTS STATE THEATRE

‘‘LITTLE OLD NEW YORK” “I Was a Spy” and “Young As You Feel” will give place to-morrow to “Little Old New York.” It is a story which starts in 1807 and shows America in the days when New York Harbour was a little port ringed round by sailing ships, with little wooden taverns at Its wharves; when Manhattan knew no skyscrapers, and when Wall street was a quiet residential area where trees grew undisturbed and iron railing guarded prim gardens. Alice Faye, who takes the part of Pat O’Dea, is the vivacious proprietor of a shore-side tavern, and her “steady” is Charlie Brown (Fred Mac Murray). a shipbuilder’s assistant. Pat has ambitions, and her one desire is to become a “lady.” Charlie has a much less pretentious ideal and wants a moderate home. To the tavern comes young Robert Fulton (Richard Greene), who is considered a crank because of his enthusiasm for ships that can go “without sails.” The impressionable Pat falls in love with his courteous manners and striking form, and follows his fortunes with an energy which at first threatens to wreck all his plans. He manages after some trouble to obtain a sponsor and he instructs Charlie Brown to start building the ship. All this time Pat, through a misunderstanding, is led to Believe that Robert is only waiting for the success of his plans to marry her, though in reality he is in love with Harriet, the niece of Chancellor Livingstone, who has been backing the steamboat to the limit of his financial capacity. After many hardships the Clermont is finished, and launching day dawns with the crowd at the waterfront ready for the spectacle. At first it looks as if the whole thing is doomed to be a fiasco, as instead of going out to sea the terrified helmsman, rendered speechless by the fire and smoke belching from the funnel, steers the ship into a warehouse. In the long run, however, Fulton’s faith in his invention is justified and the Clermont goes literally under its own steam. REGENT THEATRE “CONGO MAISIE” "Congo Maisie” is the sequel to "Maisie,” shown at the Regent Theatre some time ago, and stars Ann Sothern, whose rapid rise to fame has definitely been through the series of “Maisie” productions. “Fast and Loose" has Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell In the leading roles. “Light of the Western Stars” Brimming with colourful characterisations, with action of the six-gun variety, and with romance under the arched blue vault of western skies, “The Light of Western Stars,” latest of the Zane Grey’s stories to reach the screen, opens on Saturday at the Regent Theatre. Produced under the guidance of Harry Sherman, directed by Lesley Selander, makers of many a Zane Grey film, the picture shows the mark of this pair of experts. Under their hands, Victor Jory became an honest-to-goodness bad man with redeeming qualities beneath a hard exterior, Jo Ann Sayers made a lovely heroine, an aristocratic Eastern girl who sets out to reform Jory after being forced to marry him at the point of a gun, and Russell “Lucky” Hayden was just as good as he ever has been in the “Cassidy” series. Others, including Morris Ankrum, Noah Beery, jr., J. Farrell MacDonald and Ruth Rogers, show why they have become favourites of Western fans. “Women Without Names” is a daring motion picture about, life in the women’s penitentiary. You will thrill to their stories and at the strange courage—born of despair—which made them risk death to win a break for a girl they knew deserved one! The big cast is headed by Ellen Drew, Robert Paige and Judith Barrett.

MAJESTIC THEATRE “THE PROUD VALLEY" “The Proud Valley,” which provides outstanding entertainment at the Majestic Theatre, is a vigorous story of a Welsh mining village which combines drama, excitement and heart interest, plus the magnificent singing by the star, Paul Robeson. With famous famous Welsh choirs as a chorus, Paul Robeson sings “All Through the Night,” “Land of My Fathers,” “Excerpt from Elijah,” “Deep River,’ ’“Lord God of Abraham,” and “They Can’t Stop Us Singing.” “The Proud Valley” was specially written for Paul Robeson, under his personal supervision and critics the world over are unanimous in their acclamation that “here, at last,” is another real Robeson film, a magnificent, human story delightfully blending the rugged hard life of Welsh mining with the Welshman’s and Welshwoman’s unfailing courage, warm-heartednes and great love of music. “Britain Shoulders Arms,” a special Empire featurette, is an imposing topical film made with the assistance of Lord Gort and A and a Metrotone News Reel complete a fine programme. “Safari” A beautiful white woman alone in the heart of the jungle with two men. That is the situation in “Safari,” thrilling action-romance which opens at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday, with Madeleine Carroll as the woman, and Douglas Fairbanks, jr., and Tullio Carminati as the two men. “Safari,” filmed against the background of an African big-game hunt, tells the story of a girl who sets out to get her man —and winds up pitting two men against each other for her love. Carminati, as a Continental millionaire, invites Miss Carroll to accompany him on the safari. Fairbanks is the virile young guide for the expedition. To stir Carminati’s interest and arouse his jealousy, Madeleine devotes her attention to Fairbanks, with the result that the two men are soon at each other’s throats. And in the heart of the jungle, far from civilisation’s laws, being at each other’s throats can be a very literal—and dangerous—business. The supporting cast includes Muriel Angelus, screen newcomer; Lynne Overman, popular comedian; and Billy Gilbert, comedy favourite of musical comedy, legitimate stage, and screen. Tire film is replete with thrilling action scenes—raging jungle beasts, weird Africa voodoo rites, exciting chases by land and air of big game. THEATRE ROYAL BRIGHT DOUBLE PROGRAMME Two new song “hits” from the pen of Harry Owens, the man who gave the screen last year’s “Sweet Leilani,” are incorporated in the score of Paramount’s new Fred Mac Murray vehicle, “Cocoanut Grove,” one of the current attractions at the Theatre Royal. The new tunes are “Dreamy Hawaiian Moon” and “Cocoanut Grove,” both delivered by Owens' Royal Hawaiian Orchestra. Mac Murray and Harriet Hilliard, radio songstress, do the honours on the other two, “You Leave Me Breathless” by Fried and Hollander and “Says My Heart” by Lane and Loesser. The second film deals with a mad “treasure hunt” for the kidnapped fiancee of Hugh Drummond is the theme of the latest Bulldog Drummond picture, “Bulldog Drummond Comes Back.” A story packed with thrills is in the tale of Drummond’s search for the girl, and the artifices he uses In order to find her. A brilliant cast adds to the excitement of this Paramount picture, headed by John Barrymore, including Louise Campbell, Reginald Denny, E. E. Clive, and John Howard.