MAJESTIC THEATRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21958, 9 May 1941, Page 2

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“EDISON, THE MAN” “Edison, the Man,” which is showing for the last time at the Majestic Theatre to-night, is the story of a man who lived and made his name revered for ages and ages yet to come —a man portrayed by a star who is supreme in ideally characterising real men. “Mystery Sea Raider” Film fans who like their screen thrills presented without any fancy trimmings, and who dote on two-fisted drama of international intrigue, have to look no further than “Mystery Sea Raider,” which opens at the Majestic Theatre to-morrow. Based on three major naval incidents in the war, those of the Graf Spee, the Altmark and the City of Flint,. “Mystery Sea Raider” shows for the first time the story behind commerce raiding on the high seas in wartime. The producer moved swiftly to revise the ending of the film to Include the melodramatic recapture by the British of 300 Allied prisoners from the Altmark. Recalling the City of Flint, “Mystery Sea Raider” tells a vivid story of what might have happened to that American vessel when it was boarded by a Nazi prize crew in the North Sea at the outset of the war. Had it not been for Norwegian intervention, it is very likely that the City of Flint would have been converted Into a sea raider such as occurs to her movie double in the film, when Fifth Column operatives take her over. An Important item is “World in Flames,” a survey of international events in recent years which fully justifies the title which has been chosen. There, for 55 minutes, are presented selections of news scoops of the last 12 months, but the film is more than that. These incidents have been woven into a logical story, and the events that lead up to them, from the beginning of the depression in 1929, are briefly indicated and linked up by an appropriate commentary. The story of Nazi aggression has seldom if ever been told so forcefully on the screen, and the impression which it makes cannot fail to be profound. STATE THEATRE “NO, NO, NANETTE” Gay and refreshing as a spring breeze, Anna Neagle’s hew Vehicle, “No, No, Nanette,” opens at the State Theatre to-day and will prove itself even more entertaining thaii her recent “Irene.” The new picture revolves about a girl’s hectic romance with two young men, a romance that results from her efforts to help her millionaire uncle out of some feminine complications, and the result is a swift-paced and timely offering, enlivened with catchy songs and dance routines and plenty of comedy. The trouble is all due to the uncle’s inability to help them with careers, forgetting the fact that he has a masterful wife who is sure to misunderstand the situation. So when the young women arrive one by one to claim the promised assistance, Nanette has to pitch in and help in a desperate effort to keep auntie from knowing what’s going on. This is where the romance comes in. Among uncle’s acquaintances are a noted young theatrical producer and a famous young painter, and since two of the gold-diggers are stage-struck and artstruck respectively, Nanette wishes them off on to the young men. Result —the young men become greatly interested in Nanette, soon discover they are rivals, and the race is on, complicated by the insistence of the third gold-digger on getting a lot of money quickly. Miss Neagle gets splendid support from Richard Carlson and Victor Mature as the two rivals and from Roland Young as her susceptible uncle, with Helen Broderick, Zasu Pitts, Eve Arden, Tamara, Billy Gilbert and Stuart Robertson all doing finely in support. THEATRE ROYAL "THE DEVIL'S PIPELINE” A rugged, action-packed adventure tale. “The Devil’s Pipeline,” brings Richard Arlen and Andy Devine to the Theatre Royal this evening in the latest of their co-operating series. Bristling with drama, suspense and excitement, the story presents Dick and Andy as American petroleum engineers sent to a tropical island to investigate treachery and intrigue at their company’s oil fields. Forced to assume the guise of oil workers, the two smash the corrupt rule of the island authorities in a spectacular battle in which cannon and dynamite are employed to wipe out the attackers. “Saturday’s Children,” the associate feature, deals with everyday problems portrayed by Anne Shirley, John Garfield, Claude Rains, Roscoe Karns, Lee Patrick, Dennie Moore, Elizabeth Risdon and many others. It is said to be an altogether charming and wistful drama of an average city boy and girl who meet in a business office and fall in love.i The eventual proposal is effected after the girl succumbs to the wiles of a hardened older sister, and coerces the boy into marriage—forcing him to give up a promising future in the Philippines.