“HOME ON THE RANGE.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20626, 29 May 1935, Page 13

“HOME ON THE RANGE.”

Zane Grey Western for Majestic. Speed, excitement and romance are the features of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s film “ Society' Doctor,” which heads this week’s programme at the Majestic. In addition. Fred Argyle provides a happy interlude .of fifteen minutes’ bright comedv on the stage. Chief among the screen supports is an excellent Laurel and Ilardv comedy, “Them Thar Hills.” Arizona and its rugged outdoor beauty provide the settings for “ Home on the Range*” which will be the headline attraction at the Majestic Theatre on Friday'. This talking film version of Zane Grey’s “ Code of the West ” is a true Western thriller, complete with as crooked a set of villains as ever set foot in the stirrup, an outfit of straight-shooting heroes who are as much at home behind the wheel of a roadster as in the saddle of a broncho, and the inevitable damsel in distress. Jackie Coogan and Randolph Scott share the leading men’s honours and Evelyn Brent is the heroine. After a brief prelude in Alaska the scene shifts to Arizona, where the villains plan to gain possession of Midnight, the certain winner of the principal event at the Green Valley horse races. Thev start | a bush fire to aid their evil plan, and ; Randolph Scott and Evelvn Brent. ; caught, in the midst of the roaring j inferno, narrowlv escape incineration. A highlight of the picture is the singj ir»g of its title song “ Home on the ! Range,” by Joe Morrison. His rendering of the popular favourite is superb Grown into a tall, bronzed and handsome young man, Jackie Coogan of “ The Kid ” fame, plays his first adult role in “ Home on the Range.” Fully accoutred with stetson hat. high-heeled boots and six-shooters, he proves as hard-riding and straight-shooting a Western star as- Randolph Scott, Addison Richards. Fuzzy Knight, or any of the other 300 famous cowpunchers who appear in the film In addition, Fred Argyle will present on the stage ‘ Chop Suey.” i Box plans at the D.I.C. “ Viva, Villa ! ” which has Wallace Beery. Stuart Erwin, Leo Carrillo and Fay' Wray at the head of its tremendous cast, is having a return season at the Grand Theatre this week. It is the legendary' rather than the real Pancho Villa that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have brought to the screen in ; one of the triumphs of filmdom Beery, has never been better than in this production. The supporting films in- | elude Chapter II of the thrilling serial, j “ The Perils of Pauline,” and a Charlie Chase comedy’.