AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19982, 6 July 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE “THERE GOES M1 T HEART”: EAST DAY “There Goes My Heart,” which finishes at the King's Theatre tonight, is the first film to be produced by Hal Roach under his new releasing arrangement with United Artists. It is the merriest comedy romance to come to the screen since “Merrily We Live.” The leading roles are played by Virginia Bruce and Fredric March. There are also important names in the supporting cast, which includes Patsy Kelly, Eugene Palette. Alan Mowbray Nancy Carroll and Arthur Lake. The swiftmoving story of their gay. romping romance makes happy screen entertainment. —Notable Film, “Sixty Glorious Years,” To-morrow— One of the greatest films to have come from a British studio, "Sixty Glorious Years,” the thrilling successor to “Victoria the Great," will open a season at the King’s Theatre to-morrow. Teclmicolour has seldom before been used tb greater effect than in this stirring account o! Queen Victoria's epic reign, and it: lends realism and living drama to the many moving spectacles of momentous events depicted in a pageant of history in tile making, a lew of the highlights being the spectacular charge of the Light Brigade, the assassination of General Gordon, and Florence Nightingale, The Lady of the Lamp. In this film, however,’the human aspect is specially .stressed, Anna Neagle in the leading role interpreting with rare insight and understanding the great Queen’s fortitude when facing the ominous trend of foreign affairs, , her warm affection for her husband and children, and her sympathetic interest in the well-being of her subjects which won for her their lasting loyalty and esteem. The trivial human quarrels between Victoria and Albert, their amusing encounters in the Highlands, and their characteristic comments bn the events of the day are subtly woven into the theme, showing that the story ol a monarch is also the story of a noble-hearted and sensitive woman. The O'? glorious years come to an end when the Empire mourns the passing of its revered sovereign in 1901, consoled only by the achievements in art, science, medicine and letters which marked her reign. As the Prince Consort. Anton Walbrook is responsible lor a convincing portrayal which is certain to establish him as one of the greatest of contemporary actors, while the part ol the rugged Duke of Wellington is eminently suited to the talents of C. Aubrey Smith.

REGENT THEATRE LAST DAY: DEANNA DURBIN IN “THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP” The beautiful voice of Deanna Durbin its heard again in the outstanding film, “Three Smart Girls Grow Up,” which will be presented again, at the Regent Theatre to-day. She once more .takes the role of Penny Craig, in which she first rose to fame, and her delightfully natural acting makes the success of the comedy ’ inevitable. Other roles are taken by Nan Grey and Helen Parrish, as’her -two sisters, whose rivalry is the main cause of the entertaining efforts of Penny to ensure that everything is just and proper. Charles Winninger appears as. the father.

—To-morrow: Errol Flynn in “Four's A Crowd” — “Four’s A Crowd,” which will commence a three-day season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, has only one objective, and that is to make the audience laugh, It is a bright sophisticated comedy ol the modern type with a swift-moving story complicated by a rapid succession of novel and humorous situations. The four persons with whose adventures it is mainly concerned are a bright and fascinating newspaperman, Bob Lansford! (Errol Flynn), a spoiled but charming heiress, Lorri Dillingwell, played by Olivia do Havilland, a clever and smooth tongued girl reporter, Jean Christy, portrayed by Rosalind Russell, and a rich playboy,

Patterson Buckley (Petrie Knowles). The plot is provided by Bob Lunsford's desire .to get a portion of the fortune owned by the heiress’ grandfather (Walter Connolly), and his efforts to court both girls simultaneously; the indecision cf the heir-ess as to which of the two men she loves; .the girl reporter's desire to capture Bob for herself: the playboy’s wish -to marry Lorri; and the old .grandfather's determination to keep both his ,grand-daughter and his millions. The story begins- when Patterson Buckley inherits a newspaper and then decides to end its existence because it is unprofitable. .Jean Christy, one of the reporters, tells him what she thinks of him and persuades him not only to keep it alive but to engage Bob Lansford as its managing editor. Lansford puts tlio paper on its feet, his main device to arouse interest being to launch a series of attacks on Grandpa'.s business manipulations. Complications ensue when Lansford meets the heiress, for he is already

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interested romantically in the girl reporter who secured his position for him. The heiress, however, is already engaged to the owner of the newspaper. Lansford gets Grandpa to retain him privately as publicity agent, to present to the public a different view of .the old man's business manipulations from that described in the newspaper. The film reaches an uproarious climax with, a double wedding at Gretna Green. Amongst the featurettes is the film of the submarine “Thetis" disaster, and also the King and Queen in Montreal and Ottawa.

MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST DAY: “KING OF CHINATOWN" A cast of expert character players and a fast-moving crime story with an unusual twist make “King of Chinatown,” which concludes to-night at the Majestic Theatre, as exciting a racket picture as has ever been shown. Such performers as 1 Anna May Wong, Akim Tamiroff, ,J. Carrol. Naisb, Roscoe Karris, and Sidney Toler arc responsible for the sharp portrayals. —To-morrow: “Persons in Hiding” and "Unmarried” — Perhaps the fact that Mr. Hoover, the director ol' the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, wrote the original story upon which Paramount's "Persons in Hiding” is based, is one of the reasons why this film is unusual in many ways. It is the strange story of an ambitious and ruthless woman who trains a small hold-up man, and plays, upon his love for her, until he becomes a bigtime gangster and bank robber. It is a pleasant change from the ordinary routine film of ithe underworld'. The character of this woman is a fascinating -study in .feminine psychology. In her unique role, Patricia Morison, a newcomer, seems at first to be rather bolour.less and devoid of any great expression: but she soon makes one realise that beneath her almost placid exterior there is an adamant determination to achieve her ambitions and the luxury they will bring. Although J. Carrol Naish, who is always arresting in his acting, plays well:as the criminal over whom she has such complete control, it is Miss Morison who dominates the picture with a particularly effective, although. under-tonecl study. The woman’s love of an expensive, special kind ol' perfume is developed so that this obsession of 'hers gradually builds up a climax fraught with taut drama and a, .poignant pathos. So clever is the script here, and so fine the acting, that one feels great pity for the criminal whose mental torment is brought about by the swift, brutal awakening that is his when lie is finally arrested. There is a realism here that deeply touches the emotions. And the fact that sympathy is here created' for a. character which, is otherwise unworthy of it is proof of the power of this scene between the husband, in the police station. and’ the wife, who is answered by him when she is on the point of betraying him over the telephone. J. CarroL Naish brilliantly conveys the complete disillusionment of the man at this point. Lynne Overman plays a straight role as the detective with a nice, but never obtrusive touch of comedy. “Unmarried," Paramount’s now Buck JoncsHelen Twelvetrees- picture, is the associate feature. Jones forsakes his horse and gun to take one of the most amusing, and at the same time one of the most human roles of his career in the picture, in which he is suddenly called upon to decide between continuing his life as a not-so-big “big shot” fighter in .the shady areas just west of Broadway, or becoming the foster-father of the 12-year-old son. of a dead friend. His ultimate decision brings results at once whimsical and dramatic.