AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19998, 25 July 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE JACK It UCII AN AN AND OTTO KHUGER IN “THE GANG’S ALE HI RE” "The Gang's All Here," starring Jack Buchanan and Otto Kruger, will have its first Australian rod New Zealand screening at the Regent Theatre today. The following, about “The Gang s All Here.’’ is taken from the London Daily Cinema: John Foiresi. an investigator for an insurance comp.'viy, has decided to retire in order to write detective novels, and the firm gives him a farewell dinner from which he and his wife both wake in a somewhat chastened frame of ml ml. While at breakfast, John learns that the jewels he had deposited in the company’s safe as his last job for them have besu stolen. Immediately ‘ho feels that be must follow up the matter, and from that moment plunges with his wife into a series of excitements which involve the royal owner of the jewels and a band of crooks headed by Mike Chadwick, intent upon securing insurance money ; ; well a. ; the jewels, which they dangle before the anguished prince’s eyes. John, with the aid of Scotland Yard, i.v baulked in his search for the criminals by the refusal of one of Mike’s henchmen to talk. John therefore decides to turn American and offer himself as “trigger” man ha A 1 berm's place. This he succeeds in doing, receiving instructions to kill the prince on his visit to a night-club, after first pretending to be a waiter. Everything falls out according to plan—only John's instead of Mike's plan—with the result that the prince gets back his jewels, the insurance company their money and Mike and Iris men are arrested. Once again John is given a calc,oration dinner and even as he again announces

his retirement one of his men tells him of the discovery of a headless body, and again his retirement is postponed. Jack Buchanan is in his element as John Forrest, and is as successful in his comedy scenes as lie is with his impersonation of an American “trigger" man. His portrayal dominates the action, although it is followed very closely by that ol’ Googic Withers as ills long-suffering wife. Edward Everett Horton has a typical role as the Forresters’ butler, Syd. Walker is a convincing Cockney, Otto Kruger gives another polished portrayal of the ambitious crook, Mike Chadwick, and Jack la Rue and David Burns are effective as his henchmen. Walter Pulla plays the unfortunate prince, Leslie Perrins is the subject of one of the early murders, and Ronald Shiner contributes some joyous minutes as a policeman’s nark, Spider Ferris. Supporting roles are all 'admirably played, the crowd work is good, and tiie technical quality of a very high standard. MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST DAY: “SON OF FRANKENSTEIN.’’ "Son of Frankenstein” will conclude a highly successful season tonight at the Majestic Theatre. The title role is played by Basil. Rathbone. He appears as a scientist who takes up the work snapped short by his father's death 25 years before and brings back to life oi human devastation the monster who made flesh creep in tiie original production of "Frankenstein,” and its successor, "Bride of Frankenstein.” Boris Karloff re-creates the monster role, and Bela Lugosi of “Dracula" fame assumes an even more harrowing characterisation as Ygor, the brokennecked, mad shepherd cut down from the gallows. Lionel A twill, Josephine Hutchinson. Emma Dunn, Donnie Dunngan, and Edgar Norton have other prominent roles.

-—To-morrow: Edgar Wallace’s “The Gaunt Stranger," and James Oliver Curwooil's “Skull and Crown. ’ The stories of two popular authors

will form the excellent double bill which commences to-morrow. Inc

first one is "The Gaunt Stranger,” the third of Edgar Wallace’s "The Ringer” .series. This will be welcome news to all readers of the greatest of all mystery writers’ stories. Tins picture will also welcome back to the screen Sonnic Hale, as an actor for, as most people know, Sonnie I-; c ,le Jins been turning his attention to directing films. In this Edgar Wallace mystery thriller he turns to acting a type of part lie has never essaved—the character part of Sam Hacked, the comical Cockney crook ; :-,mou3 in both “The Ringer” and “The Terror.” As a play "tiie Gaunt Stranger" had a particularly long run in two West End theatres ol London, simultaneously. Walter Ford, who directed "The Gaunt Stranger selected the stage cast in its entirety for the screen version. Wilfred Lawson is seen as the famous criminal lawyer, Maurice Meister, Alexander Knox as Dr. Lomond, Louise Henry as Cora Ann, Patrick Barr as Inspector Wcmbury, John Longden as Inspector Bliss, Patricia Roe as Marie Henley and Peter Croft as Johnny Ilenley. One can describe

this picture in no better way than using the words of the critic of one

of London's famous dailies —"You will be breathless with laughter when you are not gasping tor breath at

Edgar Wallace's most convincing comedy mystery thriller. 'The Gaunt Stranger.'” The associate feature, “Skull and Crown.'” is adapted from James Oliver Curwood’s thrilling story of the Border Patrol and introduces the canine star Bin Tin Tin .junior, with Jack , Mulhall. Regis Tooncv and Moily O'Day. KING'S THEATRE “THE DUKE OF WEST POINT” AND "EVERYBODY'S BABY" "The Duke of West Point.” the main atilr.nc'.ion at the King’s Theatre, is first-class cnter.taiament. and those who saw “A Yank at Oxford" will appreciate it all the more, lor it may be described as the answer ot that Robert Taylor success. As is suggested by the title, the story concerns an American, Steve Early (Louis Hayward), who has been brought up abroad and who goes straight irom Cambridge University to the famous American, military academy ot Wc-t Point. There he antagonises his superiors' and mnnv of his fellowstudents by his English manner, disregard for American tradition, and frank pride in his athletic prowess. When he breaks one of flic major regulations by secretly helping a room mate who is in financial trouble he undergoes the harsh punishment ot 1 being "silenced" by all but two of h!s fellows, but lie wins through and, finallv becomes the idol of the col-1 lege.' The picture is convincing in its portrayal of life at West, Point, and shows faithfully the mysteries of

military customs and regulations and the countless traditions of Wert Point. Hayward is given excellent support by Tom Brown and Richard Carlson. Joan Fontaine supplies the romantic interest very attractively, and Alan Curtis, as ilho young martinet is admirably cast. “Everybody’s Baby." the associate feature, is a sidesplitting comedy 'starring the ever popular Jones Family. II is one of the .best of the Jones Family series. —"The Saint Strikes Back”: Friday— Leslie Charters’ famous character, "The Saint." is brought to life in the film, "The Saint Strikes Back," which comes to the King's Theatre next. Friday. George Sanders plays the leading role. The box plans are now open.