AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20000, 27 July 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

KING'S THEATRE “THE DUKE OF WEST POINT’’ AND “EVERYBODY’S BABY.” The adventures of a pampered young American, son of an Embassy official in London, when he goes to the American military academy at West Point after a period at Cambridge University, are depicted in "The Duke of West Point," which will finish at the King’s theatre to-night. Somewhat along the lines of "A Yank at Oxford," the screen play tells how the young man is made the butt of numerous jokes by his comrades, until he shows his worth in a gripping climax. Louis Hayward is excellent in the leading male role, .loan Fontaine, Olivia do Havilland's sister, is just as impressive .in the feminine lead, and convincing acting is also displayed by Tom Brown and Richard Carlson. The associate feature on the programme is the riotous comedy, “Everybody’s Baby," starring the popular Jones Family. —“Tim Saint Strikes Back:’’ Exciting mystery thriller, To-morrow— One of the truly amazing characters in the annals of detective fiction is brought, to the screen in R.K.O.' ; Radio's "Tiie Saint Strikes Back," j featuring George Sanders and Wendy ■ Barrie in the top roles. This thrilling ; mystery drama wili open at the ; King’s Theatre to-morrow for a

season of three days only. Based on the widely read best sellers by Leslie Charteris, whose famous character of “The Saint” has interested millions, the offering is the second of a series of films de-

picting the exploits of the debonair killer who wars on crime barons. Sanders is cast in the title role of "The Saint." When lie becomes interested in a beautiful girl whose father has been victimised by a mysterious underworld kingpin, “The Saint” decides to avenge the wrong. Toward this end he volunteers to aid the police in tracking down the criminal providing he has carte blanche to use his own methods. His mission takes him through a series of dangerous experiences. He fights murder with murder, turns housebreaker to obtain incriminating evidence, violates all man-made laws jo achieve his objective. His unusual moves eventually provoke the police as well as antagonise his enemies, and when even the girl lie is trying to befriend becomes distrustful of his motives. “The Saint" finds his task most difficult. Ultimately the modern Robin Hood ensnares all the members of the organising ring, kills Ihe leader, permits a friendly police inspector to assume the credit and clears the name of the girl's dead father, bringing the story to a most ( suspenseful finish. Appearing in sunport of Sanders and Miss Barrie are Jonathan Hale, as the police inspector, Neil Hamilton, as .a shady attorney, and Barry Fitzgerald .as a comedy thug. A great associate proincludes the latest “March cl Time,” Walt Disney’s latest Technicolour cartoon, "The Whalers’; '> comedy sports item: “Pathe News"; and the over popular “Fox Aussie News.” Advance bookings are exceptionally heavy.

REGENT THEATRE LAST DAY: “GANG’S ALL HERE." Jack Buchanan, Edward Everett llorton, and Otto Kruger will make their last appearance to-night in “The Gang’s All Here.” This film liras had a very successful, run. and patrons are requested to reserve immediately. —To-morrow: Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell in “The Citadel” — Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s triumphant screen version, of Dr. A. J. Cronin’s famous novel, “The Citadel," will commence its Gisborne screening a: the Regent Theatre to-morrow. The two leading characters, Dr. Andrew Man-son, and his wife, Christine, are played by Robert Donat and- Rosalind Russell. “The Citadel" might almost be considered epochal because, apart from its unusual entertainment value, it ranks high on the ethical side, not only because of the hero’s final regeneration, but also for its exposure of certain, questionable medical practices. Tire great tradition of the medical profession, however, as expressed in the Hippocratic oath, is left unscathed, while much attention is paid to the constructive side. The story opens in a Welsh mining town —a dismal place, with the miners dying of a form of tuberculosis. Here, a young doctor, Andrew Manson, takes up what he considers to be his mission in life and to humanity as a community doctor. lie meets and marries an unassuming, but warmhearted school teacher, Christine. His eyes are soon opened to various unethical practices obtaining with several of the other physicians, to which he is expected to conform. Inspired by his wife to high ideals he refuses, at the same time doing research work into the causes of the disease which i.s so prevalent among the miners. But, he annoys both doctors and miners, although he is responsible for a number of noteworthy deeds, such as saving the life of an almost stillborn ibaby, and amputating the arm