AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE JIMMY CAGNEY IN “SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT," AND "AVENGING WATERS.” “Something to Sing About," Jimmy Cagney's current feature, is distinctly out of the ordinary run of Cagney pictures, in that it departs from the usual “fighting Irish” type of vehicle in which the inimitable Jimmy has commonly appeared and casts him in the role of a swing-band leader, who becomes a motion picture star. Cagney's ability to use hi.s fists is not demonstrated in the production, until he becomes thoroughly fed up with Hollywood affectations and highhatting, at which point he cleans up on a studio full of yes-men and their bosses tin the best Cagney fashion. The star’s versatility is displayed in the intricate dance routines, which he goes through as orchestra leader and entertainer, harking back to his vaudeville days on the New York stage, when he was one of Broadway’s foremost song and dance men. lie also sings a song number, which will be a surprise to manv of his admirers, who have known him only in his customary vital dramatic roles. Auburn haired Evelyn Daw, who has the featured feminine lead in “Something to Sing About,” makes her screen debut in the production playing the uart of an ingenue vocalist with Cagney’.s swing-band. She possesses a glorious voice and sings three songs. A supporting cast of Broadway and Ilollywod headliners includes Jimmy Newill, HarJand Dixon, Harry Harris, Candy Candido, Cully Richards. Mona Barrie, Gene Lockhart, Bill Carey, William Frawley, William Davidson and Philip Ahn. The associate feature; “Avenging Waters,” is a thrilling western story starring Ken Maynard. The programme opens with chapter 10 of “Scouts to the Rescue.”

KING’S THEATRE “THE SAINT STRIKES BACK” One of the most popular detective story characters in crime fiction is known as “The Saint." He .is the creation of Leslie Charteris, the British mystery author with an extensive reading public on both sides of the Atlantic. In his presentation in R.K.O. Radio’s “The Saint Strikes Back," which is now showing at the King's Theatre, "The Saint” becomes even more colourful 'and exciting than he was in a score of the author's popular novels. “The Saint’’ is enlisted by the police to track down the overlord of a crime ring in his own ruthless fashio’n, even though his audacious nethods are in violation of the law itself. George Sanders has the title role and Wendy Barrie has the feminine lead. REGENT THEATRE ROBERT DONAT AND ROSALIND RUSSELL IN “THE CITADEL” The film version of Dr. A. J. Cronin's dramatic novel “The Citadel ’ sacked the Regent Theatre last evening, and judging from comments of patrons the season will be most successful. Featuring Robert. Donat and Rosalind Russell in the two main parts, those of Dr. Andrew Manson md his wife Christine, this picture is \ triumph for all concerned—-writers, actors, director and photographers, five Story opens in a Welsh mining sown, a dismal place with povertystricken miners dying of tuberculosis. I-fcre Andrew Mansor. takes up what he considers his mission in life as a community doctor with his wife Christine,' an unassuming but warmhearted school mistress. His eyes are soon opened to various unethical practices obtaining with several other doctors to which he is expected to conform, but he values the great tradition of his noble profession and refuses, at the same time doing research work t;o try to find) the cause of a disease which is very common among the miners. Although he is responsible for several noteworthy deeds while in the town, he gains the antagonism of both miners and doctors. Forced 1 to leave lie goes, to London, where, with his wife, he sets 1 up n practice for himself. From thh point the story moves rapidly along dramatic and complicated lines to a magnificent climax. Of outstanding merit is the performance of an English actor, Ralph Richardson, in -the supporting role of Manson’s friend Denny.