AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20003, 31 July 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

KING’S THEATRE , "THE SAINT STRIKES BACK” Tire thrilling exploits- of the popular character created by the novelist Leslie Charteris, "The Saint,” arc brought to the screen in the dramatic and exciting film “The Saint Strikes- Back,” which will finish- to-night at the King’s: Theatre. The engaging personality of the modern. Robin Hood, who stole from the thief, -cheated the swindler, and murdered the murderer, is excellently portrayed by George Sanders in a picture in which the action never lags. Other accomplished playc-rs- in a -strong cast are the attractive Wendy Barrie, also Jonathan Hale and- Jerome Cowan. —“King of the Turf”: Race Track Story To-morrow— Edward- Small’s new romanl-ic film drama, "King of the Turf,” which comes to the King's Theatre to-mor-row, not only -stars Adolphe Me-njou in one of his most im-portant roles to date but, also introduces a young ,newcomer, Roger Daniel, whose great performance indicates that a new star has been -born. "King of the Turf” is a story teeming with action and movement and colour. Its background is the exciting world of racing “fails” and gambling tables. Its characters come from all strata of society, its story is- rich in drama- and comedy, humour -and pathos. Forceful direction, brilliant photography, gorgeous background scenes and honest-10-goodness' horse- races fill spectators with breath-taking suspense and provide a thrilling evening.

, REGENT THEATRE ' THE CITADEL’’ The second: American picture from M.G.M.’s- British studios at Denham, England, is "The Citadel,”, co-starring Robert Donat and Rosalind Russell. The first was "A Yank at Oxford,” with Robert Taylor and- Maureen O'Sullivan. "The Citadel,” based on the popular novel by Dr. A. J. Cronin, was produced on an American scale with King Vidor directing a cast of more than 100 players. In principal supporting roles are Ralph Richardson and Rex Harrison, well-known English actors' who have been, seen on Broadway. Others- in an unusually large cast include Emlyn Williams, Penelope Dudley-Ward, Francis Sullivan, Mary Clare, Cecil Parker and Nora Swinburne. “The Citadel" relates the story of an- obscure young doctor in -the Welsh collieries who conscientiously adheres to the ideals of his noble -profession. As a mine doctor he saves trapped workmen in a pit disaster, amputates the arm of one of them who is caught beneath some timber and wins the respect of his' fellows. He falls .in love with a school teacher and they marry, later moving into London, where he engages in. a society practice at much higher fees. There the young physician temporarily forgets his ideals in the midst of luxury, but his wife is the influence which restores him to his original convictions. A careless operation on his best friend' also serves to jolt him to his senses, and the doctor joins a- group of earnest colleagues in the establishment of a great humanitarian l clinic. Donat portrays the physician, and' Miss Russell is h-is wife. Much of the atmosphere is autobiographical. Dr. Cronin having served in the Welsh mine district before he wrote the bool?.

MAJESTIC THEATRE LAST DAY: “SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT” AND “AVENGING WATERS” James Cagney in his- merry musical comedy with dancing, "Something to Sing About," will conclude to-night. He is supported! by Evelyn. Daw, a new star With a glorious voice. There is an abundance .of comedy, dancing, songs and 1 romance. The associate feature is “Avenging Waters.” —To-morrow: “The Rat" and “Meet the Girls”— The popular actress Ruth Chatterton has a role opposite Anton Walbrook in "The Rat,” the thrilling film of life in the Paris underworld, which commences to-morrow at the Majestic Theatre. Most of the exterior scenes in the film were taken in the French capital, giving an authentic touch to the production. The -screen -story is based on the successful stage play by Ivor Novelio and Con-stance Collier. Walbrook has the pari, of the Rat, a criminal who is too clever to be caught and convicted. Ruth Chatterton has the role of Zc'lia, a woman of fashion who- is attracted by him, but fails to allure him- except as a possible victim. She has a rival in Odile (Rene Ray), -daughter of a dead criminal for whom the Rat has promised- to care. The climax comes when Odile is arrested for murder and the Rat, .true to his promise to 'the dead man, takes- five blame. He in- turn is saved by Zelia, who tells the true story of what has happened. Mary Clare, Beatrix Lehman and Felix Aylmer also appear in the film. The associate feature will be the first film of a new 20-th- Century-Fox series, "Meet the Girls,” which was directed by Eugene Fordo. The Big Town Girls are the highly attractive June Lang and Lynn Bari, two Hollywood lovelies. Their first exciting escapade together opens in Honolulu, where • hey are stranded without funds or fare back to the United States. In the hone of finding breakfast the girls board- the San- Francisco-bound liner Maori, which sails before they can disembark. When they accidentally observe it lie theft of a valuable diamond aboard r.he ship the excitement begins. -Robert Allen, Ruth Donnelly, Gene Lockhart, Wally Vernon and Erik Rhodes are included in the cast of the film, which is one of the Movie Quiz £50,000 con-test pictures.