AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20007, 4 August 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE “WHITE BANNERS.” A glorious successor to “Magnificent Obsession” and' "Green Light" —“White Banners,” also adapted .from a best-selling novel , by Lloyd C. Douglas, heads the new programme at the Regent Theatre. It is a moving tale, entertaining and lull of the idealistic fervour so characteristic of Douglas' work. Like its two predecessors, which enjoyed such huge popular success, "White Banners” has a message to convey —the message of courage in the face of adversity, But the film does no preaching—it simply lets the extremely capable cast.live a thrilling human story that carries its message, by implication, straight to the hearts of the audience. That the story seems to be lived rather than acted is a .tribute to the splendid cast. Fay Bainier is Hannah Parmalee, the humble peddler of kitchen knives who keeps her white banners aloft in the lace ot spiritual travail that would have defeated anyone with less than the utmost in courage and nobility of soul. After seeing the picture, it is impossible to imagine any other actress but Miss Bainter in that role. Claude Rains, as Paul Ward 1 , smalltown school teacher and amateur inventor, around whose household the story centres, gives an excellent demonstration of the range of his remarkable gifts as an actor, for his is a thoroughly sympathetic role, and, as all filmgoers know, he gets most of his acting practice in villain roles. The boy around whom much oi the> story revolves is played by Jackie Cooper, who, at 15, is proving that i-c is not necessary for child stars, to retire when they grow up. Playing opposite Jackie, in the part of Paul Ward's daughter, is Bonita Granville, erstwhile "meanie,” who is not a bit behind Rains .in demonstrating that she, too. can play sympathetic characters. Paul Ward's wife is portrayed by Kay Johnson, a screen favourite of many years’ standing.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

"THIS MAN IS NEWS” ANI) “ROAD DEMON” “This Man is News,” the line picture which will be screened for the first time at the Majestic . Theatre to-day, is perhaps the brightest film which has been made in the tradition of "The Thin Man.” It was made m England by/ Paramount, and its satire of the famed Fleet street is marie even more enjoyable by the tine British humour which fills every gap in the breathless action. Barry K. Barnes appears as a reporter who is assigned to cover the activities of a gang of jewel thieves, but when he returns with nothing but a report that one of the criminals, who has betraved his fellows, has not keen killed, as he counted upon, he is immediately discharged by his angry editor. That night he becomes intoxicated and telephones a false report of the expected murder to his editor, and by a remarkable stroke of fortune is successful in prophesying what is to happen a few hours later. When this becomes known both the police and the criminals think that the reporter has found some secret source of information, and his life becomes a swift succession of thrills. The incomparable Gambini Family, headed by Henry Armetta, is back again. Introduced to screen "fans" in “Speed to Bum, first ot 20th Century-Fox's .adventure series, the Gambinis learn some of the thrills of the auto racing world in their newest film, “Road Demon, which will b c the /associate feature. Henry Arthur, in his movie debut, plays the romantic lead with Joan Valeric. In the role of a daredevil race driver, voung Arthur interests the Gambinis in the speedway when hp induces Papa Gambini to buy a. racer and enter a speed classic With Tam .Beck as driver. The programme opens with the eleventh chapter of “Scouts to the Rescue.”

KING’S THEATRE

“JESSE JAMES”: STORY OF AN OUTLAW The most romantic outlaw in the history of .America, the desperado whose dariwg coloured a whole era and endowed it with the title of the -Serious Seventies”—the man Who invented bank holcl-ups and introduced train rclhberies —has 'been [brought to the .screen 'in Darryl F. Zariuck s production. "Jesse James,” the 20ta Century-Fox Technicolour film, starring Tyrone Power. Henry Fonda, Nancy '.Kelly, - and [Randolph Scott, which opens at the King’s .Theatre to-'day for a three-day season. "Jesse James” opens with the introduction of the “Iron Horse” iu. its journey through the old West, cutting . ruthlessly across the farms of the simple, hardy pioneers. It shows how Jes.->e James and his equally notorious brother Frank (Henry Fonda) began their career of icrime as a direct result of the murder of their mother I'oy an unscrupulous hireling o ] f the St. Louis Midland railroad, fci the person of one Banshee, played toy Brian Donlcvy. Jesse shoots .Barshee and swears to avenge his mother’s death. A murderer 'With an ever-increasing price on his head, the goes from raid to raid. Love comes to Jesse in the person oi Zcrelda. .better known as Zee. .played bv 'Nancy Kelly, a gently nurtured gill who gave up a life of ease to share the wild,' reckless life cf this hunted outlaw as his 'wife, and lo 'bear his son alone in the hills. When Zee finally leaves him, Jesse becomes a cold and ruthless desperado, and the film follows his reckless deeds across five States, reaching a climax in his betrayal and death at the hands c.f Bc'b Ford, too “dirty little coward” of song anct story, who sold him out to the law.