AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 29 August 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE

WALTER PIDGEON AND VIRGINIA BRUCE IN “SOCIETY LAWYER."

Laughs and thrills are intermingled most happily in “Society Lawyer,” featuring Walter Pidgeon, Virginia Bruce and Leo Carrillo at tile Regent Theatre. In addition, you will find Walter Pidgeon actually “winning the girl” after repeatedly losing her to such competitors as Clark Gable, Nelson Eddy and Janies Stewart in previous films. This fascinating murder-mystery story reveals the efforts of Pidgeon, Miss Bruce and Carrillo to save the life of an innocent man from the chair. Miss Bruce, as a night-club entertainer, and Carrillo, as her employer, assist Pidgeon in finding the real murderer, setting a trap for him in which they themselves threaten (o be caught. Carrillo loses his life in seeing the plan through to success, and Miss Bruce finds herself in love with Walter Pidgeon. Pidgeon is in his finest form, as the lawyer who turns detective. Miss Bruce is a sparkling and beautiful heroine and Carrillo gives one of his warmly human characterisations always welcome to the screen. Among others in the supporting cast are Eduardo Ciannelli, Lee Bowman, Frances Mercer, Ann Morriss and Herbert Mundin.

—Friday: Claudette Colbert and Don Ameclie in “Midnight.”—

The gay comedy “Midnight,” which gains hilarious momentum in the first few scenes and ends with one of the most brilliantly conceived climaxes ever presented op the screen, is to open a season at the Regent Theatre on Friday. Acting with a zest that derives the utmost in comedy from every scene, Claudette Colbert takes Ihe part of a New York chorus girl who enters Paris without a penny to her name. Despite this drawback she is soon enjoying herself in the exclusive company of the most wealthy citizens, and the audience will share her enjoyment as the plot develops into a tangled skein of amusing misunderstandings and misadvenlijres. The picture sparkles throughout with bright and original dialogue, while excellent performances are given by an outstanding cast which includes Don Ameche, Francis Ledercr and Mary Astor. An excellent supporting programme is to include an informative coloured film on the art of skiing, while music of a quality rarely heard will be presented in another short feature in which the New York National Philharmonic Orchestra plays the “Unfinished Symphony,” by Schubert.

MAJESTIC THEATRE BASKETBALL STORY, “CAMPUS CONFESSIONS” AND “MEN With wings" “Campus Confessions,the new Paramount film now showing at the Majestic Theatre, is the first picture to be made with a basketball background, and incidentally, is the first collegiate .film in which the hero is not a football player who rushes in the game at the last moment to win for good old Podunk and the beautiful girl waiting in the stands. Hank Luisetti, star American basketball ace, is seen in a featured part along with such other young stars as Betty Gratole, William Henry and Eleanore Whitney. “Campus Confessions” tells of the struggles of a rich man's son when he enters a college that his father supports. only to find himself heartily disliked by the student body because his father refuses to give any money for the various athletic teams. Hank Luisetti, who starred in the great Stanford-U.S'C. game of last year, is not only 'featured in the athletic sequences of the film, but also appears in the romantic action. “Men With Wings,” which is toeing revived, is the first great romance of the air to be taken in Technicolor, and is a dramatic cavalcade of flying endeavour. It deals with the daughter of a pioneer airman who grows up to 'fall in love with the companions of her childhood, who also become leaders in this field. The girl is olayed attractively by Virginia Wo idler and Louise Campbell, and Ray Milland and Fred Mac Murray appear as the two men who are to play such important and yet so different parts in her life. Gripping scenes of “dog-fights'' and beautiful landscapes and sky effects enhance the greatness of the picture as an 'adventurous story of pioneering faith and heroism. There is little oi the false spectacular stunting that has marred former films on similar subjects, and the picture lacks all that might be described as melodramatic and unreal. The programme opens with the fourth chapter of “Secret of Treasure Island.” Owing to the length of the programme, sessions will commence at 1.45 and 7.30 p.m.

KING’S THEATRE

“OW'D BOB” AND “Oil, MR. PORTER!” “Owd Bob," Alfred Ollivant’s world-renowned story of sheepdogs and their masters, has been brought to the screen with Will Fyffc in the leading role of Adam McAdam, and opens at the King’s Theatre today. In the story old Adam 'had a son whom lie continually beat. Foi modern screen purposes this was considered neither entertaining not 10mantic. A daughter was substituted for a son and the role given to Margaret Lockwood, but lilmgoers will be relieved to know that she receives no beatings—although she has an unhappy time. John Loder is cast as Divid. All-important members Of, the cast are, of course, Glyn and Storm, the dogs who portray the famous canine characters of Owd Bob and the villainous Black Wull. The drama of the sheep-trials Iras never been surpassed. Various dogs are shown completing the course, then comes, the great moment when Black Wull, holder of the Cup enters for his trial. He lowers the time average considerably—Owd Bob has a hard task before him. “Oh, Mr. Porter!” starring Will Ilay, pictures the adventures o. a muddling railway porter, who gets the sack for coupling the Scottish express to a coal train and mistakenly sc-nd;ng 2000 Derby-bound racegoers to a temperance convention in Wales. —-“Wuthering Heights”: Friday In the full shattering .force of Emily Bronte’s book and the haunting beauty of its deathless romance, “Wuthering Heights,” emerges a masterful picture universally acclaimed ns being among the year’s finest en-

tertainments. Merle Oberon, Laincnce Olivier and David Niven head a distinguished cast. “Wuthering Heights” comes to the King’s Theatre next Friday, and the box plans are now on view at the theatre.

OPERA HOUSE “FUNZ-A-POPPIN”: AMERICAN REVUE COMPANY “Furiz-A-Poppin,” the all-American revue .which Sir Benjamin Fuller and Alex Hanlon will present at the Opera House next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, is more than generous entertainment. It is witty and rich in its •humour, it sparkles with song ana dance, and is a's varied as a single evening’s performance well could be. Much more, it is original showmanship, deft in its presentation and slick in its precision. Perhaps the most distinctive performers are the worldrenowned Snlici’s Parisian Puppets. These “lifelike” artists, who have created a sensation throughout Europe and America, and more recently :n Australia, present a complete revue themselves. Amazingly realistic, they sing, dance, clown, do acrobatic turns, play the piano, and cue actually smokes. The Sal id’s themselves—six men and one woman —have fine voice.-’, often, blending in chorus. But the show, which comes (from New York s Broadway, brings with it a galaxy cf talent. Ross and Edwards, Ziegfeld comedy stars; Tommy ‘Bozo onydei, noted Broadway pantomimic comedian; Murray Greene -and Elsa Lang, musical comedy artists; Jack Bickle, youthful dancing star; -Loretta Grey, “Pepperpot” comedienne: June and Trudell * Van, Hollywood twins; the Twelve Dancing Debutantes, celebrated dance team from the New York Radio City Music Hall; and an old friend, Bcfo'oy Morris, recently with the Hollywood Hotel Revue. An orchestra under the direction of Joseph Cinusei is another feature of this spectacular show. Alex. Gerber produced the revue. 'lt was lie who wrote plays and composed song's for Eddie Cantor. A 1 Jolson and Fanny Brice. Gerber also composed numbers with Sigmund Romberg, and wrote “Tillie’s Nightmare,” in, which the late (Marie Dressier appeared. Seme of his popular songs are “My Home Town is a OneHorse Town,” "There’s A Little B.t of Bad in Every Good Little Girl,” and “Funz-A-Pcppin," which -was written especially for this show. Of the popularity and brilliance of “Funz-A-Poppin" there can be no doubt and early booking will be advisable. Box plans are open at Ta'ttersall and Bayly’s, where dress circle and orchestral stalls may be reserved.