AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

KING’S THEATRE

“THE FLYING IRISHMAN": LAST DAY The dogged persistence of an ambitious young Irishman who successfully overcame -bitter disappointments and dire poverty and realised his dream to become a famous aviator is dramatically depicted in "The Flying Irishman." which will conclude at the King's Theatre to-night. Douglas Corrigan himself appears in the title role, the unusual theme of the film be tog an authentic account of his life. The intrepid young flyer reveals natural acting ability, and he gives a sincere performance as he recalls his early hopes and despair, encouragement and frustration. Paul Kelly. Robert Armstrong, Eddie Quillan and Donald Mcßride head a strong supporting cast. —“Captain Fury”: Thrilling Adventure Epic. To-morrow — Whoa Ilal Roach, who for so long has been associated solely with comedy, decides to produce a drama, it is news. ’■Captain Fury." which is his latest production and first adventure drama for United Artists, opens its Gisborne season at the King’s Theatre to-morrow. ‘'Captain- Fury co-stars Brian Ahcrne, Victor McLaglen and June Lang. The picture also features in supporting character roles such outstanding players as Paul Lukas, John Carradtoe. George Zucco, Virginia Field, Douglas Dymbrillo and Mary Gordon. “Captain Fury." which unfolds its story with lightning speed, suspenscful adventure and swift drama, was given both the production knowledge and the masterful direction of Hal Roach personally. The story is laid in the pioneer days of Australia, when the country was an open frontier land, grabbed up by men who wore stealthily building huge estates. Captain Fury, played by Brian Ahcrne, impersonates an Irish political prisoner, who chances ■to go to Australia and discovers the treachery of some of those in power. According to the film, lie joins forces with the exploited settlers who have been at the mercy of Arnold Trist, the outstanding land baron outside of Sydney. Fury plays the same game originally played by Robin Hood. He sets up a secret kingdom and promeeds to smash the -plans and plots l of Trist and his henchmen. Busy as he is with his smashing adventures and blood-and-thunder experiences, he manages to find time for romance. The lucky girl in the ease is. of course, June Lang, more beautiful and more glamorous than in- any of her previous pictures. Roach has directed “Captain Fury" with pace and drama, and too much praise cannot be given to the tine way in which his actors have responded to the rich drama and colourful romance inherent in the screen play.

REGENT THEATRE

LAST DAY: “IDIOT’S DELIGHT'’ Another Pulitzer prize-winning play, comes to the screen in “Idiot’s Delight," and will be screened for the last time to-night at the Regent Theatre. The play was remodelled to some extent to meet the requirements of the screen. ;md it is to the credit of the writers that they handled the controversial matter so deftly that, it is quite in accordance with accepted standards, and yet is just as powerfully dramatic as Robert Sherwood’s original. The story is of lire complicated romance between two people who start the him as cheap vaudeville entertainers, and it reaches a thundering climax with the dreaded outbreak of war. Clark Gable and Norma Shearer handle the difficult principal roles as performers of only their class could, and they set art' inspiring example for the other members ol the east. —Friday: “Confessions of a Nazi Spy”— One of the most daring films to be produced in recent years will com? monce to-morrow at the Regent Theatre. Under the title of “Confessions of a Nazi Spy," it is without doubt one of the most absorbing motion pictures ever made. The starred player is Edward (1. Robinson, supported by Francis Declarer, Paul Lukas, and Lya Lys. The title tells the story, but beyond the story lies a deeper and fuller menace. A fictional account, “Confessions ot a Nazi Spy” was inspired by revelations contained in the recent Nazi spy trials held in New York, Los Angeles, and the Panama Canal Zone. Leon G. Turrou, former ace G-man, who secured the conviction of a number of admitted Nazi spies, acted as technical adviser of the film, which lends some idea as to its authenticity, despite the fact that the events aie fictional. A gripping powerfully performed drama, it brings home to the thousands who see if the grim i isation of the menace. It will bring home the appalling fact that a country or countries supposedly on friendly terms with the United States have been, and in all probability still are. carrying on subversive espionage activities directly aiming at undeimining the military and democratic institutions of the nation. Edward G. Robinson, playing the role ot an agent of the Federal Bureau ot Investigation who leads the spy 1 mg* smashing activity, carries oil acting honours, although it may be said that, the supporting cast is an inspired one. Francis' Lcderer, a lormer resident of Czechoslovakia and one of the leaders in peace activities m Hollywood, takes a leading role, . the first unsympathetic one in his career. Lya Lvs a foreign actress making her Hollywood debut, stands out as a new threat in the glamour ranks. An exquisite blonde, she combines the appeal of Hedy La Marr. Mar one Dietrich, and Ann Sheridan, with a heady charm that is unique. There is little doubt that there will be many more good roles to follow foi this German-born star.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

LAST DAY: “GIVE ME A SAILOR" AND “I’M FROM MISSOURI” Laughter and gaiety arc good antidotes for these frying days, and both of these ingredients are found in goo<> measure in the double comedy oill concluding to-night. “Give Me A .Sailor" stars Martha Rnye and Bob Hope, whilst Bcb Burns finds full scope for his whimsical human humour in "I'm From Missouri. —To-morrow: Robert Taylor and Wallace Beery in “Stand Up and Fight”— Combining the punch of "The Crowd Roars" with the vigorous drama of “The Bad Man of Brimstone," the new outdoor drama, “Stand Up and Fight," co-starring

Wallace Beery and Robert Taylor lor the first time, comes to the screen as ovie of the fastest, action stories ever to be filmed. It opens to-morrow at the Majestic Theatre. Unique in that it combines authentic historical background of a period and locale hitherto untouched in motion pictures witfi the sort of rapid-lire pace that made the Westerns of silent days so perennially popular. "Stand Up and Fight’’ seems likely to be the forerunner of a cycle of stories of the kind, so sure is its hold on audiences who demand motion above all in their motion pictures. Taylor’s role of the bankrupt young Maryland aristocrat shanghaied into going to work for Ihe stage coach line is a happy choice, for it gives him an opportunity to combine romantic appeal with the he-man type of characterisation which won him laurels in “A Yank at Oxford" and "The Crowd Roars,” Beery’s role of the hard-boiled, often unscrupulous manager of the Bullet Line is another good choice, a typical Beery part comparable with any of his finest work. For Florence Rice the feminine lead is a sure augury of great success to come for she handles this, her first major assignment, with a sure touch and appealing charm. Never has she been photographed to greater advantage than in the hoop-skirts and bonnets of the 1850\s. Comgdi.enne ■Helen Broderick is at her best. Charles Bickford and Barton MacLane are as villainous as could be wished of a "heavy,” and Clinton Rosemond embodies all the pathos of the negro slave. Besides keeping a fast-moving story always straight in its objective, the director, W. S. Van Dyke, If., has combined a warmth of atmosphere with the roughness of his backgrounds lo a remarkable degree. The wealth of contributing detail and stirring beauty of scene are a tribute to Mervyn Leßoy's care as a producer. An outstanding programme of M.G.M. featurettes include "Angel of Mercy," one'of the famous "Passing Parade” series, "Hollywood Hobbies,” Die latest '.lews, and a further chapter of "Buck Rogers.”