AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20043, 15 September 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE LAUGHTER SHOW: ‘THE LAMBETH WALK” ‘‘The Lambeth Walk,” that fascinating. tantalising tune that lias swept the world and has got everybody doing "as they darn well pleasey." now takes on a new lease of life and has fresh worlds to conquer in the film version of the Victoria success, “Me and My Gal,” with Lupino Lane, star of the original stage “hit” in his famous role as the little Cockney who inherits a title and sets blue blooded aristocracy agog with his lack of poise and his wealth of “Oi’s.” Albert de Courville directed “The Lambeth Walk," with Anthony Havclock-Allan of “This Man is News" fame, as producer. Supporting "Nipper" Lane in his whimsical comicalities are Sally Gray, who scores an immense personal “hit" as Hie Cockney hero, and that dean of the English stage, Sir Seymour Ilicks, who plays an unconventional and lovable old nobleman. Other members of the cast include Norah Howard. Enid Stamp-Taylor. Wallace Lupino and many more. The film, which is now showing at the Regent Theatre, was made by Metro-Goldw.vn-Mayer Pictures, Limited. The ail-conquering dance, ot course, is one of the highlights of the production, and that, allied to the splendid performances by every member of the cast, and the Haunting music by Noel Gay, make "The Lambeth Walk" a treat in store for everyone and a pre-ordained success at every box office in the world. From the opening shot, set in the famous London suburb, to the hilarious reunion of the two Cockney lovers, “The Lambeth Walk" ripples on its way with one chuckle following closely on the heels of another. The star gives the performance of his life and has the time of his life re-creating “Bill,” the .hero, a little Cockney with all the lovable traits of his class, traits which even social snobbery cannot smother. MAJESTIC THEATRE “GRAND JURY SECRETS" AND "SOME LIKE IT HOT" Two entertaining pictures of proven popularity comprise the weekend programme commencing to-day at the Majestic Theatre. A thrilling, fast-moving story of a reporter who gels, himself into trouble by attempting to reveal the investigations of a grand jury panel sitting under the supervision of his own brother is told in Paramount's "Grand Jury Secrets. John Howard, cast as the reporter, used a shortwave radio set in a clever way to unearth the fact that his brother, the assistant district attorney, played by Harvey Stephens, is launching a grand jury probe into the activities of a crocked investment house. Howard breaks the story, alarming one of the investment house partners, amusing the other, and enraging his brother, who is accused by the other papers of tipping off stories to his brother. Gail Patrick is cast opposite John Howard in the role of the fiancee of Harvey Stephens. William Frawlcy is cast as a newspaper photographer, Jane Harwell plays the role of mother of the clashing brothers, and Porter Hall is cast as a member of the crooked investment trust. James Hogan directed. The accent is squarely on swing in Paramount's new romantic comedy, "Some Like It Hot," which is the associate attraction. Starring Bob Hope, Shirley Ross and Gene Krupa, whose orchestra Is featured in the picture, the plot concerns the hair-brained efforts of Bob Hope to promote a place in the big-time tor himself and Krupa and his orchestra. Fitting into the plot of the picture are two new tunes. One is “Some Like It. Hot,” played with abandon by Krupa and his orchestra and the other is “The*Lady's in Love With You." sung by Bob and Shirley and guaranteed to make you recall “Thanks For the Memory." The programme opens with a further chapter of "Buck Rogers.’

KING’S THEATRE ■SO THIS IS LONDON": BEN TRAVERS’ COMEDY TO-DAY. The sparkling comedy. "So This is London,” to be released ai the King’s Theatre to-day, has its roots m the differences, both subtle and otherwise, between the English and their irans-Atlantic cousins, which provides the basis for grand entertainment. Robert T. Kane decided to recruit his principals from established British favourites, . adding George Sanders, Borton Chbrehill and Lily Cahill to orovide the trans-Atlantic atmosphere. Berton Churchill is a veteran of the Hollywood screen. George Sanders is British, but lie found fame in Hollywood when Darryl F. Znnuck east lnm for a key role in "Llclyds of London Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton, rapidly establishing themselves as England’s No. 1 comedy team in both films and on the stage, star in “So This is London.” Theirs is a team with an odd history—formed more or less by chance, fostered by the wit of playwright Ben Travers, and acclaimed by the audiences of England sc heartily that there seems every reason for the team to continue. The screen play was written by William Conselman, one of Hollywood’s ace script-writers whose work is notable Cor the swift pacing oC action and humour. None other than Ben Travers himself wrote the dialogue.

OPERA HOUSE “THE CENG ALEE,” MUSICAL COMEDY ON MONDAY The box plans are open for the sixr.ight season of the colourful musical comedy, “The Cingalese,” which commences at the Opera House next Monday. The Gisborne Operatic Society was fortunate in its choice ot such a happy piece of entertainment as it provides such a wealth of bright and cheerful relaxation from the cares and worries of the present day. After the first shock of the declaration oi war people realise that they must

,eek relaxation from the strain of worried thinking. In the performance of "The Cingalee” they will ire wafted mto a different world, a colourful world of melody and song, of ga.v romance, and of fast-moving lavishlyproduced ballets and ensembles, accompanied throughout by good-nat-ured humour and side-splitting hilarity. One would be lacking in patriotism to let this opportunity of obtaining mental refreshment slip by without making some effort to attend one of the performances. Fresh normal mental condition is as important nr winning a war as; fresh and healthy troops. The net proceeds of this production will be handed over for patriotic purposes. As in its previous

production. "Rio Rita,” the Gisborne Operatic Society is featuring the dancing talent of Gisborne in a number of spectacular ballets. "The Cingalce” lends itself to colourful treatment both in costume and scenery and this has been exploited to the full bv the producer. Mrs. Mcßeath. Against this background of brightness. the glorious music and the hilarious comedy situations gain additional warmth and brilliance and the story bubbles with laughter and merriment from start to finish without a dull moment.