AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

1 KING’S THEATRE “OLD IRON” AND “JONES FAMILY j IN HOLLYWOOD” The over-versatile Tom Walls, famous the world over for his comedy roles, now proves conclusively that lie is one of the most accomplished actors on the British screen by-his sterling performance in “Old Iron,” the G-B-D Tom Walls production,- • which has its . final ' screening the King's Theatre, , to-night. The London critics have hailed, his work in this film as one .of. the. finest, bits of character acting since talkies began. As Sir Henry Woodstock,- chief of a great ..shipping line, and a stern ’out scruoulously just father, Tom. Walis, gives a viem of character study.' The ' story of the film! --it tells- of plot and counter-plot | to ruin the shipping firm with the family affairs running a close parallel —is just as holding and interesting as one would expect, from the pen of such a master of. play-writing as Ben Travers. The second feature on the programme will be "The .Tones Family in Hollywood.” —“Rose of Washington Square:” To-morrow.— A glorious evening's entertainment awaits one at the King s Theatre in “Rose of Washington Square, which makes its melodious way there to-morrow, Tyrone Power and Alice Faye, the romantic stars of Irving Berlin’s "Axelander’s Ragtime Band,” are co-starred with A 1 Jolson, singing again in his -inimitable way bis memory-laden song “hits” of yesterday. The story of a woman who loved her man and kept on loving him although he tricked her and hurt her and brought heart-break upon them both is thrillingly told in the milestones of melody of the last two decades.' “Rose -of Washington Square” opens -at the close of the World War with Jolson as. Ted Cot{fcr, a singing ■ candy butcher in a Fourteenth street burlesque theatre, who has big-time ideas. He loves Rose Sargent (Alice Faye) and dreams of taking her with him up the ladder to fame. But Rose falls for Bart Clinton, a charming but wav ward fellow, played by Tyrone Power. The film traces Ted's rise to the dizzy heights of stardom at the famous Winter Garden and gives Jolson an opportunity to sing again the songs ha made famous. Rose, meanwhile, becomes a star of the Follies. At the height of her fame, Bart brings disgrace upon her, but her love for him never wavers. Among the memorable songs heard in the film are “My Man”; "Toot Toot Tootsie, Good-bye”; “I’m Sorry I Made You Cry”; “Ja-Da”; “The Vamp”: “The Curse of an Aching Heart"; “April Showers”; “Mammy”; “Ross- of Washington Square,” the James F. Hanley and Ballard Macdonald number which gives the film its name; “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”: “I’m Just Wild About Harry ; “California Here I Come” and “Avalon." Climaxing these is a new song written by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel called “I Never Knew Heaven Could Speak.” A' big programme in keeping with this outstanding attraction includes a coloured cartoon, “Owl and the Pussy Cat”; “Recording Modern Science”; a camera thrill,"“Viking Trail,” a magic carpet trqvelogue; the latest overseas air-mail news, and the popular “FoxAussie News.”

REGENT THEATRE LAST DAY: .“CALLING DR. KILDARE”

Lew Ayres as young Dr. Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as his gnjfl.' and irascible mentor, Dr. Gillespie., make a welcome return irr the tsecond of this new series,,. “Calling, Dr. Kildare,” which is now showing at the Regent Theatre. ■ Continuing the story of the characters’of the first picture, the film deals with a murder which Ayres, after risking his standing as a physician, eventually solves to clear an innocent youth who was wounded at the secne of the crime. In. the course of events-he falls-in love with the boy’s sister,- glamorous Lana Turner, who involves him in fresh trouble from which the wily old Dr. Gillespie has to extricate him.“ —Friday: ‘‘The Great Waltz” — Universally acclaimed as the greatest living coloratura in the world, the beautiful Polish .opera star Miliza Kor.jus makes an auspicious film debut in the spectacular musical film “The Great Waltz,” which is to begin a season at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. At the evening sessions a delightful atmospheric prologue by the pupils of Maureen Keany, featuring “The Blue Danube,” will be presented on the stage. Against the picturesque background ' provided by the gay city of Vienna, at a time when the pomp and pageantry of the emperor’s court were unrivalled in Europe, and. the Austrian‘capital was famed as the centre of endless festivity and rejoicing, the picture vividly unfolds the romantic career of . the renowned composer Johann Strauss. In the magic rhythm and lilting melody of his waltzes the gifted musician enshrined forever the endless fascinations of a carefree age. The music which-was his inspiration is also the inspiration for the magnificent film which is a sinccr*. tribute to his genius, and at every dramatic turn of the absorbing plot the delightful tunes are introduced. Choruses of a hundred voices accompany the exquisite voice of Miliza Korjus, and the full symphony orchestras comprise priceless instruments to ensure the flawless rendering of some of the most popular music ever composed. The story opens as Strauss, then a dashing young man with all the restless spirit of a typical Viennese, loses the job in the bank which, at best, meibly bored him. He is in love with a charming girl, Poidi Vogclhuber, but when he achieves fame as a composed he is momentarily infatuated over a glamorous opera singer, Carla Doner. It is only the magnificent self-sacrifice of the singer that, brings lasting happiness to Strauss and his sweetheart. The French' actor Fernand Gravet gives a polished performance as the eminent composer, while ihe Academy Award winner.. Luise Rainer, gives a flawless portrayal as Poidi Vogelhuber. Other members of the cast are Lionel Atwill, Hugh Herbert, and George Houston. An orchestra composed of 35 atractive girts is a feature of “The Great Waltz.” The girls’ orchestra, which accompanies Miliza Korjus- singing “Tales of the Vienna Wods,” - represents. , the famous women’s orchestra which existed at Grunzing, in the Vienna Forest, in the days if Johann Strauss.