AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20075, 23 October 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

KING’S THEATRE "THE MAN IX THE IRON MASK” “The Man in the Iron Mask," Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale of adventure. was one of the most amazing true stories ever told. Now it has become the material for one of the finest screen narratives seen for many a day. The screen version is having a successful season at the King’s Theatre. A production from United Artistr, —Edward Small, (his lilm costars Louis Hayward and Joan Bennett. Hayward plays the dual role of King Louis XIV, and his twin brother Philippe, with distinction. Notable in the cast list are Warren William fas D’Artagnan), Alan Halo, Joseph SehiUlkraut and Miles Mander. The story is Ilia! of twin sons of royalty, one destined for kingship, the other for a commoner’s life under the care of the famous Musketeers. When they are of ago Louis finds out of the relationship, and his resort to the terrible iron mask follows a fear that he will be dethroned.

REGENT THEATRE

MYRNA LOY AND ROBERT TAYLOR IN “LUCKY NIGHT" That films of a rollicking, carefree type are proving popular in days of added strain and worry is proved by the large crowds which attended the Regent Theatre during the week-end, when "Lucky Night" was screened. Tiic principal roles arc splendidly interpreted by Myrnii Loy and Robert Taylor, who extract the utmost in humour from the incomparably amusing story. A strong supporting programme also is being shown.

—To-morrow: The Sequel to "Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” “Storm Over Bengal”—

Adventure amid the dangers of India is again the theme in “Storm Over Bengal." the line action picture which will commence a three-day screening at the Regent Theatre tomorrow. No better setting exists tor scenes of breathless excitement, and the beauties of the countryside make a splendid contrast lo the grim omen of war, which is so frequently threatening. The story concerns an outbreak among the hillmen of a small native State, Lhanapur, which is engineered by Rhamah Khan With the aid of short-wave wireless. The ruler of the State, however, is friendly to the British and so a? to ensure that peace and order will be maintained, the British authorities send a messenger lo the Maharaja asking him to sign an agreement authorising the regiment stationed there to take full control of the border in ihe event of his own death. With the countryside inflamed, however, this is no easy task, and finally Jeffery Allison, a British officer, has to make his way from the fort in disguise. A serious dispute exists between this man and his brother, Noil Allison, for the latter has declared himself to be in love with the girl who has come out from England to marry Jeffery. When dutv calls, this feud is forgotten. By accident, the leader of the uprising hears that ihe regiment will be passing through a steep valley, a perfect place for an ambush on a mammoth scale, and only the heroism of the two men prevents the murder of their comrades. It is a thrilling story, and the troops that are seen in action are among the most colourful in the world. The main roles are taken by Patrie Knowles and Richard Cromwell as the two brothers, and Rochelle Hudson has the feminine iead.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

FINAL DAY: ZANE GREY’S “HERITAGE OF THE DESERT,” AND “UNDERCOVER DOCTOR”

Concluding to-night at the Majestic Theatre* is an ideal holiday programme which consists of two features which contain wonderful entertainment qualities. Zane Grey’s “Heritage of the Desert” is a western classic starring Donald Woods and Evelyn Venable. "Undercover Doctor" is a G-man thriller starring Lloyd Nolan and J. Carrol Naish.

—To-morrow: Tat O’Brien in “Garden of tin: Moon,” and “Nancy Drew, Detective”

Something new in the way of musical comedies has been realised in "Garden of the Moon," the Warner Bros, production based upon the Saturday Evening Post serial of the same name, which commences to-morrow. It has a story, a story that makes sense and is packed with first-rate comedy. It has tunes which only the stone-deaf can refrain from whistling, humming or singing, and it is presented with a spirited liveliness that ranks it as one of the year’s best comedies —musical or otherwise. Added to its excellence as sheer entertainment, the new musical gains enormously in interest because it introduces a personable young man who, by his work in tins picture, establishes himself as a singing and acting star of the first magnitude. The young man is John Payne, who shares ’top-billing honours with Pat O’Brien and Margaret Lindsay. Insinuated gracefully into the story without any distortion of the plot are live song numbers. Three of the songs, "Confidentially.” "Love is Where You Find It,” and “Garden of the Moon," arc “sweet” numbers, all of them, however, with a lilting, swingy rhythm, while the other two are novelty numbers entitled “The Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish” and “The Lady on the Two-Cont Stamp." Beginning a new Warner Bros, series based upon the exploits of the juvenile detective, “Nancy Drew," “Nancy Drew-—Defective," is the associate feature, with Bonita Granville in the title role and Frankie Thomas ns her “Dr. Watson.” The plot of the first picture in the new series is a mixture of the exciting melodrama and adolescent humour. Nancy’s first exploit is tiic rescue from the hands of kidnappers of a wealthy old spinster who has disappeared the day she announced a sift of £150,000 to Nancy’s school. In solving the mysterious disappearance, oung Mis? D"cw lias the courageous and clever assistance of Ted. The youngsters make use of carrier pigeons, an airplane. an old X-ray machine which Ted cleverly converts into a wireless sending set, and Nance herself even resorts to gun-play when she and Ted are in what looks like a lough situation.

OPERA HOUSE THE Git MAT NORTH CHINA TROUI’K A great deal of interest has been aroused in the forthcoming appearance of the world-famous North

China troupe, who commence their season of three nights and a matinee at the Opera House on Thursday ncxl. Lau Fu Cluing, who present! this unique entertainment, is an entertainer of an entirely different type, and liis quaint style has a universal appeal. For an hour and a half the show moves at lightning speed, in which sensation follows sensation with almost unbelievable feats of acrobatics, dancing, and gymnastics. One of the features of the programme is tin performance of Mdile. Wang Tsun. who while suspended In mid-air by her own hair goes through a si ries of contortions. Then there -s Herbert Young, the ninc-ycar-old Chinese Bobby Breen, who sings soprano songs in period English, a language he acquired when five years old. The first halt of the programme is devoted to six European vaudeville acts and include such well-known London performances as the two Campbell Boys, concertina artists. The box plans are open at Tattersali and Ilayly’s.