AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20076, 24 October 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE SEQUEL TO “LIVES OF A BENGAL LA NCI!It”—'“STORM OVE It BENGAL" Glorious in its sweep of exciting adventure in India, moving in its depiction of Sail an try and heroism, is Republic's “Storm Oven Bengal," which opens to-day at the Regent Theatre. Republic has turned out one of the season’s ace adventure spectacles in “Storm Over Bengal," and its care-fully-chosen cast rips through the vibrant screen play forcefully and realistically. The clashing Paine Knowles, taller and handsomer Ilian ever, i.; the leading figure. Knowles portrays Captain Jeffrey Allison, hero of the British Army in India. . Richard Cromwell is seen as the younger Allison, bitter towards his big brother, because lie is constantly flung in his face as a fine example to live up to. Jeff has set a mark for the younger brother to shoot at. When action opens, Cromwell is escorting Rochelle Hudson to Fort Dangra. where she is to marry Jeff, she having just arrived from England. Cromwell falls in love with Rochelle, and further complies- , lions set in when Rahman Khan, a hill tribe chieftain played by Douglas Dumbrille, incites North-west India to rebellion against the British. Thrill piles on thrill and emotion upon emotion while the climax is being worked out, and a limp and breathless audience gasps with awe and tingles with emotion as heroism and courage blaze across the screen. The director, Sidney' Salkow. has keenly guided "Storm Over Bengal" to draw the utmost of drama and thrill from its finely-writ-ten screenplay by Garrett Fort. Knowles, Cromwell, Miss Hudson, and Dumbrille are matchless in their portrayals, as are supporting players I-Ial-!iwell Hobbes, Colin Tapley, Gilbert Emery, Claude Allistcr, Douglas Walton, and Clyde Cook.

—Friday: First N.Z. Screening: of Charles Laughton in “Jamaica Inn" —

Few pictures in recent times have captured public interest as much as Charles Laughton’s new nicture. “Jamaica Inn” lias attracted more are any indication. Advice has come to hand from Sydney to the effect that "Jamaica Innl” has attracted more people in one week to the Prince Edward Theatre than any previous picture since Christmas week in 1936. This is a remarkable performance, considering the calibre of attractions which are continuously presented at this Sydney show place. The advice carries on to say that every night during the first week of its season, ticketsellers had to discontinue sales, and it is estimated that several thousand people throughout the course of the first week were unable to gain admission. “Jamaica Inn” will have its first release in New Zealand at the Regent Theatre next Friday. Released by Paramount “Jamaica Inn" was produced by an organisation in England headed by Charles Laughton and Eric Pommer. The brilliance of its presentation suggests that Laughton has played more than the leading role.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

PAT O’BRIEN IN “GARDEN OF Till MOON” AND “NANCY DREW, DETECTIVE”

Compounded of equal parts ot comedy, romance and music—the best formula ever devised tor thoroughly enjoyable screen. entertainment ■‘Garden of the Moon, the Warner Bros, production based on the Saturday Evening Post story of the same name, comes to the Majestic Theatre to-day. Heading the impressive _ list of entertainers, whose joint efforts are guaranteed to make “Garden of the Moon” one of the most diverting films to come from Hollywood in many months, are Pat O'Brien, Margaret Lindsay and John Payne. From the musical standpoint, ttie most important personages in the cast are Payne, Johnnie Davis, Joe Vonuti. Jerrv Colonna, and Ray Mayer, and one of the best dance bands ever assembled to work in a modon picture. The comedy enlists the efforts of all those already mentioned, and, in addition such reliable comedians nc Melville Cooper, Isabel Jeans, Curt Bois, Mabel Todd, and Penny Singleton. The associate feature is the first of a new series of detective _ films starring Bonita Granville as Nancy Drew, detective. This is a picture that has considerable appeal to adults as well as to tiic more youthful theatregoers, inasmuch as no one can be too old to respond not only to the tense excitement of the story but also to the deliciously humorous touches which punctuate the action. !n “Nancv Drew—Detective, the attractive little heroine, with the valuable assistance of Ted Nickerson, he’- favourite boy friend, succeeds m rescuing a rich old spinster from a "an" of kidnapners and in virtually thrusting the kidnappers into the hands of the police. This is a long programme and commences at i.4f> and 7.30 p.m. daily until Thursday.

KING’S THEATRE

“THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK"

LAST DAY

Alexandre Dumas’ imperishable story, “The Man in the Iron Mask,” will conclude a record-breaking season at the King’s Theatre to-day. The story, it will be recalled, is about Louis XIV, and his twin brother who was imprisoned in an iron mask because be was a threat to the Throne of France. The dual role is played by Louis Hayward, who will Ire remembered for hi.; fine performance in “The Duke of West Point.”

—-"lnspector Ilonilcigh”: Mystery

Thriller To -rno r r o\v —

A new detective, who collects rare stamps and ingenious murderers with equal calm, is introduced to theatre audiences in the 20th Century-Fox production. “Inspector Honilcigh. which comes to the King a I heatre to-morrow. Inspector Hornlcigh, a familiar and popular radio character in England, is portrayed on the screen by Gordon Marker, while Alistair Sim. who will he remembered as the irascible now. l ; editor of "This Man is ■News,” supplies the comedy relief as Sergeant Bingham, tnc inspectors bungling aide. The mystery, which is so baffling that even Inspector Hornleigh does not suspect the criminal until a few minutes before he catches him, starts with a particularly simple plan to rifle the Budget bag of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Then the porter of a little wayside inn is

murdered, and before it is ended two more men are killed and an empne almost topples.

OPERA HOUSE

THE GREAT NORTH CHINA TROUPE Billed as “Fifteen Whirlwind Artists from the Orient," the Great Nortn China Troupe—Royal Command performers —opens its season of three nights and a matinee at the Opera House on Thursday nexl. To those who have not previously had the pleasure of seeing Chinese artists at work, a real treat is in store, ft iimpossible to convey in mere words the amazing feats which these talented artists perform with consummate ease, nor is it possible to describe the speed at which they work. Act after act. each one more seemingly impossible than the last, is presented with a breathless rapidity which leaves one gasping. The troupe includes acrobats, balancers, contortionists, jugglers, dancers, singers and fire-eaters. Chin Chin, a beautiful Oriental girl, will captivate any audience with her rendition of the graceful Chinese fan dance, and the “difficult and dangerous Oriental sword dance must be seen to be believed. Herbert Young, the nine years old Chinese Bobby Breen, is the possessor of a glorious soprano voice. His singing has created a sensation in the leading capitals of the world. Supporting the Great North China Iroupc are six imported English and Continental headline acts. The box plans for the season are open at Taltersall and Bayly’s.

FERRY EROS.’ CIRCUS

OPENING TO-MORROW

Messrs. Perry Bros., who for 7u years have provided entertainment that has held the support of the Australian public, are to introduce to Gisborne this week their circus and zoo. which is making a tour of the Poverty Bay district. The circus is to be established on a section in Lowe street, near the Okilu Dairy Company, and it will open to-morrow, continuing until Saturday. A feature of the entertainment is the large coiled.on of jungle animals, which includes a herd of elephants, and these already [have attracted much interest in the course of their travels on the district loads. The entertainers have come to New Zealand after a successful tour of Australia, and the troupe is headed by the "Flying'’ Dunbars, hign Hying trapeze artists, who perform remarkable feats while flying in mid-air 10ft. from the ground. Other entertainers will be seen in original items. The zoo is of great educational value to children and it is claimed to be the largest travelling zoo in Australia and New Zealand. The feeding of the animals takes place between 4 and :> p.m.

WAIKOISU THEATRE, TK KA IS AKA

On Wednesday evening Claudette Colbert and Herbert Marshal appear at Uie Waikohu Theatre in. “Zaza. George Brent and Olivia De Haviland are starred in the Tcchnicolour film “Gold is Where You Find It," which screens on Saturday al 2 p.m. and fl p.m. There will be a light supper and dancing until midnight.