AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 4 November 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE

JACK RANDALL IN “LAND OF FIGHTING MEN” AND "YOUNG AND INNOCENT” Introducing the American singing cowboy, Jack Randall., "Land of Fighting Men,” which attracted a record Friday night crowd to the Majestic Theatre, is the story of a range war that develops when eastern American racketeers try to take possession of the west. Prominent in the cast besides Randall, who introduces three* new cowboy songs, are Louise Stanley, Wheeler Oakman, Lane Chandler, and Rex Lease. The Colorado Hillbillies furnish the musical background. In the associate thriller. “Young and Innocent,” Christine Clay, a famous film star, is strangled on a lonely stretch of seashore, with a belt from a raincoat. Her body is found by Robert Tisdall, who is sec-n running for help and is arrested on the evidence of two witnesses. He can. prove his innocence, however, if lie can only find his own raincoat which, was stolen from him before the crime. At the police station he collapses and is revived by F.rica Burgoyne, daughter of the chief constable of the county. Tisdall later escapes and is found by Erica, who, unwillingly, hides him in an old mill. Later she returns with food for him, but in the midst of the meal the police arrive and they have to make an. escape. Erica, now convinced of his innocence, agrees to help Tisdall and calls at her aunt's house to provide an alibi should her father inquire about her absence. The visit, however, has the reverse effect and the search is intensified. The stairs of this fast-moving and exciting story arc Nova Pilbeam and Derrick dc Maniey. The programme opens with the final chapter of “Buck Rogers.” A Guy Fawkes competition will be held in tile vestibule of the Majestic at 10..10 o'clock tomorrow morning, and the winners will be announced at the children's matinee. Eight boxes of fireworks arc of “Buck Rogers.”

KING’S THEATRE

"THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC”: BE A U TIF U L PRO I) U V TIO X Music of a standard seldom heard on the screen is presented in the moving emotional drama, "They Shall Have Music,” which is showing to record crowds at the King’s Theatre. The world-famous violinist. Jascha Heifetz, playing with tin: iacile art that marks the truly great musician, brings to theatregoers the glorious melody of classical compositions. A further novel and attractive feature of the picture is the appearance of the California Junior Symphony Orchestra, composed of amazingly talented children who play an important part in the development of the appealing story. Much of the action takes place amid the poverty-stricken areas of New York’s “cast side," where a child whose dead father was a musician is living amid squalor and sordid strife: that effectively stifles any inherent talent for art or any love of beauty. This lad wins a chance to know and appreciate the glories of good music only through the generosity ol' Heifetz and the noble, untiring work of a poor professor. This man is the teacher at a musical school where penniless prodigies are trained purely for the love of music and the hope that from their number may arise a genius who will repay with his fame and beautiful playing the unselfish labour of his mentor. As the professor, Walter Brennan is seen in one of his most sincere portrayals, while the boy who finds a refuge and an inspiration in his school is played by Gene Reynolds, the brilliant youthful actor who will be remembered by many for his performances in “Boys’ Town" and "The Crowd Roars.” A charming supplement to the main theme is provided in the romance between Joel McCrea and Andrea Leeds,

REGENT THEATRE

NELSON EDDY IN “SONG OF THE I’LAINS.” “Song of the Plains," which is in its fifth day at the Regent Theatre, is an unusual film with a really splendid cast. It is unusual in that it is a Western, drama of landgrabbers and settlers without much gun-play in it. The story is about a group of settlers on the Western plains of the United Stales who are menaced by the machinations of an unscrupulous Wad street magnate. The railroad is being built across the plains, ar.d an advance guard of men has the task of buying up all the surrounding land, regardless of opposition. They carry out their orders ruthlessly until they meet the opposition of a young Westerner who has been trained ns n lawyer in the East. The cast Includes such favourites as Nelson Eddy. Virginia Bruce, Edward Arnold, Victor McLaglen. Lionel Barrymore. and Charles lUuttcnvorlh. —To-Night’s Special 10.20 Session of "Gone to the Dogs.”— To-night from 10.30 o’clock until midnight George Wallace, Australia’s greatest comedian, will be seen in bis grandest comedy, “Gone lo the 1 Dogs.” This film is booked for screening at the Regent Theatre .for three, days only, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. On account of the very short season the management of the Regent has made arrangements with British Empire Films to have'a preview session this evening. Patrons arc advised to book immediately for this session

REPERTORY PRODUCTION

“UNFAIR SEX” ON TUESDAY Immensely popular m the profession:!) .stage, where it had a long run, and equally sucvcsslnl in tlv film adaptation, the comedy "The Unfair Sox" has eean ehdsO'i bv the Gisborne Repertory Society for its Show-week production and viM be staged on Tuesday will, the best talent the society possesses Th? ••heme is provided by the adventures of a young married couple who be nine innocently involved in ('illations with friend! of the family, and whose mild departures from toe strict code laid down by a peppery and dogmatic elderly relative provide tonic extremely hilarious situations. The relative, Uncle Henry, is a crank in some matters, according to modem lights but is not himself nrcot against 11 ■*• diversions of sentiment and the play leads up to a climax that has been recognised as one o f the subtlest ever written Into t nay. Dialogue throughout the play is full of surprises, and 'he players, Misses Cora Oman, Barbara Grummit, and Sheila Muir, and Messrs. W, .1. Sinclair,