AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 7 November 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE

GEORGE WALLACE IN “GONE TO THE DOGS” When Cincsound’s comedy. “Gone to the Dogs." comes to the Regent Theatre to-day. audiences will see the sixteenth—and the funniest film — ever to come from Australia s own studios. With the inimitable George Wallace in the starring role, the picture was 12 weeks in front ol the cameras, and when such record time is spent in shooting approximately 80 minutes of screen entertainment. then some idea as to the quality may be clearly evidenced. Telling of a pleasant little man who accidentally discovers a miraculous speeding-up tonic for racing greyhounds, the story portrays his antics as the formula disappears, the champion dog is kidnapped, he loses his girl and gets trapped in a haunted house. So when everything ends happily, it is only after the dog-loving hero lias run the gamut of every guffaw known to hyteria. “Gone to the Dogs" is the second production in which George Wallace has appeared for Cinesound. His first was “Let George Do It," wellremembered as a grand laugh-parade, but which definitely takes second place to this current comedy. Apart from its unprecedented opulence, “Gone to the Dogs” is also notable in that it introduces to the New Zealand screen petite Lois Green, blonde and blue-eyed star from the J. C. Williamson stage. Since appearing in the film Miss Green has sailed for Hollywood and London for further study and experience. Whilst she will gain much from such a trip, her decision resulted in a severe loss to the Australian film industry, because in her first film for Cinesound, she revealed those attributes which make for outstanding success. Prominent in the cast, both literally and metaphorically, is 23stone John Dobbie, foil for the whimsicalities of George Wallace. He has acted as stooge to the comedian on both stage and screen for many years, but according to John. “Gone to the Dogs” supplied by far the best material upon which he has ever worked. Others in the cast include John Fleeting, a new recruit from amateur theatricals, who is now appearing in Cinesound's Will Mahoney comedy, tentatively titled “Come Up Smiling,” Alec Kellaway, Letty Craydon, Howard Craven, Cathleen Esler. Ronald Whelan and Harry Abdy. Some of the settings in “Gone to the Dogs" reveal the technical progression which earmarks every successive Australian production.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

OUTSTANDING COMEDY: "HARD TO GET” AND “TORCHY BEANE IN CHINATOWN.” Co-starring a. new team of fun-makers-—Dick Powell and Olivia de Haviliand —Warner Bros, comedy, “Hard to Get." is the Majestic s special attraction for the Show, which commences to-day, "Hard to Get” has been described by preview critics as about the tops oi the current movie-crop as a laugh-getter. It it. ay seem odd that the producing studio has not teamed up Dick Powell and Olivia de Haviliand before. Each has had a number of successes in the lighter vein, Powell's most recent, for example, "Cowboy From Brooklyn,” and Miss de Haviliand s preceding picture, “Four’s a Crowd.” But now that the studio finally has teamed them, it seems to have something. Although Powell is the leading man, "Hard to Get" is not a musical picture. In fact it has only two songs in it, “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby” and "There’s a Sunny Side To Every Situation." Powell sings them, of course. Powell and Miss de Haviliand have excellent comedy support in Charlie Winninger, the gray-haired comedian who did “Cap'n Andy in Show Boat" and a dozen other notable parts; amid exotic and sinster surroundings, “Torchy Blanc in Chinatown," the associate feature, is another well-directed, Well-written adventure “hit” with the irrepressible Torchy, the s:fme courageous, smart and resourceful lass the public has long since adopted os its favourite girl reporter. Although Glenda—or Torchy—is the centre of all action, the film is not without strong support. Again serving as a perfect foil for Torchy’s quick, sharp mind, the slower thinking but always reliable Lieut. Steve Mcßride is played by Barton Mac Lane. Reserves are obtainable at the Regent box office and should bo collected before G p.m. each day.

KING’S THEATRE

“THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC”: A BEAUTIFUL PRODUCTION

A compelling story of the struggles of a charity music school and of a boy’s reformation through music as played by a master violinist. Samuel Goldwyn's outstanding production. “They Shall Have Music," will finish a very successful season at tlie King’s Theatre to-night. The .famous violinist, Jascha Heifetz, is featured in the main role. Gene Reynolds, the talented juvenile who played a cripple boy in "Boys Town,” at last gels the opportunity to prove his capabilities in a leading role. A feature of this fine film is the

appearance of the Peter Moromblum Junior Symphony Orchestra as the slum children in the music school. Joel McCrca and Andrea Leeds head the supporting cast.

—“Charlie Chan in Reno” & “Chasing Danger”: To-morrow. —

Selected specially for Show clay, the big double feature programme booked for the King’s Theatre on Wednesday should more than satisfy picture "fans.” Abounding in thrills, excitement, suspense, intrigue, romance and fun, "Charlie Chan in Reno” is by far the best murder mystery of the lovable Oriental detective. "The Case of the Murdered Divorcee," which Chan sets out ,to solve, is the most baffling of the series. The solution 0 guess-proof. "Chasing Danger, the second feature, D an action-packed story of two camera daredevils who roar in where brave men fear to tread —Northern Africa, strategic borderland on the Mediterranean. They match wits with international spies.

REPERTORY SOCIETY

“THE UNFAIR SEX": OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT To-night will be the only chance of seeing the uproarious farce, "The Unfair Sex," Which is to be performed by the Gisborne Repertory Society in the Opera House. There are few plays that rival this for riotous scenes and comical situations. A domestic mix-

up. the complications being caused by a pompous barrister whose pet aversion is divorce and the birth-rate, should keep the audience continually simmering when they are not rocking with laughter. The outstanding cast will easily do justice to this very humorous piece. It consists of the producer, Miss Ellen Millar, Misses Cora Oman, Barbara Grummitt and •Sheila Muir, Messrs. W. J. Sinclair. Wilfrid Kohn and Seddon Hill. The box plan is heavily'booked, hut there are still a few seals available at the "Mary Elizabeth."

VVAIKOHU THEATRE, TE KARAIvA. Seldom has there been screened a funnier film than “Swing Your Lady,” which comes to the Waikoim Theatre, Te Karaka, on Wednesday. It is one laugh from start to finish, with a cast headed by Humphrey Bogart, Louise Fazenda, Herbert McHugh and Allen Jenkins. In response to numerous requests there will be presented on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 pan.

“The Big Broadcast of 1938" with W. C. Fields, Dorothy Lamouf, Martha Rayc and Kirsten Flagstad. After the pictures there will he dancing until midnight.