AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 10 November 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE IRENE DUNNE AND FRED IYIAOMURKAY IN “INVITATION TO HAPPINESS” Women will take it close to their hearts, and men will remember it, for “Invitation to Happiness" is a drama which presents an emotional problem that mi(;ht develop in the lives or any couple. It is the story of a prize ‘lighter who marries a society girl. Determined to become champion, his ‘work take; him away from his wife. She is unhappy, but realises that it is the only work he knows how to do. While lie is away barnstorming around the fight circuit, a son is born to them. Heartbreak is hers, but when lie comes to her. she forgives him. The boy grows up to hate his father, •to hate him (bitterly because the knows his mother is unhappy. Yet these three people realise that somehow they -must find happiness, and remain united. . Their groping, their efforts to understand each other make this picture one of the best dramas of the year. Irene Dunne and Fred MncMurrav arc co-starred as the young couple, and Billy Cook plays the role of the son. Charlie Ruggles, William Collier, sen., and Marion Martin are in (he supporting, cast. The picture was produced and directed for Paramount by Wesley Buggies, brother of Charlie Buggies. Amongst the featurettes are the first pictures of action on the Western Front.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

“BULLDOG DRFMMAND'S BRIDE” AND “MILLION DOLLAR LEGS” Noted for the tremendously fast, exciting, thrilling pace which lie can inject into a motion picture, James Hogan, director, offers the latest of the popular “Drummond” series, “Bulldog Drummond's Bride,’’ as further proof of his action. With John Howard as “Drummond,” and Heather Angel as "Phyllis,’’ his fiancee who cannot get him to the altar, the Paramount thriller opens to-day at the Majestic Theatre. The H. C. (Sapper) McNcile story places emphasis on the exciting romance of the pair, and in this picture they become man and wife at last! But only after "Drummond” becomes dangerously involved in the pursuit of a daring, clever bank robber and only after his fiancee pursues “Drummond” in one of the most spine-tingling wedding scenes ever seen on the screen. When a group of bright, talented youngsters, such as

Betty Grablc, Jackie Coogan, Joyce Mathews, Donald O'Connor, Larry Crabbe, and John Hartley, are given a script loaded with hilarious situations, and have a director like Nick Grinde, to help them screen it, it is no wonder that Paramount’s “Million Dollar Legs,” the associate comedy, is one of the best campus comedies ever exported from the film capital. Against a whirling melange of co-eds, college sport, and thrilling horse race, is Ihc adroitly-told story of youth in revolt against the benevolent despotism of a kindly but opinionated benefactor whose dislike for sport deprives the college of a crew. Resorting to the hazardous but lucrative expedient ol' betting- on a long shot in a horse race, the students raise sufficient funds to equip their crew in handsome fashion. The programme opens with the first chapter of the new action serial, “The Oregon Trail," starring Johnny Mick ■Brown.

KING’S THEATRE

“SECOND FIDDLE": IRVING BERLIN’S FINE MUSICAL Irving -Berlin’s new songs, Sonja Henie's sunny brilliance, Tyrone Power’s gay romancing, Rudy Vallee’s singing and Edna May Oliver's fun — one of the greatest combinations of talent ever gathered for one show, is making Irving Berlin's "Second Fiddle" very popular with preview critics, who have lavished on the 20th Century-Fox film a chorus of praise. Something new in screen entertainment is presented in this film, which will open at the King’s Theatre today, and it is Helled with romance, spectacle, fresh comedy, six new Berlin songs and surprises galore, including sensational tangos on the ice. snow rhumbas, ice ballets, and a new ballroom dance, the "Back to Back.” Bearing evidence throughout of the magical touch of Darryl F. Zanuck, 20t’n Century-Fox production chief, the .screen play by Harry Tugend is a highly realistic story of filmdom’s long search for a girl to play the heroine of a best-selling novel and what happens when she is found. This is right in line with the new trend, set by Zanuck in his production of Irving Berlin’s "Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” of combining music with a story of real dramatic worth into perfectly blended entertainment. "Second Fiddle" introduces, also, a new star, Mary Healy, a lovely young actress whose first screen appearance finds her in a romantic role opposite Rudy Vallee. The producers expect great work from this newcomer and her performance is hailed as fulfilling every expectation. Included with her in the cast are Lyle Talbot and Alan Dinehart. For the first time on the screen Sonja Henie has a skating partner on the ice. young Stewart Reburn. The handsome Canadian athlete appeared with the ice star during her triumphant personalappearance tour. Sonja Henie also hangs up her skating shoes temporarily to join Rudy Vallee on the ballroom floor in the "Back to Back,” a

new dance created by Harry Losee from the song written by Berlin for the film. Other tunes-are: “I’m Sorry For Myself,” "An Old Fashioned Tune Always Is New,” “Song of the Metronome,” “When Winter Comes" and "1 Poured My Heart’lnto a Song," all by Irving Berlin.