AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

MAJESTIC THEATRE JACK LONDON'S “ROMANCE OF Tin: REDWOODS” AND “SI’RLNGTIME IN THE ROCKIES” Fast shooting, hard riding, line singing, and pretty girls combine to make "Springtime in the Rockies,” commencing to-day at the Majestic Theatre, one ot the most popular western iihns of the year. Gene Autrey. the favourite cowboy hero, is at his best in this production. The atmosphere of the prairies and mountain pastures is prominent in "Springtime in the Rockies.” Autrey not only plays the part of a wily ranch manager, but adds the romantic interest which is essential to make productions of this type successful. Awe-inspiring scenes of mountain grandeur are introduced on every possible occasion. Ranch settings reminding the audience of the far off days when hardship was taken as a part of every-day life form an ideal background to give Autrey scope to show his ability as an outdoor actor. As Autrcy's happy-go-lucky partner, Smiley Burnette continually has his audience in laughter at his original dialogue' and amusing sayings which always come in after a tense scene of action. Highly amused at the actions of the girls who arrive from the east to direct operations at the ranch. Autrey is starred, in a perfectly suited role to give his "fans" ample faith for their following. Drama predominates in the thrilling film.

"Romance of the Redwoods." the associate feature. In the powerful story of eager love and grim hate, brilliant portrayals are given by the principals. Charles Bickford, Jean Parker, and Gordon Oliver. The action takes place against the awe-inspiring background of rugged, precipitous mountains. on the lower slopes of which the lumbermen lake their toll of the forest. Amid the fierce raging of a Sorest fire (he film is brought to an exciting and unusual climax. The programme opens with chapter three of "The Oregon Trail."

REGENT THEATRE FANNY HURST’S GREAT STORY “FOUR DAUGHTERS." “Four Daughters," the Warner Bros, picturisation of a famous story by Fa any Hurst, commences its Gisborne season at the Regent Theatre to-day. A moving tale of four devoted '.sisters who fall in love with the same man, the film has one of the most unique casts in motion picture history. Given stability by the presence of such tried and true performers as Claude Rains. May Robson, Frank McHugh, and Dick Foran, the cast is made remarkable by a couple of striking circumstances. First, it marks the only time in motion picture history when three sisters not only played important roles in the same picture, but were, in fact, cast as sisters. They are the Lane girls, Priscilla, Rosemary, and Lola. The fourth sister, incidentally, is played by Gale Page, who is said to fit beautifully into the Lane ensemble. The Warner studio also chose this vehicle to introduce simultaneously two of the most promising young actors it nas ever presented in its long history of star-making. They are Jeffrey Lynn, tall, handsome, and charming, and John Garfield. Lynn plays the captivating youth with whom tiie sisters all fall in love. He, however, shows a clear preference for the youngest, played by Priscilla Lane The announcement by Priscilla of her engagement to Jeffrey is a sad blow to the other three girls, but one from which they manage to recover easily, especially since they are all so devoted to Priscilla that no question of jefilousv is involved. All seems to he going smoothly until the day that Jeffrey and Priscilla are lo he wed. It is then that a down-at-the-heel musician, played by John Garfield tells Priscilla that her oldest sister, portrayed by Gale Page, is deeply in love with Jeffrey and is brokenhearted over tiie impending wedding. The bond between the oldest and the youngest of the girls is so deep that Priscilla cannot hear to he the instrument of her beloved sister's unhappiness. Acting upon a sacrificial impulse she runs away only a few moments before her scheduled wedding to Jeffrey and marries Garfield. This starts the chain of circumstances which make the story of “Four Daughters" a rich and human experience

KING’S THEATRE

•four FEATHERS”: BRITISH EPIC OF HEROISM IN COLOUR

Alexander Korda’s "The Four Feathers,” which commences an extended season at the King’s Theatre to-clay, is a film that will live long in one's memory. It is filmed entirely in Technicolour. Like "The Drum," a previous Korda success, it inscribes on the screen another stirring chapter of Empire history. This time the scene is the Sudan, where beneath the hot sun Gordon met a martyr's death and Kitchener fought through to victory and enduring fame at Omdurman. One will thrill to the sight ol these historic incidents re-lived on the screen; the solid British squarebroken, it is said, only once, by the grandfathers of these self-same Puzzie-Wlizzies that one sees hurtling l'earsomcly across the screen —a bulwark against fanaticism and terror, the wheeling vultures, ominous specks against a clear blue sky; the hauling of Kitchener's army across the raging Nile cataracts, a leal without parallel in military history. . . . Uie.se, and many more, are scenes that will not be forgotten easily. The story of Harry Faversham's desperate heroism, so convincingly portrayed by John Clements. a rising young .player, comes to the screen with all the sympathy with which the author endowed him. The ill-fated Captain Durrnnce provides Ralph Richardson with an excellent opportunity tor another of those excellent character studies. In addition, there is C. Aubrey Smith playing in inimitable style one of his crustv old gentlemen cameos as the father of June Dupree, a new Korda starlet who is dearly ret on her course to fame. "The Four Feathers." directed by Zoltan Korda, who made “The Drum" and "Elephant Boy." is a magnificent cavalcade of entertainment. Nothing in the way of action or speclade has been omitted. In truth, it can he said In have evervlhing. and is one of Ihe greatest tilms c f i lit- year

OPERA HOUSE “CHARLEY'S AUNT": TO-MORROW A strong cast has been assembled for the visit to Gisborne of the Celebrity Comedy Company, which will open its season in the Opera House

to-morrow with a revival of the notable farce. "Charley's Aunt." Don Nicol. the leading comedian, is well known to audiences, having loured New Zealand in "White Horse Inn" and “Balalaika." At the head of the supporting cast is Shirley Ann Richards, who has appeared in several Australian films, including "Dad and Dave Come to Town.” John Fleeting is another film actor, while Mary Duncan, Leal Douglas and Alathca Siddons were members of the east of the play, "The Women.” With just a gentle and artistic touch of modern make-up in concession to the passage of time since she shocked and charmed the Victorians with her pristine madcap frolics, “Charley’s Aunt" has demonstrated convincingly in her Dominion tour that "there’s life in the olrl gal yet." The Celebrity Comedy Company's opening perlormance of Ihe revival season in Auckland wacharacterised by continuous gusts of laughter, indicating that Ihe farce, which has been a joy to several successive generations of theatregoers and acclaimed one of the world’s greatest timmakors. is still good for an enjoyable night's fun. Many notable comedians have been associated with the title role in this pioneer of masquerade comedies, hut Don Nicol in no way sutlers by comparison with past favourites, states an Auckland paper. He has. of course, his own following of admirer:: from previous performances. hut Ihe masquerade character acting required of him as "Babs" and “Charley’s Aunt" in this farce is far beyond the funny business demands of his former appearances. "Charley’s Aunt" will be presented on Saturday and Monday nights, while on Tuesday night another comedy. “Up in Mabel’s Room," will be given. The booking is at Tattcrsnll and B'ayly’s.