AMUSEMENTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20112, 5 December 1939, Page 3

AMUSEMENTS

REGENT THEATRE MICKEY ROONEY IN “HARDYS RIDE HIGH’’ A typically amusing', and at times poignant human story is unfolded in the latest of the "Hardy Family’’ series, "The Hardys Ride High," which is to continue a popular season at the Regent Theatre to-day. The venerable judge, once more played by Lewis Stone, has every reason to believe ho has fallen heir to a fortune of 2,000,000 dollars, and this news upsets the equilibrium of the whole family, particularly the judge’s irrepressible son Andy. This part affords Mickey Rooney with ample opportunity to indulge in a further shrewd portrayal of a character who is one of the best known on the screen.

—To-morrow: Cary Grant and Jean Arthur in “Only Angels Have Wings’’—

One year of preparation and three months of filming represented time well spent, according to the enthusiastic reception given Columbia’s Howard Hawks production, "Only Angels Have Wings,’' wherever it has been shown. The film, which stars Cary Grant and Jean Arthur together for the first time, opens to-morrow at the Regent Theatre. Also in the cast are Thomas Mitchell, Rita Hayworth and Richard Barthelmess, who is said to make a splendid screen comeback after an absence of more than three years. "Only Angels Have Wings” has been hailed not only as a great film, but as an outstanding example of what may be done by the film industry when every phase of production, casting and story, combine to provide perfect entertainment. Columbia is particularly proud of one of the most pretentious presentations of the season. Lavish sets; awe-inspir-ing, pulse-quickening views of scenic grandeur; spectacular sequences, all represent extraordinary expenditure on the part of the company. "Only Angels Have Wings” begins with the arrival of a showgirl in a small South American seaport where everything, including a tiny commercial air line, is owned by a lovable character, "The Dutchman," player by Sig Human. The air line is operated by Grant, who has gathered a group of reckless restless pilots to carry the mail over the fog-covered Andes. Jean Arthur, the girl, falls in love with Grant. Her love is not reciprocated because the flyer feels that women and the sky do not belong together. During one of the treacherous fogs which make flying in this spot an additional hazard, one of the pilots crashes and is killed. "The Dutchman" replaces him with Barthelmess, seen as a renegade aviator who bailed out during a test flight .and allowed his mechanic to crash to death. The mechanic’s brother, Thomas Mitchell, is one of Grant’s men. To complicate matters further, Barthelmess is married to Miss Hayworth, the girl who jilted Grant in the States. MAJESTIC THEATRE COMEDY RIOT, “THE LADY AND THE MOB,” AND “FIRST OFFENDERS” A fine programme which includes a rollicking comedy and a thrilling drama, opens to-day at the Majestic Theatre. “The Lady and the Mob,” a Columbia film, is a glib satire on gangster-crime stories with a full load of farce comedy entertainment, starring Fay Bainter who, a few months iag'o, was awarded the Academy prize for the best supporting actress in 1938. Although comedy is the spirit of this picture, novelty is the factor that sets it apart from the routine comedy or I serious crime melodrama. The story | is a good one and there is not a slow | moment during the picture’s full rimming time. Dialogue and action are well balanced, but the greater accent 'is placed on the latter quality. In most of the scenes there are from half a dozen to a score of people on the i screen and the mass grouping makes ; for movement and excitement practically all the time. "The Lady and the Mob” is a picture well worth seeing. "First Offenders," the associate feature, turns the screen’s searchlight | on the courts’ most difficult problemhow to keep young first offenders from becoming hardened criminals. Dealing with the courageous efforts of ’a former district attorney to regenj crate youthful criminals, the firm unfolds romance, drama, and thrills. In | the role of the district attorney Walter | Abel is excellent. Entertaining, as ‘well as stirringly informative, he coni vincingly proves that the real problem confronting the world is the prevention of the first offence against the : law. KING’S THEATRE “TIMBER STAMPEDE” & “CAREER” In his latest picture, “Timber Stampede,’’ which opens at the King’s Theatre to-day, George O'Brien temporarily abandons the desert for the mountain. Most of the action of this exciting picture of old days in the West of the United States is laid in, a heavily forested country, a vast cattle range which a group of lumbermen and railroad magnates plan to destroy by timber logging the district. O’Brien is the leader of the cattlemen opposed to the scheme, and his opposition gets him into much trouble. A stormy romance with a girl journalist, a dangerous investigation of the method by which the promoters plan illegally to

acquire millions of acres of timber for a song, several exciting gun-battles and fist-fights, and the thrilling climax, when O'Brien and the girl are besieg-’ ed in the newspaper office by a maddened group of lumbermen, comprise the highlights of the action. The story affords the husky outdoor star plenty of opportunity for the fast drama for lwhich he is noted, and for a wealth of surprises and suspense. Chill Wills, who has played the role of O'Brien’s funny but faithful pal in several of his recent vehicles, again adds comedy to the picture, and Marjorie Reynolds makes a charming heroine. The associate feature, “Career," is a simple human story of small town people, adopted' from the novel by Phil Strong, which proved one of the year’s best sellers. A big cast is headed by Anne Shirley, Edward Ellis and Leon Errol. OPERA HOUSE “DICK WHITTINGTON” PANTOMIME: THURSDAY The Drury Lane pantomime, "Dick Whittington,'' to be presented next Thursday, provides 21 hours of joyous entertainment for every member of the family, and includes hilarious comedy scenes, singing, dancing and spectacle. The cast is made up oi well-known adult and juvdnile performers, who are supported by a ballet and chorus of 60. The comedy is in the hands of Will B. Keany, as the dame. Glorious singing will be provided by Mrs. y. Hale as the fairy queen, whilst popular swing numbers are handled by June Williamson, Margaret Shone and Veronica Sexton. The ballets and dance numbers were originated and produced by Maureen Keany. Wilfrid Kohn is musical director, with Mrs. Carr at the piano. As the proceeds' are in aid of St. Mary’s funds a full house is assured and patrons are advised to reserve their seals at Mr. Toye’s shop. Family prices are being charged and tickets arc now on sale.

WAIKOIIIJ THEATRE, TE KARAKA Oil Wednesday at 1.30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Anton Wnlbrook and Anna Neagle appear in “Victoria the Great," the outstanding film which was produced with special permisson of the British Government, and has met with great success. Saturday's attraction will be “Heart of the North." set to the background of the Canadian North-west Mounted Police. Included in the cast are Dick Foran. Gloria Dickson and Patric Knowles. Both features are in Technicolour.