ASHBURTON ACCEPTANCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22987, 16 September 1936, Page 5

ASHBURTON ACCEPTANCES

(Per United Press Association) ASHBURTON. Sept. 15. Following are the Ashburton acceptances:— 12.20 COUNTY HURDLE HANDICAP, Of lOOsovs. One mile and a-half and,

from the gallows, is revealed in vivid perspective, and the customs, vigorous sporting activities and manners of the period are cleverly employed to fill in the background. The story tells how Barnabas, son of an innkeeper, determines to save his father when the latter is wrongly arrested and sentenced 1o death for robbing the Marquis of Camberhurst. He suspects Ronald, the Marquis's grandson, and Chichester, an adventurer engaged to Ronald's sister, the lovely Lady Cleonc, and in order to follow up clues he breaks into society by his prowess with his fists and becomes famous as "The Amateur Gentleman " Douglas Fairbanks, jun., conforms perfectly to the popular conception of Barnabas and cuts a handsome figure. Gordon Harker is excellent as his Cockney henchman, and Elissa Landi has charm and dignity as Lady Cleone. An excellent supporting programme is shown. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. " DESIRE " " Desire," Paramount's special attraction which will be commenced at the Regent Theatre on Friday, is a film to which the title does much less than justice. It is an amalgamation of comedy, piquant and daring romance, and thrilling drama, and in each respect it is said to be outstanding. But perhaps even more outstanding is the acting of the two s-tars. Marlene Dietrich and Gary Codper. For the first time in her Hollywood career, Marlene Dietrich is permitted to be more than a decorative figure posed in a succession of artistic tableaux. She is not only strikingly lovely to look at, but is also a superb actress with a genuine sense of humour. Gary Cooper, who has long since proved himself an excellent dramatic actor, also demonstrates an engaging flair for high comedy. Expert assistance is given the two stars by a cast headed by John Halliday and Alan Mowbray. Miss Dietrich appears as an alluring adventuress with a liking for other persons' jewellery. Cooper represents the ideal, upright, young man enjoying a holiday on the Continent. Encumbered with valuable pearls, acquired in a daring and hilarious coup in Paris, the girl finds the voung man a useful ally. They fall in love, of course, and the concluding situation is no less brilliantly amusing than all those which precede it. *— ~ ST. JAMES THEATRE In "Riff-Raff," the picture showing at present at the St. James Theatre, the characters are people whose exteriors are rough but among whom there exists a loyalty that is bred of their common experience of the misfortunes of life. Jean Harlow and Spencer Tracy, the leading players, are just two such people, and in a story of love, humour, strife and hardship on the waterfront of a seanort they bring an attractive quality to their work. Supporting players are Una Merkel. Joseph Calleia, Mickey Rooney and J. Farrell MacDonald. The plans are at the theatre. Jacobs's and the D.I.C. OCTAGON THEATRE \ " Roberta " is at present being shown for a return season in Dunedin at the Octagon Theatre, and this triumph of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers team is well worth seeing. Irene Dunne has an important part in the film, and sings very well the popular numbers "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and " Lovely to Look At." The bright comedy and clever tap-dancing of the first two, however, are the highlights of the production, the story of which tells of an American dance band stranded in Paris. Edna May Oliver is the central figure of "Murder on a Honeymoon," the associate feature. Comedy has a large part of the film, and James Gleason, a police inspector who perpetually blunders in his theories and suspicions, ably supports Miss Oliver in the entertainment. The latter, as a staid old woman of strange appearance, is the one who eventually solves the murder. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. GRAND THEATRE As a boisterous, roistering rogue—a charming villain who proved that he had the stuff of heroism for the people he loved—Wallace Beery plays his most fascinating role in "A Message to Garcia," 20th Century adventure romance, which will be commenced at the Grand Theatre to-day. Teamed with Barbara Stanwyck and John Boles in the leading roles of this picture, based on one of the most audacious exploits in history, Beery tops the finest of his previous picture portrayals. In the steaming jungles of a tropical land where three people fight Nature and the treachery of men to carry the message to Garcia, much of the dramatic action of the new picture takes place. The dramatic tension increases when Barbara Stanwyck is wounded, and left behind as Boles and Beery press ahead. Then, just when Beery thinks he has brought Boles to Garcia, he discovers that he has inadvertently led him into an enemy trap. It is in the stirring, crashing battle climax that Beery atones for many of the things that nave gone before, frees his friend and brings,the romance to its happy conclusion. George Marshall directed the picture, which was inspired by Elbert Hubbard's immortal essay. The box plans are at the theatre and Begg's. EMPIRE THEATRE Even funnier than the version that proved so popular a few year's ago with Dunedin audiences, the new film. " Three Live Ghosts," now showing at the Empire Theatre, is bound to repeat the success of its predecessor. As a stage play, "Three Live Ghosts" set the world laughing, and it loses nothing by being transferred to the screen. Many of the players are in their original roles, and more than uphold their previous performances. Claude Allister, as " Spoofy," the shell-shocked British officer with kleptomaniacal tendencies, gives a really fine portrayal, and one which draws out the sympathy of the audience as well as its laughter. Richard Aden appears as the young American who is " wanted " by the American police. As the Cockney who makes up the third of the ghostly trio, Charles M'Naughton surpasses himself. The story is that of three soldiers who, after escaping from a German prison camp, arrive in London at the Armistice, only to discover that officially they have been killed in action. Each for his own reason remains " dead." Beryl Mercer, as the Cockney's stepmother, whose two main aims in life are to collect the reward on the American and to obtain a plentiful supply of gin. also gives a splendid performance. There is a good supporting programme. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C. "KLONDIKE ANNIE" The name of the world-famous Mae West should In itself be sufficient attraction to draw audiences, but coupled with a story of such outstanding merit as that of "Klondike Annie," it is little wonder chat this film has been given an extended season throughout the north. It will commence its local season at the Empire Theatre on Friday. No one other than a superb actress could make convincing the amazing characters in which Mar West specialies, and in which she exploits the manners and costumes of the nineties for the entertainment of the present generation, but the response of filmgoers the world over to hor first pictures left no doubt that Miss West had hit upon a gold mine when she created a modern version of the alluring ladies of New York's golden age. In "Klondike Annie," the scene changes to San Francisco and Alaska, but for all that the spirit of the gav nineties is preserved intact. Victor M'Laglen heads the suoporting cast. MAYFAIR THEATRE Jack London's immortal story, " Call of the Wild," has been brought to the screen in a way that will delight all picturegoers of every age. The picture will be commenced at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. and the colourful characters and beautiful natural scenic backgrounds endow " Call of the Wild " with distinction as a picture of the romance in the great outdoors. Clark Gable has the leading role as Jack Thornton, the handsome swash-buck-ling prospector, and his performance

is said to stand out as the finest of his career. Loretta Young is Claire Blake, the sheltered young society woman who cast her lot with Thornton and his pal, Shorty Hoolihan, when her husband is lost in the Arctic wastes, and Jack Oakie is at his best as the wise-cracking Hoolihan. The work of the entire supporting cast, which includes Reginald Owen, Frank Conroy, and Katherine de Mille, is uniformly excellent, and the film introduces a new " wonder dog" in Buck, the St. Bernard who plays London's immortal dog hero. The box plans are at the theatre and the D.I.C.

100 yards. st lb st lb Havering 10 7 Vitaphone .. 9 9 Redolent 0 13 Footwork 9 8 Wexford Brevity 9 0 Bridge 9 y 12.55— NOVICE STAKED Oi lOOsovs. ' Six furlongs. flying Flea 8 4 Heather Autumn Wind 8 4 Land .. 8 4 John Ball .. 8 4 El March .. 8 0 Shawlette 8 4 Rodeur . 8 0 Culotte 8 4 fhermidor .. 8 0 ArrownilW. 8 4 Trench Fight 8 0 Pink Comet 8 4 Almira 8 n Gresham 8 4 Aggravate .. 8 0 Chief Lama 8 4 Fog Peak 8 0 1.35SELMA TRO'I HANDICAP, Of HOsovs One mile and a-half. Bill B ... . scr Naval Base . scr Captain Scott scr Nelson Credit Balance scr M'Fariane . SCI Fine Art . scr Panquitch . scr Great Horatius ! scr Red Ranger . scr Great Linnet . . scr Renew .. . . scr Jane Worthy . . scr Reymere .. . . scr Kingussie . scr Rollalong . scr Linklight . scr Twenty Grand scr Maurice Zincali .. . . scr M'Kinney . . scr yds bhd Mohican .. . . scr Cruiser .. . . 24 Monetary . scr Donalda . 36 2.10— ASHBURTON HANDICAP, Ot 150sovs. i One ii nile and a-quarter. The Surgeon 9 0 Southdown .. 8 13 Tout le Rona Bay .. 8 12 Monoc a 13 Cleaner 8 5 3.30— PENSCROF1 HANDICAP. Of lOOsovs. One mile. Gold Cross .. 8 9 Poniard 7 10 Fiord .. 8 8 Jack Ahoj .. 7 10 Double Gift 8 3 Conviviaj 7 7 Honour's Lass 8 2 Darien .. 7 7 Cape Gabo .. 8 1 Patricia Holm 7 7 Sir Hugh 8 1 Universe 7 7 Polygraph 7 1(1 Makaahi 7 7 4.5— SPRING HANDICAP. Of HOsovs. Six funongs. Wino 9 0 Grey Honour 8 2 Tunneller .. 8 8 Pelmet .. .. 3 1 Davolo 8 5 Great Star .. 7 12 Invoice 8 5 Gaysomt 7 7 4.45RAKAIA TROT HANDICAP, Of 115sovs. One mile and a-ha! 1. Boltaire .. . . scr yd; ;bhd Donalda .. . scr Diversioi . 12 Dual .. . . SCI Gloriett;. . . . 12 Fay Rey .. . . scr King's Drive . 12 Fine Art .. . . scr Old Faithful . . 12 Happy Bird . . scr Renown's Best 12 Lottie Guy . scr Silver Guy 12 Player .. . . scr Parisienne . 24 Radiant Prince scr Garry Thorpe 48 Red Ranger . scr Sports Review 48 Starwyn .. . scr