AMUSEMENTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 154, 6 March 1939, Page 1

AMUSEMENTS

“THE BAD MAN OF BRIMSTONE” The powerful “bad man” portrayal ot Wallace Beery, the uniformly fine work of such stellar supporting players as Virginia Bruce, Dennis O’Keefe, Joseph Calleia, Lewis Stone, Guy Kibbee a lull Bruce Cabot, and the distinguished direction of J. Walter Ruben have combined to bring to the screen an absorbing drama in “The Bad Man of Brimstone” which opens Tuesday at the De Ltixe Theatre.

Recapturing the spirited and lawless era of the old frontier days of the West of the 6~s, the new picture offers a thrilling panorama of stagetravel, gold rush _ hysteria, crooked politics, andi the rule ef the tiigger. Racked with action from start to finish the colourful story revealjs how law and order came to< the town of Brimstone when desperadoes such as “Trigger” Bill, portrayed by Beery, ruled with an iron hand.

Beery, giving a' performance which outshines even that of his famed “Viva Villa!” is cast as the outlaw who bands liis forces against that o! the U.S. Marshal until in a striking denouement he discovers that the Marshal, is his own son. His capitulation to a force greater than greed or vanity gives the drama a human touch which stays in one’s memory long after the thrill-packed action and shooting are over.

Virginia Bruce, deserting drawing loom roles in tlie new picture, otters a splendid poi trait of' a pioneer selioolnm’am. Dennis O’Keefe, a remar liable new acting discovery, gives every indication < I becoming another Robert Taylor. Joseph talleia packs his usual striking villains in his role as Beery’s henchman and 1 side-kick* and Stone, Kibbee, Cabot, C'litt Reiss'a ids and Noah Beery fill their roles t<j, perfection.

The picture, filmed against the picturesque backgrounds of Zion National Forest in Utah, is eye-arresting in pictorial beauty. But it is the sdvid characterisations of these .forerunners of America’s civilsiation that make ■‘The Bad Ala ft of Brimstone'’ stand out as a motion picture of exceptional merit. “CAN .YOU HEAR ME, MOTHER” Sandy Rowell, Britain’s greatest comedian, is the star of “Can Yen Hear Ale, Mother ?” which opens at tho Da' Luxe Theatre on Tuesday. Famous"on both radio and granlo-

phone, on which “Sandy's” hilarious antics have delighted listeners throughout- the country, this production marks liis film debut. N« effort lias'been spared to make the picture good rollicking comedy, and supporting the star are such versatile players as pretty Mary. Lawson, Paul Thomson, Muriel Aked and little Baby Ann Ibbetson. an fni'ant progidy who almost- steals the show. The story is based upon Sandy Powell’s life-story, and shows how the stage-struck North country lad conies up to London to win fame on the music hall.