GRAND THEATRE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 196, 12 April 1932, Page 3

GRAND THEATRE

; TO-NIGHT Robert Montgomery makes his bow as a star as the sailor-hero in "Shipmates," a new Metro-Goldwyn-May-er production which opened at the Grand Theatre last night. In this nautical romance, Montgomery contributes the most engagi ing performance of his career and makes his characterisation one of 1 outstanding appeal in a role that might easily have fallen into the 1 smart-alec class. It is to Montgomery's credit that the part is accepted in all sincerity by the audience and not for a single moment does he fail to hold the sympathy — even when sympathy isn't due, The picture has a tremendous sweep in the Navy backgrounds, showing the plunging lines of battleships on the firing ranges, thundering salvos, repelling a tactical enemy in a mighty spectaele, terrifying to behold as it flashes on the screen with all the fury of the gun blasts pounding from the loud-speakers. In the shipboard scenes, Navy life is depicted in a fascinating intimacy. Harry Pollard, who directed the picture, is to be complimented for the splendid pictorial value of the production. The blending of the shore romance with the Navy interest is deftly interpolated. Included in the cast are Cliff Edwards, Gavin Gordon, John Marsh, Edward Nugent, E. Allyn Warren, George Irving, Hedda Hopper and William Worthington. From the opening flash of the Battle Fleet standing out to sea for battle maneouvres until the final glorious fadeout, the picture moves with a swiftness that is amazing, the plot gaining momentum and reaching a great dramatic pitch when the ammunition barge is discovered ablaze