THE THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 24244, 30 September 1940, Page 10

THE THEATRES

REGENT ‘VIRGINIA CITY” DOMINION PREMIERE OF THRILLING FILM The Regent Theatre has been noted for the fine selection of films it has airways shown, and on Saturday it had a special treat for patrons who like to see good actors in a good picture. The Dominion premiere of “Virginia City,” which should make new friends for its star, Errol Flynn, attracted a big audience to the Regent. The story casts Fiynn in one of his usual dashing roles, that of an officer of the Northern Army in the time of the American Civil War. With Flynn in the leading roles are Randolph Scott and Miriam Hopkins, both of whom will be well known to all film-goers. Though Flynn is the hero, Scott runs him a close second for acting honours. Miriam Hopkins plays the part of a spy of the Southern Army, who dances in a cafe in Virginia City so that she can get information to help her beloved Southerners. Scott is an old friend, also a Southerner, who has the job of getting 5,000,000 dollars worth of gold out of the Northern stronghold and down to the Southern Army, which is in dire straits for want of financial help. Flynn is cast as a special officer of the North who has heard of the gold to be taken south and does all in his power to stop it from reaching its destination. The story is a simple one, but it has an appeal all its own. The long, weary 1200 miles that the gold has to travel proves at last too much for those who are to convoy it through the many Northern strongholds and outposts. On the way the wagon train is attacked twice by a band of renegades and fierce fighting ensues. At this stage Flynn reaches the wagon and is in time to save it from falling, with its gold, into outlaw hands. The story is full of action and there is never a dull moment throughout the whole picture. The supporting programme contains a colour cartoon and some excellent short features showing how Britain is putting its waste materials, even kitchen refuse, to use in the country’s war effort.

STATE AND CIVIC “REBECCA” David O. Selznick’s production of “Rebecca,” based on the famous bestselling Daphne du Maurier novel, will be unreeled in all its moving brilliance and dramatic impact at both the State and Civic Theatres simultaneously today. “Rebecca” screens today at 2.0 and 8.0 at the State and at 7.45 at the Civic. Directed by the brilliant and gifted Alfred Hitchcock, “Rebecca” is the most exciting and suspenseful picture ever brought to New Zealand. Heading the specially-chosen cast are Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, who play the starring roles, while in their support are Judith Anderson, C. Aubrey Smith, George Sanders, Nigel Bruce, Florence Bates and Gladys Cooper. Olivier is cast as Maxim de Winter, a prominent society man who is famous for his vast Tudor estate called Manderley. To this house he brings his second wife, played by Miss Fontaine, a shy and unsophisticated person who can hardly be compared to the glittering and brilliant former mistress of Manderley, Rebecca, now dead. But though Rebecca is dead, her forceful personality and dramatic beauty still continue to dominate Manderley and to haunt the lives of those who wander through its immense rooms. Judith Anderson, as the sadistically cruel Mrs Danvers, gives a screen portrayal which is unforgettably brilliant, and the performances of Olivier and Miss Fontaine must be rated as being unsurpassed on the screen this season. Alfred Hitchcock, the director who brought a new status to screen intrigue and melodrama, has directed “Rebecca” with startling impact, with amazing subtlety as to character delineation and with rich dramatic overtones. The picture moves with telling and engrossing swiftness from its initial scene to the final fadeout. Add to this brilliant pictorial backgrounds, an excellent musical score and unusually fine lighting effects, and you get some idea of why David O. Selznick’s newest picture, “Rebecca,” is not to be missed by all those who seek real entertainment. Box plans for today’s State sessions at 2.0 and 8.0 and the Civic session at 7.45 are on view at Begg’s or the State.

MAJESTIC Clarence E. Mulford’s “Sante Fe Marshal,” which stars William Boyd as the popular western hero, Hopalong Cassidy, will conclude . at the Majestic Theatre today. On the same programme is “Parole Fixer,” a further story taken from Edgar J. Hoober’s “Persons in Hiding.” This is most interest- I ing and absorbing authentic crime drama. The principal roles are played by Anthony Quinn, William Henry. Virginia Dale and Lloyd Talbot. Patrons ■ are reminded also that this will be the : last opportunity they will have of seeing the final episode of the G-Man serial “The Green Hornet.”

Bob Burns, who has endeared himself to the hearts of filmgoers with his portrayals in recent pictures of the “Arkansan Traveller,” and a Missouri “mule-trader,” has the best role of his career in “Our Leading Citizen,” a vivid new Paramount drama dealing with the problems of contemporary America, which opens tomorrow at the Majestic Theatre. This time Bob is starred as a lawyer, a mellow philosophical fellow who believes that any problem can be settled by both sides sitting down at a conference table and discussing it, each side giving a little. Republic’s “Thou Shalt not Kill” is the associate feature on tomorrow’s programme at the Majestic Theatre with. Charles Bickford starred. The picture presents a compelling portrayal of life in a small town with prejudices and narrow beliefs. Plans are now on view at H. and J. Smith’s department store, Rice’s Majestic sweet shop and at the Majestic Theatre.