TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 March 1935, Page 2

TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

“BABES IN TOYLAND” / OPERA HOUSE Comedy of a delightful order is provided in “Babes in Toylniml,” the Laurel and Hardy full-length picture which opened at the Opera House on Saturday. It has an appeal for all classes and for all ages. There is a freshness and originality in their an--tics which wins them instant popularity. In “Babes in Toyland” they find fruitful fields for much that is n ew in wholesome humour. Stannie Duni and Ollie Dee are characters who strike a novel note in screen impersonation, and while they retain much of the technique which has led to their present fame, their latest effort has many aspects which add to their reputation as comedians. The picturesque figures of nursery mythology people the film with a splendid realism, and clever plot construction casts them in many a grotesque situation and in many an amusing predicament.' In this delightful company the popular pair act as many people would expect them to, although unexpected incidents and ridiculous reaction invariably occur to make their buffoonery the more enjoyable. Moving through fantastically gorgeous sets, the colourful characters of loyland present «i story that is interesting to both grown-ups and youngsters.. The Widow Peep, who lives in “The Shoe,” will be evicted from her home unless she pays off the mortgage, held by sinister Burnaby, Toyland’s only villain. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, stars of the film, who are Widow Peep’s star boarders, plan to borrow the necessary money from the toy-maker, to whom they are apprenticed. But Stanley messes up an order from Santa Claus, which results in the manufacture of 160 robot sol-j diers,s ix feet tall, although 600 soldiers one foot tall had been specified. Both Stan and Ollie are fired. Unable now to raise the necessary money, Laurel and Hardy turn to subterfuge to get the Widow Peep out of the clutches of Barnaby, who, although 68 years of age, wants to marry 80-Peep, Widow Peep’s 16-year-old daughter. The result is a series of events that brings to Laurel and Hardy a ducking in the village pool and banisthment from the Kingdom of Toyland; a fight with the horrible inhabitants of Bogeyland and the final foiling of Barnaby, the villain —ending with BoPeep happy in the arms of her sweetheart, Tom-Tom, and Laurel and Hardy back in the good graces of Toyland’s inhabitants. Highlights of the film are the beautiful rendition of Victor Herbert’s “March of the Toys,” “Castle in Spain” and “Go to Sleep, Slumber Deep.” Charlotte Henry is a delightful 80-Peep. Henry Kleinbach, 22-year-old actor, does great work in his first important film role as Barnaby. The singing of Felix Knight, Atwater Kent Radio finalist, and Virginia Karns, radio songstress, add much to the film. Supporting “shorts” complete an excellent programme, which will .be screened finally to-night.

“COCKEYED CAVALIERS” Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsev don 16th Century finery, pose as a couple of physicians in the medieval days, wreak plenty of evil on ailing princes and provide plenty of fun. melody and gay romancing in “Cockeyed Cavaliers,” their newest musiccomedy, which screens at the Opera House to-morrow and ’Wednesday. Their most important victim in this RKO-Radio joyfilm is a devilish duke who covets the hand of a commoner’s daughter who is in love with "Wheeler. With the use of their wooden mallets, cold chisels, giant saws and a veterinarian’s handbook, the boys settle his matrimonial ambitions in no uncertain fashion. Dorothy Lee and Thelma Todd provide the feminine allure, together with many chorus beauties, in “Cockeyed Cavaliers.” Mucb of the charm of the picture is due to its synchronised score, and its songs, which include “1 Love to Dilly Dally” and “I AVent Hunting,” two popular numbers pretentiously interpreted by dance and choral groups. Mark Sandrich directed “Cockeyed Cavaliers,” whose supporting features

are Noah Beery, Robert Greig and' .tienry Sedley. An excellent supporting programme will also be screened. The box plan is at Miss Blake’s Phone 2713. “THE, BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STEET” The Metro-G old wyn-Mayer master piece, “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” will commence its season of four nights and four matinees at the Hawiera Opera House on Saturday next at 2 pan. Norma Shearer, Fredric March, and Charles Laughton bring the characters of this powerful drama to life. “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” is undoubtedly one of the outstanding productions of iy3o, and already there have been many enquiries from town and country for reservations. The box plans will open for the season at the Opera House sweet shop at, 9 on Wednesday morning.

GRAND THEATRE

“BIG EXECUTIVE” AND “OLDFASHIONED WAY”

W. C. Fields, whom movie audiences have laughed ( to rvtai dom, brought his brand, new Paramount film, “The Old-Fashioned Way,” to the Grand Theatre on Saturday for a two night season, and well-nigh threw the first night audience into a panic with his hysterical clowning. “The Old-Fashioned Way” tells the dramatic story of an old-time stage peiformer who leads his poverty-stricken vaudeville troupe from town to town in their search for fame—and food. With high spirits and low funds, they manage to keep just one jump ahead of the sheriff and two weeks behind in salaries. Paramount cast Baby Le Rov, their youngest screen star, to pester “Bill” Fields. Le Roy enters the scene as the mischievous son of the town’s wealthiest widow who aspires to enter Field’s show, and causes the old troupe all kinds of trouble. Making a rapid departure from his previous screen roles, Ricardo Lortez enters an entirely new field in Paramount’s “Big E’xecutige” at the Grand Theatre finally to-night. “Big Executive,” one of the most enlightening stories yet filmed of the money-mad stock manipulators in New York’s financial lane introduces a new r and refreshing actress to the screen in the person of Elizabeth Y°nng, who recently jumped from the social register to a Paramount contract. Episode 1 of “Pirate Treasure” will also be presented.

“REGISTERED NURSE” “Registered Nurse,” which screens at the Grand Theatre to-morrow and Wednesday evenings, presents the romantic side of a nurse’s life in a metropolitan hospital. It is based on a thrilling drama by Florence Johns and Wilton Lackaye, Jr., and adapted to the screen by Lillie Hayward and Peter Milne. There is a strong cast including Bebe Daniels, Lyle Talbot, Irene Franklin, John Halliday, Sidney Toler, Gordon Westcott, Minna Gombell, Beulah Bondi and Vince Barnett, Robert Florey directed.