TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 9 March 1935, Page 2

TALKIE ATTRACTIONS

OPERA HOUSE “BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE ST.” “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” Rudolf Rosier’s famous -stage play, becomes one of the finest screen dramas for some time as presented in the Metro-GoldwyhrMayer picture which is showing for a three-day season at the Hawera Opera House. Norma Shearer, Frederic March anil Charles Laughton (the famous character actor), head the cast of the picture, which is considered one of the screen’s finest achievements for some time. The story, of Course, deals with the trials Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett have in making the course of true love run smooth against the stern bigotry of Elizabeth’s father. The associate programme includes “The Discontented. Canary,” the first of a series of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer coloured cartoons, and “Roping with Bears,” which is about the most exciting ten minutes an audience has ever been through. The commentary is by Pete Smith.

“THE CIRCUS CLOWN” AND “THE DEFENSE RESTS.” , _■ _ t t With its colour, its action, its blare and heraldry, the circus—both as seen in the ring and is, lived behind the tent drops—will be shown on the. screen of the Grand Theatre to-night and on Monday night in “The Circus Clown.” One of the greatest comedians in the history of filmdom, who has actually lived the life he depicts, for Joe E. Brown was a circus acrobat as o. boy, Brown has been given a vehicle that allows his marked talents full sway, and supported by an exceptionally capable company, including the entire cast of the A 1 G. Barnes circus, he brings to his audience a screamingly tunny comedy that is replete with love interest, thrills and action, and which at times has touches of pathos that stops the laughter with a hint of tears. Patricia Ellis plays the leading feminine role opposite Joe and is the aerialist with whom he finally falls in love, although when lie first joins the circus he is madly, infatuated with a bareback rider who is a female impersonator. \This love affairs makes him the butt of no end of jokes until he finally discovers that his enamorata is a man..

The romances are badly tangled, for the bareback rider, a part played by Donald Dillaway, is in love with Dorothy Burgess, m the role of a lion .tamer. To cover up his own treachery he leads the husband, Harry Woods, the knife thrower, to believe that Joe is his wife’s lover, which makes it hot for the star. Joe’s own misfortunes make for the hilarity of the comedy. Jack Holt, grim-lipped, virile hero of many well-known motion picture productions; throws himself ditto a welter of intrigue, crime and question- ! able courtroom trickery, to give the public a dramatic answer in his latest starring vericle, “The Defence Bests” which also is showing at the Grand Theatre to-night and on Monday. Holt, tas “Matt Mitchell,” sensationally successful criminal lawyer, reveals to his public some of the brilliant tricks of the widely known lawyers ; he is the ruthless defender of any who have the necessary large fees; he is the publicity-seeking, frontpage attorney, who cleverly, skips around the fringes of the law in pursuing his questionable practices. Jean Arthur, Shirley Grey and .Nat Pendleton are featured players in the fine cast, supporting the popular star. Episode 2 of “Pirate Treasure” also will be presented. j