AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 5

AMUSEMENTS

COSY TALKIES, HASTINGS. “THE SPORTING WIDOW.” “The Sporting Widow” the film title for the human-interest comedy story by Harvey Harris Gates ami Malcolm Stuart Boylan, now showing at the Cosy Talkies, Hastings, is the type of movie that becomes an admirable vehicle for actors who know their character-stuff and know it well. Paramount having signed up two of the most capable interpretive artists of the world of make-believe for the principal roles in this picture, has assured audiences everywhere of enjoyable times whenever “The Sporting Widow” is shown. The featured pair are Alison Skipworth and Richard Bennett. Alison Skipworth, veteran of the stage, an artist as well as an actress, and a humorist by instinct, demonstrates delightfully just the kind of bluff a “sporting widow” needs, to get her schemes over quickly and with charming finesse. Richard Bennett, a master of quaint comedy roles for thirty years, and possessing rare skill as an interpreter of character roles, portrays the kind of trusting husband who doesn’t know a gouge from a gimlet, or can’t tell a harp from an old harpie. Other featured players include George Raft, who is being hailed everywhere as a new “find”, Evalyn Knapp, Winter Hall, Oscar Apfel and Harry Gribble. MUNICIPAL THEATRE. HASTINGS “THE PURCHASE PRICE.” It is in line with Barbara Stanwyck’s modesty that she never told anyone she could sing. It never occurred to her that anyone could be interested in knowing. Director William Wellman discovered it only after he had tried to get several singers to double for her in her current production of “The Purchase Price,” now playing at the Municipal Theatre, Hastings, and failed. No one else’s voice seemed to fit her personality. Barbara then offered, much to the surprise of everyone, to sing the song entitled “Take Me Away,” herself—and did, with the same haunting loveliness that characterises everything she does. Critics everywhere have voiced their surprise that a voice like hers has been kept from the screen so long. “The Purchase Price” marks the first time she has ever sung in a picture. In the cast of “The Purchase Price” with Miss Stanwyck are George Brent, sensational new leading man of the screen, Lyle Talbot, Hardie Albright, David Landau, Matt McHugh, Clarence Wilson, Lucille Ward, Victor Potel, Adele Watson, Dawn O’Day, Snub Pollard and Crawfurd Kent. ARCADIA TALKIES, HASTINGS. ‘‘MICHAEL AND MARY.’’ “Michael and Mary,” which is now showing at the Arcadia, is one of those rare pictures that will remain a pleasant memory when other pictures have been consigned to the limbo of completely forgotten things. It is indeed a memorable picture which not only tells a beautiful stqry in a most delicately beautiful way, but with extraordinary’ dramatic force and conviction. The story deals with a theme which could not be exceeded in its tragedy, but the superlatively fine acting of every member of the cast, and of Herbert Marshall in particular, is so exquisitely measured that there is not the slightest approach to the hysterical and exaggerated demonstrations that one has become unfortu- ’ nately accustomed to in what are usually described as domestic dramas. Herbert Marshall’s acting is of a quality so uncommon as to make one feel that he is peiffiaps without an equal on the screen. The acting of Edna Best is only less notable than her husband’s because the importance of her role is less, but taken alone it would be a notable performance. '1 he picture is splendidly produced, and the subsidiary characters are uncommonly good. The supporting film is “Flat No. 9,” a British short comedy of good quality. Patrons should reserve by ringing 'phone 4336.