AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 81, 17 March 1933, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS

" 'cosy TALKIES? HasTInGIs. “THE SPORTING WIDOW.’ 1 “The Sporting Widow” the film title for the human-interest comedv story by Harvey Harris Gates anil Malcolm Stuart Boylan, now showing at the Cosy Talkies, Hastings, is tin. type of movie that becomes an admirable vehicle for actors who know theii character-stuff and know it well. Paramount having signed up two of the most capable interpretive artists of th«world of make-believe for the priaai pal roles in this picture, has assured audiences everywhere of enjoyable times whenever “The Sporting Widow” is shown. The featured pair are Alison Skipworth and Rich**.. 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 tel) a harp from an old harpie. SATURDAY’S ATTRACTION. Action, romance and the pictureaque recreation of one of the most colourful periods in Western history are all com bined in “Salomy Jane,” the Charles Farrell-loan Bennett production shoving on Saturday at the Cosy Theatre The story follows closely the original Bret Harte tale of “Salomy Jane's Kiss,” and was actually filmed \ ithin a few miles of the exact locale, among the giant trees of Sequoia National Park. Raoul Walsh directed for Fox Films, with Doris Anderson and Edwin Justus Mayer writing the screen pla MUNICIPAL THEATRE, HASTINGS “THE PURCHASE PRICE.” It is in line with Barbara Stan wyck’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. CHEVALIER ON SATURDAY. “Love Me Tonight,” Manner Chevalier’s latest Paramount film which opens to-morrow at the Muni cipal Theatre, is a peculiarly delightful concoction of melody and humour in which the famous French singing star has one of the best roles of his career. Maurice, in the fantastic romance which serves as a story, is a Pari: tailor, intent on collecting a long overdue bill from the Vicomte Gilbert. But before that bill is paid, Maurice haposed as a baron, been the honoured guest at the house of the Vicomte’s uncle, and won the heart of the beautiful Princess Jeanette. ARCADIA TALKIES, HASTING*. “MICHAEL AND MARY.’* “Michael and Mary,” which ia 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 story in a most delicately beautiful way, but with extraordinary dramatic force and conviction. Herbert Marshall’s acting is of a quality so uncommon as to make one feel that he is perhaps 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. The 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. DOUBLE-STAR BIIjL TO-MORROW Commencing at to-morrow’s matinee at the Arcadia, there is a grand doublestar programme. The first picture is United Artists’ version of Walter Green’s sensational story “Corsair,” starring Chester Morris and Alison Lloyd. It is a thrilling story of a modern sea pirate who preys on the rum-runners. The film was taken largely at sea, and the various exciting scenes keep patrons in a high pitch of excitement. The second film is a western cowboy film, “The Ghost Valley,” featuring hard-riding Tom Keene. Combining whirl-wind action with mystery thrills, this film sets a new standard for screen entertainment of the outdoor variety. It does so by retaining all of the characteristics which have made the better westerns so popular, and adding to them th? shock appeal of the mystery horror films. The box plan for this doublestar programme is now open at the theatre shop, ’phone 4336.