AMUSEMENTS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 63, 26 February 1935, Page 9

AMUSEMENTS

HASTINGS PICTURES I REGENT THEATRE “THE BARRETTS OF WIMrOLE STREET.” “The Barretts of Wimpole Street” was one of the most popular plays that has ever been shown in Hastings, ami it is safe to say that the picture now screening at the Regent Theatre, will score a similar success. Norma Shearer, Fredric March, and Charles Laughton aro the three principals in the picture,’ while the minor parts are filled by such popular players as Maureen O’Sullivan, Ralph i’orbos and Una O’-i Connor. “Tho Jarretts of Wimpole Street” is a brilliant production—brilliantly conceived written, acted directed and framed. Norma Shearer and Fredric March <!o more than present a tender, poetic Jove story; they actually bring , tho invalided Elizabeth Barrett and the I poet Robert Browning to life. And as, the grim uncompromising father whose diabolical influence motivates the drama. Charles Laughton gives a performance which compares well with his interpretation of Henry the Eighth. The supporting players aro equally inspired and equally well cast. No one ever danced the polka more gaily than does the Irish lass, Maureen O’Sullivan; nor looked morn gallant than Ralph Forbes as Captain Cook; nor more sadly resigned than Katharine Alexander; nor flirted more expertly than Marion Clayton. Leo Carroll and Ferdinand Mtinicr aro excellent as l.lizabctli’s iloctors, while Jan Wolfe ami Vernon Downing are at home as Bevan and Octavius —the parts they created on the stage. COSY THEATRE MAE WEST \M) “COME ON MARINES.” I "She Done Him Wrong,” the Mae West film at the Cosy to-day, is a story of th® Bowery, a notorious section of New York, during the gay nineties with its collection of wideopen saloons, “tough men,” and frivolous women. It centres around a singer known as “Lady Lou,” who Ims a way with men ami who accepts their attentions in return for diamonds. Her collection of gems, so great, is her popularity, is ransom let half a dozen kings. “Come on Marini s”, with Richard Arlen, is the supporting feature. “lIIE BROKEN MELODY” “The Broken .Melody I ', coming to the t'uey to-morrow, is a. picture that won immediate appreciation in London.

There are several reasons for the popularity of the picture—first, the story; second, the music; and third, and not least, the excellence of the acting of those who take the leading parts. STATE THEATRE “THE GAY DIVORCEE” A play that ran six months in hot!. London and New York must be good. A picture that ran three weeks in Sydney and Melbourne and a fortnight in Wellington and Auckland must also be good. Ami now the film of that play has come to Hastings and shows at the State Theatre to-day, It is “'J'hc Gaj Divorcee” starring Fred Astaire ami Ginger Rogers', the pair that entranced everyone in “Flying Down to Rio.” .Singing and dancing are featured in a story brimful <>f comedy. “The Gay Divorcee” is declared to be the first “true musical comedy” ever presented on the screen. Studio officials, it is said, exhausted every possibility to accurately capture the giddy, headlong speed of the plot, which, as a stage play starring Fred Astaire, played 238 performances in New York and six months in the Palace Theatre, London. Astaire and Ginger Rogers are starred, with such famous screen players as Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton featured. Hit numbers of the original play have been retained, including the celebrated “Night and Day” number, to the music ol which Astaire does his famous “Dance of Moods.” There is also Astaire’s sensational wild dunce of joy and abandonment. wherein, having at last won the lady of his dreams, he celebrates by leading her in a daring waltz, over tables chairs, davenports and whatnots. SATURDAY’S CHANGE. Lovers of old time songs and those whose memories can go back to 10 years ago will rev. I in the entertainment presented in “My Old Dutch" the. Gainsborough picture coming to the State Theatre Hastings next Saturday. Tin- film, which is based on Albert Chevalier’s immortal song, is replete with many music-hall favourites of tlinl, period, included amongst which is the famous “Down By the Old Bull ami Bush" which is snug in the picture by the woman who made if famous Floi'rio Forde, ARCADIA THEATRE “BIG BUSINESS GIRL”: “HEART OF NEW YORK." Business ami love only go together for a limited distance, if a girl is interested in Hie lormer and a young man in the latter, “Big Business Girl,” current attraction at the Ar-

cadia theatre, is a very modern comedy of errors, and shows what can happen when a girl decide# to bo “strictly business.*’ However, after a series of complications everything ends just a# it should. Loretta Young plays the business girl, with Frank Alhcrteon as the loving swain and Ricardo Cortez, as Miss Young’s employer, gives an excellent performance. Incidentally, tho dance band sequences, revolving around Frank Albertson, as an orchestra leader, allow many new dance-hit* to be introduced and assist in keeping up tho fast tempo of this story. “The Heart of New York,” as the second attraction is more dramatic than comic, comedy, however, playing a prominent part in the progress of the drama. TWO-STAR BILL Commencing on Wednesday is “Smart Money,” with Edward G. Robinson, Evelyn Knapp, James Gag ney and Boris Karloff. Dealing with Robinson’s ambition to become one of the “big shots” of the city, eventually becoming the biggest figure in the gambling world. In support is “The Reckless Hour,” with Dorothy MacKaill and Walter Byron.