ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 208, 1 August 1928, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE PALACE. STIRRING DRAMA 'WITH BRILLIANT CAST. No finer cast of dramatic actors has ever been assembled than the three stars selected by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer tO/interpret tho intensly gripping story of “Body and Soul,” a drama of unusual power with tho Alps as its majestic background, and which is the stellar attraction at the Palace to-night. The authoress, Katherine .Newlin Burt, gave, her story only four principal characters, but their experiences are sufficient to provido material for half a dozen modern novels. The three chosen stars are Lionel Barrymore, Aileen Pringle and Norman Kerry—all seasoned players and popular artists with largo individual followings. Lionel Barrymore plays Dr. Leydon, a famous surgeon reduced to a 6tato of sodden stupidity by drink. He becomes infatuated with a young Swiss peasant woman, in a measure retrieves himself from the depths, but becomes so -anely jealous of her that ho chains her up in an outhouse. She is rescued by a young mountaineer, and from this point onward ono dramatic moment follows another with impelling rapidity. Norman Kerry aa tho mountaineer is buoyant, sincere and decidedly likeable; his success with Barrymore in which ho demands the freedom of the woman ho now loves, and whom the doctor still loves in his drinkcrazed mind, is amzingly vivid and impressive.

KOSY THEATRE. SYDNEY CHAPLIN COMEDY. “Oh ! What a Nurse 1” the new Syd. Chaplin picture which comes to, the Kosy Theatre this evening for a run of three days and nights, is said to be one of the funniest pictures over screened. Critics in other cities have used up all their adjectives in trying to say that this picture will get every laugh possible. They all agree that it is funnier than “Charley’s Aunt” or “The Man on the Box,” the pictures that lifted Syd. Chaplin to the top as a screen comedian. Tho new picture was written by Robert E. Sherwood, editor of Life, and Bertram Bloch. It concerns the mad adventures of a newspaper reporter, who, forced into the garments of a bootleg queen, runs ’ into an astounding series of misadventures aboard a lugger. Tho additional feature is ‘‘Love Hungry,” with Lois Moran and Lawrence Gray. It Is the story of a chorus girl who “traded the huge 6olitairo” of a merchant for the “diamond” of a poor boy and his lovehungry heart.

THEATRE DE LUXE

“SORRELL AND SON” TO-NIGHT.

Tho most outstanding photoplay for 1928 is “Sorrell and Son,” adopted from Warwick Deeping’s world read novel, which will bo screened at the Theatre do Luxe to-night for a short season of three nights and three matinees. “Sorrell and Son” holds the longest run record in Wellington, having been screened for six weeks continuously. In order that no false note should .creep into “Sorrell and Son,” his first production for United Artists, Herbert Brenon, who personally directed the screen version of Warwick Deeping’s stirring novel, took his unit of the Joseph M. Schenck organisation to England for tho exterior scenes. In England, Br:non and his company filmed scenes in London, Midhurst, Marlow,' Ripley, Guildford and Cliilworth, the last five towns all within ICO miles of London. The original of the “Pelican Inn” is at Marlow, and it was employed as a setting in his picture. Tho marriage of “Kit Sorrel” (Nils Asther) and “Molly Roland” (Mary Nolan) was photographed in an old English church. Brenon says that changes in tlie story of “Sorrell and Son” were minor and that each was made with the express approval of Deeping, who collaborated with Brenon on the scenario of tho film during the directorproducer’s visit to England as Deeping’s house, guest. The essential facts, incidents and spirit of the fatlier-and-son story have been faithfully recorded. The director of “Peter Pan,” “Beau Geste” and other distinguished films is highly enthuiastio over the screen work of Miss Nolan. The box plan is now filling rapidly at Berryman’s, or theatre ’phone 5050.

LEON GORDON COMPANY.

“WHO KILLED EDGAR RICE?’’

When tho J. C. Williamaon Dramatic Company headed by Leon Gordon present tho latest, dramatic sensation, “Tho Trial of Mary Dugan,” at the Opera House for one night only on Saturday, the problem mentioned above will be solved. The play has been a huge success in Sydney and Melbourne. A Sydney Herald critic says: —“ln ‘The Trial of Mary Dugan,’ at the Theatre Royal last night, the verdict of the jury was that tho ‘trial’ was to be continued indefinitely. ‘Tho Trial of Mary Dugan’ is a remarkable play in several ways. To begin with, the play is a photographic representation of an American court plus stage exaggerations. Another remarkable feature about the 6how is that the audience walk. into the theatre and find a stage already set as a ciourt room. And so it remains during the action of the piece. The curtain is not lowered. The intervals are reall-- the adjournments of tho court, and the audience are tho jury. Tho play brought back Leon Gordon to the Sydney stage. Niot the swearing, sweating planter of ‘White Cargo,’ • but a suave and very American district attorney. Gordon makes a good job of the character. His long-wind-ed addresses to the. jury, which is the audience, evoked much applause. Gordon scored well, and if the American methods of trying a woman for murder are a little startling, there is a little notice in tile programme to warn tho audience of this circumstance. May Collins played tho part of Mary Dugan with fine sympathy. Ley land Hodgson was also excellent as her brother Jimmy. Charles Wheeler made a good job of the part, of the judge.” The box plan opens to-morrow, Thursday morning, at tho Opera House.