ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 65, 14 February 1929, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “BEYOND THE SIERRAS” AND “THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER,” A largo and appreciative audience witnessed these two features at the Kosy Inst night. Colonel Tim McCoy heads a strong east in “Beyond the Sierras.” McCoy has another role in which ho portrays his ability with maximum effect; in fact, ho has nover had a better opportunity, and tho motion picture public will heartily approve this change from tho customary typo of screen drama. The story centres around tho land-thieving activities of notorious bands of outlaws in tho gold days of California. Opposite McCoy, beautiful Sylvia Beecher gives a talented and appealing performance. Another newcomer to tho screen is Marjorie Beebe, who takes the lead in “The Farmer’s Daughter.” She is said to bo red haired, and very pretty, and this is where sho differs from other female funsters, a natural comedienne, whoso every move is a cause for laughter. Tho film gives us something new under the sun in tho. way of laughs and hilarious situations in which a smooth city confidence man is taken in by a dairy maid and given tho surprise of his life. This is a programme to be recommended and it will be repeated again to-night.

AT THE PALACE. “THE TRAIL OF ’9B”—SUPERB ENTERTAINMENT. Some idea of the immensity of “The Trail of ’98,” Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s epic screen successor to that company’s “Ben Hur,” may he gauged from the fact that a vast army of 15,000 extras take part in this tremendously realistic screen version of tho novel by Robert \V. Service dealing with tho great Klondike gold rush thirty years ago. This number exceeds by 2000 the huge host used in “Ben Ilur.” For 3000 ot these extras, heavy furs, boots, caps, gloves and blankets, besides pack sacks consisting of cooking utensils, tinned foods, tools and a small toilet kit, had to be assembled, such as. were used by tho Alaskan miners of the old days. Other preparations at the studios included the chartering of hundreds of old boats, which were actually used in the stampeue to the frozen Yukon; the assembling of 1000 dogs with* harness; the packing of sufficient equipment for a field telephone service to operate over miles of mountain ranges, the purchase of many additional cameras, and transportation arrangements lor the entire company to tho Far NorjA to make the unforgettable exterior When the company at last set off from the studios, it travelled by special trains to the Great Dividing Range, Colorado, where nearly two miles ot railroad were specially constructed to house the company for two months. Here 40 Pullman cars were assembled and converted into living quarters, being electrically heated to give ample warmth in these freezing regions. Twelve dining ears were added, besides extra carriages lor hospital, post office, laboratories, cutting rooms, storage rooms, commissaries, projection room, recreation rooms, and, last but not least, the dogs, horses and cattle, those being constantly attended—especially guarded from pneumonia—by a veterinary surgeon, a chief keeper and six assistants. Movie lovers can glean a slight idea of the intense realism ot tho snow slides from tho fact that two cameras worked on closoups under electrical control by operators stationed two miles away; and tho White Horse Rapids scenes were filmed under the protection of a company of picked lifesavers wlio worked from overhead cables, oil elevated platforms controlled by pulleys, which allowed rapid movement to every point of danger. Fifty canoes, on which 100 carpenters had worked for three weeks, were sacrificed in these scenes to impart tiie last ounce of realism. The lives of tho cameramen who penetrated the Yukon region for unique shots of the annual thaw of the dreaded Goppcr River were constantly endangered by roving packs of starving wolves, necessitating the employ* ment of marksmen by day and huge bonfires at night. This stupendous production lias a cast of no less than thirty-five wellknown players, including Ralph Forbes, Dolores Del Rio, Karl Dane, George Cooper, Tully Marshall, Folly Moran, Tenon Holtz and Harry Carey, and is undoubtedly one of the greatest of screen achievements, portraying as it does one of the most amazing adventures in the history of the human race, with colossal and never-to-be-forgotten realism, drama and romance. “The Trail of ’9B” is at present enjoying a wonderful season at the Palace Theatre.

THEATRE DE LUXE. AN UPROARIOUS COMEDY. Standing out like a beacon of fun with coherent plot, “Finnegan’s Ball,” one of the funniest screen comedies of recent years, opened a limited engagement at the Theatre de Luxe yesterday. It is a comedy with a clean laugh every 20 seconds, and retains the hilarious snap of the original stage play. “Finnegan’s Ball” points the trend of motion pictures to-day in as much as all of its comedy situations are spontaneous and lit the action of the story. The story concerns the fortunes, joys and sorrows of the Finnegans traced from their humble cottage in Ireland, brought to America by a big-hearted, but noisily bluff friend of long standing, their erroneous exaltation to the position of vast riches, and the dramatic dropping of the floor of fortune out from under them. Blanche Mchaffey, as the beautiful colleen, Cullen Landis as her lover, huge Mack Swain ae the boisterous Flannigan, Charley McHugh as little Finnegan, and Aggie Herring as Mrs Finnegan are the principal players and are all that is to be desired. It is safe to say that every person of Irish extraction in this city should see “Finnegan’s Ball.” Every other person will do well to follow their example. Seats may be reserved at Berryman’s.

SATURDAY’S DELIGHTFUL PROGRAMME. The management of the Theatre de Luxe have arranged a charming stage feature as a prologue for the picture “Dancing Vienna,” to be presented for three nights, commencing next Saturday. This will take the form of a jazz novelty and will be danced by pupils of Miss Moira Coughlan. It is safe to say that these clever young people will delight all who see them. Miss Ngaire Coughlan will appear \n an entrancing solo dance, entitled, “Dream Waltz,” which will be a most attractive number. Also the first episode of the “New Greater Collegians” will be screened.

ALLAN WILKIE COMPANY. COMING NEXT WEEK. Mr Allan Wilkie, C.8.E., who is now concluding a highly successful season at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, visits tho Opera House for two nights prior to commencing his season at Auckland. Mr Wilkie has gathered round him a splendid company, which, while numbering very many old and tried favourites, also now includes some English artists new to tho Dominion, but who have already mado their mark on the English _ stage. In addition to" this new attraction Mr Wilkie has embellished tho staging of his repertoire by the latest system of European lighting, and this, combined with an artistic colour scheme in costuming the plays, provides a feast to the eye, which is a fitting frame to. Shakespeare’s wonderful comedies and tragedies. The plays chosen by Mr Wilkie for presentation at this visit are: —“As You Like It,” on Monday, February 18th; “Macbeth,” on Tuesday, February 19th. Miss Ilunter-Watts, tho distinguished Shakespearean actress, will be seen again the glorious heroine roles ot tho great- playwright, and a notable new member of the company is Mr Alexander Marsh, late leading man to Sir F R. Benson. Mr Marsh has already earned striking tributes from critics in Wellington, Melbourne and Sydney. He will bo seen in tho following roles:—Banquo in “Macbeth” and Oliver in “As You Like It.”