ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 103, 1 April 1929, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

AT THE PALACE. REG. DENNY FILLS THE THEATRE. New York’s gayest party, the annual Beaux Arts ball at Webster Hall, is featured in Reginald Denny’s new Universal starring vehicle, "The Night Bird,” which is the star attraction at present at the Palace Theatre. The galaxy of femin-ine-pulchritude appearing as dancers in elude the pick of Hollywood screen players and the Los Angeles stage. Denny, with Corliss Palmer playing the role of a socalled love bandit, puts on one of the funniest dancing acts ever screened. Thousands of toy balloons, miles of paper streamers and hundreds of pounds of confetti were consumed during the weok snent fibi ing this sequence. A large orchestra and talented entertainers completed the atmosphere. Denny appears in the role of a prize fighter whose promoter believes that appearing in the city’s night life will increase the box office at his fights. So he forces the woman-shy fighter to attend the Beaux Arts Ball among other hilarious episodes. “The Night Bird” is the screen version of the popular story, “The Man Disturber,” by Frederick and Fanny Hatton. The screen adaptation was done by Nick Barrows and Earle Snell while Snell did the continuity. Bct6y Lee, a new discovery who played the leading role last year m the Arthur Lake comedies, has her first big featured role in “The Night Bird” playing the role of the little “Man Disturber.”

KOSY THEATRE. “VAMPING VENUS” AND "RED - HEELS.” Scenes dazzling in their beauty, dancing maidens; Ethiopians stalwart and glistening; incense urns steaming in the sunlight; enormous classic pillars rising into the sky; gods and goddesses at play; all, these and many more spectacular and impressive sights are found in First National’s great special comedy, “Vamping Venus,” which opened at the Kosy on Saturday. Impressive sets were made and hundreds of extras used for the ancient Greece sequences in this picture, a story of a New York politician of to-day who takes an imaginary trip to Athens in the height of its glory. While the picture is intended primarily for laughing purposes, and serves those purposes well, it is also an artistic triumph for First National with scenes'that fairly dazzle the eye. Charlie Murray demonstrates that he is one of the funniest cemdians on the screen in his latest vehicle. With Miss Fazenda’s aid he keeps the audience in an uproar. Thelma Todd as the cabaret dancer in New York who becomes Venus is more beautiful than ever. second feature is “Red Heels” starring the famous continental star, Lila Damita. To take a theatrical star at the height of her career to a honeymoon in Brittany, where the husband fishes the live-long day, is to invite trouble. Yet this is just what Miles did when lie married Celimene, the “darling of Paris.” How the girl resented the dullness and longed for the brightness and gaiety of former days is one of the many vivid incidents in “Red Heels.” In addition, the final chapter of “The Vanishing Rider” will be shown. As the management is expecting another big house to-night, patrons are advised to be early to save disappointment. THEATRE DE LUXE. ATTRACTIVE HOLIDAY PROGRAMME The programme at the Theatre de Luxe provides excellent holiday fare. The principal picture is “A Woman Redeemed” a strong drama adapted from the thrilling secret service story by F. Britton Austin entitled “The Fining Pot is for Silver.” The story is laid in Paris and London, and tells of a young English inventor who perfects plans for a powerful warplane. A secret foreign society, the head of which is a wealthy count, desires to secure the plans and in a novel way uses a charming English girl as the pawn in his political game. Brian Aherne, who is rapidly becoming one of the most popular of English screen actore, is seen as a young inventor. Joan Lockton is the English girl —fair haired and blue eyed—and Stella Arbenina is the woman who brings about : the marriage of the English girl and the inventor. The biggest interior setting ever constructed for a British film is seen in “A Woman Redeemed.” The set represents a famous Parisian dance club. In the centre a big bathing pool is seen, in which a troupe of clever girl swimmers perform aquatic “stunts,” whilst the dancers watch from balconies and from tho surrounding dance floor. The seventh featurette of the remarkably popular series of “New Greater Collegians,” Is also to be shown. This is entitled “Dear Old Calford.” The rest of the programme is of a very entertaining nature. The Premier Quintette will be heard in a number of bright musical items. The box plan is available at the Central Booking Office, Majestic Building, Broadway, ’phone 7178, until 5 p.m. and thereafter at the theatre ’phone 5050.

“STREET ANGEL.” A charming love story of picturesque Naples will be unfolded at the Theatre do Luxe en Wednesday next when “Street Angel,” the Fox film featuring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, is shown. Audiences all over the world have acclaimed the beauty of the settings and the splendid acting. Frank Borzage who also produced “7th Heaven,” featuring these same ajtists, has once more proved himself one of the screen’s leading directors. The story tells of Angela, an unfortunate victim of circumstances, who, desperate through poverty and the sickness of her mother, tries to steal money. She is found and carried away to prison, while a newly discovered sweetheart gives her up for dead. But, everything turns out all right in the end and Angela comes back to Naples to find shelter ,romance and a husband. A delightful feature of the programme will be the singing of the fascinating theme song, “My Angel,” by Miss E. Gooding, who is the possessor of a very fine voice, The box plan is now open at the Central Booking Office, Majestic Building, Broadway, ’phone 7178.. Special matinees are to lie held next Wednesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. Early booking of seats is recommended, as very big business is anticipated with this picture.