ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 270, 14 October 1929, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. A WONDERFUL PROGRAMME. Before l a packed house at the • Kosy Theatre on Saturday nighty a splendid programme was. screened. “The Rising Genoration*■* was the star and lovely Alice; Joyce headed this fine picture which is a story of modern American youth, jazz mad and care free. Assisting Alice Joyce is Jameson Thomas, and England’s tennis champion, Betty Niithall. In addition, “Flower of the Forest” will again be shown. This is a splendid Continental film, and quite different from the ordinary pictures. 1 It is the story -of the daughter, of a i forester who falls in love ■ with the King, believing him to be a royal servant. Everything that happens is on the delightful plane of might-have-been, and everybody in the picture acts in this spirit. The principal part is played by Lya Mara, a beautiful Viennese artiste. Seldom has any artist made such a profound impression on a first, acquaintance. ’ As an added attraction, chapter eight of “Tarzan the Mighty,” entitled ‘‘The Jungle Traitor,’ will be . shown. This fine programme will again be shown to-night. THEATRE DE LUXE. LAURA LA PLANTE. “The Love Trap,” which opened at the Theatre de Luxe on Saturday, is a photoplay as Vastly different from the usual motion picture as it is beyond the ordinary, in entertainment value. Starring beautiful Laura La Plante, the “personality girl” cf the screen, it derives its title from the clever manner in which a young wife turns the tables of an undeserved reputation in order to clear her name. For the first time in her screen career, Miss La Plante is seen in “The Love Trap” as a chorus girl. Her. romance with Neil Hamilton, one of tho most popular young leading men of the silvershoet, as the scion of a wealthy and aristocratic, family, furnishes her with many opportunities for the sparkling comedy which has made, her so faiqous. Directed by William Wyler, whose masterly “Shakedown” brought him instant recognition, “Tho Lovo Trap” is a lavish production featuring, .in addition to Miss La Plante and Neil Hamilton, such justly celebrated players as Norman Trevor, Robert Ellis, Jocelyn Leo, Clarissa Solwynne, Rita La Roy and others. The box plan, is at the Central Booking Office, ’phone 7178. After 5 p.m. seats may be reserved by ringing the theatre, ’phone 5050. PALACE TALKIES. “4 DEVILS” AGAIN TO-NIGHT. F. W. Murnau,. noted director for Fox Films, whose initial effort in “Four Sons” produced acclaim from critic and layman alike, has Janet Gaynor heading the cast of his current production, “4 Devils,” which opened at the Palace Theatre on Saturday to capacity houses. Tho selection of Miss Gaynor presented no problem to Mr Murnau. Her experience with the directorial genius in “Sunrise” prepared her for his requirements. The remainder of the cast was a different matter. Of course Farrell Macdonald, another artist benefiting from Mr Mumau’s association in his first picture, was an exception. For the- others many tests w?ro required. The fortunate players he selected for roles in “4 Devils” were liot stars of the first magnitude. Charles Morton, Nancy Drexel, Barry Norton ■ and Mary Duncan have fine parts, and are considered the most envied members of the motion picture fraternity to-day. Among others cast in “4 Devils” are. Claire McDowell, Jack-Parker, Philippe de Lacy, Dawn O’Day, Anita Fremault, Wesley Lake and Anders Randolf. “4 Devils” is taken from'an original 6tory by Herman Bang. It is simple in theme, but attains powerful proportions as a story when told pictorially under the . influence of Mr Murnau’s amazing technique. NICOLA, THE MAGICIAN. “Black magic used to be the term applied to the woird arts of the necromancer. But the magic of- Nicola the Great, who appears on Wednesday at the‘Opera House, is ' scarlet and gold. Against the background of a blood-red curtain appear first the illusions which Nicola learned as tho only white, member-of the. ! Hindu Society of Necromantique. There is the elastic lady, who is bound to a rack, and' whoso neck and limbs appear to stretch for yards. There is tne smiling girl, who doesn’t seem to mind when keen and dangerous-looking knives arc stuck into her. A thousand other tricks—any one sufficient to have convicted Nicola the Great as a wizard of tho deepest dyo in other days—baffle and entortain the audience. Tne graceful sleight-, of-hand learned in the Argentine, the picturesque magic which is still practised in Old China, and the sorcery secrets which wero known to ancient Egypt are revived for the enchantment of a New Zealand audience. Nicola himself can claim tho title of “The Man they could not Hang.” Enveloped in a strait-jacket and handcuffed, ho was suspended by a rope from the sheer faco of an American building, and worked loose from his bonds. “It beats mo how ho did it,” was all his. warder, a legitimate member of the American polico force, could say. And Nicola’s magic will bewilder the most critical audience.

WESTMINSTER GLEE SINGERS. The popular appeal of the Westminster Glee Singers has been remarked upon and highly commended by musical critics all over the British Empire and during their recent- eighteen months’ tour of Canada the musical critics lavished on them unstinted praise not only for their magnificent singing but for the choice selection and diversity of the programmes. When the company performs in Palmerston North next Friday, October 18th, these features, will bo noted for the special programmes arranged for tho New Zealand tour indicate a most careful selection which gives utmost scope to certainly one of the most versatile and well trained organisations that have ever left Britain. The Westminster Glee Singers are drawn from tho English cathedral choirs, the most famous London churches, Royal College of Music and the 1 field of opera; tho personnel consists, of Masters Douglas Bartrip, Vincent Petley, Harry Fearn, Norman Clarke, Alan Goodored, Sidney Walls, boy sopranos from London choirs, together with Donald Reid, alto from Westminster Abbey; William Lowry, also from Christchurch Cathedral, England; Ernest McKinley, the Now Zealand tenor who joined the company in Canada; Charles O’Connor, Irish tenor and harpist ; _ Edward Branscombe, for ten years soloist at Westminster Abbey; James Barker, the eminent Scottish basso.; Charles Draper, operatic exhibitioner, Royal College of Music, London; Albert G.’ Greeno, from principal London concerts and opera houses.