ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 107, 2 April 1930, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

DE LUXE TALKIES. s ' “BLACKMAIL,” ENGLAND’S ALL- >- TALKING PICTURE. !- Acclaimed as a perfect masterpiece •; wherever shown, the mpch-hcralded “Black- '- mail,” England’s first all-talking super-pro- '. duction, comes to the Theatre de Luxe '- to-day. When talking films were first : launched on the movie-going public of tho ) world, much controversy as to the effect ) it would have on tho British films in- , dustry was aroused. It was stated by - some that it would bo tho downfall of Britain’s newly-formed studios at Elstree, ’ whereas others foresaw that perfect Eng--1 lish spoken on the screen, and the musical - geniuses of the Continent, which are in . easy reach of British, producers, would ■ prove tho foundation of Great Britain as 1 tho foremost picture producing country in ’ the world. That tho latter theory is correct has already been made evident by the - British International picture, “Blackmail,” i which is incidentally the first all-talkie to : be made in England with British players under British enterprise. Wherever this picture has been shown in Germany, France, and even the United States, tho Press have given it unstinted praise, tho Variety describing it as a landmark for American producers to start from. Alfred Hitchcock, tho director of “Blackmail,” had never made a talking -picture previous to this, and his success is to bo accredited as being a tribute to British enterprise and initiative, for lie has succeeded in a field where others had dreaded entering. The actors also are to be regarded as pioneers in the British talkie field. Tho leading roles are played by John Longdcn, a stage player of considerable note, Anny Ondra, Donald Calthrop, also well-known on the West End stage, and Cyril Ritchard, the young Australian, who recently appeared in “Pic’cadilly.” The management has provided a supporting programme which is in all respects worthy of the high standard attained by the principal feature. AT THE PALACE. DAVEY LEE IN “SONNY BOY.” The Palace Theatre opens a three night season this evening with “Sonny Boy,” Warner Bros.’ latest picture, and the first starring vehicle for four-year-old Davey Lee, who won this early honour through his marvellous performance in support of A 1 Jolson in “The Singing Fool.” Davey’s part in “Sonny Boy” has nothing of tho tragic character of the role he had in the Jolson play. Ho is shown as tho child of temporarily battling parents, and to keep the child’s father from taking Sonny Boy with him his mother plans with her sister to kidnap him. It is by his win- , some and ingenious doings that things are finally straightened out. Davey Lee is supported by Edward Everett Horton, Betty Bronson, Gertrude Olmsted, John T. Mur- 1 ray, Edmund Brcese, Lucy Beaumont and Jed Prouty. Intending patrons woidd be wise to reserve their favourite seats at once. Plans arc on view at tho Central Booking Office. KOSY THEATRE. TALE OF ADVENTURE AND LOVE, i “Two Lovers,” now showing at tho Kosy Theatre, is good entertainment. An interesting romance interspersed with a - dramatic and thrilling mystery angle, tho | picture is Samuel Goldwyn’s best, and also the best of the co-starring films of that successful and popular pair, Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky. It is adapted from “Loatherfacc,” the story of the forced marriage of the two “enemies,” Lenora de Vargas of Spain and Mark Van Rvckc of Flanders —and always there is a thrill over “Loatherfacc,” that mysterious masked one who stood between the conquering Spaniards and the subject Flemings, for the’ beneft of the latter. The cast is exceilenr. Noah Beery, Nigel do Brulier, Virginia Bradford, Helen Joromc Eddy, Paul Lukas (an interesting new Hungarian discovery), Harry Allen, Fred Esmelton and Marcella Daly—all give excellent performances and are well cast. Adapted from the mystery story by Agatha Christie, “The Passing of Mr Quinn” is. presented as the first all-British super-production by the Argosy Film Coy., Ltd-) and stays Stewart Rome and Trilby Clark, supported by an all-star cast. “Mi- Quinn” is the mystery man around whom tho story is woven. A series of complications lead- ( ing up to a stirring and unexpected climax , raises this film above tho usual orthodox , mystery drama. (