ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 27, 2 January 1931, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “MAMBA,” ROMANTIC DRAMA.’ To-night at tho Kosy Theatre will see the final presentation of the Cinema Art Films all-talking, nll-technicolour drama,, “Mamba,” featuring Jean Hersholt, Eleanor Boardman and Ralph Forbes. The story "by F. Schumann-Heink tells of a beautiful girl of the German nobility, who is purchased in marriage by an American planter famed for his wealth, his cruelties and his vulgarity—and on the day of her marriage she meets the gallant young officer who lays soige to her heart as fearlessly and frankly as, ho fights. This romance is enacted against a background of native warfare in an African jungle, providing the drama with extra colour and giving the technicolour camera chance to show its skill and beauty. Tho picture was produced by Tiffany . productions and directed by Al. Rogell. -r. ■ ' “SOPHOMORE” AND “OFFICER O’BRIEN.” The first definite results of Frank Reichcr’s “training school” at tho .Pathe Studio in California was evidenced in the playing of Jeanette Loff in one of the two lending feminine roles with Eddie Quillan in “The Sophomoro,” tho first all-dialogue feature in which they aro featured. Sally O’Neill was cast ,for the other featured feminine part. Jeanette Loff is one of seven young players without stage experience whom Pathe have under contract, and who were grouped together into a school, to learn talkie technique under the direction of Frank Rcichcr, veteran stage and screen director. In assigning Jeanette Loff to this important part in “The Sophomore,” which will be at the Kosy Theatre to-morrow, Pathe’s policy of training young players for tho talkies bears its first fruit. Clyde Cook, well-known character comedian, who appears in tho cast supporting William Boyd in tho Pathe picture, “Officer O'Brien,” which also coinrs to the Kosy Theatre tomorrow, won the Irish jig and blackbird championship of Sydney, Australia, when he was 13 veal's old 1 Now, the Irish jig and blackbird championship of Sydney are something to win, especially at tho age of 13. The Irish jig part of the championship is simple enough, but the blackbird part is the catch! Just what is the blackbird championship? Clyde Cook is the only one who docs know, and he won’t tell.

AT THE REGENT.

“SHOW OF SHOWS”—NEW EPOCH IN SCREEN INDUSTRY. Having gathered together nil the worldrenowned celebrities of stage and screen, Warner Bros, and Vitaphono present a truly splendid entertainment with “Show of Showe,” the 100 per cent, talking, singing and dancing super-revue in technicolour which has commenced a six-night season at. the Regent Theatre in Broadway. The production is everything the name implies, and its wide range of music, songs, dances, ensembles,, sketches and lavish settings combine to make it a pot-pourri of delight for picture : fans. The cast of characters is unusually extensive, for concerned in this film are tho 75 star performers, augmented .by an exceptionally lino chorus of 400 voices, with an aggregate ensemble of 1000 people. The resplendent dresses might bo the pride of any keeper of the wardrobe, while the big revue embraces novelties, pageants, marches, song scenas, clever acrobatic turns' and all forms Of vaudeville specialities of wide magnitude and much merit, beautifully embellished in colour. The prologue prepares the way for a perfect evening’s enjoyment, for there follow, amongst others, Jack Buchanan,; the English musical comedy star, in a ripple of fun, and Winnie Lightner in a “washtub” number which is equally delightful. Marcella and Williams (adagio dancors) present a torpsichoroan novelty in conjunction with a lady acrobat of amazing skill; John Barrymore supplies a touch of tho tragic in his splendidly rendered soliloquy of the Duke' of Gloucester—later Richard lll.—from Shakespeare’s “King Henry VI.”. “A Bicycle Built; for Two” goes back to the good old days;' Nick Lucas and Myrna Loy make their appearance in a spectacular Chinese fantasy, which includes Rin Tin Tin (the wonder dog) and an Oriental chorus; Georges Carpentier is seen in “The Eiffel Tower” ; Irene Bordoni sings, while Frank Fay, the delightful master of ceremonies, introduces “Black and White,” a unique lance number, brilliant in prismatic offects. Sid Silvers, a jovial comedian, imitates iVI .Jolson. The M.O. 'is outstanding with “Your Love Is All I Crave,” which he sings admirably, and in which he appeals equally with his monologue. Undoubtedly, performing as master of ceremonies for a talking picture musiiwl revue demands the combined talents of a quick-chango artist, singer, dancer,’ storyteller and a daily dozen of other equally difficult accomplishments—a task Frank Fay carries out with distinction. And all , this leads up to “Lady Luck,” the gorgeous finale in which almost everyone appears, and in which Betty Compson and Alexander Gray aro the featured players. The whole programme grips from start to finish and it is difficult to describe all that takes place in this colossal entertainment, or to do adequate justice to the beauties which abound. PALACE THEATRE. CURRENT PROGRAMME ENDS. Lowell Shcrrnan and Alice Joyce head the cast of'Radio Pictures’ all-talking romantic comedy-drama “He Knew Women,” which will have its final screening at the Paiaco Theatre to-night with “Inside tho Lines.” Lowell Sherman enacts the part of the man. Frances Dado is the girl. The woman to whom Sherman really is engaged is Alice Joyce. The story is kept moving at a livoly speed, never permitting the action or dialogue to lag. Sherman as a suave man-of-the-world, has a doub’ly difficult role, duo to tho tact that he not only maintains the dramatic elements in tho picture, but furnishes tho comedy. A now Betty Compson, more remarkable than ever, plays her final performance here to-night when Radio Pictures’ all-talking drama, “Inside the Lines,” closes its successful run. Roy J. Pomeroy, tho director. ‘has made a thrilling espionage drama of tfiis World War episodo without a single battle scene. “Inside the Lines” is the story of two lovers, who, unaware of each other’s vocation, meet unexpectedly in Gibraltar. Their mission is to destroy tho British Mediterranean fleet when it anchors over the mines in the harbour. Their efforts* to serve tho country and protect each other makes a story filled with suspense from beginning to end. The cast includes Ralph Forbes, Betty Carter, Reginald Sharland, Ivan Simpson, a member of tho cast in the original play,'and Montagu Love, all English stage and screen stars, and Mischa Auer, a young Russian character actor. HOWARD KEYS PICTURES TO DESIRES OF PUBLIC. Knowing just what tho public wants is an invaluable aid to directing pictures, according to William K. Howard, Fox movietone director who rccontly completed "Good Intentions” with Edmund Lowe in the leading role. For - years prior to his mcgaphonic work, Mr" Howard was a film salesman, a film exchange manager, and a theatre manager. To handle any of thoso jobs successfully requi' es a wide knowledge of what is and w hat' is not popular on the screen and his training in this work has proved of immense valuo in the making of such noteworthy productsions as “Tho Border Legion,” "Volcano,” “YVhite Gold,” “The Valiant” and “Christina.” “Good Intentions,” which opens at tho Paiaco Theatre to-morrow,, embodies in a high degree Howard’s principles of film entertainment. Novelty, action, romance and suspenso are equally blended in this story of a famous crook who trios to reform for tho sako of a girl. Lowe’s performance is said to bo one of tho finest this noted actor has ever given. Margucrito -Churchill, Regis Toomey, Hale Hamilton Owen Dhvis, junr., aro also featured, with Pat Somerset, J. Carrol Naish, Robert McWadc, Henry Kolkcr and other screen celebrities in tho supporting cast. Also on tho programme is the 1930 Melbourne Cup which took tho whole world by storm.