ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 271, 16 October 1931, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

PALACE THEATRE. "OUTWARD BOUND.” It is a singular fact that Sutton Vane’s Bensational drama, “Outward Bound,” now at the Palaco Theatre, has been produced by Warner Bros, with a cast consisting entirely of seasoned stage players. In fact, this picture is tho first screen appearaneo of Leslie Howard and two other members of the cast, Alison Simpson and Montagu Love. Mr Howard is one of America’s and England’s most distinguished actors, and “Outward Bound” was his greatest stage success. ELISSA LANDI JN “ALWAYS GOODBYE.”

Elissa Landi, tho Venetian born beauty, experienced a sudden riso to American film fanio aftor sho had gained English stage promincnco and recognition from tho literary world through her two published novels. Following tho acclaim given her performance in “Body and Soul,” interviewers flocked to tho set at Fox Studios where sho was filming hor first starring picturo, “Always Good-bye,” which will bo shown at the Palace Theatre, beginning to-morrow at tho matinee. Imagine the surprise of each writer upon finding that Miss Landi was a cultured conversationalist, ablo to hold her own with them on any subject they cared to mention. Tho report has gone out in Hollywood that lioro is one star whose beauty is genuine, whose intellectuality is real, whose attainments withstand investigation and whose charm is as contagious as it is fascinating. One of tho interviewers discovered that Miss Landi has one weakness. She will not enact a false situation. That is, sho will not put her screen character through actions that would be impossible for a real person. If forced to do so, sho claims it would bo against every fibre of her being, and wovdd result in stiff artificiality. “For instance,” she explained during the filming of “Always Good-bye,” “I accept tho revolting attentions of a wealthy beer baron in this picture. I wouldn’t think of such a thing in real life. Therefore, I am entirely at ease in the scene, and carry it off with all tho spirit of rnv being.” “Always Good-bye” is tho thrilling romance of a glamorous woman of adventure who dared to risk everything for her chanco of happiness. Miss Landi is supported by Lewis Stone, Paul Cavanagh and John Garrick in the leading voles. William Cameron Menzies and Kenneth Maelvcnna co-directed. 1 AT THE REGENT. GLORIA SWANSON IN “INDISCREET” That delightful photoplay, “Indiscreet.” starring the beautiful Gloria- Swanson, will finally be presented at the Regent Theatre this evening. SEYMOUR HICKS IN BRITISH COMEDY.

“I love you, I want you and I’m going to win you.” This phrase is the theme of the year’s most brilliant talkie-comedy, “The Love Habit,” which will bo shown at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. Justin Abelard falls in love with Julie, the wife of an architect, and is seized with the “habit” of pursuing her at every opportunity to repeat his one and all-important speech in an effort to win her. He calls it after her through the letter-box; he applies for the situation of valet to her husband, Julie loves and trusts her husband and adds it to his references (written by himself);.he confides it to her photograph; he even so far forgets himself ns to commence its repetition to her husband, but the impetuous and fascinating love-making of the intrepid Justin makes her waver at last. Whether he finally meets with victory or defeat, picturegoers will bo able to see for themselves. Seymour Hicks, the evergreen lover of the stage, gives a sound portrayal and Margot Grahame, the beautiful nineteen-year-old film discovery, will captivate everyone, in their roles of Justin and Julie, while everyone will dissolve with laughter at the awful predicaments in which Edmund Breon finds himself as the philandering husband. Gay, debonair, and brimming with wit, tho picture was directed by Harry Lachman at Elstreo Studios.

ON THE STAGE. A talented ballet and a soloist from the studio of Miss Gwenth' MacNaughton will appear before the footlights in a unique dancing act at both the performances tomorrow. KOSY THEATRE. “SCARLET PAGES” AND “OH SAILOR BEHAVE 1” It is natural that the public should always be interested in the drama of the courtroom, either real or pictured as in “Scarlet Pages,” the First National and Vitaphone picture at the Kosy Theatre with “Oh Sailor Behave.” A stirring drama has been built around American court scenes in the former picture. Both have their final screening this evening. TOM ORnOW ’S PROGRAM ME.

| Is the theme song dead? Harry BcauI moiit, who directed the first musical film, IM.G.M.'s ‘‘The Broadway Melody," docs not think so. And to back up his contention, Beaumont introduces a new song number in “Laughing Sinners,” Joan Crawford’s now HI.G.M. starring vehicle which will come to the Kosy Theatre to-morrow. “Any song that serves a useful purpose in a picture is welcome," declared Mr Beaumont in discussing the use of music in talkie productions. “However, I agree that ‘theme songs,’ as we have come to know them, are exhausting. It wasn’t the songs or the manner of their rendition that brought them into disrepute. It was the way in which they were used. For no reason at all, a man or woman stopped suddenly in the middle of a scene and started to sing a totally irrelevant song. That, of course, is quite absurd, although in straight musical comedy certain license and latitude are just as permissible as on the stage. Songs must be an integral part of the story and action. In this picture, a very dramatic one, our story cannot be told without the song number, il’he song we use was written especially for the production by Arthur Freed and Martin Boones. It is called ‘What Can I Ho—l Love that Man.’ Miss Crawford sings it in one of the opening scenes, the episode at the wild roadhouse, just before her conversion into the Salvation Army ranks. When we made ‘The Broadway Melody’ the uso of musio in pictures was a novelty and perhaps somewhat of an experiment. All the songs, however, fitted right into the story and action, never intruding, yet definitely song numbers are rendored with all the frank privilege of musical comedy. The appropriate uso of music will be found, and the abuses of the past will be supplanted by judicious employment of music in more forms than the screen has yet known.” Neil Hamilton and Clark Gable share leading man honours in “Laughing -Sinners,” a picturisation of the Kenyon Nicholson stacre hit, “The Torch Song.” The cast includes Marjorie Rambeam Guy Kihbco, Cliff Edwards, Roscoe Kn riY-. Gertrude Short, George Coojx-r, George F. Marion and Bort Woodruff.