ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 161, 9 June 1932, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. BANCROFT HAS STELLAR ROLE IN “RICH MAN’S FOLLY.”

What good is itionoy after all, unless it brings happiness '! For what purpose the accumulation of wealth by economics, and a whip-lashcd will to work, if friendships are- lost and lovo is stifled and repelled Why should “ambition” ride roughshod and paint golden castles on a distant horizon, when only romance and love will ever fill such domiciles with thoughtful friends and loving children ? In Paramount’s picture drama, “Rich Man’s Folly,” which appears at the Kcsy Theatre to-night, theso pertinent questions are the theme of a story of intriguing interest. They are the basis of dramatic episodes that crowd the action of a marvellous'- picture drama. George Bancroft has the stellar rolo of “Brock Trumbull,” an ambitious, moneygrabbing ship-builder who stifles all his gentlor qualities for money and a mad ambition. This is just the kind of work in which Bancroft excels—character impersonation. Ho lives the part. A hard fisted, domineering man is born on the screen. Succoss follows success. Wealth piles up. But tho tide turns. Friends’ desort and hie family is estranged. Money dwindles and his new wife leaves him. Ho faces failure. Then at last the folly of it all comes to him. Ho reaches out to his daughter, whom ho never loved and always opposed, groping, longing for tho lovo and happiness ho had always spurned, but which ho now realises is the only thing that makes lifo worth living. To fully interpret such a rolo requires experience, talent, technique. Bancroft stretches himself and puts everything he has into tho role. Tho picture is filled with incidents; the clash and clang of a great shipbuilding plant with its thousands of workers. It is a great industrial epic in which photography, as well as tho players, has an important role. In the cast are many screen favourites whom picturo fans always liko to see.

AT THE REGENT. DOLORES DEL RIO AND CARILLO IN “GIRL OF THE RIO.”

After an absence of two years owing to illness, Dolores del Rio returns triumphantly to the screen in a glamorous role. The star makes her reappearance at the Regent Theatre to-night in R.K.0.-Radio Pictures’ “Girl of the Rio.” Featured with her is Loo Carillo, who is rapidly bccomjng an outstanding screen star. Miss del Rio’s reappearance is a fortuitous one in that she sclcotcd a story which affords the plot structure, atmosphere and treatment to display her rare talents as an actress. She plays the rolo of “Tho Dove,” who. is forced by circumstances to dance and sing in a riotous cafe just across tho border of tho United States. As in real cafes of this typo—notably in Tia Juana,. Juarez and Mexicali—there arc scores of interesting types, Mexicans, Chinese, men on the spreo, and tho ever-present, soft-spoken gamblers. Tho picture setting is a faithful reproduction of such a border town, with the addition of a superb rancho, exterior and interior. Ono of tho set is a garden spreading over an acre and a half that, was laid out in two days with thousands of potted tropical plants and trees, producing an exotic effect rarely attained in films. Dramatically, Miss del Rio portrays what critics have declared to be the best starring rolo of her career, combining the poetic beauty of her work in “Ramona” and “Evangeline” with the vivacity and movement of “What Price Glory ? ’ Supporting th cstar are Leo Carillo, who plays the vainglorious Don Jose Tostado, the self-proclaimed “bos’ caballcro. in all Mexico”; Norman Foster, who wins the fair Dolores’ heart; Stanley Fields and Ralph luce; arch-villains; Edna Murphy and Frank Campcaii. ,

SATURDAY FEATURE, “OUT OF THE

BLUE.”

Unlike the usual farce, “Out of tho Blue,” commencing at tho Regent Theatre’s Saturday matinee, has a worth-while story, introducing a new field of fun. Everyone has heard of the man who holds a woman with his glittering eye but in “Out of the Blue” is met at .last the unseen man who magnetises by his voice alone. In short, the broadcastor —tho male siren created by wireless —enters into his own, and all those ladies who have wondered what the broadcastor is really like will know when they see him played by Gene Gerrard! As Uncle Bartholomew, of tho B B.C.', the vocal beauty of Gcno captures tho heart of Tommy Tucker. Tommy is a girl (and a very pretty girl,' played by Jessie Matthews), and when at last she meets Uncle Bartholomew in tho flesh they simply have to fall in love—but, alas! Uncle has got into somo sort of commitment with Tommy’s cider sister, Angela. Such obstacles are, however, easily overcome in farce comedy. Gcno Gerrard, the star of “My Wife’s Family,” hits another popular success in this now picture. It is a British production and thoroughly British in tone, and emphasises the distinction in stylo and treatment between British and Hollywood comedies. It is also an example of good team work in support of Gerrard, whoso leading lady, Jessie Matthews, is particularly pleasing.