ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “LONG LOST FATHER.” “Long Lost Father,” John Barrymore’s new starring vehicle for RKO-Radio which opens its season to-day, recalls “A Bill of Divorcement,” in which Barrymore offered a remarkable characterisation in a similar role as Katharine Hepburn’s father. Sparkling wit and sophisticated humour pervade the melodramatic story with Helen Chandler and Donald Cook in a notable cast.- Adapted from a novel by a “best-selling” author, G. B. Stern, “Long Lost Father” traces a father’s conflict with his daughter. Carl Bcllairs, suave London night club manager, and Lindsey Lane, dancer, meet for the first time in 20 years, although they arc father and daughter, when she comes to entertain in his establishment. Lindsey has always nursed a bitter hatred for Carl, who left her in her infancy when ho deserted her mother, and the abhorrence arises now nycn more intensely. Carl tries to assume his responsibilities as a parent, but Lindsey is adamant to his approach. She finds greater enjoyment in travelling with a fast crowd until she becomes involved in the theft of a sum of money. It develops that sho must go to prison unless there is aid possible from her father. Carl helps her by raising the money via the bunko game, and then steps out of her life, having atoned for his past neglect and won her regard at. last. Helen Chandler portrays . the daughter and Donald - Cook enacts her fianco. John Barrymore as Carl Bcllairs receives additional support from Ferdinand Gottschalk, E. E. Clivo, Reginald Sharland, Alan Mevbray, and Natalie Moorhead. Ernest B. Sehocdsack, famous director of “King Kong,” directed “Long Lost Father.” Superb acting and brilliant direction make this a production worth while seeing. Box plans are now open for to-night and remaining nights of the season and patrons are strongly advised to reserve early for to-night. REGENT THEATRE. “PADDY, THE NEXT BEST THING.” Meeting with the tremendous popularity that it so richly deserves, “Paddy, the Next Best Thing” continues to attract large audiences nightly to i the Regent Theatre. Nearly 35000 Palmcrstonians have already paid a glowing tribute to this grand attraction. Janet Gaynor has never shown her talents to better advantage than in her newest starring vehicle, “Paddy, the Next Best Thing,” in which she is co-starred with Warner Baxter. Cast as a lively little Irish lass whose sole fault is her ability to tell white lies, a quality that eventually embroils her in all sorts of entanglements, sho performs in her usual charming manner. Warner Baxter, as the scion of the Irish coastal town in which “Paddy” takes place, docs an excellent piece of acting in a typically romantic Warner Baxter role. The others of the cast, including Margaret Lindsay, who will bo remembered as the “Titanic” girl in “Cavalcade,” and .Walter Connolly, famous performer from the New York stage, all do their utmost to make “Paddy” an enjoyable screen work. Apart from the wholesome romance of “Paddy,” the story of which everybody knows, the authentic colourful atmosphere embodied into this photoplay is a sheer delight. No country is more fascinating to the imagination than Ireland. All the beauty, the colour and the interest attaching to this land and people have gone into “Paddy,” scenes actually photographed in the old country —sets that are teeming with Irish life and gaiety—and vivacious personalities. Fox Movietone featurettes are included and patrons are urged to make early reservations for to-night at the Central Booking Office or by ’phoning the theatre after 6 p.m. ,

NEW PALACE THEATRE. “LOVE’S OLD SWEET SONG.” Something out of tho usual run of pic-ture-fare, something clean and refreshing, simple and old-fashioned, is offered as' tho current attraction at tho now Palace Theatre where “Love’s Old Sweet Song” now screening. Aided by the magic of music, charming personalities in the artists, and beautiful scenes from tho English countryside, the producer' of “Love’s Old Sweet Song.” lias demonstrated the remarkable possibilities of modern films in bringing an audience face to face with a story tiiat rings true from beginning to. end. There is nothing strained or artificial about “Love’s Old Sweet Song.” It is just a simple tale of the old-fashioned type in which fhe inevitable villain is a real villain and the hero is cast in thoroughly heroic mould. 11l a satisfying finale villainy reaps its just deserts and tho hero tho reward that all lovers court. There are no false notes, no artificialities, no straining after impossible effects; just a clean, wholesome love story that has the usual problems and which onds as happily as all such stories should end. The film provides Joan Wyndham with tho opportunity of displaying her talent as a vocalist. Her role is that of a young professional singer who, while on holiday in tho country, captivates the heart of a young farmer, Jimmy Croft, with her singing of “Love’s Old Sweet Song.” The scoundrelly half-brother of her friend and manager, Paul Kingslake, however, insinuates himself into her affection and secretly marries her, leaving Iris Sinclair, with whom he has been having an affair, in the lurch. But that is not the end of the story. Included oil this fine programme is a splendid array of short subjects which includos a Kinographtone reel, Pathetone weekly, Ginesound nows and a Comic sketch. Patrons are reminded that there is no extra charge for reserving seats and booking can be made at ’phone 7178 without delay (or ’phono 5050, the theatre, after 6 o’clock). KOSY THEATRE. “TORCH SINGER.” . Claudette Colbert, as the hard-hearted queen of the night clubs, is seen in Paramount’s “Torch Singer,” tho current featuro attraction at the Ivosy Theatre. In tho cast are Ricardo Cortez, David Alannors, Lyda Roberti and Baby Lc-Roy. A number of new songs will be presented by Aliss Colbert in this picture. The Paramount star plays tho role of “Mirni Benton,” once simple Sally Trent, now the toast of the night clubs, as dangerous as sho is alluring. Now famous, sho is trying to even tho score with life which, more than once, lias presented her with misfortunes. But tho thrill of applause doesn’t satisfy lior longing for the child she bore and bad to give up for adoption when the father deserted her. A nation-wide search, using all the resources that wealth havo mado available, fails. When the man Alimi once loved returns, learns of the birth of the child, and begs forgiveness, Alimi spurns him. Flow she finds the answer to her problem, furnishes a gripping climax to the story. The supporting programme of thoroughly entertaining short subjects includes a Eugene Palette comedy, entitled “One Awful Night”; a new Betty Boop cartoon; a “Screen Souvenirs” old time novelty, and Paramount British and American newsreels.