ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 252, 21 September 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE, “WHEN NEW YORK SLEEPS.” “ When Now York Sloops ” ’ s to be finally. screened at the Slate Theatre to-night.. It . sends a great actor Spencer Tracy, scaring to stardom on the strength of his powerful portrayal of the picture's protagonist, Murray Golden, and presents a kaleidoscope of night life and sporting events in New York during the period 1910-1932. Helen Twelvetrces plays the important part of the wifp with a genuine appreciation of its depth. Alice Faye ccmcs through her first dramatic role very well as the “other woman.” The capable supporting cast_ includes Robert Glccklcr, Henry O'Neill, Hobart Cavanagli, G. P. Huntley, jtinr., Claronce Wilson, Barbara Weeks, Vince Barnett and Shirley Temple. An excellent supporting programme includes cartoon, “Rip Van Winkle,” a popular travelogue, “In Old Guatemala”; also newsreels, etc. “LET’S TRY AGAIN.” “Let’s Try Again,” RKO-Radio picture which will have its Australasian premiere at the State Theatre to-morrow, presents a daring treatment of a dilemma faced by almost every married couple. “Lot s Try Again” is a subtle drama of mature Ic.vo, and it concerns itself with that crisis in the lives of a husband and wife when they have become used to each other and the .ecstasy of young fervor should, be passing into the state of serene affection which makes lasting marriage possible. Diana Wynyard and Clive Brook, stars of the internationally successful “Cavalcade,” have the principal roles. They head a splendid cast. . The story treats of Dr Jack Overton and his wife Alice, who have been married for ten years. Ihe doctor has grown lax in the little attentions that are a womans due. His wife feels neglected and wants to rekindle the thrill that was hers in the earlier days of the union. In an effort to recapture romance, she turns to a younger man. Her husband learns of her infatuation and, to his great surprise, finds he. docs not care. Ho, in turn, devotes himself to a younger woman, hoping to fill the place in his heart once occupied by his wife. From this point the plot develops in a series of surprising climaxes that keep the audience in a constant state of expectancy. Diana Wynyard brings fine artistry to tho role of the dissatisfied wife, lending it a subtle touch that alternately retains sympathy for her and rouses suspense during her attempts to substitute tho unreal for tho real. Clive Brook is entirely convincing in the part of the doctor. The inherent poise of this popular player enables him to create a living character that stops right into tho hearts of tho audience. Helen Vinson, as the dancer to whom the husband turns when he discovers that his wife no longer cares for him, .is most alluring. Irene Hervcy plays the doctor’s niece, whose lover is stolen from her by the doctor’s wife, and this beautiful young actress displays talent that might well be envied by many an old-time trouper. Others in the cast are Theodore Newton, Arthur Hoyt, Henry Kolkcr, Frank Darien and William Strauss.

REGENT THEATRE. “OPERATOR 13.” Chambers story which Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr-Cosmopohtan presents as Marion Davies’s newest starring vehicle will bo screened finally at the Regent Theatre to-night. Yet. it is not, in a sense, a war story. It is a. gripping love story for which the Civil War serves only as a background. It is the story of an all-powerful love' affair involving a beautiful woman spy of the Union army and a gallant spy of tho Confederate forces. As Gail Loveless, tho Federal spy who i» sent into the Southern lines to destroy the most dangerous spy of the Confederacy, Miss Davies contributes her finest dramatic performance of her eventful screen career. Gary Cooper, the Southern spy, equally surpasses all his farmer screen roles as the man whom Miss Davies sets out to destroy —and with whom she falls' in love. Tho story is one of spies, of espionage and intrigue, and throws a new historical light upon the most dramatic of all America’s conflicts- —the Civil War. . Of comedy, there is plenty, supplied by Ted Ilealy in tho role of it spy masquerading as a medicine man. A secondary romance, one of the sweetest to be seen on the screen, is supplied by charming Jean Parker and Henry Wadsworth, a juvenile newcomer to the screen. Too, the musical spirit of the Old South has been ably captured and made a vital part of the story with songs and music by the Four .Mills Brothers of radio fame, by Miss Davies and by the old-fashioned dances that have been 1 revived for tho production. “Operator 13” is a picture well worth seeing. It is education, itself. “THAT’S A GOOD CTRL.”*

Comedy, romance and music, then music, romance and comedy are the essential features of “That’s a Good Girl,” which commences at the Regent Theatre to-morrow. How Herbert Wilcox acquired the services of this popular stage figure is still recent history—it was soon after Mr Buchanan’s return from America, whore he had starred in “Paris” and “Monte Carlo,” the latter with Jeanette MacDonald, that announcement of the “capture” was made. Thon followed Jack’s first English film subject, a musical called “Good Night, Vienna.” Incidentally, . “Good Night, Vienna” set Anna Ncaglc’s foot, on tho path to her Slavdom in “The Little Damozel,” “The Flag Lieutenant” and “The Queen.” Jack Buchanan had shown such nil accurate knowledge of popular taste in making suggestions for incorporation in “Good Night, Vienna,” that he was assigned to direct himself in his next picture. This was “Yes, Mr Brown,” based cn a Continental success—a gay irresponsible story of mistaken identity—and it gr.ro further evidence of Jack Buchanan’s popularity. Now conics “That’s a Good Girl,” adapted from tho most famous of all Buchanan's stage shows, made with that scrupulous care which distinguishes Jack Buchanan as producer and director. Jack Buchanan, as in “Yes, Mr Brown,” has tho support of Elsie Randolph, other players in the film being Dorothy Hyson, Kate Cutler, Vera Pearce, of Australia, and Garry Marsh.

PALACE THEATRE. “THE CRASH.” The hectic days of post-war . stock gambling, the spoctacular crash of the stock market, the ruin of the idle rich who went down with it, are depicted dramatically for the first time on the motion picture screen in “The Crash,” screening finally to-night. Surrounding Miss Cliatterton and George Brent, who is her husband, is an exceptionally strong east consisting of Hardie Albright, Henry Kolkcr, Ivan Simpson, Paul Cavanaugh, Lois Tucker, Helen Vinson, Edith Kingdon and Virginia Hammond. “LITTLE MAN, WHAT NOW?” The trials and hardships of a minor clerk and his bravo, undaunted wife. are graphically shown in “Little Man, What Now?” Frank Borzage’s Universal drama which is commencing to-morrow at the Palace Theatre with Margaret Sullavan starred and Douglass Montgomery in the leading male role. At the time of his marriage, Montgomery, in the character of Hans, is a clerk in the store of a corn merchant in a little German town, and is discharged when nows of his wedding reaches the cars of his ornployer, a ruthless mail who has hoped to marry off his daughter to the attractive young assistant. Thus begins a trail of hardship and privation, t'oi the youthful married pair, made endurable only by the fact that they are young and very much in love with each other. After an unfortunate experience with liis unpleasant stepmother, tho young man secures another position, only to lose it a few months before his wife expects the birth of a child. Stark tragedy laces them, but they are sustained by tho undaunted spirit of the young and unsophisticated, and in the end comes a development which insures them at least a temporary respite from the worries which have surrounded their married life. “Little Man, What Now?” includes Alan Hale, Hedda Hopper, George Meeker, Mae Marsh, and many other favourites of the screen. In addition to the main feature the following supports will also be screened: Universal newsreels, Cinesound review and an Oswald the Rabbit cartoon entitled “Wax Works.”

KOSY THEATRE

“PICTURE SNATCHER.”

James Cagney, who depicts a hard-boiled newspaper man in his latest Warner Bros. First National production, “Picture .“Snatcher” showing at the Kosy Theatre finally to-night was born in New York. As a boy he had tho usual run of jobs, as office boy, bundle wrapper, etc., until he started his stage career as a chorus boy. The additional programme contains many items of interest, which includes musical items, Radio Nows, travel talks, and Gazette. “YOU’RE TELLING ME.” “You’re Tolling Mo” is the title of W.. C. Fields’s first starring picture for Paramount, which comes to-morrow to tho ICosy Theatre, the first screening to commence at 11 a.in. Featured with Fields are Larry “Buster” Crabbc. Joan Marsh and Adrienne Amos. Erie Kelton directed. The picture tolls tho humorous story .of the adventures which befall a goofy inventor when ho tries to be a big name in his home town. The added attractions .include Mack Scnnctt Comedy, Betty Boop Cartoon, Sports Eye Views, Rudy Valleo Musical Tract, British News and episode 7 “Pirate Treasure.”

BULLS PICTURES. “FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE” AND “HER FIRST MATE.” Another big double feature programme will be screened at Bulls on Saturday night when Tim McCoy will be seen in “Fighting for Justice,” a thrilling western drama. The second feature is that uproarious comedy, “Her First Mate,” with that pan of goofy love-birds Slim. Summerville and Zasu Pitts all at sea in a dizzy now love affair. -‘Her First Mato” is the funniest comedy yet made by Zasu and Slim. Another feature is “J'lio World’s Greatest Thrills.” You sec tho greatest thrills Jn modern history just as they happened. There is a niatincc at 2 p.m.