ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 1 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. "EVERGREEN.” A picture of unusual merit is now being shown at the State Theatre to the delight of tremendous crowds. Jessie Matthews and a strong cast, including Sonnie Halo, Betty Balfour, Barry Mackay and many more, appear in “Evergreen,” a Gaumont-British adaptation of the famous C. B. Cochran’s brilliantly successful stage production. It has been pronounced the most brilliant British picture of its type ever made. The story, too, is coherent as well as cohesive. In the prologue a famous music hall artist bids farewell, under dramatic circumstances. r n 1 1,0 scene of many of her triumphs. Twentythree years later, her daughter, who has inherited her mother’s outstanding ability, impersonates her with such success that London, flocking to see her, completely deceived. Emphatically “Evergreen” is a picture not to be missed. Every opportunity has been reized to present lavish spectacle; haunting melodies are generously distributed throughout the romantic show. The following song hits will soon be on the lips of everyone : “In the Cool of the Evening. “Dancing on the Ceiling,” “Dear ! Dear . “If I Give in to You,” “No Place but Home,” “Tinkle! Tinkle! Tinkle! “When You’ve Got a Little Springtime in Four Heart,” “Over My Shoulder, and “Just by Your Sample.” There are dances on the big scale; the story scintillates with comedy, while strong dramatic touches have their place. “CHANGE OF HEART.” After 18 months of separation, Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, the screen’s most romantic team, will be reunited in Fox Film’s latest release, “Change of Heart,” which comes to the State Theatre on Saturday. Heeding the requests of thousands of fans to re-team these two screen sweethearts, the studio started an intensive search for a story that would be suitable for their reunion. Kathleen Norris’s great modern novel, “Manhattan Love Song,” was finally selected out of hundreds of stories as the perfect vehicle. James Dunn and Ginger Rogers are billed as featured players in support of the two stars. They complete the quartette of youth around which the drama revolves. The other members of the large supporting cast are Beryl Mercer, Shirley Temple, Irene Franklin, Fiske O’Hara, Drue Leyton and Mary Carr. KOSY THIATRE. “ALIAS THE DEACON.” Benton Churchill, the internationally distinguished actor, who has created many outstanding roles on Broadway, appears in the starring role in “Half a Sinner,” Universal’s screen adaptation of the famous stage play, “Alias the Deacon,” which is now showing at the Kosy Theatre. With him in the film is Hollywood’s newest romantic team, Joel McCrea and Sally Blanc. The story is that of a sanctimonious rascal who poses as a churchman and is, in reality’, a card sharp. The “deacon” (Churchill) finds himself in a small Kansas town in -which are two young lovers, McCrea and Miss Blane, whom ho has known in a previous escapade. They have no desire for him to reveal their identities and he is careful that no one knows his. The churchman ingratiates himself into everyone’s confidence, advises against the sin of playing cards, but rather than spoil the fun of other people, graciously agrees to sit in the various poker and bridge games.

regent theatre. "STAMBOUL QUEST.” During the main film in a splendid programme last night at the Regent Theatre the audience sat_ with almost breathless attention. From its first scones there was no doubt that “Stainboul Quest” was going to bo a great success. The two central figures are Myrna Loy and George Brent, both of whom have recently come well into the limelight; they have never before been starred together, and their work in this film has produced a new pair of screen lovers that has every prospect of becoming very well known. Miss Loy is a talented German spy, Annemario, bound for Turkey on the important but delicate mission of uncovering the duplicity of the Turkish commander-in-chief of the Dardanelles. Brent is a reckless, adventurous American studying medicine in Germany, who falls in love with her and accompanies her to Turkey. From that moment the story begins to give an entirely new twist to the traditional spy drama. Posing as a British agent in this game of counterespionage Annemario arrives in-Stainboul, having fallen in love lor the first time in her existing life. Annemario, knowing (lie attitude of her German chief to those of his spies that fall in love, is not surprised to find that he has taken a later train and followed her on a sort of coun-ter-count cr-espionage mission. However, she _ starts in oil her work which is to intrigue with the Turkish war lord as a British spy who is offering a fortune from the Bank of England if lie will sell out information on the Dardanelles defences. At this stage the American succumbs to jealousy. Ho demands that she should leave Turkey with him, fooling little sympathy for the circumstances that make oven _ women weapons in war. He leaves her in disgust at her refusal, intending to go back to America. To prevent this Annemario gets him arrested. The Turk, who also has become jealous, orders his execution. Meanwhile a French spy_ has been caught, and Anncniaric intrigues with the German officials in Turkey who know her mission to substitute him for the American before the firing squad. This is done, but when in a subtle manner she has accomplished her espionage mission, and is about to arrange for the American to rejoin her, her German chief tolls her that actually it was lie who was shot, and she believes him. This is not the end of the story, but to tell more would be to take away half of the film’s quality of unexpectedness. Also on the programme at tlie Regent is a fine Laurel and Hardy featurette, well up 10 standard, and also notably one of Pete Smith’s “Good Movie” stories. PALACE THEATRE. “THE SONG oITtHE PLOUGH.” “Song of the Plough” which opened at the Palace Theatre yesterday is a story ot the English countryside. Indeed, it must be one of the most beautiful pictures ever screened, for interwoven amid rural scenes of incomparable loveliness is a simple yet effective ■ talo that lias a charming interest. The actors are peaceloving country folk, and their flocks and herds, tlie settings, English farms, English villages, markets and inns. The story concerns a small farmer’s struggle to secure sufficient money to pay the impending tithe. There is nothing particularly dramatic about such a. plot and consequently all the more responsibility rests with the players and producers. They have done their work well. There is remarkable strength in the portrayals of the leading actors, especially Stewart Rome, and tho producers have embellished tlie whole with fine touches of artistry. Probably the outstanding feature of “Song of the Plough” is tho display of canine intelligence given by Glen, a beautfiul sheep dog, and the real hero of tlie picture. Other scenes are rich with humour; the humour of showmen at a village fair or of tho jostling crowds that gather with the dusk inside a village inn. Stewart Rome is tho occupier of a small but well-cared for farm, but tlie approach of the time for tho payment of his tithe mars his happiness. He attempts to raise money by the sale of his lambs, pigs ana geese, but the prices ruling are low and he is obliged to accept small bids at the periodical village fair. His one means of procuring the money is by the sale of Glen, for which he has been ottered £SO bv a conceited and unscruplous neighbour (Adam Jeayes). The dog however, is dear to him, and he prefers the alternative of appearing . be ore the . county court to parting with him His last chance of meeting . his obligations is through Glen’s winning the dog trials at tlie annual show.