ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 290, 5 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK.” A wedding, a London fog by night, an apparently deserted house with the body of a murdered man which disappears in two minutes, and a beautiful girl in distress who falls fainting into the arms of the hero, mark the opening incidents in “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,” which id now showing at the Regent Theatre. And in an air of mystery intrigue, of killing and being killed, tho events of that night whirl on. It is rather a tantalising night for one man, the bridegroom of tho evening before, but it ends happily as tho wedding morn of Drummond himself. Hugh Drummond (Ronald Coltnan) has sworn off adventure for life, and decided to go down to Sussex to raise hollyhocks. Ho hus come back from South Africa to the wedding of his friends Algy (Charles Butterworth), and Gwen (Una Merkel). He gets trapped in a typical London fog. wanders into an apparently deserted house, finds the body of a murdered man there, returns with a policeman, and 10, tho body is gone, and the sinister Hindu Prince Aehmcd (Warner Gland) appears. Puzzled, Drummond returns homo, to summon Algy from the nuptial couch for the job in hand. The lady in the case, Lola Field (Loretta Young) staggers into his room, faints m his arms, and immediately two things become evident —that Sussex and hollyhocks have disappeared from Drummond’s mind for good, and that he is up against a tough proposition. • At this stage the gruff and unimaginative Inspector Nielson (C. Aubrey Smith), of Scotland Yard, comes on the scene. Acbmccl _is playing a desperate game—half a million pounds is in the balance, tho value of a cargo of furs from the Orient. Drummond is fooled, outwitted, and cornered time and again, but his irrepressible good humour and self-assurance is equal to all demands. A radiogram is the clue to the mystery. Drummond secures it, Aehmed’s valuable cargo goes up in flames, and the Hindu commits suicide in the face of utter defeat. And the hero’s reward is the hand of tlie beautiful Lola. Ronald Colman takes the lead in his stride, and is the perfect counterpart of the famous dctcctectivo of fiction. Warner Oland as the villain of the piece takes on the sinister mystery of the Orient. And as for Charles Butter worth, he is par excellence as the not so nimble-wittcd Algy, who has to sacrifice the first night of his married life to get himself in and out of Drummond’s escapades. Loretta Young makes a bewitching. heroine. The supporting cast is good, and the main picture is supplemented with a number of fine shorts.

PALACE THEATRE

WE’RE NOT DRESSING

Songs with Bing Crosby to sing thorn, and comedy with a fine team that includes George Burns, Grade Allen, Leon Errol and Ethel Merman Lo put it across, backgrounds supplied by a light-hearted interpretation of life on shipboard and a humorous conception of shipwrecked experiences on a South Sea island, are all reasons why “We’re Not Dressing.’’ which opened its season at the Palace theatre on Saturday, seems likely to prove the most popular of the many musical shows seen here for some lime. Bing Crosby is east as a deckhand on the yacht. Carole Lombard teams with him in the part ol millionairess who is cruising with friends and suitors, and she plays tho principal feminine part with distinction. It was, ot course, inevitable that the millionairess should turn from her money-hunting suitors to the “fresh” deckhand who sang haunting songs and just would not stop answering back. But the deckhand wiu something entirely new in lovers aitei the shipwreck. “We’re off the gold standard now,” he told tho party, and since lie was tho only practical man lie ran the settlement, and the others did not eat it they did not work. “May I?” sang Crosby on tho ship, and “Good-night, Lovely Little Lady,” and on the island lie carolled “Lovo Thy Neighbour” and “Unco in a Blue Moon,” all of them “hits ’ that will be heard wherever dance bands play. With the assistance of the crew ho sang a most amusing novelty number, “I Positively Refuse to Sing.” In addition ho played the part of the very casual and selfpossessed sailor with excellent characterisation. Leon Errol, the Australian comedian, was a big success. In addition to wrecking the ship he arrived on shore from the wreck on a bicycle, and with Ethel Merman he gave a clover burlesque ?ong and dance number, “It’s a New Spanish Custom.” George Burns and Gracie Allen, burlesque explorers, introduced a great deal of bright, original comedy. There is a first-class programme ot supports, with “Pop-eye ihc Sailor” as an appetiser before the big attraction.

KOSY THEATRE. "A PASSPORT TO PARIS” AND “FREEDOM OF THE SEAS.” Full of gay adventure, comedy and action “A Passport to Paris” now screening at tho lvosy Theatre should prove to bo one of the most popular screen hits of tho season, presenting as it docs a really delightful team in Sally Eiiors, as the pseudo countess, and Ben Lyon, as Wally. This breezy, adventurous story tells the hectic adventures of a happy-go-lucky young man, Wally, who, atlcr a “night out,”. finds himself in the wrong flat, and is mistaken for an international spy. He received £SOO, “A Passport to Paris,” and instructions to proceed to the gay city, and there to make love to a blonde countess. In a spirit of bravado ho continues the deception and makes his way across tho Channel, where ho encounters the beautiful Molly_ Malone, an out-of-work actress who is posing as tho Countess with whom lie is supposed to have machinations. The adventurous couple find themselves entangled in Hotzolburgian politics and their position becomes just as funny as it is exciting. A nautical comedythriller, with Clifford Mollison giving a breezy portrayal of a timid clerk who becomes a naval officer and foils a German sea plot during tho war, entitled “Freedom of tho Seas,” is the second feature. The double feature programme is a most entertaining one.

STATE THEATRE. “CHANGE OF HEART.” Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell score personal triumphs in “Change of Heart,” their first co-starring vehicle in 18 months, which opened on Saturday at the State. It is a story big enough lor their reunion —-Kathleen Norris’ romance of modern youth wresting love and happiness out of a. skyscraper world. Tho novel appeared under the title “Manhattan Love Song,” and it is amid the topless towers of New York that the romance of America’s sweethearts unfolds. “Change of Heart” brings you a new, grown-up Janet Gaynor. She’s a vivid, real-live heroine, grown to womanhood, and experiencing all the emotions of a woman. And Farrell is no longer the dreaming boy, but a man who challenges the world and faces its confusion and cross-currents of life. James Dunn, and Ginger Rogers complete the quartette of youth around which the drama revolves. The story is a drama of epic struggle and inspiring love. It portrays with astounding realism tho hardships of four youngsters just out of college, two girls and two boys Banded together by ties of loyalty, they enter the portals of a big city and begin their brave light to realise their ambitions. Through all their adventures runs a complex love situation. Tho love of Janet Gaynor for Farrell, however, soon becomes the local interest of the plot. Farrell finally realises his love for Gaynor, and when Ginger Rogers returns from a trip, lie faces a showdown as to whether he will remain faithful to Janet or be lured away, by an old yearning for Ginger Rogers. Ihe two romantic teams, Gaynor and Farrell and Rogers and Dunn do splenddily m roles that are perfectly suited to their talents. Humorous touches enliven the drama, in the large supporting cast, Beryl Mercer, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Shirley lemple, Irene Franklin, Fiskc O’Hara Drue Levton, Mary Carr, Jane Darwell, Kenneth Thompson, Nclla Walker -and Barbara Barondcss do nicely in their allotted roles.

BULLS TALKIES. Everyone wants io be happy, and the second edition of “Joy Unlimited” will be presented at the Town Hall, Bulls, to-night. A complete change of programme is promised, songs, stories, humour, and com in unity singing by these “Ambassadors of Happiness” who are making thousands ot people happy ail over New Zealand. Morgan is outstanding in Ins magic songs and haunting melodics and his preseiilation of “The Little Dutch Mnl, “101 IMo To night,” “Good-night Little Girl ol Mj Dreams” and “Fallen Leaf (the latest Indian love song) is unique. Albert will toll more of his true stories and his monologues, “Tho Lions and Albert” (in Yorkshire dialect) and “Ever So Goosey, are outstanding for fun. Ihe box plan is fil - ing rapidly and no doubt a lull house will greet these outstanding artists.