ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. . “FOUR FRIGHTENED PEOPLE.” The Paramount picture, “Four Frightened People,” is now showing at tho Kosy Theatre. From the time the foulprincipals, two men and two women escape from a Dutch steamer on winch bubonic plague has broken out and start their journey to civilisation through the Malay jungle, there is not a moment in the picture when interest wanes. Their gradual reversion to the primitive provides some highly novel situations. Claudette Colbert is outstanding with one of the most colourful roles of her career, that of a prudish school teacher whom (lie two men consider in their way. When the jungle causes her to blossom into a wild, beautiful creature, the men start lighting over her. Herbert Marshall and William Gargan give splendid performances as tho marooned rubber chemist and newspaper correspondent who fight over Claudette’s charms, while Alary Boland, in a deft comedy characterisation, walks away with many of the honours ot the picture. Leo Carrillo displays splendid ability in the role of a haltcaste guide. STATE THEATRE. “ALL MEN ARE ENEMIES” AND “WILD GOLD.” “All Men Are Enemies,” which opened at the Stale Theatre yesterday, is a truly epic romance. Certainly it has all the ingredients that go to make a glorious film lovo story. It is based on the best seller by Richard Aldington, hailed by the critics as a treasure house of beauty. In order to bring Aldington’s novel living to the screen Fox Film cast Helen Twelvetrees as the heroine of the rapturous romance on the beautiful Isle of Capri. And reports from the previews are to the effect that this dramatic role brings out hitherto" unsuspected depths of emotional talent. It is a mature, new Twelvetrees that emerges from “All Men are Enemies.” Hugh Williams, a newcomer lrom the English stago and screen, was selected to play the young Englishman opposite her. Ilis American reputation is based on bis portrayal of Captain Stanhope in “Journey’s End” on the stage and the leading role in “Rome Express” on the screen. Mona Barrio portrays the other woman who separates the lovers until they find one another again after a passionate quest that leads up to the thrilling climax of the picture when they are reunited in their old haunts at Capri. Comic interludes are provided by Herbert Mundin and Una O'Connor. Henry Stephenson, Walter Bryon, Malt Aioore, Halliwell Hobbes, Rafaela Ottiano and Mathilde Comonl contribute character roles. George Fitzmaurice directed the picture with a tine leeling for the importance of the beautiful scenic backgrounds in setting the mood of the drama. The associate feature of the programme, “Wild Gold,” fcaturos John Boles and Claire Trevor. The film recaptures the gaiety, drama, laug'hs and romance of the roaring forties in a modern gold rush. In addition to Boles and Miss Trevor, tho cast boasts of such performers as Harry Green, Roger Iniliof, Ruth Gillette, Mori-l-oe Ow-sley and Edward Gargan. Ihe Golden girls, namely, Suzanne Kaaren, Wini Shaw, Blanca Visclier, Elsie Larson, Gloria Roy and Myra Bratton, supply the dance routines that are seen in the picture.

I “TURKEY TIME.” Hail ! The gang's all here. By which we mean the Aldwycli gang, the talented team of players who for years filled that abode of laughter, the Aldvvych Theatre, London, to overflowing, are coming to the Slate Theatre next Saturday. “Turkey Time,” one of their most popular successes, lias now been filmed with Torn Walls, Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare, Mary Brough and many another, who excel m the provision of ludicrous situations from which arise many hearty laughs. The story—well it’s true to pattern, and gives us a series of complications' and mishaps occurring to certain members of a house party at Christmas. Their endeavours to extricate themselves from tho compromising situations in which they have innocently been placed, provide excellent tun. Tom Walls directed tho picture, which is a Gaumont-British production.

PALACE THEATRE.

“CRIME ON THE HILL.” «A mysterious and intriguing production, “Crime on the Hill,” opened at the Palace Theatre yesterday. A remarkably clever story, brilliantly presented, involving three baffling murders with real suspense and accompanying romance, this fine film is superbly acted by a cast of distinguished stage and screen favourites, including Sir Nigel Playfair, Lewis Casson, Anthony Bushcll, Sally Blane, Phyllis Dare, Judy Kelly, Hal Gordon, Gus McNaughton and Jimmy Godden. The story opens with the discovery of the death of the squire of a peaceful English village, in rather alarming- ' and baffling circumstances. Everyone is satisfied that the squire died a natural death, until a post-mortem reveals that ho was poisoned. The unravelling of the crime provides sequences of thrilling interest. It is a really thrilling and entertaining- programme, Ihe short subjects being particularly good. “THE BROKEN MELODY.”

“The Broken Melody,” commencing oil Saturday next, is a picture with an unusual story, told in a novel way. In it, both John Garrick, who has featured in several British tiffins, and the talented young Australian actress, Merle Oberon, whose rise !o lame began with her role in “The Private Life ot Henry VIII,” excel themselves. The story is that ot a night of opera, in which a retired commandant of troops at Devil’s Island is impressed with the similarity between the story of the play and (hat of one of the convicts who has been under his charge. He recalls the life of the man, a struggling young composer who, after indifferent success at his art, married Simmounc St. Cloud, one of the foremost opera stars of Paris. The old commandant recalls how tho composer would not accustom himself to hie wife’s mode of living, and how he finally killed Simmonne’s lover. All this time, the daughter of his previous landlord was in love with him, and when he was condemned to imprisonment on Devil’s Island, she took care of tho child of the marriage. The similarity of the two stories so impresses the old commandant that he makes investigations, which lead to an amazing discovery and a momentous decision. Throughout the picture, the play and the convict’s story are cleverly blended, and the result is well worth seeing. REGENT THEATRE. “BULLDOG DRUMMOND STRIKES BACK.” The above picture will be screened finally to-night at. the Regent Theatre. Drummond has come back from South Africa for the wedding ot his friends, Algy (Charles Buttcrworth) and Gwen (Una Merkel). Hugh Drummond wanders into an apparently deserted house, finds the body of a murdered man there, rushes out to find a policeman, and finds the body gone when he returns. The Eastern Prince, Ac-limed, gives a chill and sinister twist to the proceedings when he appears, the sole occupant of the mysterious house. Puzzled, Drummond returns home, and the heroine enters. Drummond, with his rough and tumble methods, is as far removed from the orthodox idea of a detective as can be imagined; but he sticks to the task to win ultimate victory.. The scheming prince is utterly defeated and commits suicide in tho taco of ruin, and Drummond wins the hand of tho beautiful Lola.

“RIPTIDE.” All who can appreciate good acting—and modern picture-theatre audiences arc discriminating in this respect—will find unlimited enjoyment in “Riptide,” which conics to the Regent to-morroiv night. ,’l'he story of “Riptide” is that of a woman who is unfaithful to her husband only after lie has demonstrated his lack of trust in her. After discovering her unfaithfulness he forgives her, and they live happily ever after. Although the plot is woven in a manner calculated to rouse sympathy for the wife, her behaviour from first to last is extremely stupid and indiscreet; in fact, as the story progresses it becomes a matter for lively interest as to how much more stupid and indiscreet she can become. However, the acting revealed in “Riptide” carries it triumphantly into the select coterie of films that must not be missed. Norma Shearer has given lew, if any hotter performances, and she has never been more _ strongly supported, or, as it happens, rivalled. “Riptide,” in' fact, provides a histrionic contest for four very clover people—Miss Shearer, Mrs Pattriek Campbell, Robert Montgomery, and Herbert Marshall. As the husband Marshall gives a magnificent performance, and steals tho picture while he is before the camera. Montgomery is at the top of his form as the devil-may-care philanderer who causes all the trouble and brings matters to a climax by seducing the silly but previously much-maligned wife. Mrs Campbell—a theatrical name to cpnjurb with on both sides of tho Atlantic—is delightful as tho elderly, muddled, and startlingly broad-minded aunt of tiic busband anil counsellor of the wife. Of the four Miss Shearer and Marshall win the contest, Mrs Campbell a close second.