ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 295, 10 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “TURKEY TIME.” There are heaps of fun in “Turkey Time,” another of Ben Travers’s clever diversions, which has been produced by Gaumont-British pictures and which will open its Palmerston North season at the State Theatre to-night. Nothing could be better than to see Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn together again, romping irresponsibly through this gay story of how they played good Samaritans to a pretty pierette stranded in a seaside town at Christmas time, aided and abetted by Alary Brough of ample proportions and Robertson Hare, henpecked as usual and oh! how innocent of the wiles of the wily ones. The plot is brilliantly amplified by the clever, original work of the star comedians which constitutes a laugh riot from start to finish. Tom Walls is superb. Whether blarneying his tortuous way out of compromising circumstances, whether scragging an unpleasant piece of work who pursues the pretty little lady over whose misfortunes the whole of those uproarious frolics arose, or whether demolishing a shop window, Toni’s elan is inspiring. Ralph Lynn, the screen’s most ingenious purveyor of gentlemanly nit-wit studies is also delicious. One of his most joyous scenes is that in which, after admonishing in the best Lynnsian style, two urchins who were taking a surreptitious peep at a pierrot show, he does the same thing himself and secs to it too that he gets his share of the urchins’ lollies. Airs Gather, in the hands of Alary Brough, is a living example of that grasping, selfrighteous, irascible type of landlady whose normal reactions are very familiar to those of us who have been called upon (o navigate the grey seas of boarding-house life. All the more joy, then, to watch her in the throes of temptation induced by the spirit of Christmas, and ministered to so effectively by the bottled spirit of Holland, that eventually she makes whoopee with a vigour that must be seen to be believed. Dorothy Hyson invests the character of the pretty pierette with much charm; and Norma Vardcn is probably the most, ingenious of all the browbeating screen wives whom Air Robertson Hare has the misfortune to own. “Turkey Time” presents abundance oi piquant situations flavoured with some exhilarating dialogue and, as is customary with Gaumont-British pictures, it is impressively framed, the settings including a realistic jetty, a village street and some tasteful interiors.

KOSY THEATRE. “LAWYER AIAN” AND “THE AIIND READER.” The romance of an obscure East Side lawyer who sprang to fame because of his magnetic power to sway juries and then fell because he thought he knew . as much about women as about law, is unfolded in “Lawyer Alan,” starring William Rowell and Joan Blondell, which opens to-night at the Ivosy Theatre with “Tho Mind Reader.” The story is filled with the quaint humour of a successful East Side lawyer who just can’t resist the smiles of pretty ladies. How ho is brought to his senses eventually through tho love of his wisecracking secretary touches on both humour and romance. Helen Vinson, Alan Dinohart, and Claires Dodd are also in the east. Warren William, dynamic star cl “The Dark Horse” and “Alatcli . King,’ ccrnes to tho Kcsy Theatre to-night in a role said to bo his greatest. The story throws an amusing ray of light on the hokum behind the medicine and caravan shows with the fortune-tellers, crystalgazers, barkers and shills. I lie theme is unique and treats of a most unusual characterisation in tho buoyant and bombastic Chandra the Croat, fortune-teller par excellence faker through and through, but withall a lovable rascal with dominating personality, particularly with women who are strongly attracted by bis roguish charm. The various roles are enacted by a cast cf exceptional merit with William as Chandra and Constance Cummings as his wife. Others include Allen Jenkins, Donald Dillaway and Natalie Aloorhcad.

, REGENT THEATRE. “RIPTIDE.” Star of “Let Us Bn Gay,” “Tho Divorcee” and other successful and very, popular pictures of recent years, Norma Shearer scores another triumph in “Riptide,” now at tho Regent Theatre. Norma is more glamorous and glittering than ever. Sho has created a distinct type, the very sophisticated young woman, and tho role she has in this production’ fits hor like a glove. To start with she is just plain Alary, but only in name, for she is a gay young Alary. As a result of tho hideousness of the costumes sent to each for tho purpose of attending a fancy dress ball, she meets Lord Rexford. They marry and livo happily enough until into her life comes again Tommy, a pleasure-loving individual of tho days she has sought to leave behind. His appearance on the scone in tho absence of her husband abroad and while sho is on a visit to the Continent with her husband’s gay old aunt is sufficient to awaken in her emotions that havo been suppressed. Sho finds renewed exhilaration in freedom of thought and action, but ultimately she is caught in a compromising situation. Hor husband’s faith in her is shaken, but eventually ho is prepared to forgive and forgot. Then further complications develop, which incidentally provide material of which full use is taken for some, fine dramatic acting. Norma Shearer has a role which enables her to be sparklingly vivacious and bright, and also to display her dramatic ability. As Lord Rexford, Herbert Alarsball lias a part well suited to him, and so, too, has Robert Montgomery, the effervescent cheerful Tommy. Others in the cast include Airs Patrick Campbell, who does some fine work as the gay old Aunt Hetty; Skeets Gallagher, Ralph Forbes and Lilyan Tashman. The first part of the programme comprises a Metrotone newsreel, featuring scenes of the fire on the Alorro Castle off the coast of New Jersey, a Fitzpatrick travelogue, “Scotland the Bonnie,” and “Dartmouth Days,” which provides some splendid shots of thrilling ski-ing by students of Dartmouth College, America.

PALACE THEATRE. “THE BROKEN MELODY.” “The Broken Melody,” the British Dominions release starring Alerle Obcron and John Garrick, which opens at the Palace Theatre to-night, is sure to appeal to pic-ture-goers as, in addition to realistic convict sequences and an original musical score, it features a story which is full of colour and romance. The acting also, throughout this production, is on a higli standard of excellence. A strong and colourful performance comes from Austin Trevor who has a debonair, attractive presence, and is one of the types that appeal to women, inasmuch as ho is strong and mainly. A villian —such as he portrays —is, ill nine eases out of -ton, a veritable breaker of hearts and with his fine physique and soldierly bearing, Trevor is a splendid foi Ito the fair beauty of Alargot Grahamc who is seen as the hero’s unfaithful wife in this production. Others in the cast of “Tho Broken Alelody” include Harry Terry, Charles Carson and Andrea Molandrinos. An additional attraction is tho screening of tho film showing Scott and Black's arrival in Melbourne.