ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 303, 20 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “OF HUMAN BONDAGE.” If RKO-Radio Pictures had scoured the stage and screens of the world, it could not have bettor cast Leslie Howard than in W. Somerset Maugham’s “Of Human Bondage,” which will have ils final screening at the State Theatre to-night. RKORadio provided an able supporting cast for “Of Human Bondage.” Bette Davis is a remarkable Mildred imparting to the role sincerity and realism. Frances Dee as Sally and Kay Johnson as -Nora use their fine talents with splendid success. Other roles are enacted admirably by such seasoned players as Reginald Denny, Reginald Owen, Reginald Sheffield, Alan Halo and Desmond Roberts.

“PURSUED” AND “JUDGE PRIEST.” Will Rogers—in the most human and lovable role he has yet played! That is the screen fare promised at the State Theatre, where Will’s latest Fox picture, “Judge Priest,” begins an engagement tomorrow. According to advance reports, the star has never been so well suited as by this screen character, the shrewd, kindly but strong-willed Kentucky jurist, who is already famous in the stories of Irvin S. Cobb, perhaps America’s most noted humorist. With his characterisation of the “Judge,” Rogers is said . to acid a new and original figure to his already famous gallery, wh : ch includes such memorable portraits as David Ilaram, Mr Skitch, Dr Bull and the Connecticut Yankee. The notable cast includes Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Rochelle Hudson, Henry B. Walthall, David Landau and Stepin Fetchit. Enacted amidst the colourful surroundings of a copra plantation in the Dutch East Indies, “Pursued,” described as a love drama of the tropics, packed with thrills, is the second feature on the programme. In the cast are Rosemary Ames, Victor Jory, Pert Kelton and Russell Hardie, with George Irving and Torben Meyer in support.

REGENT THEATRE. "STRIKE ME LUCKY.” Roy Rene, better known as “Mo,” who convulsed thousands on the Fuller stage a few years back, appears finally at the Regent to-night, in an Australian production that is guaranteed to create j the same laughter records as the inimitable Yiddish comedian caused before ho broke in on the silver sheet. Beautiful girls are not lacking in this film, and there is oven a replica of a famous Hollywood star. She is called June East, but she has the contours, voice and looks of Mao West. Good faro is also contained in the featurettes, one of these, “Morocco Nights,” in tcclinicolour, being particularly well done. “WONDER BAR.” In making the “stupendous spectacle” lype of picture, it must bo conceded that Hollywood producers know their job. In making “Wonder Bar,” a Paris musicalu, which opens to-morrow at the Regent Theatre, Warner Brothers-First National have made several scenes of which “stupendous spectacle” now becomes an almost inadequate description. The cleverness and ingenuity of a battalion of experts must have been concentrated in the production of these scenes, which arc the most notablo features o,f a remarkably entertaining film. And an army of actors and actresses is their material. Not very unusual, perhaps, when a large mixed chorus nimbly kicks and patters a speedy modern ballet on an ordinary stage, but when the setting gradually changes and becomes no less than a broad plain of moving, figures, stretching as far as the eye can see, it undoubtedly has become extraordinary. When, however, the plain has turned into a vast leafy wood, through which the dancers still move rhythmically, it really lias reached the “stupendously spectacular.” Designs formed by dancers and “shot” from far above prove very effective. Some brief “glimpses” of the Pearly Gates and of Heaven may not quite be in accord with our own ideas, but nevertheless they arc most interesting. Apart from the settings, however, “Wonder Bar” has .much else to offer. A plot, essentially dramatic in type, is woven through the picture, and mainly concerns Kay Francis, A 1 Jolson, and Dolores Del Rio. A 1 Jolson has plenty to sing about and, fortunately, seems to have lost that catch in his voice that made many of his earier attempts almost absurd. Dick Powell also sings. The dancing of Dolores Del Rio is delightful, and she has an able partner in Ricardo Cortez. In Louise Fazenda, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert, and Guy Kibbec, there is a first-rate comedy team.

MURDER OF KING ALEXANDER. SPECIAL PICTURES OF ASSASSINATION. • Rushed to New Zealand by Paramount Pictures the exclusive film of Ibo assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia and M. Barthou, the French Foreign Minister, will commence screening at the Regent, Palace and Ivosy Theatres to-mor-row. It is a thrilling record of the crime that shook the world. The King and his party are shown landing at Marseilles. Then follows the procession through the crowded streets, and suddenly the assassin strikes, and the report of his fatal btdlofs is plainly heard. A mounted colonel of the guards gallops forward and there is a vivid “shot” depicting him striking down the murderer with his sabre. The remaining scenes show tho crowd frenzied by the tragedy, surging about tho assassin. Tho various incidents have, been excellently photographed, and form what are undoubtedly tho most remarkable scones ever saught by a cinematographer.

KOSY THEATRE. “GIRL MISSING” AND “EMPLOYEES’ ENTRANCE.” The ideal double-feature programme which has delighted large audiences at the Kosy Theatre of late will conclude its season at to-night’s sessions. “Girl Missing,” featuring Glenda Farrell, supplies no end of laughs, while the second feature, “Employees’ Eontranco,” starring Warren William and Loretta Young, gives excellent entertainment. “UNCERTAIN LADY.”

Tho hilarious, smart and modern screen drama, “Uncertain Lady,” which cotncs to the.Kosy Theatre to-morrow, is one of the highlights of this season and has an excellent east headed by Edward Everett Horton and Genevieve Tobin. Tho supporting players include such favourites as Paul Cavanagh, George Mocker, Renee Cadd, Mary Nash, Dorothy Peterson, Arthur Hoyt, Herbert Corthell, Gay Scabrook and many others. PALACE THEATRE. “MURDER AT THE VANITIES.” Tlie musical extravaganza is no new form of screen entertainment, neither is the murder mystery, but a show combining the two elements of entertainment is worth . more than passing attention for its novelty. Such a show is “Murder at the Vanities,” which shows finally to-night at tho Palace. This production follows no direct lino of movie production. It is a mixture, skilfully blended, of gaiety and tragedy, comedy and drama. Tho ballets soon are about tho best ever shown in Palmerston North, and tho backstage tragedy is skilfully portrayed. Tho acting' is unusually good for an essentially musical show, hut this talent is rendered necessary by the secondary mystery story. Two murders occur during tho premicro of a big musical production, but true to stage tradition, the show must, and does, “go on.” Such a plot lays itsolf open to being over-acted, but no criticism on that score can be levelled against the players. Carl Brisson, Jack Oakic, Victor McLaglen and Kilty Carlisle head a strong cast. “VOLTAIRE.” A return season of George Arliss’s groat ■ picture, “Voltaire,” is announced for tho Palace to-morrow. This excellent screen entertainment needs no boosting ns its reputation is already well known in this district and tho management is confident that large numbers who have already seen “Voltaire” will come again to enjoy every minute of George Arliss’s marvellous interpretation of the famous Frenchman. It is said that Mr Arliss has waited 20 years to find the suitable dramatisation of the life of Voltaire, called the father of tho French Revolution. If so it has been time well spent, for tho intervening years have ripened his artistry toward the memorable day when ho put “Voltaire” on film. Ir is anticipated that there will he, as is the case with all Arliss films, a heavy demand for seats, so intending patrons would be well advised to reserve seats for this, exceptional picture.