ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 306, 23 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

- REGENT .THEATRE. “WONDER BAR.” “'.Vendor Bar,” starring. Kay Francis, Dick Powell, Dolores Del Rio, Ricardo Cortez, Ai Johnson, Guv Ivibb.oo, Fifi Dorsay and Hugh Herbert will bo screened finally at the Regent Theatre this evening. There is also an excellent supporting programme including pictures of the assassination of King Alexander and M. Barthou. “THE SCARLET EMPRESS.”

On Saturday “The Scarlet Empress,” starring Marlene Dietrich, will begin its long-awaited Palmerston North season. The scone is set in cold, mysterious St. Petersburg, the imperial heart of Russia. To Russia’s cold fastness came an innocent young Gorman princess, who later became tha most notorious woman in Europe, the most powerful and treacherous ruler of all times, Catherine, the Second, the “Scarlet Empress.” Produced with a lavishness that is truly amazing this picture will go on record at the most spectacular production in which Marlene Dietrich has yet appeared. The pictorial magnificence of the film, which is a pageant of sumptuous splendour, beautiful music, and spectacle, is enriched by natural sound, dialogue, and magnificent settings. There are soveral exceptional scones that impress the memory through their vividness and magnificence. Among those are the marriage of the Grand Duke Peter to the. girl from Germany; the swaying of the ritual to the famous strains of “Kamcnoi Ostravv”; the wedding feast; the bizarre and grotesque figures of • the palace, set amid barabaric splendour, and the sensational climax when Catherine 11. rides at the head of the Cossacks to gain the throne. Marlene Dietrich may be said to reach one of the heights of her life with the portrayal of the role of Catherine in “The Scarlet Empress.” In addition to Marlene Dietrich, who again is directed by Josef Von Sternberg, there arc John Lodge, Sam Jaffo and Louise Dresser in the cast. PALACE THEATRE. “VOLTAIRE.”

To-night will be the last occasion on which “Voltaire,” the George ArlisS attraction at the Palace, will bo screened in Palmerston North. ” his picture is entertainment of a very high order and should not on any account bo missed. An entirely new programme of short features includes the special film taken, of the assassination of King Alexander. This gives in graphic detail the record of the recent crime which shocked the whole W'orld. “MALA THE MAGNIFICENT.”

A most unusual picture, filmed entirely in the Arete and absolutely free from Hollywood fictional staging, comes to the. Palace Theatre to-morrow. This film has been viewed in Auckland and Wellington by soveral local citizens and all are enthusiastic is their praises of the excellence of the picture. The Bulletin, a film critic noted tor its frankness, classes “Mala” as one of the greatest achieve merits in the history of motion pictures. It was directed by Colonel W. S. Van Dyke, 'who will be remembered for his powerful direction of “Tarzan, the ApeMan,” “Trader Horn” and “White Shu dows in the South Seas.” The story is based on the books of Peter Frcuchen, and presents the queer moral code that exists among the Eskistnos of the frozen North. They were simple children of Nature until the coming of the white man, when sin and crime were let loose. In their primitive state they willingly shared their wives with each other, but if one was betrayed then they would fight to the death. There are many thrilling scenes included in the picture, which is 10,000 feet long. A white man is hatpooned to avenge the honour of an Eskimo. The famous North-West Mounted Police are set on the trail and breathtaking incidents follow, among them being a 'realistic' hand-to-hand battle with a hunger-maddened wolf, a fight lor life with a Polar bear, and the conquest of a whale by men in a small open boat'. One of the most remarkable scenes in tire picture is a stampede of a herd of caribou, or Arctic deer. Colonel Van Dyke will appear before the camera ns an actoi for the first time in his successful career as a director. He takes the l-ole of inspector of the “Mounteds.” Most of theother* principal actors are actual Eskimos. “Mala the Magnificent” is as fine a show as one could wish to see, combining as it docs, romance, humour, adventure, thrills education and unforgettable scenery. Also on the bill is “Dirty Work,” in which the over-popular Laurel and Hardy are seen as chimney sweeps. Their antics in the home of till eccentric scientist arc guaranteed to send even the glunmiicst of persons into shrieks of laughter. They seldom need to speak much, as then* actions speak louder than words. BULLS THEATRE. “FASHIONS OF 1934.” One of the most elahoralc pictures to come from Hollywood in many a long day is “Fashions of 1934,” starring \V)I liain Powell in the role of a lovable crook who steals the designs of the latest .fashions from the big importers and sells thorn to the cheaper houses. Frank McHugh and Bette Davis give able support in a cast of hundreds. One mammoth spectacle is the “Hall of Living Harps,” an orchestra comprised entirely of harps, with beautiful girls as figureheads, which supply music for the spectacular fan dance of" 200 girls with ostrich feather fans. A good supporting programme will also add to the further enjoyment of patrons.

KOSY THEATRE. “UNCERTAIN LADY.” To-day and fo-night the sparkling comedy, “Uncertain Lady,” which stars Edward Everett Horton and Genevieve Tobin, will receive its final screenings at the ICosy Theatre. “NIGHT AFTER NIGHT” AND “MAMA LOVES PAPA.”

“Night After Night,” starring Mao West, will bo screened with “Mama Loves Papa” at the Kosy Theatre to-morrow. Surrounding Miss West are George Raft, followed by Alison Skipworth, Constance Cummings and Wynne Gibson. ' The action of the film is sot in a luxurious Now York night c-lub, rescued from decay to serve as ■ an oasis for Mannhattan’s wealthy thirsty. Raft, a young. player who has scored sensational success iu minor roles, has a leading role as proprietor of the club. Miss West, colourful figure of the Broadway stage, and Miss Gibson arc two of Raft’s ex-sweethearts who find more difficulty iu breaking the tie with him than ho does. Miss Cummings is scon in the role of a society debutante who finds fliat the night club has been established in the house in which she was born and her frequent visits bring her in contact with Raft,, who is fascinated by her. And a queer romance develops between the two —a romance which is precipitated into startling channels by a series of unusual events. “Mama Loves Papa,” starring Mary Boland and Charles Reggies, is the second feature on the programme. The picture is the story of a middle-aged couple, whose adventures and misadventures are about evenly divided. Rugglcs is a mddlc-class business man who enjoys his own puns. Miss Boland is a. wife who gets her ideas of culture from itinerant lectures. Rugglcs’s too-rcady acquiescence to her whims gets them into a series of tragi-comic events. FATHER CHRISTMAS APPEARS. At the special matinee to-morrow morning, when “Cheyenne Kid,” starring Tom Mix will bo screened, Father Christmas will appear at the Kosy Theatre prior to his arrival at Collinson a.nd Cunninghame’s. While at the theatre, Santa Clq,us will distribute six special presents to children in the audience. STATE THEATRE. “PURSUED” AND “JUDGE PRIEST.”

Will Rogers—in the - most human and lovable role he has yet played I That is -the screen fare promised at the State Theatre, where Will’s latest Fox picture,

“Judge Priest,” will have its final screenings. With his characterisation of the “judge,” Rogers is said to add a new and original iigure to his already famous gallery, wh : ch includes such memorable portraits as David Haram, 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 petchit. 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 (he programme. In the cast are Rosemary Ames. Victor Jory, Pert Kelton and Russell Hardic, with George Irving and Torben Moyer in support. “STAND UP AND CHEER.”

With one of the largest and most lm posing casts over assembled for a motion picture production, box Film’s latest release, “Stand Up and Cheer !” or in other words, Pox “hollies of 1934,” will muko its- appearance at the State Theatre tomorrow. Among the many 6tar names that stud the roster of players are Warner Baxter, James Dunn, Madge Evans, Ralph Morgan, Shirley Temple, Nigel Bruce, Arthur Bryon, John Boles and Stepin Petchit. In the supporting cast are a number of famous entertainment personalities, among whom are Sylvia Proos, Jimmy Dallas, “Aunt Jemima, Mitchell and Durant and Nick Foran. The story is that of a Broadway theatrical producer who is called upon by the President of the United States to help restore prosperity by reviivng the spirits of the people through a gigantic amusement campaign. With the cream of the entertainment crop at his disposal, the producer puts on display the most lavish amusement units ever produced. Among the thousand and one wonders in the picture there are hundreds of dazzling girls, a vocal chorus of 500, 100 players, 035 scenes, 1200 wild animals and live bands of music. Prom this, assembly of players, scenes and music, come five breath-taking spectacles, “Introduction of Loveliness,” “Revival of Laughter,” “Garden of Beauty,” “The Magic Transformation,” “March of Prosperity,” and five authentic song hits that promise of being the dance tunes of the world for the season. Reports on the film indicate that it is one of the most elaborate undertakings Hollywood has ever endeavoured to create. Produced by Winfield Sheehan, in association with Lew Brown, the film was directed by Hamilton MacFaddcn, from an original story idea suggested by Will Rogers and Phillip Klein. Sammy' Leo staged the dances, while Low Brown and Jay Gorney were responsible for the song numbers—“ Our La.st Night Together,” “Baby Take a. Bow,” “I’m Laughing,” “Broadway’s Gone Hill Billy” and “Out Of The Red.”