ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “STAND UP AND CHEER.” ■ “Gland Up and Cheer 1” one of the most elaborate motion pictures over created by Hollywood, will make its appearance at the State Theatre to-day. Produced for Fox Film by Winfield Slicehan in assocition with Lew Brown, the film is reported as the show of a thousand and one wonders. Among the many elements the lihrr offers are Hundreds of dazzling girls, a vocal choir of 500, one thousand players, 005 scenes, 1200 wild animals and live bands of music. Mounted .with this array 01 players, scenes and music, arc live spectacular revue numbers that arc mentioned as being the most lavish and pretentious ' ever to be undertaken: -‘lntroduction of Loveliness,” “Revival of Laughter,” “Garden of Beauty,” “The Magic Transformation,” “March of Prosperity/’ Each of these rhythmic revues contains an authentic song hit, all of which are heralded as' the dance tunes of the nation for the season. The 1/trge cast assembled for this elaborate production includes such stellar names as Warner Baxter, Madge Evans, James Dunn, John Boles, Ralph Morgan, Nigel Bruce,- Shirley Temple, Arthur Byron and Stepin Fctehit. In the supporting cast are a number of leading personalities from the stage and radio, among whom arc Sylvia Froos, Jimmy Dallas, “Aunt Jemima,” Nick Koran, Mitchell and Durant. Although musical in theme, the screen play contains a story that is a timely and topical. The President of -the United States appoints a famous Broadway producer to the cabinet post of Secretary of Amusement: It is his duty t,o help restore prosperity by reviving the spirits of the people. Selecting the country loading entertainers, the producer proceeds to amuse the nation with magnificent and lavish stage- productions. It is in those productions that the wonders of the film are revealed.. Hamilton MacFaddcn directed from tho original st.ory idea suggested by Will Rogers and Philip Klein, Sammy Lee staged tho dance numbers. The song numbers—“ Our Last Niglit Together,” “Baby Take a Bow,” “I’m Laughing,” “Broadway's Gone Hill Billy” and “Out Of The Red” —were all written by Lew Brown and Jay Gorney. An exceptionally brilliant supporting programme includes a special . newsreel of tho assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia. This is the only official film record of this terrible event, described by Graham McNameo. Also Scott winning the Melbourne Centenary air race, a clever cartoon, camera thrills, travelogue and overseas newsreels. Unquestionably a programme of outstanding merit. KOSY THEATRE. “NIGHT AFTER NIGHT” AND “MAMA LOVES PAPA.” -The actress who has surpassed all others in international- lame conies to the Kosy Theatre to-day in “Night After Night,” which will be screened with “Mama Loves Papa.” Mao West, the actress referred to, lias leapt into the public eye witli her astounding and most unconventional style, with the result that her popularity has exceeded anything hitherto known in the film world. Surrounding Miss West are George Raft, followed by Alison Skipworth, Constance Cummings and Wynne’Gibson. Tho action of tho film is set in a luxurious New York night club, rescued from decay to serve as an oasis for Mannhattan’s wealthy thirsty. Raft, a young player who has scored sensational success in minor roles, has a loading role as proprietor of the club. Miss West, colourful figure of tho Broadway stage, and Miss Cibson arc two of Raft’s cx-swccthearts who find more difficulty in breaking the tic with him than ho docs. Miss Cummings is seen in tho role of a society debutante who finds tliat tho night club has been established .in tho house in which she was born and her frequent visits bring . her in contact with Raft, who is fascinated bv 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 Ruggles, is the second feature on tho programme. The picture is tho story of a middle-aged couple, whoso adventures and misadventures are about evenly divided. Rugglcs is a mddle-class business man who enjoys bis own puns. Miss Boland is a wife who gets her ideas of culture from itinerant lectures. Rugglcs’s 100-ready acquiescence to her whims gets them into a scries of tragi-comio events.

REGENT THEATRE. “THE SCARLET EMPRESS.” .“The Scarlet Empress,” starring Marlene Dietrich, will begin its long-await-ed Palmerston North. season at the Regent Theatre to-night. The scene is set in cold, mysterious St. Petersburg, the imperial heart of Russia. To Russia’s cold fastness came an innocent young German princess, who later became the 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 film will go on record as the most spectacular production in which Marlene Dietrich has yet appeared. Tho 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 arc soveral exceptional scenes that impress the memory through their vividness and magnificence. Among these are the marriage of the Grand Duke Peter to the girl from Germany; the swaying of the . ritual to the famous strains of “Kamcnoi Ostraw”; 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 ot Catherine in “The Scarlet Empress.” In addition to Marlene Dietrich, who again is directed by Josef Von Sternberg, there are John Lodge, Sam Jaflc and Louise Dresser in the cast.

PALACE THEATRE. “MALA THE ’MAGNIFICENT.” A picture right out of the ordinary, and with outstanding merit, is “Mala the Magnificent,” which is to be screened at the Palace Theatre to-night. Filmed amid the blizzard-swept wastes of the subarctic regions of north-w’est Canada, it includes some magnificent scenic “shots,” but it is much more than a travel picture. The views of the nomadic Eskimo tribes and their life in primeval conditions are undoubtedly an education, but they form the background to a powerful drama revealing the tragic results of endeavouring to force sons of Nature such as the Eskimos to conform to the standards of the white man. The story is based on the novel by.Edwakd Freuchen, in which the moral code of the Eskimas was particularly discussed. An Eskimo will share his wife (or wives) with another, but he will not condone betrayal, and .it was because of the treatment of his wife by some “bad whites” that Mala, the greatest of the Eskimo hunters, became the prey of the North-West > Mounted Police. Those who enjoy exciting action will find their tastes'liberally catered for in this film. The hunting of a vast herd of caribou which are chased into the water before being killed, and of walruses and whales, provide much thrilling action. There are no great screen, stars in the picture, but it is difficult to imagine a more natural portrayal is given by the Eskimos themselves. Tho supporting programme comprises a newsreel and a Laurel and Hardy comedy.