ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 44, 19 January 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “HELL IN THE HEAVENS.” Described as a thrilling romance of death and danger in the bkies, the new Fox Film production, “Hell in the Hcavciirs,” starring Warner Baxter, will open its season tonight at the State Theatre. Star of a long and notable series of screen hits, including “The Cisco Kid,” “Grand Canary,” “In Old Arizona,” “Stand Up and Cheer” and “Faddy the Next Best Thing,” Warner Baxter is said to contribute his greatest performance in seasons to the new Fox film. This time he is cast ns an American flier in the Lafayette Escadrille, who is promoted by death to fill his captain’s place. Haunted by “the fear that he will be afraid,” the lieutenant struggles to combat it. Love helps, in the form of dashing Conchita Montenegro. At length Baxter meets the “Baron,” most daring and dangerous of German aces, in clone conflict high above the clouds —and solves his destiny through courage. Fox has surrounded the star with one of the most distinguished supporting casts in years. Conchita Montenegro, who appeared with Baxter in “The Cisco Kid,” is again his leading woman, llussell. Hardie. teen • recently in “Pursued” and “As the Earth Turns,” has tin important juvenile role. Other members of the cast are Herbert M undin, Andy Devine. Ralph Morgan, Vince Barnett, William Stclling, J. Carol Naish and Johnny Arthur. “Hell in the Heavens” was directed by John Blystonc, with A 1 Rockett named as' producer. Byron Morgan and Ted Parsons fashioned the screen play, adapting it from a play by Hermann Rcissman titled “The Ace.”

“The Ace” wad y huge success last season on the London stage. A delightful supporting programme includes an hilarious comedy entitled “Nifty. Nursed”; Fox Aussie newsreel cartoon; also news and \ iew r s from the Slate’s overseas news service.

PALACE THEATRE. “THE BLUE SQUADRON.” With ’every scene guaranteed as authentic and taxon with the lull .co-operation of the Italian Air Force, “The Blue Squadron,”■ which commences ai the Palace 'JJieatie to-night otters something entirely new' in tins type of entertainment. Those who have seen aviation pictures and Ijunc been disappointed at the unreality of tlioin wi.l ue pleasantly thrilled by “The Blue Sqiuuiicn. ’The Blue Squadron stirs 10 lever pitch the imagination ami enthusiasm of audiences. It presents semotinng entirely new in aviation miriatives, which couples this more timely peacetime angle of air heroics with an enveloping lomance that sweeps the stars •to new heights. In fact tne almost unbelievable turiJs which abound m this spectacular drama ox daring and selfsacriliec are at times completely overshadowed by the tense and gripping love story that truly classifies ’The Biue Squadron’’ as one ct the best tereen 10inances of the year. A parachute jump in the Bozen wastes of the Alps, leakage of fumes which o\ercoine the pilot, and a descent in a spot whore chances of rescue seem negligible serve as incidents which build up an enthralling Jove interest to greater and greater degrees until the powerful denouement in I lie linal fade-out. In “ihe Blue Squadron” John Stuart is an inventor whose talents have earned him the rank of Colonel, while Esmond Knignt’s courage and daring have carried him to the rank of Gaptain. The air manoeuvres are remarkable and arc in themselves a thrilling entertainment. Carried out on a colossal scale they present ail inspiring sight and in one scene alone there are 1500 ’planes featured. “The Blue Squadron” is indeed something special in cinema entertainment providing, as it does, romance, drama and spectacle with a multitude of thrills and plenty of speed and action.

REGENT THEATRE. . “MADAME DU BARRY.” “Madame Du Barry,” the Warner Bros, production depicting the intimate life and ■iovca of the famous beauty who ruled the court of King Louis XV, conns . to the Regent Theatre to-night with Dolores Del Rio in the stellar role. Although the intrigues of the court, as in any story of Du Barry, will be apparent, Edward Uli.odorov, the author o,t the current screen play, is said to have concerned himself with the. lighter side of the king’s favourite. The picture, while billed as a comedy drama, with the emphasis on the, comedy, also is a mammoth spectacle wit.li . it.*> gorgeous reproductions ot the court, the palace at Versailles, the famous Colonnade Gardens, where the grand latlies and resplendent courtiers disported Alienist Ives in gaiety and luxury, wfrne the people starved.? 'Nor is the picture without its dramatic moments when Du Barry lights intrigue with intrigue, usually outwitting tier enemies, who would gladly thrust a dagger through her beautiful back. Yet even it. these more intense- .sequences, tlie- irrupts* ible Du Barry usually managed to end them with, a laugh—at the expense of the enemy. There is a gorgeous and novel dance staged bv the famous Albertina Raseli dancers. The picture has an unusually largo cast of talented players m the principal roles and hundreds ot others in minor parts. Dolores Del Rio lias the part of Du Barry, with Reginald Owen playing opposite her as King Louis XV. Others include Victor Jcry, Osgood -Perkins, Verrec Teasdale, Feruinaml Gootsehalk, Dorothy Tree, Anita Louise, Maynard Holmes, Henry O’Neill, Hobart Cavanagh and Helen Lowell.

KOSY THEATRE. “SUNSHINE SUSIE” AND “AMONG THE MISSING A* The lilting tune “To-day I Feel So Happy” fctilt rings in the ears of people who lemeinber tin.* musical ’’Sunshine Susie” that thrilled audience t* throughout - New Zealand. Here it is again with Jack Hulhert just a»s funny as ever, and accompanied by the fascinating Continental star Kcnate Muller. “Among the .Missing” comes to the Kcsy Theatre to-day with “Sunshine Susie.” The film’s’ east features such wellknown performed as Richard Cromwell, Henrietta Grosman, Aitliur Hold, Bilhe Seward and Ivan Simpson, '.flic .story, briefly, concerns an ageu waif who unwittingly lalis ::i with a gent.email jewel thief and bis gui.elnss accomplice. Acting as their cook and housekeeper in the rear of an old antique shop where sto.en loot is remade into ‘.’antique” jewedery, the old woman learns that the boy is m love with a sweet, young girl, but i,s bound to the illicit proiession by the domination of lus older a nociate. Relent iesitty she persists in her efforts to regenerate the boy and the climax is-one ot poignant paliiois and dramatic intensity. Cromwell portrays- the young boy, with Arthur llofi!, as “Gordon," the ring master; Henrietta Grosman, as. the venerable old lady and Billy Seward as “Judy,” Lronnveil’s sweetheart.