ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 194, 16 July 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE “THE LITTLE COLONEL.” The movie news of the day is that America’s golden-hnired sweetheart arrives in her latest picture. Shirley Temple, the five-year-old screen miracle who was unknown less than a year ago, and who now ranks among the ten world’s outstanding box-office attractions, co-stars with Lionel Barrymoro in “the Little Colonel,” at the State Theatre tonight. Through her marvellous performances in tour pictures, Shirley lias become the nation's idol, adored by young and old. Her innocent romp through the land of fame is one of the bright fairy-tales of modern days. l’ox Film combed all the available fiction, past and present, for a suitable vehicle lor Shirley and found it in ono of the “Little Colonel” stories of Annie Fellows Johnston, which have beon eagerly read by millions. Drama and comedy, pathos and humour, vie for supremacy in this tale of a wrecked Kentucky family, during the Reconstruction era, reunited by the determination of a lilliputian dimpled colonel. For the first time in her short, brilliant screen career, Shirley Temple will be presented to the world precisely as she is. A part of the film is shown in technicolour. A supporting east was selected in keeping with file importance of the principals. Among them are names that have glittered on the marquees of Broadway’s theatres. Thoy include Evelyn Venable, John Lodge, Sidney Blaekmer, William Burress, and others. Bill Robinson, the celebrated coloured dancer, makes his debut in “The Little Colonel” in a part which, from all reports, gives him the finest chance of his lifetime to display his famed stair dance as it should ideally bo performed. As for Shirley Temple, she acts, sings, and dances, tier featured song for “The Little Colonel” is ‘Love’s Young Dream,” a melody based on one of the world’s oldest-known folk tunes, which was especially popular during the lato 70’s in which the picture takes place, ft is a De Sylva production directed by David Butler. Plans are now open at the theatre, ’phone 5599. REGENT THEATRE. “HAPPINESS AHEAD.” “Happiness Ahead.” First National’s new coinedv romance, with Dick Powell in the stellar role, will have its final screening at the Regent Theatre to-night. “BELLA DONNA.” There is no doubt about “Bella Donna,” which opens at the Regent Theatre to-mor-row, being one of the most popular stories written. Its success as a novel and stage play was followed by the screen version in which Pola Negri played the title role and again it was filmed as a “silent” with Paulino Frederick us “Bella Donna.” In this screen adaptation of tho book, and tho play by Bernard Fagan, the producers arc particularly lortunate in their choice of artists for principal roles. Although this is her first screen roie, Mary Ellis gives a splendid performance as “Bella Donna.” Ibis fine stage .actress had definite ideas ns to how the part should bo played. She determined to rouse sympathy for the character and not to make her merely a “wicked vamp,” as the part had previously been played. She succeeds. As Mahmoud Baroudi, tho evil Egyptian who fascinates the white woman, Conrad Veidt is a striking and sinister figure. No better clioicb can bo imagined for this difficult role. Thun wo have that great actor, Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Dr Isaacson, the medical mat. who saves the life of his friend. Nigel Armine, a part finely portrayed by Juirn Stuart. An excellent supporting cast includes Rodney Millington, Jeanne Stuart, and George C'arr. The film was directed by Robert Milton, who lias captured the atmosphere of Robert Hitchens’ book with line skill. Tho story of “Bella Donna” is one of romance, black treachery and tragedy. A woman with a not-so-good reputation in England is loved by a young man with expectations. He disregards the warnings of his sister-in-law and devoted friends, marries the woman and takes hor to Egypt. Oil tho voyago she becomes infatuated with Malnnoud Baroudi, a wealthy Egyptian, and is so carried away by the glamour of tho situation that si 10 still further besmirches her reputation, deceiving her husband right and left. In her trickery sho is aided by Ibrahim, an Egyptian in the pay and confidence of Baroudi. To bold the Egyptian and at his instigation, she endeavours to poison her husband. When Dr Isaacson, alarmed at the reports of Nigel’s slate of health, visits him in Egypt, she tries to prevent him examining tho sick man. The doctor diagnoses poison and suspects the wife, reveals the truth to Nigel who at first refuses to believe that his wife can act so vilely. Eventually ho challenges hor; she admits the truth, is oast away by Baroudi, who dreads scandal, and is left alone —deservedly outcast. KOSY THEATRE. “THE HUMAN SIDE.” ' “The Human Side,” finally screening at the Ivosy Theatre to-night, is tho greatest combination of love, comedy and complications that has reached the screen in months. “STRANGE WIVES.” A domestic comedy-drama, tempered with rich humour is “Strange Wives,” which screens finally at the Kosy Thoatro tonight. “CASINO MURDER CASE.” In “The Casino Murder Case,” which opens its season at the Kosy 'theatre tomorrow, Paid Lukas, featured player of such successes as “Little Women” and “Tho Fountain,” brings to the screen a third distinctive portrayal of J’liilo Vance, S. S. Van Dine’s famous fictional detective. Rather than present a purely dramatic mystery, Producer Lucion Hubbard has chosen to make tho newest Vance thriller, an unusually humorous yet mystifying story, with rapid-fire action and sparkling dialogue, sugcgslive of tho tempo of “Ihe Thin Man,” ono of the year’s outstanding pictures. That tho new picture has its funny moments is assured by the fact that tho inimitable Alison Skipworth, who scored in “Six of a Kind,’) is prominently cast as the domineering “Mrs Llewllyn” around whom much of the action circles. Others who have prominent rolos in tho production include Donald Cook Rosalind Russell, Arthur Byron, Ted Healy, Erie Blore, Isabel Jewell and Louise Fazenda. The new Van Dine baffler concerns tho latest adventure of Philo Vance and his unusual solution of a series of poisoning mysteries that envelop the wealthy and eccentric Llewllyn family. Vance receives an anonymous letter directing him to watch young Lynn Llewllyn, whoso life is in danger, at a notorious gambling casino. After drinking water supplied by his uncle, Kinfraid. the casino owner, Lynn collapses. At the same hour Lynn’s wife dies of poisoning in Mrs Llcwliyn’s home. Vanco discounts a suicide note found at her side. A little later Doris Reed, tho old lady’s socretary-companion, becomes unconscious after drinking water from a carafe intended for the elderly Mrs Llewllyn. Because the victims were made violently ill after drinking water, Vance perceives a water motify running through tho case. He learns that Kinkaid and Dr Kano, fiance of Lynn’s sister, arc experimenting with “heavy water,” believed to be poisonous. With Doris, who has recovered, Vance is trapped in Kinkaid’s secret laboratory but is later released by Kinkaid. Lynn’s mother, found dead with a gunshot wound, has left a note admitting she had, engineered the poison plot. Vanco also discredits this “confession,” declaring the old lady was trying to conceal her son. Lynn traps Vance and Doris in tho deserted Casino planning to tell them becauso they know too much. He boastfully tells everything. From thence to the final scene. “The Casino Murder Case” races to an exciting climax with lightning rapidity—with Philo Vance adding another startling crime solution to his amazing record. A Pete Smith oddity. Rugby, depicts our national game, every phase being shown in slow motion, “Free Voyage,” a Thelma Todd coinody, which, by the way, is a scream, and the latest newsreel.