ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 197, 19 July 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “THE PHANTOM LIGHT.” “The Phantom Light,” a GaumontBritish thrillor, will bo finally screened tonight at the State Theatre. “LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE.” As the fastest, merriest farce in many a moon, with laughs galore, “Lightning Strikos Twice,” will also have its final screening at the State Theatre to-night. “MY HEART IS CALLING.” Few screen stars, even the much publicised Hollywood vurioty, have attained the great popularity that is attached to the namo and the personality of Jan Kicpura. To-day each film in which he appears is awaited with an eagerness and anticipation which proves that the pic-ture-going public is very much at the feet of this handsome singer whose latest Gaumont-British picture "My Heart is Calling” commences at the State Theatre to-morrow. Though in all, lie has appeared in but four films, “The City of Song,” “Toll Mo To-night,” “My Song For You” and “My Heart Is Calling,” Kiepura richly deserves the title which many have bestowed upon him of “the screen’s favourite singer.” It is a pleasant change to find one who can combine good looks with a charming personality and a golden voice, yet Kiepura lacks nothing in any of theso characteristics. Small wonder then that each of his Gau-mont-British films has met with worldwide popularity. His latest GaumontBritish film “My Heart Is Calling” is no exception to the rule. An abundance of good entertainment is contained in this delightful photoplay which, besides Kinpula, includes in its cast of talented players Marta Eggcrth, lovely singing star and talented dancer who has previously been seen on tlie scilcen in “Where Ib Thin Lady?” and Sonnie Hale, prominently featured as the manager of the opera company of which Kiepura is the star. The difficulties of Hale to secure engagements for his company and their many adventures—and misadventures—aro part and parcel of thin very entertaining comedy-romance. Naturally highlights ol the film are those in which Kiepura sings not only the two popular theme songs, “My Heart in Calling” and “You, Ale ! and Love,” but many operatic excorpts, particularly some excellent renderings from “Tosca.” “You, Me and Love,” one of the songs sung by Jan Kiepura, has an apt application to-day. Ho sings the song in the hall of mirrors, where Marta Kggerth dances so charm ingly. The two are said to have fallen in love during the production of the film and after a whirlwind courtship and short engagement, were recently married. “In all •“My Heart Is Calling” may be regarded as a musical treat.

REGENT THEATRE. “BELLA DONNA.” # The final screening of “Bolla Donna,” starring Mary Ellis, will be made at tho Regent Theatre to-night. “CLIVE OF INDIA.” “Clive of India,” presented pictorially at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, is a series of historic plays which has llooded tho English stage during the past two or three years. VV. F. Lipscomb and R. J. Minney, who wrote the original play, assuredly revived tho memory of a very remarkable one—a great Empire builder, who gave England India. The screen version is an elaborate, and in places magnificent, version of the play, which features that sincere artist Ronald Colman in the name part—a role which he plays with rare distinction of manner, and which will bo remembered as one of his most arresting performances. Darryl Zanuck has certainly given rein to a vivid imagination in suiting the stage play to the screen. The larger canvas shows Clive as a £5-a-year clerk in an office of the East India Company in India. Sick of the daily grind at the desk at Fort David, he welcomes the attack of the French as a chance to break free. Once in uniform Clive shows his quality. When Trichinopoly is in the last stages of a wearisome siege without hope, it is Clive who realises that the only hopo is to attack, and he begs the Governor to give him ah the troops ho can spare for a desperate back-door attack on Arcot—then the capital of Southern India, in French hands. His sortie succeeds beyond the bounds of expectation. He goes on from success to success, until Suraj Ud Dowlah looms on tho horizon as a menace to British 6ccur ity. Clive senses that there is only cue chance, to offer Mir Jaffar a throne in return for aid. Flassey is the result a great battle scene fought in a monsoonal storm. This places England in supreme command of India, and Clive returns to England with his faithful, long-suffering Margaret. But he has not been so long at peace before India calls again. When there he learns how his name, Lord Clive now, is being traduced by his enemies, and' hastens back to London, only to be impeached in the House of Hords, & notable scene. Clive replies with fine dignity and conscious innocence, and the picture ends with the congratulations ol the Prime Minister and King George 111. Noi tho least interesting scenes were those between Clive and bis wife, so charmingly played by Miss Loretta Young. An incident uniquo and dramatci is the charge of the buttle elephants at the Battle of Flassey—anti astonishing scene of carnage. The programme also includes a Regent News Service, and a new technicolour masterpiece from tho ingenious brain of Walt Disney, entitled “The Band Concort.”

KOSY THEATRE. “CASINO MURDER CASE.” “The Casino Murder Case,” featuring Paul Lukas, will be finally screened tonight at the Kosy Theatre. “WINGS IN THE DARK.” Gary Grant, who was one of the stars of “The Eaglo and the Hawk,” returns again to a role in an aviation film, Paramount’® “Wings in the Dark,” Tho picture starring Grant with Myrna Loy,comes to the Kosy Theatre to-morrow. Although “Tho Eagle and the Hawk was a picture of war aviation, “\\ ings in the Dark” is devoted to depicting the thrills and romance in the development of peacetime aviation. Grant plays the role of a scientific explorer of the air, a man who strives to make aviation safe by perfecting blind-flying. When ho is blinded in an accident, Myrna Loy, the girl who loves him, helps him to carry on his work with money she earns in spectacular stunt flying. Grant learns how she has been helping him; lie leaves her rather than accopt charily. But fate intervenes, and Grant, in a gripping dramatic climax, goes on a flight that saves Miss Loy’s life and unites the lovers. Directed by James Flood, the picture features Roscoo Ivarns, Hobart Cavanaugh and Dean Jagger in tho principal featurod roles. An excellent supporting programme includes two newsreels, novelty, a Sportlight series, serial and a Betty Boop cartoon.