ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 198, 20 July 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “WINGS IN TIIE DARK.” Cary Grant, who was one of the stars of “'1 ho Eagle anil tho Hawk,” returns again to a role in an aviation film, Paramount’s “Wings in the Dark,” Tho picture, -starring Grant with Myrna Loy, comes to the Kosy Theatre to-night. Although “Tho Eagle and the Hawk” was a picture of war aviation, “Wings in tho Dark” is dovoted to depicting the thrills and romance in the development of peacetime aviation. Grant plays tho role of a scientific explorer of the air, a man who. strives to imiko aviation safe by perfecting - blind-flying. When he 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 lias been helping him; lie leaves hor rather than accept cliarity. But fate intervenes, and Grant, iri a gripping dramatic climax, goes on a flight that saves Miss boy’s life and unites the lovers. Directed by James Flood, the picture features Roscoo Kama, llobart Cavanaugh and Dean Jagger in the principal featured roles. Ail excellent supporting programme includes two newsreels, novc.ly, a Sportlight scries, serial and a Butty Boop cartoon. STATE THEATRE. “AIY HEART IS CALLING.” Few screen stars, even the much publicised Hollywood variety, have attained the great popularity that is attached to the name and tile personality of Jan Kicpura. To-day each film in which ho 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 “Aiy Heart is Calling” commences at the State Theatre to-night. Though ill all, ho has appeared in but tour films, “Tho City, of Song,” “Tell Ale To-night,” “Aiy Song For You” and “Aiy Heart Is Calling.” Kicpura 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 Kicpura lacks nothing in any of these characteristics. Small wonder then that each of his Gau-mont-British films lias met with worldwide popularity. Ilis latest GaumontBritish film “My Heart Is Calling” is no exception to tho rule. An abundance of good entertainment its contained in this delightful photoplay which, besides Kiepura, includes in its east of talented players AJarta Eggorth, lovely singing star and talented Uancer who has ‘previously been seen on tl.u scilecn in “Where Is This Lady and Sonnic Hale, prominently featured as the manager of the opera company of which Kicpura is the star. The difficulties of Hale to secure engagements for his company and their many adventures —anil misadventures—arc part and parcel of this very entertaining comedy-romance. Naturally highlights ol the film are those in which Kicpura sings not only the two popular theme songs, “Aiy Heart is Calling” and “You, Ale and Love,” but many operatic excerpts, particularly some excellent renderings from “Tosca.” “You, Ale and. Love,” one ol the songs sung by Jan Kicpura, has an apt application to-day. He sings 'the song in the hall of mirrors, where % LMiirta Eggertli dances so charmingly. The' two arc 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 “Aiy Heart Is Calling” may be regarded as a musical treat. REGENT THEATRE. “CLIVE OF INDIA.” “Clive of India,” presented pictorially at the Regent Theatre to-night, is a series of historic plays which has tlooded the English stage during the past two or three years. \\. i J . Lipscomb .and R. J. Alinney, who wrote the original play, assuredly revived the 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 ho plays with rare distinction of manner, and which will be remembered as one of his most arresting performances. Darryl Zanuek has .certainly given rein to a vivid imagination ill 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 Port David, ho welcomes the attack of the French as a chance to break free. Once in uniform Clive shows his quality. When Trichinopoly is in tile last stages of a wearisome siege without hope, it is Clive who realises that the only hope is to attack, and he begs the Governor to give him all the troops he can spare for a desperate back-door attack on Arcot —then the capital of Southern India, in French hands. His sortie succeeds beyond the hounds of expectation. He goes on from success to sue- j cess, until Suruj U'd Dowlali looms on , the horizon as a menace to British secur , ity. Clive senses that there is only one chance, to oiler Mir Jafl'ar a throne in return for aid. Plassey is the result—a great battle scene fought in a monsoonal storm. 'Phis places England in supreme command of India, and Clive returns to England with his faithful, long-suffering Margaret. But ho has not been so long at peace before India calls again. When there lie learns how his name, Lord Clive now, is being traduced by his enemies, and ’ hastens back to London, only to bo impeached in the House of Lords, a notable scene. Clive (replies with fine dignity and conscious innocence, and the picture ends with the congratulations ol the Prime Minister and King George 111Not the least interesting scenes wero those between Clive and his wife, so charmingly played by Miss Loretta j Young. An incident unique anil dramatci is the charge of the buttle elephants at the Battle of Plassey—ami astonishing scene of carnage. The programme also includes a Regent News Service, and a new teclmieoloiir masterpiece Irom tho ingenious brain of W alt Disney, entitled “The Band Concert.”