ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 227, 23 August 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “THE DRAGON MURDER CASE.” “The Dragon Murder Case,” a First National picture, with Warren William, will ho finally screened to-night at the Kosy Theatre. “WEREWOLF OF LONDON.” Remember “Dracula,” “Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde,” “Frankenstein” Well, roll all the thrills, ehills and excitement of these pictures into one, and you’ll have “Werewolf of London,” which commences at the Kosy Theatre to-morrow. “Werewolf of London” is a picture based on the fabled creatures called “Worevvolfs,” creatures who aro men most of the time but who become transformed into wolves each month during tho full of . the mcon. It is thon that they prowl tho darkened streets tearing tho life blood from humans to satiate their wolfish blood lust. Universal’s picturo aims at nothing except entertainment; entertainment of the thrilling, chilling typo that has always pleased audiences tho world over. “Werewolf of London” is a story of a cultured English gentleman who, in carrying out his hobby of securing strange flowers from tho far corners of the earth, finally moots with a fabled werewolf in tho mountains of far-off Tibet. Tho werewolf bites him in the arm, and then he knows, according to tho fable, that ho is doomed to turn into a wolf each month during the full of tho moon. Tho only thing that can provont this terrible tiling from happening is a plant called the “wolf flower.” Henry Hull, in tho role of this scientist, finds the wolf flower, and brings several sepcimens back to England. Dut then comes tho difficult task of keeping tho flowers alive. They bloom only in the light of tho moon, so he constructs a laboratory in which he creates artificial moonlight. And then thieves break in and steal his precious blossoms and he is left to the fate of becoming a wolf. Frantically he strives to avert tho transformation. Frantically he watches tho hair grow on his hands and face. Ho becomes a wolf and runs tho darkened streets of London bringing death to the innocent and suffering to himself, for the next morning when he awakes he is a man again, but. knows what ho has done during the dark hours of the night. The supports aro excellent and include two newsreels, a musical revue and novelty. STATE THEATRE. “THE COWBOY MILLIONAIRE” AND “THE DARING YOUNG MAN.” George O'Brien in “The Cowboy Millionaire” and James Dunne in “The Daring Young Man.” two really, good pictures, will bo finally serened at the State Theatre to-night. “BREWSTER’S MILLIONS.”

Tt is doubtful whether any British picture has ever mustered in its production such an array of top-lino names in all departments as “Brewster's Millions.” the latest Jack Buchanan picture, which is coming to the State Theatre to-morrow. Tho subject starts by being a famous one; its essential plot, that of a young man forced to spend half a million pounds in six months in order to inherit millions, is a classic of comedy entertainment already familiar on both sides of the Atlantic. The theme has been preserved in the picture, but the combined efforts of Arthur Wimperis, Clifford Grey, Donovan l’edelty, Jack Buchanan and Douglas Furber have built round it an entirely new framework of incident and development, gay, modern anil made-to-measure for the personality of the star. Arthur Wimperis is one of the clover est writers of dialogue in the world—- “ Henry VIII” was an example of his work —and Clifford Grey is an eminent scenarist, who numbers “Rome Express” among his successes. Direction is by Thornton Freeland, who made “Whoopee,” “Flying Down to Rio” and other American hits. He is a specialist of light-hearted subjects, with a flair for tho treatment of music ami dancing. His “Carioca” sequence in “Flying Down to Rio” between Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers will long be remembered. Four special musical numbers have been written for “Brewster’s Millions” by Ray Noble, whose “Good Night Sweetheart,” “By the Fireside” and “Love is the Sweetest Tiling” have been the rage of three continents, and have made him a best-seller with an international reputation. His number “Pull Down the Blind,” sung in tho film by Lili Damita, has all those features which have made his previous elforts so successful. Another of his numbers is written in Rhumba rhythm for tho “C'arunga” dance sequence. The orchestration of the musical score is by Harry Perritt and Billy Maycrl plays tho piano for Lili Damita’s numbers. Unusual attention has been given to the dressing of “Brewster’s Millions.” Lili Damita has been gowned by Schiaparelli, and Nancy O’Neill wears dresses by Norman Hartnell. Dresses have also been specially designed for the 20 beautiful girls who have been placed under contract by B. and D., after testing 500 of the 1500 applicants for the roles. Those girls aro “featured” in tho film; they will not bo seen in tho mass formations which have now become such conventional screen material, but will be given close-ups and lines throughout tho picture, and as part of tlie development of the story. Song numbers and dance ensembles when introduced, have been woven into the patter of tho story. The songs, for example, emerge from a show which Brewster backs, while tho “Caranga” will be danced as part of a huge festival which provides the plot of the film with some of its most wildly funny moments. 'The dance sequences have been worked out by Jack Buchanan, Thornton Freeland and Buddy Bradley, the latter of whom lias become, in recent years, the most famous dance director in England. “Brewster’s Millions” is the greatest musical comedy that has yet come from a British studio.

REGENT THEATRE. “THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL.” Made famous by the pun of Baroness Orezy, “The Scarlet Pimpernel” will be finally screened to-night at tho Regent theatre. in it all the desperate thrills of the French Revolution are wrapped up in the romantic and dangerous deeds of that prince of adventurers, “The Scarlet Pimpernel.” The picture follows closely the spirit of the book, and nono of the excitement is lost. Mr Howard is the Pimpernel come to life. In this film he has achieved the most outstanding performance of his screen career, and as tho Pimpernel he will be remembered. Merle Oberon, whose unusual type of beauty could almost bo termed exotie, makes a winsome Lady Blakcncy. “NAUGHTY MARIETTA.” Choico of “Naughty Marietta,” Victor Herbert’s classic operetta, opening at the Regent Theatro to-morrow, as the vehiclo for filming tho screen's first great musical adventure story, has brought to picturo audiences one of the greatest musical works ever composed. Produced on a spectacular scale by Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it has Jeanette MacDonald, _ acknowledged as one of the greatest singing stars of the American screen, and Nelson Eddy, American operatic baritone, hailed- as a sensational “discovery” among romantic leading men, as its stars. It was filmed as a thundering drama of the romantio Creolo days of St. Louis, a vehicle that gives to famous Victor Herbert music tho importance it merits. “Naughty Marietta” js acknowledged one of tho five greatest comic operas eve: composed in America, tho others being Do Kovcn’s “Robin Hood,” and Herbert’s “Serenade,” “Fortuno Teller” and “Milo. Modiste.” It was first produced in the New York Theatre, November 7, 1910, by Oscar Hnmmerstcin, with Emma Trentim, from grand opera, and Orville Harrold. Herbert’s music had a libretto by Rida Johnson Young. It took tho country by storm. “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” one of its greatest 6ongs, remains popular to this day and is hailed ns one of America’s masterpieces. “I’m Falling in Love with Somoono” is another song that has come down tho years as popular to-day as at its premiere. Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr’s screen transcription of “Naughty Marietta” takes on as much importance as its original stage premiere because of the unique handling of the story. Tho old comic opera libretto was laid aside, and the stirring incidents, historical facts and dramatic thrills referred to in dialogue m the stage

version are actually shown. Miss MacDonald plays a princess who masquerades as a Casquette girl, and Nelson Eddy a British officer in New Orleans. I heir songs arc backed by a huge symphony orchestra, a chorus of a hundred voices, and many musical novelties fitted into the score by Herbert Stothart, famous American composer and one-timo associate of Herbert. An elaborate cast surrounds the famous singing principals, including Frank Morgan, Elsa Lancaster (Mrs Charles Laughton), Douglas Dumbrille, Joseph Cawthrone, Cecilia Parker, Walter Kingsford, Gretta Meyer, Akim Tamiroff, Harold lluber and Edward Brophy..