ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 230, 27 August 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “WEREWOLF OF LONDON.” Warner Gland and Henry Hull are (lie co-stars in “Werewolf of London,” which will be finally screened to-night at the Kosy Theatre. “SOCIETY DOCTOR.” When the gamut ol a life-time of human emotions can be crammed within the brief span of eight, hours then ifia-t is something worth talking about. 'lbis is exactly what Metro-Uoldwyn-Mayer lias accomplished in one of the most unusual and speediest screen stories to reach die screen lately. It is “Society Doctor,” a gripping drama of life within the walls of a metropolitan emergency hospital, which opens at the Kosy 'theatre tomorrow. The picture is laudable lor one reason above all others. It brings to the screen a new team of lovers who, wo hope, will be seen in other future pictures.* They are Chester Morris, always dependable for an excellent performance, and lovely Virginia Bruce, who emerges front two years of screen retirement to contribute the finest portrayal of her career. Too, there is a third person of whom you will hear more. A newcomer to the screen, bis name is Robert Taylor, an excellent actor who, we understand, is a product of the Metro-Goldwyn-Muyor dramatic school for its newly discovered talent. The story is that of two young internes —Morris and Taylor—who compete for the attentions of a pretty, sensible nurse, Miss Bruce. Morris as Dr Morgan, is fired from his job in the emergency hospital for operating too hastily upon a patient, lie is invited to set himself up in private practice with the backing ot a wealthy, neurotic patient in the hospital—Billie Burke—which be accepts. Although Matlgc—Miss Bruce —loves Morris, she feels it is futile because Morris does not believe love and marriage can be mixed with a medical career. 80 she accepts the marriage offer of the other interne, Taylor. With machine-gun _rapidity, one event follows another within the walls of the hospital. A policeman has been seriously shot by a gang-ter. The gangster, through subterfuge, is taken to the hospital to visit his "dying mother.” The “mother” proves to bo a friend, who arms the gangster. The gangster, in his attempted flight for freedom, sbools down Morris. The wife of the wounded policeman slays the gangster. The ho-pilal surgeons refuse to operate on Morris. ’1 hey say it will mean death. Morris orders his own operation. With his friendly enemy, Taylor, wielding the knife, Morris directs Ins own operation. As tie lays near death on the operating table, lie realises what Madge, the nurse, has meant to him. The friendly enemy, Taylor, releases Madge ft out her marriage promise—and Madge is overjoyed when Morris asks her to he Ins wife. Seldom has a more fast-moving drama been seen on tile screen and we highly recommend it. As for the direction, by George Seitz,, it has been very efficiently and effectively done. Excellent performances arc contributed by Billie Burke, William Henry, Henry Kolkcr, Raymond Walburn, Dorothy Petersen and Johnny Hines. Laurel and Hard.v in their latest comedy, “Them Thar Hills,” a Metrotono Nows and a Colour Cartoon will complete the programme.

STATE THEATRE. “BREWSTER’S MILLIONS.” “Brewster’s Millions,” starring Jack Buchanan, will be filially screened to-night at the State Theatre. “DOUBTING THOMAS.” Slriko up the laughs for Will Rogers’s new fun cyclone, “Doubting Thomas,” which opens to-morrow at the State Theatre. You’ll hold your sides as Will tries to hold his wife in this rib-rocking story about a thunder-struck husband land a stage-struck wife which was adapted from George Kelly’s stage hit, “The Torch Bearers.” Reports lrom other cities have audiences rolling in the aisles of the theatre at Rogers’s new wisecracks in the role of a simple, home-loving sausage manufacturer, whose calm world is tossed into a turmoil when his wife, Billie Burke, goes theatrical. She appears in an amateur charity show and it the audiences hold on to their scats, it will be more than those in other cities have been able to do. You'll laugh your till when Billie Burke, under the influence of Alison Skipworth, who plays an amateur impressairu, wants to make a career of the stage until Rogers finally effects a cure by Hiring- a bogus Hollywood director to tell her and the amateur group what ho thinks of their screen tests after which Will surprises everyone with a sequence which can he chalked down as one of the highlights of all Rogers’s films. B. S. Do Sylva produced “Doubting Thomas” for Fox Film. It was directed by David Butler and besides the late Mr Rogers, Billie Burke mid Alison Skipworth, has an outstanding cast, including Sterling Holloway, Gail i’atrick, Frances Grant, Frank Albertson, John Qualun, Johnny Arthur, Helen Flint, Fred IN allace, T. Roy Barnes, Ruth NVarrcn, George Cooper, .lialcn Freeman, and William Benedict. The specially selected supporting programme is comprised of a number of excellent State featurettes.

REGENT THEATRE. “NAUGHTY MARIETTA.” Choice of “Naughty Marietta,” Victor Herbert's classic operetta, which is now showing at the Regent Theatre to record houses, as the vehicle for filming the screen's fust great musical adventure story, lias brought to picture audiences one of the greatest musical works ever composed. Produced on a spectacular scale by Mctro-Goldwyn-Maycr, 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 romantic Creole days of St. Louis, a vehicle that gives to famous Victor Herbert music the importance it merits. “Naughty Marietta” is acknowledged one of the five greatest comic operas cvei composed in America, the others being Do Kovcn’s “Robin Hood,” and Herbert’s “Serenade,” “Fortune Teller” and “Mile. Modiste.” It was first produced in the New York Theatre, November 7, 1910, by Oscar Hammerstcin, with Emma Trentim, from grand opera, and Orville Ilarrold. Herbert’s music bad a libretto by Rida Johnson Young. It took the country by storm. “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” one of its greatest songs, remains popular to this day and is hailed as ono of America’s masterpieces. “I’m Falling in Love with Someono” is another song that has come down tho years as popular to-day as at its premiere. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor’s screen transcription of “Naughty Marietta” takes on as much importance as its original stage premiere because of tho unique handling of tho story. Tho old comic opera libretto was laid aside, and tbe stirring incidents, historical facts and dramatic thrills referred to in dialogue in the stage version aro actually shown. Miss MacDonald plays a princess who masquerades as a Casquetto girl, and Nelson Eddy a British officer in New Orleans. Their 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-time associate of Herbert. An elaborate cast surrounds tho famous singing principals, including Frank Morgan, Elsa Lancaster (Mrs Charles Laughton), Douglas Dumbrille, Joseph Cawthrone, Cecilia Parker, NValter Kingsford, Gretta Meyer, Akim Tamiroff,, Harold Huber and Edward Brophy.