ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 254, 24 September 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “G MEN.” Tho first big picture of Americas attempt to stem the wave of crime that, has swept the country for so long is “G-Men,’ which has already proved a sensation in London and everywhere else it has been shown, is to be finally screened at tho Kosy Theatre to-night. “McFADDEN’S FLATS.” A lmnian, down-to-earth and robustly humorous story of a self-made Irishman and a Scotsman who were the best of enemies, Paramount’s “McFndden’s Flats,” comes to-morrow to the Kosy Theatre with Walter C. Kelly. “The Virginia Judge” of American vaudeville and radio fame, in tho loading role. Andy Clyde, popular screen comedian, is east as the Scotsman and the friendly enemy is Kelly, who has risen from hod-carrier to the builder of the grand new MeFaddon tenements. When MeFaddon’s project is faced with ruin, Clyde comes to his aid secretly. But, Clyde and his unconscious beneficiary still carry on the old feud although their youngsters, Richard Cromwell and Betty Furness, are romantically inclined about each other. Under the illusion that, ho is wealthy, Kelly sends his daughter off to finishing school to aennirc tho manners of a lady. When tho girl returns, completely changed it seems as though the romaneo is broken and there will bo a breach between the families. But all turns out happily in tho end with the two ancient enemies united and happy in the engagement of their respective offspring. Jane Darwell, George Barber and Howard Wilson are prominently featured in the supporting cast of “McFadden’s Flats.”

’’LEGONG.”

Many funny stories have come out of the situation in which an actress and an actor refused to speak with one another except when acting their parts. A now twist to this familiar story idea was found during the filming of “Legong,” the all-teclmieolour romance released by Paramount for screening at tho Kosy 'Theatre to-inorrow. “Legong,” which deals with primitive romance on the beautiful isle of Bali, was produced with an ali-nativo cast. The two young principal players in the picture wore of different castes, and herein lies tho story. Pontou, the beautiful female lead in the picture, was of high caste stock. Nyong, the handsome male lead with whom Ponton fell in love, was of a lower caste. Because of the, difference in social standing, Bouton at first would not condescend to speak with her screen lover; and he did not dare to speak to her. So, when intimate scenes were made between the two. Ponton spoke her own high caste language, and Nyong spoke his own low caslfc language. Although they understood one another perfectly, they each feigned deafness to the other’s language. The picture was many days in the making, and although the caste complications were evident in tho beginning, the barriers were soon overthrown. By the time tho film was completed Poutou and Nyong were friendly regardless of the difference in their castes. “Legong” is a native word, meaning “Tho Dance of the Virgins.” A special Mickey Mouse birthday party will be held at, the Kosy on Saturday morning at 10.15. STATE THEATRE. “CHARLIE CHAN IN EGYPT.” Warner Oland’s latest screen appearance as that genial and philosophical Chinese sleuth, Charlie Chan —one of the most completely captivating detective heroes in the history of tho book or screen —will he finally screened at the State Theatre today. “THE INFORMER.” Reaching supreme heights in characterisation and in strength of emotional appeal, RKO-Iladio’s “The Informer,” which comes to-morrow to the State Theatre, ranks as one of the meet powerful dramas ever brought to tho screen. Superbly enacted by a brilliant cast, the picture, under tile direction genius of John Ford, brings to vivid, unforgettable life the characters and scenes of Liam O’Fiaherty’s widely-read and much-discussed novel. Here, indeed, is drama; stark and veal; poignantly human. In the role of “The Informer,” William McLaglen reaches even greater heights than those to which ho attained with his universally praised performance in “The Lost Patrol.” A brilliant addition to the roster of Hollywood talent is Margot Grahame, blonde star of the English stage and cinema. She gives a magnificent performance as a woman who clings to her man through storm and strife. Other sterling performances are contributed by Preston Foster, Heather Angel, Wallace Ford, Una O’Ccnnor, J. 31. Kerrigan, and Donald Aleck. Against the colourful background of Dublin, Ireland, the picture has the troubled years just after the World War as its period. With the desire to get money for Katie Madden, his sweetheart, Gypo Nolan, a human derelict with the body of a giant “informs” on his hunted pal, Frankie McPhillip, for a price. ’ Frankie, refusing .to be taken alive, is killed. With £2O in Ills pocket and his treachery on his conscience, Gypo becomes alternately tortured by fear, crazed by remorse, and exalted to drunken delusions of grandeur produced by his ill-gotten “wealth.” And all tho time the not of his doom closcs i about him. All of the story transpires in oric action-packed night, giving the drama a cohesion all too seldom attained. Suspense builds swiftly as Gypo blunders through the fog shrouded night, mounting to a terrific climax. Comedy relief highlights the stark drama of the story, and romance between l’reston Foster and Heather Angel affords strong contrast to the attraction between McLaglen and Miss Grahame. “The Informer” is exceptional in its dramatic strength, so powerfully created by splendid preruction. It is an achievement the year’s nuns will find it hard to equal.

REGENT THEATRE. “SANDERS OE THE RIVER.” The characters and atmosphere of the late- Edgar Wallace’s African stories are so vivid and real that it is at once obvious that ho could not have drawn such characters after merely reading travel books. The reason for the suggestion of absolute authenticity in the stories — which gives them their thrilling quality —is not far to seek, for Wallace wrote them from his own observations_ when, as a/young man, he was working in Central Africa. ‘‘Sanders of the River,” the Alevandcr Korda • film at the Regent Theatre to-night, is a t perfect example of this touch of authenticity. It is without doubt one of the most thrilling and unusual films ever put on the screen. At' one time Wallace was a corporal in the Royal Navy Medical Corps, part of a detachment which was landed on the West Coast of Africa in support of the expeditionary forces sent out in the punitive expedition of 1397 which ended in the capturo of the mysterious walled city of ben in. Later he became a special correspondent for a newspaper and was sent into the Congo area at the timo of the trouble on the Belgian Congo rubber plantations. Here, according to his own words, ho absorbed the sights and sounds as blotting paper absorbs water. And he put those sights and sounds into his banders stories, which were among the most thrilling he ever wrote, "banders of the River” contains a remarkable collection of real-life thrills. Korda, the director, spent several months in Central Africa filming scones the like of which have never been seen on the screen before. Leslie Banks plays Commissioner banders, Raul Robeson is Bosambo, the giant negro whom Sanders makes a king, and Nina McKinney appears as Bosambo’s wife. There is also an excellent Sander, Paul Robeson is Bosambo, the Station.”