ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 257, 27 September 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “MARK OF THE VAMPIRE.” Director Tod Browning shocked the screen world with his hair-raising “Dracula” and kept audiences on the edges of their seats with the Lon Chancy thrillers : Guy Endo'ro stunned lovers ■of shocking mystery with “Werewolf of Paris” and “Baboulc” ; Bela Lugosi has chilled audiences with many shivery scenes, and Lionel Barrymore has gripped the imaginations of millions with his amazing characterisations. They all come together in “Mark of the Vampire,” sensational detective mystery which each hopes is to “top” anything else in his career. The new Mctro-Uoldwyn-Mayor picturo comes to-morrow to tho ICosy Theatre. An original story by Guy Endoro and Bernard Schubert, the picture tells the tale of a ghastly crime, laid in the midst of a strange vampire cult. Strange “undead” things that roam in the night, a haunted castle that is tho centro of the gruesome cult, a detective who pits his wits against supernatural horrors, figure in the hair-raising story. E. J. Mannix, its producer, gave every role a “name” player, even the briefest flash on the screen. Lionel Barrymore, Bela Lugosi, Jean Hersholt, who scored in “Men in White”; Lionel Atwill, of “Murders in tho Wax Museum”; Elizabeth Allan of “David Qopperfield”; Jessie Ralph, who played Pcggotty in that production; Henry Stephenson of “The Night is Young”; Leila Bennett, Now York stage star; Ivan Simpson, Donald Meek, Michael VisarofT, and many others aro among its principals. Opposite Lugosi is Carol Boland, the long-hunted “Vampire Woman,” found in the person of a dramatic student at the University of California playinfi her first role in the picturo. The thrills include the mysterious murder blamed on vampires, tho appearance of tho vampire horde, the reincarnation of the heroine’s father as one of the “Un-Dead,.” tho bat -that turns into a woman, Lugosi’s weird attacks upon Elizabeth Allan, and the amazing denouement in which tho detective in the case brings the weird hiddon criminals to tho light of day. Replicas of old deserted castles, weird churchyards, tho den of the “Witch Woman,” aro among the sinister settings. STATE THEATRE. “THE INFORMER.” Reaching supreme heights in characterisation and in strength of emotional appeal, RKO-Radio's “The Informer,” which will be finally screened to-day at tho State Theatre, ranks as one of the most powerful dramas ever brought to the screen. “OUR LITTLE GIRL.” Glorious Shirley Temple, whose natural art is second to none, and who has, in tho words of Irvin S. Cobb, “made more people happy and rnoro children laugh than any child your age in the history of the world,” is here again. Hei new Fox Film picture, “Our Little Girl,” starts its engagement to-morrow at the State Theatre. It is called her greatest! This is said to be Shirley’s most touching picture. She plunges into an emotional adventure that sings in the heart as she bravely meets a bewildering crisis while thoso who are nearost and dearest to her grope in tho shadows of misunderstanding. Shirley’s brave smile revives a waning love, when she pleads for her mother to return, and runs away from homo to reunite her parents. In addition to acting the child wonder sings. This powderful story again brings to the screen beloved Shirley Temple. Again she is said to prove herself a dramatic star second to none. And at no time does she stop being a real child dear to tho hearts of millions. Shirley plays almost every scene in this picture. “Our Little Girl” is said to have appeal for young and old. For tiie young in heart as well as in years, thero is a thrilling circus sequence. Producer Edward Butcher spared no expense in bringing n complete circus, big tent, wild animals elephants, and all. “Poodles” Ilanneford, world-famed clown and rider, has an exciting act, clowning, riding, falling, thrilling. Other circus celebrites seen here aro “Tho Ciarkonia-ns” in a swinging act and the clowns Ilambone, Dutnbell, Smiling Sambo. A fitting oast lias been assembled uround the screen sensation. Rosemary Amos plays tho mother, and Joel McCrea, the father. Others are Lyle Talbot as “the other man,” Erin O’BrienMoore, Jack Donohue, Poodles ilnnneford, Gus Van, Margaret Armstrong, Rita’ Owin, Leonard C'arey, J. Farrell Macdonald and Jack Baxley. The direction is by John Robertson. 10.30 A.M. TO-MORROW-SIIIRLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY. Thero is a real treat in store for the ohildron of Palmerston North at the State Theatre to-morrow morning, when) in conjunction with the screening of “Our Little Girl,” a hugo Shirley Temple birthday party will be held. A gigantic 801 b birthday cake . lias been ordered and every child attending this special session will receive a slice of this cuke, togetiier with a coloured paper hat. The management has gone to considerable expense in ensuring that this session shall be a grand and gala one and parents who send their children to it may rest, assured that they will have a ready good time.

REGENT THEATRE. “ONE NEW YORK NIGHT.” “One Now York Night,” with a brilliant cast, headed by Franchot Tone, Una Merkel, and Conrad Nagel, will be filnally screened to-night tit the Regent T-heatic, “GOED DIGGERS OF 1935.” It has been two years in the making, but if advance reports prove true the First National picture “Gold Diggers of 1955 ” at the Regent Theatre to-mor-row, was well worth waiting for. First National, always famed for magnificent musical spectacles, lias outdone itself in tliis picture, which marks the advent of Busby Berkeley as the director of a complete production. Berkeley, it is claimed, has taken a funny, clever story, gathered together a cast of film favourites that includes Warner Bros.’ outstanding stars, and, with the assistanco of _ more than 300 of the prettiest dancing girls in Hollywood, has assembled the whole into a tuneful comedy in which his talent for spectacular screen innovations lias boon given full sway. Th'o director was the musical compdy genius responsible for the spectacles in “42nd Street,” “Wonder Bar,” “Gold Diggers of 1933,” “Footlight Parade,” and other musicals. 11l “Gold Diggers of 1935” he is said to have created the most gorgeous and unique danoo numbers of his career. There are three outstanding specialities including a dance in which 90 snow-white grand pianos actually cavort on tho stage. _ The dance team of Ramon and Rosiia is also featured. In the cast are Dick Powell, Adolphe Mcnjou, Gloria Stuart, Alice Brady, Glenda Farrell, Frank McHugh, Hugh Herbert, Joseph Gawthorn, Grant Mitchell, Dorothy Dare and Winifred Shaw. The story is by Robert Lord and Peter Milne. It is a catchy lomanco with a fashionable summer hotel as the sotting. A wealthy widow, who is essentially penurious, is the target of the golddigging propensities of a trio of schemers enacted by Mcnjou, Cowthorn and Mitchell. The widow, which is the funniest role over essayed by Alice Brady, has two children. She is trying to marry off her daughter, Gloria Stuart, to Hugh Herbert, also a millionaire, but who is more interested in writing articles on snuff than on love. Her son, Frank McHugh, four times married and divorced, falls for the hotel hostess, and the daughter falls in love with the room clerk in the person of Dick Powell. Glenda Farrell docs a littlo gold digging on her own at the expense of Hugh Herbert, but it al! ends happily in one of the most amusing climaxes ever filmed. There aro three remarkable song numbers written by IXarry Warren and AJ Dubin.