ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 17, 18 December 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “AGE OF INDISCRETION.” Another groat problem o£ to-day has found its way to the siyoon as a piece of enthralling entertainment in “Ago of Indiscretion,” Motro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s dramatic story of a millionaire mother-in-law’s fight for the custody of a child of divorce. Dealing with a situation oftentimes echoed in the courts to-day, the now picturo opens to-night at the Regent Theatre with a large cast- of featured playere, including Paul Lukas, Madgo Evans, Helen Vinson, May Robson, David Jack Holt, and Ralph Eorbcs. Miss Robson plays the battling mother-in-law who goes to court and uses her millions in an attempt to wrest guardianship of his son from Lukas, following the divorce of a philandering wife. The dramatic climax in the courtroom whore the votoran actress addresses the judgo is l-oportod to be the most gripping courtroom episode since Lionel Barrymore’s famous trial scone in “A Free Soul,” Lukas, as the father fighting for the custody of his child, has one of the most dramatic roles of his career, and Miss Evans, fresh from her triumph ns Dora in “David Copper field,”# is brilliantly cast as the secretary whose position in Lukas’s household is misunderstood. The story revolves ahout a publisher whoso wife leaves him and remarries. Her now mother-in-law insists that she sue for custody of the child of her first marriage. When all else fails the determined mother-in-law “frames” the publisher. The case is brought to court and the story closes with an unexpected and sensational denouement. The highlights of “Age of Indiscretion” are many and include the crisis in Lukas’s publishing firm, the aeroplane flight from Reno, the dramatic moment in which Lukas learns of liis wife’s surprise divorco, the scene in which lie breaks the news to the child, Miss Robson’s plot to gain custody of the child and the bitter legal fight. Interspersed among the dramatic scones aro a number of comedy moments among which the famous spaniel, “Flush,” of “The Barrets of Wimpolo Street,” has a good share.

SATURDAY MORNING-SPECIAL CHILDREN’S MATINEE.

One of the outstanding juvenile actors of the screen is Jackie Cooper, who has made several notable screen achievements, but the outstanding portrayal in his career is “Sookie” which is a real boyisli adventure. This picture, in conjunction with cartoons, comedies, etc., will make the outstanding attraction which will he screened at the Regent Theatre on Saturday morning. All tlio takings for this matinee will be handed to the Children’s Heath Camp fund. Help a great cause and at the same time have a Jot of fun. Theatre doors open at 10 a. m. STATE THEATRE. “THE THREE MUSKETEERS.” “The Three Musketeers” concludes a very successful season to-night at the State Theatre. “THE PASSING OF THE THIRD FLOOR BACK.” The story of the troubled and horrid lives that are being led' in Mrs Sharpe’s boarding-house, and of the transformation that takes place when the Stranger pays a call, is well brought out by Berthlioid Viortel, the director, by Conrad Veidt, and by the strong cast of distinguished artists supporting him in the Gaumont-Britisli screen vorsioai of Jerome K. Jerome’s great play, “The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” which opens to-morrow at the Slate Theatre for a limited season of two days. For more ■than a goneiation thousands of peoplo have seen the play —it has been revived on several occasions—and it is certain that these, and many more, wiil want to see the film, particularly when they hear that it lias clung so faithfully to the author’s intentions. Two principles or powers are concerned In the story, £ui emotional and tragic battle deve.oping between the two. The conflict, rapidly growing more severe, is fought out in an ordinary Bloomsbury hoarding-house, inhabited by an average company of residents. Evil dominated the whole of their lives until the * Stranger,’ believing in kindness and the essential goodness in humanity came. His very presence in the house exerted a. tremendous influence. The jarring elements reacted to the spell without realising whence it came. They knew that the Stranger was different from them; what their minds could not conceive was the power his presence emanated. Only Wright realised and stood up against him. Evil at once recognised that its predominance was being challenged and contested. Apart from the quiet acting of Mr Veidt as the Stranger, Mary Claro (Mrs Sharpe), Frank Collier (Wright), Anna Leo (Vivian), John Turnbull and Catlilcen Nosbit (Mr and Mrs Tompkin), and Sara Allgood (Mrs do Ilooley) are outstanding; while Rone Ray as the browbeaten Stasm, the only person to perceive the true goodness of the Stranger, refloats great genius of her delicate handling of a difficult character role. The p clure in its new and modern treatment lias outstanding qualities of entertainment, with drama and comedy receiving lull va.ua undei Viertel’s excellent direction, and few themes could have more intense appeal than this revelation of human nature.

KOSY THEATRE. “THE FIREBIRD.” “The Firebird,” the now Warner Bros.’ production, commences at the Kosy Theatre to-night. It is a most fascinating and intriguing drama with a romnrkabe cast headed by Verree Teasdale, Ricardo Cortez, Lionel AtwiU and Anita Louise. Tho story is based on the sensational Broadway hit by Lajos Ailany as produced by Gilbert Miller. It is a startling revelation of the outburst ot tho dammed up love emotions of a young girl whose life has been a senes o: repressions. Gripped in the spell of Stravinsky's haunting and seductive melody, “The Firebird,” she is impelled against her will to throw herself into the arms of the popular and magnetic actor with whom she carries on a clandestine romance which ends with the mysterious murder of her lover. Verree Teasdult, the wife of an Austrian diplomat, is called upon to give a highly emotional portrayal of a woman who confesses to a love intrigue and killing to save her daughter’s reputation, and rises to the dramatic. role with an aitistiy that is commendable both for its strength and its absence of over acting, lhe polished vil lain is portrayed by Ricardo. Cortea. than whom there is no more »ductno and handsome screen rogue. He gi\es characteristic strong and easy PeHoi^unee which wins him the plauditi o tne discriminating and makes h m to the eallory gods. Anita Louise has .a a uj n°afshe while's Lionel AtwiU, always a strong and polled actni, gives an oxprohendmg over ns vos s b \ Q he ‘’poncc^'coimniss'onor f ,{ £ „r w hnm are susnected ot tne Mi ng Mai Carlisle and Buster Crabbo in “lhe Sweetheart of Sigma Clu « tho 111 a ntfffirtion It is an unusual stoiy S C °a group o? lively college youngsters with & gay background of music bv Ter Fio-Rita and bis orclicstia. It centres about the annual rowing regatta and the efforts made by the various members of the teams to obtain a position in ilia coveted racing boat.