FILM and STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 46, 23 January 1936, Page 10

FILM and STAGE

Romance and Race Thrills. Will Rogers's last—and greatest—picture, “In Old Kentucky,” comes on Saturday to the State Theatre. Adapted from the play whose humour, sunny romance and tingling horse race drama have made it a favourite of three generations of Americans, “In Old Kentucky” stars Will Rogers in a role that presents his rich down-to-earth character. In the picture, Rogers enacts a shrewd and genial trainer of horses, whose homely philosophy and keen wits set right all the troubles of the impulsive people' about him. Russell Hardie.«and Dorothy Wilson play the romantic youngsters of “In Olti Kentucky.” Site is the daughter of old Charles Sellon who has a feud with Charles Richman. Although his daughter fights to win Hardie for herself, it is Rogers’s shrewd aid that finally brings the boy to Miss Wilson. Rogers’s able assistant in the picture is Rill Robinson, the tap dancing genius, who teaches the comedian enough of his foot artistry to win a handsome widow, and thus provides one of the comedy punches of the picture. Although “lit Old Kentucky” is full of humour and drama in the feud

situations and the wrangle with the crazy rain-maker, it reserves its great thrill for the pounding climax in which racing thoroughbreds pound down the stretch carrying romance and drama in their saddles. Radio Star’s Debut. Frances Langford, famous American radio singer, makes - her screen dehut in “Every Night at Eight,” the romantic comedy drama set to music, coming to the Regent Theatre. The picture overflows with tuneful melodies and is crammed with comedy moments from start to finish. Three girls, Alice Faye, Frances Langford, and Ratsv Kelly, lose tlieir factory jobs and decide to try their combined harmony singing talents in an amateur radio hour contest. During the progress of the competition, they meet George Raft, orchestra leader, who, incidcnt-

ally, wins the prize. Out of sympathy, . lie takes the girls in hand, trains them, makes them dress alike and look 1 alike, and rides to fame and fortune 1 on the ether waves with them—Haft j as an orchestra leader, the girls as 1 a singing trio known as the Swaneo j Sisters. Events move at a. brisk, lively, 1 ] sparkling pace when Miss Faye and c Miss Kelly, resenting Haft’s interfer-jj cnee into their personal lives, abandon 11 their nightly broadcast and acccpt*an|! invitation to a boat party given by aj< society matron. Miss Langford, believing that Haft docs not return the love i she has for him, joins them. An liilari- 1 ous climax ensues. i i Gregory Ratoff has signed a contract ; under which he will act, write and : direct. I Herbert Marshall has been engaged i for two pictures this year. The first 1 will probably be “Reunion,” a war spy 1 story. 1

“Crusadas” Spectacle. The magnificent and terrifying spectacle of the armies of two worlds at battle ; the colour, pageantry and rustic beauty of the Middle Ages; the poignant romance of a king and queen whose love changed the course of world history. From these story elements Cecil B. De Mille greeted the plot of the most spectacular and daring picture he has ever produced, “The Crusades,” which comes on Saturday next to the Regent Theatre. Featuring Loretta Young and Henry Wileoxon with a supporting cast of over one hundred name players and thousands of extras, the picture recreates that magnificent period of history when the combined armies of the kings of Europe followed the fanatical Peter on Llio crusade to wrest the Holy Land

from the Saracens. Wileoxon plays i Richard the Lion Heart, commander of i the combined armies. Loretta Young j is Berengaria, the girl he had to marry in order to secure supplies for his soldiers. Wjleoxon regards his wife as a burden at first, but soon comes to love her. .Their happiness, however, is threatened by the political intrigues of C. Henry Gordon, who plays the King of France. It is his wish that Wileoxon marry his sister. 1 Knowing that her continued presence menaces the Crusades, Loretta Young disappears from camp, is wounded and carried to Jerusalem’ by Saladin, King of the Saracens, A terrific battle results ill the almost complete annihilation of the invading forces. And then, Richard, facing defeat, loss of the woman he loves most and disgrace in the eyes of his men, learns the true meaning of victory in peace.

Adventure In Kentucky. Out of the bine grass country where the girls are all beautiful and the horses fast, the action of “In Old Kentucky, coming to the State Theatre on Saturday, carries Will Rogers in a whirl of romance, adventure, and pounding horse race thrills. The story of the great star’s last and greatest picture is that of the memorable and beloved Charles T. Dazey play of the same name. But, under the able hands of scenarists Sam Heilman and Gladys Leman, i't has been brought up-to-date and crammed with additional laughs. “In Old Kentucky” tells the rollicking story of a group of people who love horses and dislike each other, a story that revolves about the shrewd and philosophical Rogers. Prominent in the supporting cast is Bill Robinson, that light-footed genius of tap dance. Esther Dale, Alan Dinehart and Etienne Girardot contribute largely to the fast movement of a grand story.

A Popular Romance. A soul-stirring drama of love and action, filmed against a background of scenic splendor, is offered to the audience at the opening performance of “Freckles” at the State Theatre. For the . lovers of the out-of-doors, the film is a pictorial feast of towering trees, rushing streams, fertile valleys and glimpses of wild life rarely equalled on the screen ; the camera captures all tho beauty described in Gene Strat-ton-Porter’s book. To those who enjoy thrilling action, the picture offers a spectacular fight between rivals for the love of a girl, the rescue of a little child from a terrible death beneath a crashing monarch of the woods, and a battle to the death with desperadoes to save the life of a young

girl. Tho golden thread of romance runs through the picture in the love I of a lonely orphan hoy for the conn-j iry schoolma’am, and delightful comedy is supplied in the situations ereat-1 ed by the innocent meddling of an i adorable chatterbox, Laurie Lou. j “Freckles” is a friendless orphan Ikiv ' who wins an enviable' place in the business world and the heart of the 1 girl he loves through his courage and ; loyalty in the face of desperate odds. ; Tom Brown gives to the title role an i interpretation whose subtle under- : standing and dramatic strength stamp ! him as one of the most capable of the I younger screen players. Virginia Wei- j dler, eight years old, gives a performance that is uncanny in its charm and realism. High-class Enertainment. An absorbing tale of romance and melodrama, set against the background of San Francisco in the colourful, exciting days of the early gold rush, is unfolded in “Barbary Coast,” which

will start at the Regent Theatre shortly. With a story specially written by Ben Heehfc and Charles MacArthur (authors of “The Sqpnndrel”),- with the leading roles filled by Miriam Hopkins, Edward G. Robinson and Joel MeCrea, and with all the lavishness, of detail associated with the name of Goldwyn, “Barbary Coast” should hold unusual interest and entertainment for every class of picturegoer. More a piece of gripping fiction than it is historical, the story is full of the typical Hecht-MacArthur virility and “punch.” There is a thrill to the arrival of Mary Rutledge (Miriam Hopkins), the first white “lady” ever to conic to ’Frisco. There is an interlude of comedy-drama as she, befriended by Colonel Cobh, is victimised by “Old Atrocity.” Tragedy ensues when she learns that the man she came to marry is (lead, killed by Louis Cliamalis (Edward G. Robinson). There comes suspense as Cliamalis and Mary meet, and Mary becomes the alluring . siren of Cliamalis’s roulette tables. There follow the melodrama of murder, the comedy of the bar-room court, and the excitement as one realises that the Vigilantes arc coming - into existence to clean up the town. In every way “Barbary Coast” is excellently presented and finely balanced entertainment. While the starring roles could hardly have been better filled, some of the film’s finest acting comes from the supporting players, who present a gallery of vivid and racy portrait.

Naval Cadet Hero. . Although Dick ,Powell and Ruby Keeler are the accredited stars in “Shipmates Forever,” the Cosmopolitan musical drama of naval academy life, which comes to the Kosy Theatre on January 25, the most sympathetic role in the picture belongs to Johnny Arledge, fast-rising young featured player. Arledge appears- as “Cox’n,” a lad who has won liis way up to Annapolis from the ranks of enlisted men, only to be sent out because he fails in an examination on a highly technical subject.- He returns to the ranks to meet a tragic end In a feat of heroism aboard ship. Arledge is from Crockett, Texas, and though only 27, was an 'experienced stage actor long before lie entered movies four years ago. In 1930 his performance in “Up Pops the Devil,” with Pauline Frederick, was rap'd among the best ten of the year. Others in the cast of “Shipmates Forever” are Ruby Keeler, Lewis Stone, Ross Alexander, Eddie Acuff, Richard (Dick) Foran, Robert Light and Joseph Crelian. Music and lyrics are by Dubin and 'Warren.

Baffling Mystery Thriller. | “I Am a Thief,” Warner Brothers’ ! latest melodramatic mystery thriller, is scheduled to open at the Kosy Tlie- | atr© oil January 29 with Mary Astor j and Ricardo Cortez heading an all star j cast. The picture, based on a story ' by Ralph Block and Doris Malloy, re- , counts the breath-taking adventures of a band of international jewel robbers I who plot to steal an almost priceless I set of diamonds known as the - Karel ninas. The diamonds are used In' sec- ! ret service operatives as a bait to ; catch a gang of jewel thieves composed of renegade nobles, beautiful adven- | turesses and men of such daring and cleverness that they have succeeded in outwitting the officials. The famed Kareninas, the prize loot of the Continent, attract the attention of rival gangs whose battles with each other and with officers of the French Surete result in cold blooded murders, killings, and the wounding of several 1 others. Mary Astor lias the role of a

beautiful and cultured woman who

trying to get bold of the famous diamonds by hook or crook. She spies on and follows the first purchaser of the jewels, a gentlemanly dilettante of evident wealth, a part played by Iticardo Cortez.

. Jean Harlow's next film will have a rodeo background. It is called “Texas Queen.” Two well-known women singers, Gladys Swarthout and Mary Ellis, are to co-star in “Tsar and Musician.”

Ann Shirley is to play the title role in a version of Dickens’ “Little Dorrit.”

Jack Buchanan is to appear.as Sir Percy Blakeney in a film version of “The. Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel.” Michael Bartlett is to play opposite Grace Moore again in “Cissy.” They were together in “Love Ale Korenev.” Edmund Gwenn has signed a new contract, lie recently starred in “The Bishop’s Misadventures.” The screen rights to Jack London’s story, “White Kang,” have been purchased.

Herbert Mundin is deserting Hollywood for a time to appear in a Broadway play called “May Wine.” He feels that the change will do him good because, though ho has done a lot of picture work, ho has not yet had as large a comedy part in a film as he deserves.