ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 61, 10 February 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “HONEYMOON FOR THREE.” Stanley Lupino needs no introduction to Now Zealand audiences, for his clever comedy performances in “Sleepless Nights” and “You Made Me Love You’’ arc still popularly remembered as dynamic packets of hilarity. Consequently film fans will bo overjoyed to hoar of another hilarious film featuring this extremely entertaining comedian. It is entitled “Honeymoon for Three” and patrons of the Kosy Theatre will have an opportunity of seeing it to-night. Stanley Lupino is an irrepressible member of an irrepressible family. For over a century the Lupino family has. been right to the forefront in the theatrical world, excelling particularly in dancing and acrobatics. Film fans will all remmber a cousin of his, the very clever Lupino Lane, who built ui> such a line reputation in several brilliant comedies of the old “silent, days.” Wallace and Barry Lupino, wcll- . known on the London stage, arc brothers. Stanley’s own daughter, Ida, is caryirng on the family tradition, having just recently secured a long term contract with Paramount, with whom she is playing starring roles. Like the rest of his family Stanley began his theatrical career at an early age, but his first, parts could by no stretch of the imagination be termed conspicuous. He played as a monkey in a pantomime, then as the cat in “Dick Whittington” and “puss” in “Puss in Boots.” It was not long, however, before his inherited talents wore recognised and ho was playing leading roles in the stage performances of “So This Is Love” and “Love Lies.” When 8.1. P. started to produce talkies they looked around for talent and it was not unnatural that they should ask Stanley, then one of the loading comedians on the stage, to i lay for them. His first picture was “The Love Race.” This was followed by “Love Lies,” then “Sleepless Nights,” “Facing the Music” and “You Made Me Love You.” Then ho formed his own company to make a further series. “Honeymoon For Three” is the first of this scries. He himself wrote the story which is particularly well suited to his virile type of comedy and is bound to prove extremely popular with picture audiences everywhere. It. is the hilarious story of Jack Denver, the nephew of a famous banker who is ordered by his uncle to go to work. But on the very eye of his entry into the great commercial world, he upsets things properly by gcrting into such a state that he wanders into somebody else's fiat and falls asleep. The “somebody else” happened to be a pretty girl and when her fiance and father arrive next morning and find him there, there is a terrific row, which grows in volume and fervour when Jack’s uncle arrives. What happens afterwards is screamingly funny and will well repay a visit to the Kosy Theatre. It is one of the best screen screams of the year! REGENT THEATRE. “HEART’S DESIRE.”

It might have been expected that Richard Tauber had reached the zenith of his screen career in “Blossom Time,” yet both he and the producers of that record-breaking film have done a good deal better in “Heart’s Desire,” the new 8.1. P. film, screening to-night at the Regent Theatre. The critic of Variety says: “It is a picture which even Hollywood might he proud of,” and when an American critic writes like that about an English film it is praise indeed ! A bald recital of the story, may sound lather elemental in the matter of originality, but it is nevertheless the kind of story , which is always popular, and it has been excellently worked out. Josef Steidler, singer in a Viennese beer-garden, is “discovered” by an English society girl who carries him to London where, under iftc skilled management of his friend Florian (Paul Gractz) he is prepared for his operatic debut. In love with the English girl, he discovers halfway through the performance that she is engaged to another man. His singing of a tragic aria obtains for him a great success, but he abandons his career and returns to Vienna and the girl there who loves him. The role of Steidler pro vidcs Taulior with the opportunity to reveal a new side of bis personality—a comedy one. 'The transformation of the somewhat uncouth singer into a polished man of the world, and his struggles with the English language, provide delightful touches of humour in the eariy sequences; and in the latter part of the story the change to the tenderness of unrequitted love is carried out almost imperceptibly with the aid of music. On the musical side, “Heart’s Desire” is a genuine Tauber concert. The range and beauty of his songs is wonderful. including grand opera, ballads by Schumann, popular Viennese numbers and several songs which Tauber composed himself and which are already firm favourites with the public. The film is reminiscent of “Tqil Me To-night” in its use of beautiful natural scenery as a sotting for the music, and several of the numbers are rendered against magnificent panoramas of the Austiian mountains. Paul Stein, who made such a success of “Blossom Time,” was the director, and the supporting east, headed by' Lconara Corbett, is very strong.

STATE THEATRE, “HERE’S TO ROMANCE.” Fresh from radio triumphs and a sensational career in opera and concert performances, Nino Martini on the screen of the State Theatre to-night, where Ins “Here’s to Romance” opens to prove that lie is not only the greatest tenor in a decade, but a magnetic screen personality whose, acting skill, extreme good looks and vital personality bid fair to make him an overuiglit sensation. In “Here’s to Romance,” .Jesse I. Eusky has produced a p:cture miles above tiie level ot ordinary motion picture olferings, a skllllully written anu directed love story tnat is etiock lull of gorgeous music and exquisite and unusual uuucing. in tile gala cast which supports Martini are Genevieve loon, -»mta Louise, Madame Ernestine Kcliumu-.m-ricink, Regina.d Denny, Maria Gambarolli and Vincente Eseuderu. 'Hie hectic career of Martini, who as a young singer’ is sent to Paris by Miss lobn, is me principal theme of tno picture plot. lie fans iu love with Anna Louise, is divided between Ins loyalty to Miss iobin and bis now iove. Eater'-lie makes a debut that- proves a terrible Uusco, and returns to Now York, lie is a tanure until Miss Lou se comes to ins rescue, wins linn a chance with the Metropolitan and finally consents to marry him—wiiliout revealing Hint she is the one who brought him success. That is the essential story. But the tiling vihicii interests audiences more is Martun’s got tie li voice in selections from "La Tosca," "Cavulleria Rustic-ana,” “Pag.iacei,” "Million,” ToseLi’s “Sercnaue,” "Mattinata,” Grosvcnor’s “I Carry Tou in My Pocket” and other operatic favourites, us well as the two popular numbers with music, “Here's to Romance and “Midnight in Pans,” lrom the tortile pen ot Eon Conrad. The astonishingly beautnul dancing by Maria Gambarolli, who learned her art iroiu the immortal Pavlova, and the gypsy interpretations of Vincente Eseudero oilier art stic treats which help to make “Hero s to Romance” a miracle of entertainment. Even lovely Anita Louise, who is superb as one ot the romantic principals, cumtributes dunce numbers to the picture Undoubtedly, the able direction of Alfred E. Green contributed much to this unusual photoplay, as well as the acting ot such capable and seasoned performers as | Miss Too n and Reginald Denny who are outstanding in featured roles. Thoic is an excellent supporting programme which includes travelogue, comedy, . cartoon and the Statess overseas news service, to..■uther with the latest edition oi the I'ox Auss'e news. Box plans are on view at the theatre, phone 5599.