ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 62, 11 February 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “HERE’S TO ROMANCE.” Fresh from radio triumphs and a sensational career in opera and concert performances,’ Nino Martini is now singing from the screen of the State, where his “Here’s to Romance” opens to prove that he is net only the greatest tenor in a decade, but a magnetic screen personality whose acting skill, extreme good Jooks and vital personality bid fair to make him an overnight sensation. In “Here’s to Romance,” Jesse I. Lasky has produced a picture miles above the level of ordinary motion picture offerings, a skillfully written and directed love story that is chock full of gorgeous music and cxquisito and unusual dancing. In the gala cast which supports Martini are Genevieve Tobin, Anita Louise, Madame Ernestine Schumann-Hcink, Reginald Denny, Maria Gambareili and Vincente Escudero. Tlte hectic career of Martini, who as a young singer is sent to Paris by Miss Tobn, is the principal theme of the picture plot. lie falls in love with Anita Louise, is divided between his loyalty to Miss Tobin and his new love. Later he makes a debut that proves a terrible tiasco, and returns to Now York. He is a failure until Miss Louise comes to his rescue, wins lmn a chance with the Metropolitan and finally consents to marry him —without revealing that she is the one who brought him success, 'that is the essential story. But the tiling which interests audiences more is Martini’s golden voice in selections from “La Tosea,” “Cavalleria Rustic-ana,” “Pagnacci,” “Miuion,” Toselli’s “Serenade,” “Mattinala,” Grosvenor’s “I Carry You in My Pocket” and other operatic favourites, as well as the two popular numbers with music, “Here’s to Romance and “Midnight in Paris,” _ troin the fertile pen of Gon Conrad. The astonishingly beautiful dancing by Maria Gauibareili, who learned her art from the' immortal Pavlova, and the gypsy interpretations .of Vincente Escudero other art stic treats which lie.p to make Hero s to Romance” a miracle of entertainment. Even loveiy Anita Louise, who is superb as one of the romantic principals,, eomtributes dance numbers to tile picture. Undoubtedly, the able direction of Allred E. Green contributed much to this unusual photoplay, as well as the acting ol such .capable and seasoned performers us Miss Tob n and Reginald Denny who are outstanding in featured roles. There is an excellent supporting programme wnicli includes travelogue-, comedy, cartoon and the Statess overseas news service, logatlior with the latest edition of the fox Auss'e news. Box plans are on view at the theatre, phone 5599. “WAY DOWN EAST.”

A dramatic story, rich in its sympathies. eloquent in its unusual photography and dealing with tho fundamental story of a girl who has erred and her right to iovo again, “Way Down East, opens to-morrow at the State Theatie, with Henry Fonda and Rochelle Hudson co-starred in the leading roles. Domed from the play whose force and appeal have made it America’s greatest melodrama for more than 40 years, the picture tolls the story of two who fought bigotry and hatred for the right to love. Tho locale of “Way Down East ’ is the Now England of the 1890’s. Its principals are Russell Simpson, who acts a stern, principled squire; liis sensitive dreamy son, Henry Fonda, and the girl, Rochelle Hudson. Miss Hudson secures work in Simpson’s household, but tolls nothing ot her past. Through the seasons, the barn dances, skating parties and various othei fustivitics of tlie New England country, love grows up between Miss Hudson and Fonda. Only one thing menaces that love mysteriously, and that is tho occasional appearance of Edward Trevor, their suave and worldly next-door neighbour. As the picture approaches its climax, the reason for this becomes apparent, Gossip lcvcals that Miss Hudson had been the victim of an unfortunate love affair, and that Trevor had wronged her. Fol.owmg a stormy scene in the Simpson household. Miss Hudson attempts to flee over the icy river, is caught m the breaking of the ice jam, In the heroic scenes .that follow and that bring the story to its happy close, “Way Down East” reveals one ol the most moving and suspenseful chmaxes which have ever been brought to the screen. Winfield Sheehan, producei of “State Fair” and “The Farmer lakes a Wife,” produced this new picture of the rustic scene, which was directed by Homy King. In tlie supporting cast ot way Down East” are Slim Summerville, Andy Devino and Margaret Hann.ton.

KOSY THEATRE. “HONEYMOON FOR THREE.” Stanley Lupino needs no introduction to New Zealand audiences, for Ins .clever comedy performances in “Sleepless N ignis and “You Made Me Love You _ are still popularly remembered as dynamic packets of hilarity. Consequently film fans will be overjoyed to hear of another hnanous film featuring this extremely entertaining comedian. It is entitled “Honeymoon tor Three” and patrons of the Kosy rheatic will have an opportunity of seeing it to-night. Stanley Lupino is an irrepressible member of an irrepressible family. I 1 or 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 renumber a cousin of his, the very clever Lupino Lane, who built up such a line reputation in several brilliant comedies of the old silent days.” Wallace and Barry Lupino, wellknown on the London stage, arc brothers. Stanley’s own daughter, Ida, is carviing on the family tradition, having just recently secured a long term contract with Paramount, with whom she is playing stallin'- roles. Like the rest of his family Stanley began his theatrical career at an early a<”e, but his first jiarts could by no stretch of the imagination be termed conspicuous. Ho played as a monkey in a pantomime, then as the cat in “Dick Whittington and “puss” in “Puss in Boots.’ .It was not lon l -, however, before his inherited talents were recognised and he was playing leading roles in the stago performances ol “So This Is Love” and “Love Lies. W hen B.f.P. started to produce talkies they looked around for talent and it was not unnatural that they sjiould ask Stanley, then one of the leading comedians on the stago, to i lay for them. His first picture was “The Love Race.” This was iollowed by “Love Lies,” then * Sleepless Ni°hts,” “.Facing the Music” and “V ou Made Me Love You.” Then lie formed his own company to make a further senea. “Honeymoon For Three” is the first ot this series. He himself Wrote the story which is particularly well suited to hu 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 ot a famous bunker who is ordered by his uncle to go to work. But on the very eye of his entry into the great commercial world, lie upsets things properly by getting into such a stare that he wanders into somebody clses flat 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 funnv and will well repay a visit to the Kosy Theatre. It is one of the best screen screams of the year! “THE MURDER MAN.”

Spencer Tracy, always a powerful figure on the screen, is at his best in “Ihe Murder Man,” a vivid new Metro-Goldwyn-layer feature which opens to-morrow at the Kosy Theatre. With him appears Virginia Bruce, whose loveliness is almost overlooked in the emotional depth of her performance. The stars share honours in a swift, dramatic story of the “behind the scenes” adventures of newspaper-men m New York. In many ways the tale is unique, for it rips aside the "\cil of secrecy which surrounds metropolitan newsrooms when a “big story ’ is breaking, and bares the methods by which reporters not only keep up with the police, but frequently outstrip them in the race for new developments. Woven into the . unusual drama is a romance as lender.as it is unusual. Tracy is the star reporter, called “The Murder Man” because of his success in solving crimes of violence. Miss Bruce

is tho newspaper’s “sob-sister” who can give advice to the lovelorn in her columns, but cannot control her own heart. Between them there grows a strong affection that culminates when Tracy places himself in jeopardy to assist the police in solving a sensational murder case. With tho stars is a strong cast. Lionel Atwill, Harvey Stephens and Robert Barrat in particular distinguish themselves, and others who deserve mention arc James Stewart, William Collier, senr., Louise Henry, Bobby Watson, among many more. The Tildcn tennis subjects are ot special intercut to tennis players. Thelma Todd and party in “Twin Triplets,” news reel and a delightful coloured musical revue complete the bill.

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 lie and the producers of that record-breaking film have done a good deal better in “Heart’s Desire,” the now 8.1. R. film. • screening finally to-night at the Regent Theatre. Tho 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 rather 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 Stcidlor, singer in a Viennese beer-garden, is “discovered” by an English society girl who carries him to London where, under the skilled management of his friend Florian (Raul Gractz) lie is prepared for liis 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 ho abandons his career and returns to Vienna and the girl there who loves him. The role of Stcidlor pro vides Tauber with the opportunity to reveal a new side of his 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 early 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 tho 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 "Tell Me To-night” in its use of beautiful natural scenery as a setting for the music, and several of the numbers are rendered against magnificent panoramas of the Aus-trian-mountains. Paul Stein, who made such a success of “Blossom Time,” was the director, and the supporting cast, headed by Lconara Corbett, is very strong. THE “CAIRNS CITIZENS’ BAND.” The Cairns (Thirty-first Battalion) Band of Queensland, Australia, wi.l bo arriving in I'alineietoii North by the 3.55 p.m. train from WoodviJo to-morrow and is to be tendered a civic reception by the Mayor at the Square rotunda at 4.15 o’clock the same day. They will bo met at the railway station by the Palmerston North City Silver Band and will bo played to tho point of reception. This Australian combination is visifing the town under the auspices of the local city Silver Band and will be giving a performance at the Regent Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Their poriormance will occupy the second half of tho programme, while an ail-siar picture entitled “Music Hath Charms,” which has a large cast of English stage, screen and radio stars, will be included in the first portion of this entertainment. This Australian band, which is to take part in the Dominion championship at New Plymouth this month, is recognised as tho leading brass band of Australia, having in their ranks Mr James Compton (musical director), a bandsman who is recognised as tho leading' cornutist of the world. He is also supported by splendid soloists of world-wide renown. Since arrival m the Dominion this band has had the pleasant news conveyed to it that the bandsmen have been adjudged the winners' in the A grade chanipionsnip of all Australia for 1936.