ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 64, 13 February 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. ‘•THE MURDER MAN.” Spencer T racy, always a powerful figure on the screen, its at his best in “The Murder Man,” a vivid new Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature screening* to-day at the. Ivosy Theatre. With him appears Virginia Bruce, whose loveliness irs 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 nowspapcr-incft in New York. In many ways the tale i* unique, for it rips aside the veil 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 tender as it it=> unusual. I racy is the fitar 1 reporter, called “the Murder Man” because of his success in solving ciimce of violence. Miss Bruce is the newspaper’s “sob-sister” who can give advice !o the lovelorn in her columns, but cannot control her own heart. Between thorn there grows a strong affection that culminates 'when Tracy places himself in jeopardy to assist Hie police in solving a sensational murder case. With the stars ir a strong ea«t. Lionel Atwill, Harvey Stephens and Robert Barrat in particulai distinguish themselves, and others who deserve mention are James Stewart. William Collier, sour.. Louise Henry. Bobby Watfson, among many more. The Tildcn tennisubjects arc of special interest to tennis player*. I liclma Todd and party in “Twin Tripiota,” news reel and a delightful, col-, cured musical revue complete the bill.

REGENT THEATRE. THE “CAIRNS CITIZENS’ BAND.” 'llio Cairns (Thirty-first Battalion) Band of Queensland is visit ng Palmerston under the auspices of the local (Jily Silver Band and will give their % final performance at the llogent Theatre to-night. Theii performance will occupy the second half of the programme, while an all-star picture entitled “Music Hath Charms,” which hug a large cast of Eng lish stage, screen and radio stars, will Ik included in the first portion of tiiio entertainment. This Australian band, which i» tc take part in the Dominion championshij at New Plymouth this month, is rcecgnisct as the leading brass band of Australia, hav ing in their ranks Air James Coniptoi (musical director), a bandsman who is recognised as the leading corneticst of tin world. He is also supported by splenetic, soloists of world-wide renown. Since arrival m the Dominion this band lias hat the pleasant news conveyed to it that the bandsmen have been adjudged the winners: in the A grade championsnip of all Aus tralia for iy66. “ESCAPADE.” skirs, romance, music, gaiety, luughic* unu uruniu aJt mingle n a new ane. unique Uiond of sciuun entertainment in “ escapade,” commencing at tiio iiegeni Theatre to-morrow, a new romance 01 Vienna. A unique feature of this film win 00 tne reproduction oi cue golden \oice oi iMinco Caruso, greatest ot a.i tenors, inuui possible by mouuiii inctnods oi amplilioa non of tno original ‘records. The p etuu. captures Continental flavour and music, and puts them on the American screen oi a story with unusual dramatic twists that keep the audience in a constant state of surprise. Through the deft handling of the story every entertainment \uluc from * laughs to tears, from drama to music, :*■ packed into a single evenings entertainment. Dnected by Robert Z. Leonard, the new Metro* Croidwyn-Mayor picture, which stars \v ilhaui I'owell and introduces Luisc Hamer, brilliant Vienna stage star, as li s leading lady, lias a notable cast. 5 Frank Morgan plays the jealous doctor, and blonde Virginia Bruce his flirtatious wife who gels Powell into a multiplicity of conical complications. Mady Christians, European star, is his jealous sweetheart, and Reginald Owen plays the ab-sent-minded musician lo\er. Henry Travers is the comical gardener and Laura Hope Crews, Mathilda Comont and Lorraine Bridges, new singing star, are others in the cast. The story deals with a debona r and lionised artist, played by Powell, who falls in love, through complications over a painting of another man’s wife, with the demure companion of a. countess. With a jealous doctor, a former sweetheart and a flirtatious wife on his hands, lie tries to balance the whole structure while progressing on a rocky road of true. love. Through flotation he paints an unconventional picture of the doctor’s wife. Through mistake it goes to the publisher, lie hunts a model to pass for the original as an alibi, falls in love with her, and a jealous former sweetheart interferes. Though not a | musical p/cture, there are some elaborate musical sequences. The most important is the opera premiere in which the voice of Enrico Caruso amplified from records made during the tenor’s life, with augmented orchestration, recreate h s golden tones to the nearest actual reproduction of his voice ever achieved.

STATE THEATRE. “WAY DOWN EAST.” The special plea that “Way Down East makes for tolerance in iiidgment of others, the dramatic impact of its story and the enduring tenderness of its love passages have gained through the years, as I'ox Film’s superb picturisation of the story which has become America’s greatest melodrama and opens to-night at the State Theatre. Starring Rochelle Hudson and Henry Fonda, who made his debut in “Tito Farmer Takes a Wife,” the picture tells again the moving elemental drama of one woman’s fight for love against a world of bigotry and scorn. The details of the drama are • perhaps familiar to many, but the freshness of its treatment, the poetic chaiiti of the photography and tiie addition of some excellent new writing and comedy 'make it an entirely new story, vital, fresh and alive. Briefly, “Way Down East” deals with the individual problems of Rochelle Hudson. She is first seen working happily in the security of Russell Simpson’s household, drawn to Ileury Fonda, the son, yet for some reason afraid to admit her love. The plot moves forward against - the background of country life and changing seasons, until finally whispered gossip reveals the girl’s past and mistake. _ A stormy climactic scene in the home is followed by the famous rescue on the ice, which is done in so convincing a manner on Iho screen that it elicited gasps from many of the first night audience. In reviewing the picture, one hardly knows whether to praise the acting, the camera work or the direction, and is finally inclined to admit that it is the superb blending of all three that makes “Way Down East” such a remarkable motion picture. In addition to the solid characterisations of the two stars, there is line work done by Slim Summerville, Edward Trevor, Margaret Hamilton, and’Andy Devine in the supporting east. Henry King directed t lie picture for Willfield Sheehan. The supporting programme includes comedy, news reels, cartoon and travelogue. Plans arc on view at the theatre, ’phone 5599.