ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 17 March 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE.” “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” screening finally to-night at the State Theatre, with Gene Raymond in the central role, is an exciting and thoroughly entertaining adaptation of the Earl Derr Biggers’ novel and tlio George M. Cohen play of tho same name. It stands out as a perfectly balanced thriller by maintaining in essence all the suspense, the ardent romance, and the robust comedy which distinguished the novel and the play. “WHISPERING SMITH SPEAKS. Instead of riding a loping horse over the plains, George O’Brien is riding the iron horse over the singing rails in his new adventure picture for Fox, “Whispering Smith Speaks,” which comes tomorrow to the State Theatre. Swiftpaced and filled with the zest for adventure that has made O’Brien a film favourite, “Whispering Smith Speaks” pictures the adventures of a rail-road magnate’s son when he undertakes to become a rail man himself. In the course of his adventurous wandering O’Brien chances across a dilapidated old railroad which has a beautiful girl for a general manager. I Fascinated by this unusual situation, O’Brien decides to stay, although he is only a lowly track-walker, In time, however, O’Brien gets his chance to outsmart his father, Frank Sheridan. f J he old rail mogul is negotiating secretly to obtain control of tlie old road on which O’Brien works, because bo knows that Miss Ware’s farm contains valuable deposits of minerals. Through the plot and counterplot, O’Brien cleverly weaves his way, until ho finally races, his opponents to Detroit in a wildly careering engine. In a showdown, he forces his lather to admit that his son is a capable rnilroading man after 1 all, and wins the hand of Miss Ware. Kenneth Thompson is prominently featured as O’Brien’s rival, and Spencer Charters and Vic Potel are amusing as his two railroading companions. Directed by David Howard., the picture was adapted from the novel by Frank 11. Spearman. “NAVY WIFE.” A dramatic story, rich in romance, studded with bright -comedy and revealing for tho first time life in the medical and nursing corps ot the United States Navy, “Navy Wife” opens to-morrow at the State Theatre. Claire Trevor heads the film cast. Ralph Bellamy, one of the screen’s most popular young actors, has tho romantic lead opposite Miss r l reyor. Others prominently cast are Warren Ilymor, Ben Lvon, Jane Harwell, George Irving and Kathleen Burke. “Navy Wile” is tho screen version of Kathleen Norris’ popular novel, “Beauty’s Daughter,” and was directed by Allan Dwan under tho supervision of Sol M. Wurtze!. Miss Trevor enacts the role of a young nurse who, against her better judgment, falls in love with Ralph Bellamy, a physician in the naval hospital. She accepts his proposal of marriage knowing that he is stiJ in love with the memory of his dead wife. She believes that love will come to him after marriage. Miss Trevor soon learns that the memory of a - dead wife is almost too much to overcome. Then, when she returns from a trip with the daughter, she discovers that another woman. Kathleen Burke, has come into his life. But a surprise-filled climax serves to bring understanding, real love and happiness to the young couple. Hyinner is cast in the comedy,role of a “tough” sailor with a romantic attachment lor Miss Trevor. KOSY THEATRE. “O‘SHAUGHNESSY’S BOV.” At last, a circus picture that "V s all cirrus. It is “O'Shaughnossy's Boy,” screening at the Kosy Theatre finally to-night. For the first time, the spirit of the circus with all its thrills, excitement and colour has been brought to t lie screen. It is superb entertainment for every age. Comedy, pathos, spectacle and a dramatically powerful story are deftly blended into a picture that wins new honours for its costars —Wallace Berry and Jackie Cooper. “THREE KIDS AND A QUEEN.” The luxurious New York homo of the richest woman in the world is the scene of pint of tho action of “Three Kids and a Queen,” Universal’s lively comedydrama which comes to the Kosy Theatre to-morrow, with May Robson in the starring role. But the greater part of the story takes place in a simply furnished basement in the East Side tenement district, with an Italian barber shop in the front room and a motley assortment of youngsters in the rear. It is here that Miss Robson, the wealthy, crabbed old maid of the story, is taken when she is injured in a runaway, and it is here that she determines to stay in spite of the fact that the temperamental barber prefers her room to her company. The police are making a frenzied search for the irascible old woman, and Barber Henry Armetta lias no ambition to be arrested as a kidnapper, in spite of the fact that he is as innocent as a new-born babe, so to speak. Finally flip wealthy woman actually is kidnapped, and the scene is transferred to the country hideout of the gangsters who have perpetrated the crime. Exciting events in this picturesque loca lion lead up to the old woman’s eventual return to her Fifth Avenue mansion—but even this does not last. . Tho scene changes again, and the erratic Mary Jane Baxter travels down The Avenue with her entourage, bent on life’s greatest adventure. ' In addition to Arractta, Miss Robson’s supporting cast in “Three Kids and a Queen” includes Frankie Dario, Charlotte Henry, William Benedict, Billy Burrud, John Miljan, ' Laurence Grant, Iledda Hooper, ller*n.fin Bing, Henry Kolker and many others, and the picture was produced under the direction of Edward Ludwig.

REGENT THEATRE./ “MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION.” “All iny life I shall loathe Bobby Alerriek,” says Helen Hudson (Irene Dunne) in “.Magnificent Obsession,” an outstanding picture now showing in Palmerston North at tho Regent Theatre. But little does Helen know that what was formerly an unreasoning hate is later to blossom into love. Tho story of “Alagnificent Obsession” is one of the strangest romances ever written; yet it is a. lifelike, poignantly human story, tho philosophic note of which is unselfishness. Apart from the srioits theme, however, there is comic relief supplied by the inimitable Charles Buttcrworth. For instance, imagine Butterworth, newly married, coming out of his apartment in a Paris hotel in his nightshirt to put out the shoes for tho hoot-boy; along comes Robert Taylor and places his hat on Buttenvorth’s head. Taylor goes away and tho door slams, so that Butterworth is locked-out, dressed in a nightshirt and a top-hat. Ho has to call his wife to let him in. Words can’t describe tho comedy of this 6cene. It sounds ordinary on paper, but it creates more laughter than any other scene in tho film. Also imagine Butterworth, after a rather convivial everting with Robert Taylor, stepping by accident from his car into an excavation made in the road. Taylor advises him to wait and keep on whistling until ho gets help. Taking occasional sips from a flask of Scotch, Butterworth trills 'away, but is forgotten. Ho is awakened in tho morning by a roadman, and then immediately recommences his trilling. Arthur Treacher, the English comedian, contributes a small amount of comedy, but of a different nature. In this film he is a valet. Ralph Alorgan is one of the notable men playing a supporting role, as Randolph, the sculptor, who explains the secret of true giving to Robert Taylor, and provides him with the first inkling of philosophy. “Tho secret of life is not to build your own personality out of other personalities, but into other personalities. From this you are ablo to make contact with the Supremo Personality, the source of infinite power.” How many of us think that we are not fulfilling our true destiny and are struggling along life’s road in an nimles3 fashion ? This is a story which should appeal to all of us on these grounds; for it shows how a, man who was utterly useless came, to fulfil a great destiny.- That is tho powerful message which “Alagnificent Obsession” holds in store for each and every human being.