ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 121, 23 April 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “THE GHOST GOES WEST.” However, well-behaved a young njan may be, if he has a ghostly ancestor who is his double, and whose flirtatious habits are appealing, he is apt to find life rather complicated but never dull. This is one angle on the comedy theme of “The Ghost Goes West,” the London Film production released by United Artists, screening tonight at the ITogent Theatre. In this film threo bright stars in their respective spheres collaborate to turn out what critics and public overseas are unanimous in hailing as the laughter-rais'ng success, of the year. Robert Donat, actor; Rene Claire, noted French director, and Alexander Korda, producer, are the trio to whom the credit is due. The etory begins several centuries ago when young Murdoch Glourie, head of a warlike Scottish clan, gets himself l killed because he is fonder of dallying with' the lassies than of fighting the English. His irate lather dooms his spirit to haunt the ancestral halls until he shall have wiped out the stain on the family tartan by tweaking the nose of a McLaggan, hereditary enemincs of the family, ‘the scene changes to modern times, with the present eh ef of the Glouries, young Donald, forced tor financial reasons to sell his haunted castle to an American millionaire. The castle is transported piecemeal to America, and young Donald accompanies it to see that everything is properly fitted together again. So does the carthbound ghost of Murdoch. He is asleep at the time the castie is sold, and wakes up to find himself going west on the boat, 'then the fun i really-starts, and continues till Murdock finds in America the nose of a MeLa• an to tweak. Robert Donat in the role ol Murdoch and Donald, Jean barker us the girl with whom both are in love: Eugene Paliotte ns the American millionarc; Elsa Lanchester, Hay l’etrio, Molten Selton and all the others in tile cast drain every possib.e bit of fun out of their respective parts.

STATE THEATRE “KING OF BURLESQUE.” In the colourful, glittering atmosphere of the burlesque theatre, with its soubrctlcs, aongs, clowns and comics, the action of the now Fox picture, “King of Burlesque,” screening •at the State Theatre, to-night. Warner Baxter heads the gala castof this picture, which includes Alice Faye, Jack Oakic, Arlino Judge, Mona Barrie, Gregory Ratoff, Dixie Dunbar, Kmny Baker, hats Waller and Nick Long, jimr., among the featured personalities. Although the picture is a revealing glimpse into the gaudy world of burlesque, it does not confine its action lo backstage drama, but launches into (lie life story of ' a genius of the theatre,' played by Baxter. With hio two trusted aides, Alice Faye anil Jack Oakic, Baxter has climbed from side street honky-tonks lo Broadway’s glittering palaces. Then when he falls in love with a lovely society woman who • represents everything lie had hoped to attain, he deserts Ins erstwhile friends. Things go from bad to worse with Baxter, until his wife,/ Mona Barrie, deserts him. When things look blackest, Baxlcr.'s old friends return to help him on the most spectacular venture of his life. The close of the film shows Baxter .suddenly realising that it was Alice Faye he had loved all the time. The bevy of sparkling new tunes which features “King of Burlesque” were composed by Jimmy McHugh and Ted Koehler. The story, an original by Vina Dehnar, was adapted to the screen by Gene Markcy and Harry Tegend, and directed by Sidney Lanfield.

KOSY THEATRE,

“TWO FISTED.”

“Two F'sted,” Paranidunt comedy scrciliing to-night at the' Kosy Theatre, has: Lee Tracey in the Idadiug role. .Portraying the part of a fast talking fight manager of a dim wilted boxer, Tracy has 6ne of the best roles to date in “Two Fisted,” rollicking farce of two fight mugs, who crash Park Avenue society. Roseoe Karns, Guii Patrick, Kent Taylor, Grace Bradley and Billy Lee are featured in the film. The supporting cast includes Samuel Hinds, G. P. Huntley, junr., and Florence Lake. The story, centres around tlie hilarious : adventures of Tracy and Karin who are found by Taylor, Park Avenue playboy, and brought to his home. Karns becomes involved in any number of amusing situations, starting with the staging of a boxing bout for the benefit of their friend’s swanky society crowd and culminating in their expose of the crooked financial handling of their hostess’ a flairs by her husband. An uproarious climax brings the fun film to a romantic, exciting finish. James Cruzc directed. “THE VIRGINIA JUDGE.” The second attraction is “The Virginia Judge,”, starring Walter C. 'Kelly. “The Virginia Judge,” which uiso features Marsha Hunt, Stepin Fctchit, Johnny Downs and Robert Cummings in a story of a small town in the Tidewater country of Virginia with Kelly portraying hinisc.f, the Judge. The story centres around the many problems, both amusing and serious, which'confront a genial, small town judge in his court room. How the judge is beloved by the whole community through his .kindly and tolerant decisions is graphically pictured in the film in a. scries of laughable, yet dramatic events.