ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 141, 16 May 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

■, KOSY THEATRE. “MIDSHIPMAN EASY.” There is real adventure and romance in the thrilling screen adaptation ol Captain Marryatt’s great novel, “Midshipman Easy,” which heads tlie big double-star programme at the Kosy Theatre to-night. Taking the role of Jack Easy, the courageous young lad who joins the navy, young Hughie Green, the new variety and radio star, given a brilliant performance. He is excited youth personified, the very incarnation of boyish adventure and the characters gathered around him are no less interesting. A typical example is the giant negro sergeant, Mesty, who is played by W. R. Adanns. Basil Dean chose hits convict “types” very carefully and the result is the toughest crowd it is powJble to imagine. Jack Easy, when he joined the H.M.S. Harpy looked forward to some excitement; and adventure —and he certainly got it. He got. more than ever he bargained for. This novel has always been a great favourite with readers ot all ages, making a particular appeal to boys of school ago. It i«s certain to prove very popular wherever it is ishown. “MILLION DOLLAR RANSOM.” The second attraction io one of the most sensational hoax kidnapping cases which is pictured in Damon Runyon’s amazing story, "Million Doilar Run.oui,” produced by Universal. While all persons oi wealth and prominence are taking extra precautionary measures to injure theiiiocivcs and their tamidee against the rutless means employed by racketeers to-day, here is the highly unusual instance of a young millionaire who voluntarily has himself kidnapped. What happens when this hoax is discovered by a* gang ol unscrupulous men and when they turn it into the real thing, makes this film one of the outstanding ones of tlie year, tuil of intrigue and daring. “Million Dollar Ransom” lias a splendid east headed by IMinlips Ho.mes, Mary Carlisle, Aruly Dewne, Wiui Shaw, and many others. Murray Roth directed. MAYFAIR THEATRE. “WHIPSAW.” Adventure and ' romance, drama and comedy, are dettly blended u ’ Whipsaw',” which br ngs Myrna Loy to t-ne screen in a new nil witn Spencer Tracy as her cu-star. The picture, winch opens to-night at the Mayiu»r Theatre, takes its place among tlie more important new season screen often ngs. faeidoni has lioiiywooci given American theatregoers a more *appny mareu team ot stars tuan Miss Loy and Tracy. me latter has a role in, which his delightful brand ot egotism and bombast is compered witii an entirely human romance. Miss Loy s characterisation gives nor an opportunity tor the whimsical lightness she first displayed so fetchi ugly in “The Thin Mail" and which marked her as a vivid new screen personality. “Whipsaw is a story of “angles.” Not tnly does tlie locale shift witn iightning rapid ty from London to New York and thence throughout many mid-western cities, but the mood c»id the direction of the story shuts almost as rapidly. The plot concerns itself with smuggled jewels, whicn Miss Loy, as a member of an intermit dial ring of jewel is presumed to have in her possession. l'racy is a societ »eivice nun who attempts to trap her through romantic intrigue, lie manoeuvres her into a situation in wTuch she must nose as Ins w:fe, and the story moves swiftly through a chain of events which keeps excitement and suspense at ie\ci heiofit. An excellent supporting east appeals with tlio stars. It includes Haney Stephens, William llamgan, Robert aiwick Irene Franklin, Lillmi Leighton, Wade Boteler and Clay Clement, among others. John Qualen :s a new pers.i.a - ily who scores a distinct personal triumph as a bewildered Missouri farmer. W illiam Ingersol turns in an excellent peiforinance as a country doctor niso on the same programme are Lauiel and Hardy in a scream of a comedy, a 1 cte Smith sport thrill md the Mayfair news service. LONG TACK SAM. Keen interest is being manifested m the forthcoming season of Long la* K Sam and his troupe of twenty (, i ieiil.il marvels who commence a season ol two nights at the Opera House on Saturday next. The Sydney Morning Herald m referring to their opening performance at Sydney said; “Twenty natives of China whirling through one and a half hours ot a live vaudeville programme in the midst of a most sumptuous Eastern setting were the main features and the audience (easily the biggest a Sydney vaudeville theatre lias held for a decade) voiced the keen enjoyment of the many astounding things done by Long Hack Sam and his clever compatriots, who gave an enthralling show, not only of clever juggling, skilful hand balancing, and horizontal bar work, but even singing and lap dancing and musical items. In the latter sphere the acrobatic work of Miss Nee Sa Long while playing the violin was worth a pilgrimage. Long Tack Sam supplied an astounding exhibition of producing big bulky tilings from aparently nowhro, and his merrv chatter and “gags” had the audience ill fits of laughter.” The first half of the pro gramme is devoted to European vaudeville artists, foremost of whom are the four La Salle's from the La Scala Theatre, Berlin; Dora Lindsay, Seoltisli comedienne from the Alhambra, Glasgow; Paul and I.eon, dancers from the Colosseum, London; Mnscotlc and Maurice, ballroom dancers from the Follies Bergerc, Paris; “dandy.” the celebrated French musical clown; and

“Astor,” regarding whom I lie manage incut purposely refrain from commenting, preferring to leave the genuine surprise to Ihe audience. Box plans for the season open at Collim-on and Cunninghaino's on Wednesday next.