FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1936, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

Romantic Spirit. “So lied tlic Rose.” the screen Torsion of Stark Young’s romantic novel of the South during the eighteensixties. comes on Saturday next to the Regent Theatre. A east of well-known names is featured, including Margaret Sullavan. Randolph Scott, "Walter Connolly. Elizabeth Patterson. Janet Beecher and Harry Ellerbe. “So Bed the Rose” tells the story of a Southern family which faced hardships and struggles in those days when a peaceful countrv was seared by the flame of war. It also tells the story of a young girl’s love that is tried and tested when the man to whom she is pledged refuses to hood the call of patriotism even though he sees the plight and desperation of his own people. Margaret Sullavan plavs the girl, Vallette. a product of the proud. South. Randolph Scott plays her sweetheart who refuses to bear arms when the call to war resounds throughout the country. Juvenile Star's Return. A famous story becomes Shirley Temple’s greatest picture as the tiny, dimpled star returns in “Captain January” to the State Theatre on Saturday. June 20. Adapted from the tale by Laura E. Einhards, the new picture is a drama of a lovable little girl and a sweet, old sailor, set in a

lighthouse on the rocky coast of Maine, i How Guy Kibbee loves and protects this tiny waif he had picked out of the sea years before, how he loses her to a vixenish old truant officer and, eventually wins her hack again is revealed in the fascinating plot of “Captain January.” Shirley Temple performs a series of tinkling new stops, including a novelty called “The Multiplication Table Dance,” and sings three new songs. The hit of the three, all with music hv Low Pollack, is “The Right Somebody to Love.” A Double Feature. A romantic comedy with songs, “Love in Bloom” features George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joe Morrison and Dixie Lee and is now showing at the

Tvosy Theatre. Joe Morrison and Dixie Lee are the young couple. Struggling to get along in Manhattan they are suddenly plagued by a visit from their honeymooning in-laws, George Burns and Grade Allen. The picture conies to a comedy climax when everything turns out all right for the young romancers despite the dizzy interference of Burns and Miss Allen. Mack Gordon and Harry Revel composed the musical score for “Love in Bloom.” Also on tliis programme is featured “Pick Up,” starring Sylvia Sidney and George Raft.

Famous Stage Play. Delightful fare is offered by “Tl. Private Secretary,” which comes to th State Theatre on Saturday next. Th character of Rev. Robert Spalding i splendidly taken by that great come dia.n, Edward Everett Horton. The story tells bow Douglas Cattermole a gay young man about town, gets si heavily into debt that his only hopi of salvation rests with his wealth} uncle in India. A friend of liis, win is just as heavily in debt, has ar. uncle in the country who is about t< engage as private secretary Rev. Robert Spalding. To escape their creditor the two young rips make their wa\ to the country house, and Dougla Cattermole passes himself off as thi private secretary. Matters are com plicated when Cattermole’s uncle ar rives from India, and are thorough!} mixed when the real Rev. Robor' Spalding arrives on the scene with his

umbrella and goloshes. An excellent supporting east includes Judy Gunn. Sydney Eairbrother, Oscar Asche, and Barry Mac Kay. Fun and Adventure. A great story, riotous fun and daring adventures make a magnificent trio for the film, “Where.s My Man,” now showing at the Regent Theatre. Here at last the makers of screen entertainment have combined several aspects of screen art into one exquisite whole. With Cicely Courtneidge to supplv the fun, and the “situations,” and Tom Walls offering a new angle of his personality, which will delight and surprise his admirers, the success of the film is assured. The story, in its main features, is a true one. Two hundred

years ago the Duke of Marlborough (Tom Walls), the famous soldier for whom Queen Anne built Blenheim Palace, had a five-year struggle with Louis XIV., the grand Monarque of France. Like many soldiers, Marlborough hated politicians. Jn spite of their protests that the fighting must stop, lie determines to have a final “go” at Louis and win the war outright. This is the basis of the plot. An excellent performance comos from Tom Walls who. tackling a role widely different from nis normal style, gives a finely restrained study of the intrepid Marlborough—a daring casting experiment justly rewarded.

, \n Outstanding Picture. An old friend in a new guise will bo armly welcomed at the Regent Thenre on Saturday, June 20, when little •Yeddic Bartholomew acquaints us with a completely modernised “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” bereft of the traditional long curls and plush suit, but I •lone the less lovable for that. Francos Hodgson Burnett’s story has captured .he heart of everyone who has ever ’■ead it. The adaptation of the story ;o the screen will delight all manner of u'.diences, critical or casual, with its high comedy, effective pathos, genuine feeling and superb dramatic unfoidnont. This film marks a triumphant return to the screen after four years for Dolores Costello Barrymore, wlrfl is costarred with Freddie in the role of the Little Lord’s adored young mother, ‘Dearest.” Adapted to the screen by ■Hugh Walpole the famous novelist, this isndsomely produced film tolls, in leart-warming terms, the familial .tory of the little American lad, who leoame a lord and went to England ;o live in a castle with his grandfather, | ;he gruff gout-ridden, old Earl of -Dor- j ncourt (C. Aubrey Smith), who was eparated from the dear widowed nother whom the stubborn earl refus)d to receive inside tlie castle gates localise his son had married against bis wishes. Grand Comedy. Proverbial tear of one’s mother-in-iaw and her caustic tongue, together ,vith the successful attempts of a middle-aged Babbit to overcome it, urnish the theme of “Her INI aster’s Voice,” sparkling new comedy which commences on Saturday at the Kosy Theatre along with “Woman Trap.” “Her Master’s Voice” features Edward Everett Horton, Peggy Conklin, Laura Hope Crews and Elizabeth Patterson. Taken from Clare Knmmer’s successful Broadway stage play, “Her Master’s Voice” is grand comedy, telling of the trials and tribulations of Ned Farrar (Horton) who is suffering from a combination of too much mother-in-law and the fact that is just out of a job. Mother-in-law (Elizabeth Patterson) is one of those delightful persons who only stops reminding Ned that lie’s out of work when she shifts over to the theme of her daughter’s mistake in marrying him. Devil-May-Care Comedian. “His Night Out,” presenting a devil-may-care Edward Everett Horton—a man who defies police crossexaminations and third degrees, the wrath of his employer and the death threats of gangsters—is now showing at the State Theatre. Supporting Horton in the unusual characterisation are Irene Hervey, Robert McWade, Jack Liißue, Willard Robertson, Oscar Apfel, and Clara Kimball Young. Horton starts out as a purchasing agent for a chain drug company. Told by ,a quack physician that he’ll die within three months, he starts having fun and getting into plenty of trouble. On the same programme is featured “Another Face,” starring Wallace Fowl. Brian Doulevy, Phyllis Brookes and Alan* Hale. A Swift Drama. Drama of engrossing quality will be the order of the day at the Kosy Theatre on Saturday, when “Woman Trap” opens with an excellent cast of players. As its name implies, this thriller has for central idea the sinister use of an innocent woman to assist a gang of desperadoes, killers from the States, to blaze a way to freedom and elude the law. “Woman Trap” bristles with adventure, hustles with action, and bursts with drama. The story has swiftness of pace and a wealth of situations. Gertrude Michael lends dash and fire to the role of the thrillseeking girl. George Murphy plays the reporter who gets his tips from gangland, and knows too much for his own good. Akim Tamiroff. one of the best screen characters living, gives a human performance as the Federal agent who poses as a crook in order to trap the killers.

A Gripping Narrative. Truly magnificent in its spectacular sweep, yet absorbing in its delightful intimacy, “A Tale of Two Cities,” starring Ronald Column, comes on Saturday to the Mayfair Theatre. It takes its place among the immortal works of the screen, entartainment which cannot be praised too highly. Ronald Column's followers will find him at his best. He never has had a role which gave him such opportunity for the quiet humour, the high drama and the poignancy lie expresses so well. As Sydney Carton, whimsical, sardonic, brilliant wastrel, he reaches the peak of his artistic career.

Spectacular Dickens Story. With the amazing total of 112 speaking parts in the screen play, “A Tale of Two*Cities,” starring Ronald Column, sets an all-time record for size of a motion picture cast. It comes to the Mayfair Theatre starting on Saturday, as one of the year’s greatest achievements. The scenario not only retains every major character in Dickens’s original novel—the most spectacular story of his distinguished career—but has amplified some of the incidental characters to major importance. Ronald Column, • one of filmdom’s most distinguished stars, creates the immortal role of Sydney Car-

ton, the wastrel who rises to heights of dramatic sacrifice. Eiizageth Allan, who scored decisively as the young mother in “Copperfield,” has the role , of Lucie Manette, the tragic "heroine. Besides these two, 110 roles are played j by world-famous figures of the stage | and screen, among them Edna May | Oliver, playing Miss Pross; Reginald j Owen, playing Mr Stryvcr, stout and j pompous English barrister; and Basil Ratlibone, as the Marquis St. Evre-1 monde.

The Hamilton Operatic Society is to he revived and a rehearsal of “A Runaway Girl” is to be held shortly. Shirley Temple, Hollywood star, who is now only seven, will earn £350,000 in the course of the next seven years by the almost fantastic terms of her new contract. She has been signed to make four pictures a year until 1943, when she will bo 14. She will draw £13,000 a film, plus £I2OO for her mother, who is her manager.

NOTES ANDJOTTINGS. The Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society gave three performances of “The Late Christopher Bean” at Christchurch last week. Alice Delysia, famous French stage star, is to make her talkie debut in a British film, “Folly of Youth.” Magda Kun and Steve Geray are also in the cast. Three performances of “The White Blackbird,” by Lenox Robinson, were given by the Invercargill Repertory Society last week. John Blondell will lie Edward G. Robinson’s leading lady in his next

picture, “Bullets or Ballots.” Humphrey Bogart and Barton Mac Lane are also in the cast. Sir Harry Lauder, when the last mail left England, was appearing with great success in Dublin. Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy will ho the principals in “To Mary, With Love,” soon to go into production. Claire Trevor and Jean Dixon will also be in the cast. “Sixteen,” by Phillip and Aimee Stuart, lias been chosen by the Wan-

ganui Repertory Theatre as its next stage production. As a result of his outstanding performances in “Peter Tbbetson” and “Desire,” John Halliday, who visted New Zealand not long ago, has been signed to a long-term contract. The next production of the Auckland Little Theatre Society will be Noel Coward’s “Easy Virtue.” It will lie presented for' five nights. The play requires a cast of 19.