ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 169, 18 June 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “AHSS PACIFIC FLEET.” A quartette of the screen’s best fun makers, made up of Uvo blonde menaces, Joan Biondell and Glenda Farrell, and Hugh Herbert and Alien Jenkins, head the cast with Joan and Glenda again teamed as a pair of wise-cracking gold-diggers in “Miss Pacific Fleet” screening to-night, at tlie Regent Theatre. “LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.” An old friend in a new guise will be warmly welcomed at the Regent Theatre on Saturday, when little Freddie Bartholomew acquit ms us with a completely modernised "Little Lord FauntJeroy” bereft of the traditional long culls and piush suit, hut none of the less loveaLilc lor that. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s story Ims captivated the heart of everyone who lias e\er read it,. The adaptation of the story to the screm is another triumph for David U. Sel/.mck. It will delight all manner of audiences, critical or casual, with its high comedy, effective pathos, genuine feeling and superb dramatic uufoldincnt. The first, offering as an independent producer of David 0. Selzmck who made such outstanding hits as “David Copporfield,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” “D.nner at Eight” and “Aina Karenina,” is a doubly important occasion in that it also marks a triumphant return to the screen after four years for the lovely Dolores Costello Barrymore, who is co-starred with Freddie n the role of tlie L'ttle Lord’s adored young mother, “Dearest.” Adapted to the screen by Hugh Walpole, tlie famous novelist, this handsomely produced film marks an auspicious start for tlie newly organised Seiznick International Pictures Company.• Tlie picture is released through United Artists. It tells, in heart-warming terms, tlie familiar story of the little American lad, who became a Lord and went to England to live in a castle with his grandfather, tlie gruff, gout-ridden old Earl of Dorineoui't (C. Aubrey Smith), and was separated from tlie dear widowed mother whom the stubbo.n Earl refused to receive inside tlie castle gates because his son had married against his wishes. How The child wins his way, into tlie old man’s heart and transforms him into a lovng and delightful grandfather is charm t gly depicted amid smiles and heart-tugs and tears.

STATE THEATRE. “11l GAUCTIO.” Combining music with swift, exciting' action without sacrificing tlie appeal oi one or the other is successlully accomplished in tlie new romantic Argentine) musical, "Hi Gaiicno!” showing i--iiigiii to tlie State Theatre, with tlie adven-turer-singer, John Carroll, in tlie leading role. Both elements have been skilfully used. “Hi Gauche!” introduces the ne.v melodies, tlie flow of dramatic action continuing while the actors sng being accomplished by rapidly changing camera angles. In John Carroll the producers believe they have the discovery of an unusually pleasing personality and a line baritone voice, “buig of the Open Road" is sung by Carroll and liis band of gauchos as they return from a cattle drive, its robust spirit emphasised by the thud of hoofs and the slap of leather quilts, while the pampas riders punctuate their lusty choruses with daring feats of horsemanship. “Bandit Song ’ is hurled from tlie tin oats of equally liard-riding plunderers, headed by Rod Lußocque, while they good-humouredly pursue their deeds of villainy. Folk songs give vividness and authenticity to a fiesta s'tuiiar to those which made Argentina villages places of rich living in tlie early nineteenth century. As was the gaucho’s way of ardent love-making, Carroll woos tlie scnoiita with song. A serenade and "n n.-o unite Rose" are two such numbers.

“FANG AND CLAW.” In “Fang and Claw,” Bring-’Em-Back-Alive Frank Buck’s newest ii.m, which will also ho eiiown at tlie Slate Theatre, to -night, the larger animals, such as tigers, crocodiles and a baby armour-plated rhinoceros, are the principal actors in tlie numerous thrill ng episodes. The film nevertheless contains intimate camera studies of the smaller denizens of the jungle, Y lien Frank Buck sets out to catch monkeys lie bags them .'ll wholesale lots. In one highly interesting and amusing episode :n tlie movie, wliat appears to tie literally thousands of them swarm down out ot tlie trees and ravenously attack the tempting food that lias been left as bait. Tlie great net soon closes :n upon then dining room, however, and some hundred whiskered tvanderoo monkeys remain as compulsory guests. “Fung and Claw, produced by Hie Van Bcurein Corporation, is indeed another treat for lovers oi jungle films, and it will no doubt increase the interest irt this type of photoplay because its thrills are new and ingenious.