ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 24 July 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.” “A Midsummer Night's Dream” is one of tlie world's ten favourite plays, and is screening at Iho Regent Theatre finally to-day. .It was one of tlie . twelve Shakespearean plays named by Frances Mercs in his “Palladis Tainia,” published in 1598, and it was therefore written before iliai date. Nothing more definite as to tlie exact time of its writing is available. To Reinhardt and Shakespeare, the greatest moneynames of tlie theatre, add those of 16 outstanding stars and principals of tlie screen. Of course it is a love story, a double-barrelled love story. Two young couples wanting eaeli other sneak oil into tlie woods of a midsummer night to escape a stern papa and tlie "Venetian police. As one of tlie grips said, bugeyed while Dick Rowell and Olivia do liavillaiid were doing some clinches lor close-ups, “Whew I That is Love.” A bad boy named Ruck scrambles die affairs of the two couples of lovers. Ruck is mischief personified. lie is the imp two of tlie must famous humorous magazines in tlie world are named after! Puck is the spirit of Peck's Bad Boy. Ho is tho original Katzcnjamincr Kid. ’llicro is never a dull moment while Puck’s oil (lie job. Seven Silly Sajis, played by seven famous comics, take to die same wood to rehcarso a play. Along comes Puck, puts tlie evil eye on them, with hilarious results in down-10-tlic-eii rth comedy. “GIVE US THIS NIGIIT.”

Songs with a classical vein, and yet not thoroughly grand opera, have perhaps tho greatest attraction for the filmgcors and wlieu they are brought to the by such popular artists as Jan Kiepura and Gladys Swarthout, tlie film is certain to he an instant success. Such is “Giro Us This Night” which opens to-morrow at the Regent. Theatre. Kiepura and Miss Swarthout have already gained a great, reputation on tlie films, although tlie former is perhaps, better known, hut the honours are equally shared in the present production oi tlie Paramount Lompaiiy. Frequently singers such as Kiepura are given grand opera or light comedy music to sing, but in tliis instance a sjicciai operetta was written, ant! it strikes just, flic happy medium between classical and nonclassical music, so dial tlie songs have appeal for all kinds of music-lovers. i lie story deals witli the meeting and romance of a young Italian fisherman and a talented young singer already on tlie wav lo fame. ’The girl is so impressed with the fisherman's voice I lint, she sees lie is given It is chance. An elderly and wealthy composer helps, hut. arise when the composer discovers tiiat his new-found friend is in love with (lie gill. STATE THEATRE. “SILLY BILLIES.” Perhaps the funniest, and certainly tlie most original, of all V heeler and W ooF sey’s screen offerings is “Silly Billies,” their newest RKO Radio vehicle which is screening finally to-day on a wonderful double-hill at tlie State Theatre. The two comedy clowns tap a virgin field in using tlie picturesque covered-wagon era as a setting for their riotous nonsense. In tlie roles of a pair of quack dentists they set forth to pull all tho tcetli in the wild and woolly West, and quite naturally they find themselves involved in trouble up lo (heir necks. They rent an office in a save a wagon from an Indian attack; narrowly cseajie lynching, drowning in a quicksand, burning at the stake and other fates. These episodes come thick and fast throughout the plot, and have been deftly handled to maintain the laughter level of the film at a high jioint. Petite Dorothy Lee, who lias played the feminine lead in nearly all the famous mirthmakers’ pictures, again supplies the love interest, as a young sehoohna'am on iter way to tho Californian golcifieids. Harry Woods ami Ethan Laidlaw make a formidable pair of renegade heavies, and little Delimit Watson, Chief Thundcrbird and Jim Thorpe, tho noted Indian athlete, head the supporting east, along witli tlie largest group of extra piayom ever to appear in a Wheeler and Woolsey picture. Hundreds of Indians and cowboys jiartieipale jn tlie wagon train scenes, and the redskin attack sequence offers plenty _ of real thrills as a contrast to tho antics of tlie two funsters. Fred Guiol directed. Production credit goes to Lee Marcus. Also screening finally to-day “Tlie Invisible Ray.” “THE COUNTRY DOCTOR.” Five new stars at one .swoop were added to the Hollywood firmament when Darryl F. Zaiuielc secured tlie adorable Dionne Quniiituplcts lo head tlie oast of his" iho Country Doctor,” tlie grand new humaninterest picture which opens at tho State Theatre witli four sessions fo-morrow at 2 p.tn., 5 j>.ni., 8 p.m., and 10.30 p.m. Everything tiiat- lias ever been said and written about these marvellous babies pales into insignificance beside the actual sight of them playing and cooing, acting real roles in a real story and surrounded by such llollywood stars as Jean llcrslioit, Juno Lang, Michael Whalen, Slim Summerville and Dorothy Peterson. A courageous doctor of the Canadian backwoods is tlie hero of tlie picture, played by Jean Ilersholt. He is a simple, earthy man and tlie picture follows his triumphs, Ins tragedies, liis near-defeat and ultimate victory as lie lights llic pains and ills of his people. After he has conquered a diphtheria epidemic with the aid of scrum flown in by liis hnndsme nephew, Michael Whalen, also a doctor, ilersholt departs for .Montreal, to convince the .company head of Hie need for a hospital in liis territory. Hersholt’s blunt manner incurs tlie wrath of the company men. He returns to find that Whalen's romance with June Lang lias antagonised licr father, Robert Barrat, who is manager of the pest, and that lie been tjiioni ot [lower, ousted from liis post tc, face a desolate old age. Despite the cruel treatment lie lias received, Ilersholt goes on one more deed of mercy, and in a scene tiiat is taut witli drama and mirth, officiates at tlie birth of quintuplets. As the news spreads through the world, lie become; a hero, flattered, honoured. But only tlie welfare of liis babies concerns the happy doctor. Patrons are advised to reserve early for this big attraction. Plans at theatre, ’phone 6363.