FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 248, 17 September 1936, Page 7

FILM AND STAGE

Mystery, Drama, Romance. Screen entertainment filled with mystery, drama, and romance that will appeal to young and old alike will be unfolded on Saturday at the He gent Theatre with the opening of “The Unguarded Hour.” All the flavour that made the Ladislaus Fodor play a hit is contained in the picture, which includes a cast of notable quality; headed by Loretta Young and Franchot Tone. Dealing with the adventures of a well-to-do young married couple, the husband of which is a brilliant attorney, the picture has the same flavour that made “The Thin Man” last season’s most successful play. Miss Young, as the wife who bares her husband’s past before the world to save his life, gives her finest performance. Tone, in the strong role of the English barrister who finds himself involved in a ghastly crime by means of circumstance, surpasses his oustanding work in “Mutiny on the Bounty.”

Masterly Casting. The casting of “Rhodes of Africa,” which comes on Saturday to the State Theatre, is masterly. Walter Huston gives the performance of his life-time in the title-role. Genius shines from his treatment of a complex character; he is faithful to history yet—human. He has lived the part. Notable for its individuality is Oscar Homolka’s marvellously faithful portrait of Paul Kruger. No less realistic in their humanly historical accuracy are Basil Sidney’s “Dr. Jameson” and Frank Cellier’s “Barney Barnato” as two men who influenced Rhodes’s career to

Historical Drama. “Rhodes of Africa,” which comes to the State Theatre on Saturday, is unusual historical drama; it is of our own times. It is the arresting story ot the adventures of Cecil Rhodes in colonising South Africa for the British Empire. Fine acting by Walter Huston in the title role achieves both

a great degree. Peggy Ashcroft has been honoured with the part of Anna Carpenter, based on the life of the actual novelist, Olive Schreiner, the only woman in Rhodes’s life. Berthold Viertel has captured the spirit of the times, the spirit of the man Rhodes, and has built a memorial in pictures and spectacle that is unforgettable.

dignity and sincerity in conveying the single-purpose urge of an immortal British hero. The narrative is rich in colourful spectacle and is completely convincing. Historic escapes from the orthodox in a ‘refreshing mannei. Clashes with Paul Kruger, parleys with Lobengula, King of the Matabele, the historic and dramatic Jameson Raid; the frenzied rush of diamond prospectors to Kimberley; the battle with the Matabele warriors; Rhodes s

> The Eternal Triangle. 1 “Wife Versus Secretary,” the feai ture coming soon to the Regent r Theatre, has the starring combination ! of Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and . Myrna Loy heading the admirable cast, i “Wife Versus Secretary” is a most modern story of Van Sanford (Clark I Gable), prosperous young magazine 1 publisher; his wife Linda (Myrna Loy) ; and his lovely and capable secretary s Miss Wilson (Jean Harlow). Gable

dramatic pleading with the grim Kruger for Jameson’s life —these are highlights in the film that have never been equalled in their brilliancy. Throughout, tho fabric of the story is interwoven with the by-play of Rhodes s incessant scheming for Boer domination and Empire achievement.

in the polished big business role of Van—a decided contrast to his recent vigorous roles as Fletcher Christian in “Mutiny on the Bounty'” and _ Captain Gaskoll in “China Seas” gives a sterling performance. Jean Harlow, as the secretary, reveals new talents in versatility.

Clash of Temperaments. Beulah Bondi’s versatility is again attested by her present role in support of Margaret Sullavan, star of “Pno Moon’s Our Home,” now showing at the Regent Theatre. Recently seen as the emotional mountain mother in “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” she plays the role of an almost acrobatic secretary to a vasethrowing, fierytempered screen actress in “The Moon’s Our Home.” “The Moon’s Our Home” is the screen dramatisation of Faith Baldwin’s story of two international celebrities who learn to hate each other by reputation. When they finally meet under assumed names, they fall desperately in love. They marry, and the clash of temperaments results in a heated quarrel on their wedding night with tluT bride walking out on the bridegroom. They relent, and their frantic efforts to locate one another lead to many startling and amusing situations. Juvenile Adventures.

Singing five great new song hits and performing astonishing new dance routines, the talented Shirley Temple comes on September 26 to the State Theatre in what has been pronounced her greatest hit, “The Poor Little Rich Girl.” A superlative cast supports Shirley Temple in this new production, including Alice Faye, Gloria Stuart, Jack Haley, Michael Whalen, Sara Haden, Jane Darwell, Claude Gillingwater, Paul Stanton and Henry Armetta. The entrancing sidewalks of New York form the locale for the film. Shirley Temple runs away from the nurse her rich daddy has provided lor her and goes throrgb an astonishing series of adventures. New Musical Comedy. The new A 1 Jolson musical comedy, which will open on Saturday at the Kosy Theatre, has delighted the audiences who have 6een it elsewhere. Never was Jolson in better voice than in singing the tuneful airs of this piece, and in frolicking through the riotious comedy situations. Among others, he sings with little Sybil Jason, the six-year-old child wonder, who not only has an excellent voice, but is a rare imitator and a capable and understanding actress. Beverly Roberts, who plays oposite Jolson in the feminine lead, is new to the screen, having just recently been a sensation on Broadway. Clarie Dodd is capable in the role of the siren whose fickleness puts the “singing kid” on the rocks. Edward Everett Horton, as Jolson’s secretary, Allen Jenkins, as his valet, and Jack Durant and Frank Mitchell, the famous Broadway comedians, furnish much of the fun. On the same programme is featured “Unknown Women.”

An Outstanding Story. Marvels are common in the history of film making, but it is doubtful whether any film has been so much the result of astonishing feats as “Sanders of the River,” which commences at the Mayfair Theatre on Wednesday next, September 23. Few stories more difficult to film could have been chosen than Edgar Wallace’s saga of the British district commissioner who, mainly by force of personality, controlled some of the most savage tribes of West Africa. The part of District Commissioner Sanders is played by Leslie Banks—a close personal friend of the late Edgar Wallace—while Paul Robeson is the native Bosambo and Nina Mae McKinney, the coloured variety ai'tist, is his wife Lilongo. Others prominent in the cast are Eric Maturin the Marquis of Pnrtago, Robert Cochrane, Martin Walker and Alan Jeayes.

The Wanganui Amateur and Dramatic Society’s production, “Maid of the Mountains’’ will be given its first presentation early in November. “House Party,” which was written bv Mr Leon Booth, of Hastings, is being staged in the Hawke’s Bay towns. “The Mask and the Face” was staged for five nights last week by the Wellington Repertory Theatre. Hie producer, Mr W. Wauchop, also takes the principal role. “Fire Over England,” the Elizabethan picture which William K. Howard will direct at Denham, is due to go into production soon. Flora Robson, Laurence Olivier and Morton Selten are included in tho cast. Louis Borell, a .voung Dutch actor, is to make his British film debut with Jessie Matthews in “Head Over Heels.” Robert Flemyng, who has the male lead in the film, is also a newC °Herbert Brenon lias completed studio work on “Someone at the Door,’ the new comedy-thriller which is adapted from the p'iay which had a successful run at the Comedy Theatre, London. Aileen Marson and Billy Milton are co-starred in “Someone at the Door. Merton Hodge, the New Zealander, whose “Wind and the Rain” was so successful, has another new play waiting, but some difficulty is being experienced in casting it. It deals with Americans in London. Lawrence Tibbett lias decided not to appear in a musical version of Douglas Fairbanks’s famous film, “The Mark of Zorro.” Instead, his next picture will be “Love Flight.” Arthur Treacher and Slim Summerville have been cast in support. Jack Buchanan, stage and film star, is returning to the London stage soon. He will appear at the Palice Theatre in “This’ll Make Them Whistle,” the musical comedy in which ho made a tour earlier in the year. Harry M. Goetz, who has been busy for the last few weeks producing “The Last of the Mohicans,” with Randolph Scott starring, has decided to bring more of tho James Fennimoro Cooper stories to tho screen. Tho next will bo “Tho Spy.” “Yes, Madam?” a musical comedy, has replaced “Waltzes from Vienna at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. ‘‘Yes, Madam?” which enjoyed exceptional success at the Hippodrome, London, with Binnie Hale and Bobby Howes, will be played in Sydney by Charles Heslop, Nellie Barnes, Leo Franklyn, Marie Le Varre, Ethel Morrison, Robert Coote and others. “The Flying Doctor,” the production which is widely acclaimed to be the best Australian picturo to-day, had its premiere release at tho Regent Theatre, Brisbane, on Saturday, August 21. Over 8000 people saw it m the one day and all records wore broken. Brisbane is Mary Maguire’s homo town and “the young star and the picture met with a marvellous reception.” . Sabu, the brilliant little Indian boy nctor, whom Robert Flaherty discovered in India, has arrived in England. For Sabu this is a great adventure, for he has never been out of his own village in Mysore before. This pleasure trip is a reward for his magnificent work in the picture, and he is accompanied by his elder brother. Loretta Young and her sister, Sally Blane, are financing the production of a thriller, “The Trunk Murder Case.” Norman Foster, Sally Plane’s husband, is acting as producer.

Hilarious Comedy. “Sons O’ Guns,” Joe E. Brown’s latest comedy frolic, based on the hilarious Broadway musical hit by Fred Thompson and Jack Donahue, opens at tiie Mayfair Theatre on Saturday. Besides the mirth-stirring antics of the comedian, the picture is spiced with the famous martial airs of the original stage play, with tuneful new songs sung by Joe E. Brown, Joan Blondcll, Winifred Sliaw and the Chambers Male Chorus, and riotous dance numbers. The story is a rollicking romance dealing with the humorous side of soldier life in France during the World War. Miss Blondcll, Miss Shaw and Beverly Roberts are Joe Brown’s three war-time sweethearts while others in the cast include Eric Blore, Craig Reynolds, Joseph King, Robert Bar-

rat, G. P. Huntley, junr., and Frank Mitchell. Double Feature. Zane Grey, noted writer of stories of the great West, is again represented on the local screen. The screen adaptation of his famous novel. “Desert Gold,” is now showing at the Kosy Theatre. Prominently cast in the

the Indian tribe of a hidden goldmine. On the same programme is featured “Too Many Parents.” The affection of a father for his two motherless sons and the heartbreak and sorrow, turmoil and triumphs that this love brings the parent is the background for “Sins.of Man,” with Jean Hersliolt in the leading role.

NOTES AND JOTTINGS.

Gary Cooper will be seen in “The Plainsman.”

A "Williamson‘musical comedy company is staging “Jill Darling” in Brisbane.

Jane Withers, the child star who made a success in “Ginger,” has just completed a new picture called “Pepper.” Hilton Porter, seen in New Zealand in several AVilliamson productions, is appearing as Tom Larcomb in “Fresh. Fields” in England. Bonita Granville, the child actress who scored a triumph in “These Three,” has been added to the cast of “The Plough and the Stars.” Barbara Stanwyck has the feminine lead.

The Laurel and Hardy comedy, “The Bohemian Girl,” has been banned in Germany. No reason has been given for this.

A British company has bought the screen rights of “Aren’t Men Beasts?” and are hoping to persuade Robertson Hare and Alfred Drayton to play their original roles in the film. ,

Western story are Larry “Buster” Eddie Cantor s next film will be Crabbe, Marsha Hunt, Tom Keene, “Pony Boy.” Raymond Hatton, Monte Blue, and Ann Harding has chosen the next Robert Cummings. The story deals picture she will appear in. It will be with the abduction of a young an adaptation of ‘‘Love from a StrangIndian chieftain by an unscrupulous er,” the play now running in the West mine promoter seeking to rob End.

Sidney Fox has just been added to the cast of “The Good Earth” after two years’ absence from the screen. She will be Lotus, Paul Muni’s second wife in the film. Romola Hansen and Herbert Browne, last in New Zealand as leads in the production of “White Horse Inn,” are doing broadcasting in Melbourne.