ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 30 September 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “ON THE FRIENDLY ROAD.” So great has been the success of the screening of New Zealand's first really important lull-length talkie, "On The Friendly Road,” the season has now been extended to Friday to enable many hundieds of Palmerston North and district residents the opportunity of seeing it at tho Muyiair Theatre. Enthusiastically reviewed in tlie conservative Auckland press, this picture comes with a great reputation. New Zealanders are sometimes slow to appreciate anything good made in their own country and the experience in other centres has been that people only find out about “On the Friendly. Road” after the season lias begun. The word-of-mouth publicity resulting lrom the enthusiasm of patrons who have seen tlie film, results in continually increasing crowds. The film, showing magnificent scenery, against which a really strong story filled- with sparkling comedy and tense drama lias been perfectly photographed, makes for a capital night’s entertainment. . The blossoming kowhai trees, tlie tuis singing and the true dialect of the New Zealander have been faithfully reproduced in perfect sound, and New Zealanders find a refreshing novelty in hearing something of their own after a surfeit of overseas productions. Among the outstanding players is Stanley Knight whoso interpretation of tho role of a swagger “humping his bluey” along the road of life has been spoken of as one of tlie most perfect characterisations the screen has witnessed. Tlie children, two lovable little boys, and a very active and humorous Maori, also have come in for a large amount of praise from patrons in other centres.

KOSY THEATRE. “KING OF THE CASTLE.” An original song number lias been specially written for “King of the Castle,” which is coming to the Kosy Theatre today and which is ably, put over by June Clyde and Billy Milton, the two costars. They are accompanied by Claude Dainpier, tlie well-known English stage and screen comedian, playing a harp, and it is believed that it is the first time that this able comedian has thus performed. At least that is what it sounded like —as a harpist lie leaves much to he desired, but as a purveyor of laughs his attempts are liar excellence. Claude Dainpier cun always be relied upon to raise a laugh, but in this scene he will cause hysterics. “King of the Castle” is a fast-moving comedy of a young clerk, Monty King, who rescues a millionaire heiress, Marilyn Bean, from a watery grave, and then proceeds to fall in love with her, to which she reciprocates. “MOONLIGHT MURDER.” * The slaying of a great opera tenor before 20,000 witnesses m tlie liunous Hollywool Bowl, forms the unusual motivation for “Moonlight Murder” m which Chester Morris becomes a detective and, aided by Madge Evans, solves one of tlie oddest crime mysteries fiction lias ever created, ’the new picture, coming lo the Kosy Theatre tu-duy, is from an original story by Albert Cohen and Robert T. bnannnn, with screen play by Florence Rycison and Edgar Allan Wooll, scenarists ot “Tile Canary Murder Case.”