ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 261, 2 October 1936, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “A WOMAN ALONE.” With the presentation of the Garrett Klement production, “A Woman Alone,” show ing to-morrow at the Urgent, screen audiences will, at last, have the opportunity of "meeting” the real Anna Sten, the beautiful and talented Russian star, who is nothing short ct a sensation on the Continent. Anna was horn in Kiev, Russia, in 1910, to theatrical parents. When Anna was only twelve years old her lather was killed and she had to help support her mother and sister. Halt her time she spent at work and the other studying, hut finally she had to give up her studies and work in a restaurant. A group of child perlormers with whom .Anna Had previously been associated, played in another town. A director of one ot the IState-cndowcd theatre companies of Stanislavsky companies in .Moscow, coached them for toe presentation of Houptmann’s “Hanneluss Hiumiellaln t” and Anna was given the leading role. It was her work in this production that won her admission to the Him Academy, at the age of fifteen. In 1928 —then eighteen—she appeared in plays with one of the Stanislavsky companies ill Moscow. Site was admitted to the .Uusohapron Studios in .Moscow and made several pictures, her great success being "The Yellow Ticket,” followed by “Bothers Karamazov,” a German film, which led to her UEA contract. Samuel Goldwyu brought her to America, groom ing her for stardom before she appeared m "Nana,” followed by “Wo Live Again,” “Resurrection" and "Wedding Night." And now, in “A Woman Alone,” her first English picture, Anna Stem has been given a roie which fits her like a glove—a role in which Russia's lovely contribution to the screen can relax trom her previous overglamorised films and be herself. Her part, hi “A Woman Alone” is that of Alarm, a little peasant girl, who falls in love with Captain Ilyinsky, an officer of the guards, when she is dancing at his wedding festivities. Ilyinsky is aiso as deeply infatuated with .Marie. They part—but mouths later—when on the birth of Ills son, Illyinsky is looking for a nursemaid for his wile, .Marie’s bailee, Yakov, who is one of Ilyinsky’s guards, otters to find one for him, and persuades Marie, much against her will, to accept the position. ‘A Woman Alone,” which conics to the Regent Theatre, is the strangest, most stirring drama of love ever brought to the screen—a drama that culminates in a court martial when the testimony of this lovely victim of circumstances meant death to one man . . . disgrace and resignation to the other. And the decision reels with the woman alone. To-night “Riffraff” screens finally at the Regent. STATE THEATRE. “EIGHT BELLS,” TO-DAY ONLY. Starring Ann Sothern and with Ralph Bellamy and John Buckler in the featured roies “Eight Bells,” Columbia’s gripping drama ot the seas, heads the double programme showing at the State to-day only. Written as a play by Percy Handley, “Eight Bells” was first produced on the English stage, where it was an outstanding hit. Later, it was brought to Broadway, where once again, playgoers found it to their liking. 11 was then that the producers of the film, Columbia r 10* lures, decided “Eight Bolls” wou.d make good film tare, so the hit play was pmturisod. “The First Baby,” the supporting attraction, tells of two engaging youngsters who win their big film chance together in a comedy-romance of newlywed hive. They are Johnny Downs, the candid youngster of “Everybody’s Old Alan,” and lovely Shirley Deane, for years a member of the 20lh Century-Fox tdpck group. Heading the cast of “The First Baby,” they portray a pair of honest-to-goodness youngsters who marry and find out all about the triumphs and troubles of wedded bliss. Dixie Dunbar, Jane Darwcll, Marjorie Gateson and Gene Lockhart are also included in the cast. “UNDER TWO FLAGS” SEASON POSTPONED. Owing to the phenomenal success enjoyed by this 20th Century sensation which is demanding extended seasons everywhere it is screened, the copy for showing here on Saturday is not available, therefore all patrons who have reserved muy transfer to Saturday, October 10, when “Under Two Flags” will definitely ho screened, by applying at the theatre or C. AI. Ross Co.