FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 26 November 1936, Page 7

FILM A ND STAGE

A Trial Drama. * George Brent ; dynamic Irish hero of a score of hits, is co-starred with Madeleine Carroll, the English screen favourite, in her first American-made picture, “The Case Against Mrs Ames.” The film opens on (Saturday at the Regent Theatre. A story close to life, centred about a woman’s fight to clear her name of murder and to keep the custody of her six-year-old child, is the basis of “The Case • Against Mrs Ames.” Miss Carroll is cast in the title role. Caught in a net of circumstantial evidence when a California millionaire and socialite husband is found murdered, Mrs Ames is brought

to trial. The mother-in-law who. de■pises her retains an attorney lor her defence. In a dramatic court scene, however, Mrs Ames disregards the advice of her counsel and appeals directly i to the jury. '

Special Attraction. . For the opening of the season of the big attraction, “The Flying Doctor,” the management of the State Theatre have arranged sessions at 2 p.m., *5 p.m., 8 • p.m., and 10.30 p.m. on Saturday next. Charles Farrell as “Sandy” is admirably cast. His fine work in the picture can only

add to his hosts of admirers. As “Jenny,” Miss Mary Maguire makes an excellent apixial. Sue is small, dark, romantic, and intelligently pi»y H her part without overstressmg the emotional motif. Her love scenes with the handsome Sandy are delightfully. natural. '* James Roglan makes his first appearance in an Australian picture. He invests the part of John Vaughan, the flying doctor, with.great dignity. His- ease of manner and clever interpretation of a difficult lole are in complete support..of Margaret Vyner, who, 'as the beautiful BfttJ Webb,” makes a startling success. I his young lady is already famous on both sides of the world for ' her grace and beauty. The comedy theme is a remarkable feature of the film. Joe Valli as “Dodger” surely has surpassed himself; his quick wit and agility should earn critics’ praise the world over. He is ably supported l>y Katie Towers, another popular “old-stager who is at her best as Mrs O Toole. Tom Lurich, international wrestler, makes a surprising film debut.

A Novel Angle. An exceptionally strong cast was assembled for the film version of the Rachel Crothers stage success, “When Ladies Meet,” now showing at the "Regent Theatre. Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery are co-starred and the other - principal roles are filled by Myrna Loy,, Alice Brady and Frank Morgan. The distinguished Miss Harding, whose hits range-from “Holiday” to the recent ’’Animal Kingdom,” enacts the publisher’s wife 'in Miss Crothers’s biting drama of four people whoso lives are brought to a climacticpoint at a seemingly peaceful country week-end party. ; Montgomery', last seen in “Hell Below,” Js. the shrewd young newspaperman who creates a fictitious liaison between himself and the pubUsher* s wife in order to attract the interest of the woman he really loves.

“The Patsy” and “On Approval” ha.ve been read recently by the New Plymouth Little Theatre Players.

| A Great Dickens Subject. | Something unique in film subjects j is “Scrooge,” based on Dickens’s imi mortal tale, “A Christmas Carol,” • | which is now showing at the State , j Theatre. The great author’s story of 1 1 the old miser who, at Christmastime, ;! makes misery for everyone round him,

and is consequently a most wretched man himself until in a dream he is shown the error of his ways, has been brought to the screen without losing any of the charm of this much-loved book. England’s famous actor, Sey-

mour Hicks, plays “Scrooge,” and lias I never been seen to such advantage His ! gradual emanation front the lonely, wretched old miser to a jolly man filled I with human kindness and a love of his fellow creatures is a veritable triumph of - histrionics, and caused one wellknown critic to . describe him as “greater than Jannings.”

Two extra performances (making five in all) of the pantomime “Dick Whittington and His Cat” were given at Hawera last week. There were 120 performers. Olin Howland has joined the cast of “Golddiggers of 1937,”'the musical picture now in production. His role will be that of an examining physician for an insurance company. The New “Gold Diggers” will be the biggest, most lavish and most .tuneful of the entire series which began with “Gold Diggers of Broadway.” Dick Powell and Joan Blondell head the cast.

Miss Elizabeth Loe, the British Drama League tutor, has lately produced Keith Winter’s. ‘.‘The Shining Hour” for the Hawke’s BaV Little Theatre Society. She has now been asked to produce “The Last of Mrs Cheney” for a group of amateurs in aid of the Hawke’s Bay East Aero Club.

Katherine Hepburn has picked Franchot Tone as her next leading man. He will play with her in “Quality Street,” the film version of the Barrie play that she has iong been promising to make. The picture will go into production almost immediately, since Miss Hepburn states that she will leave Hollywood shortly to begin rehearsals for “Jane Eyre,” the play that is .to mark her return to the Broadway stage. - ’ The song.. “Macuslila,” which John McCormack made famous, will be sung by James' Melton in “Melody for Two,” the musical picture which is nearing completion. The similarity between Melton’s voice and that of the celebrated Irish tenor is said to be astonishing. Patricia Ellis has the feminine lead. 'An attempt to film marine life at a depth of 1000 feet to. be made with the assistance of a Japanese “pocket” submarine. Scientists are leaving Japan shortly for deep-sea explorations, and they will bo accompanied by the Nishimura, a tiny submarine built by the Deep Sea Research Laboratory last autumn.

Mystery Drama. One of the strangest and most unusual mystery dramas to come to the screen, “Murder by an Aristocrat,” commences at the Kosy Theatre on Saturday. Based on one of the most popular novels' by Mignon _G. Eberharfc, the picture is packed with thrills and exciting incidents that kept spectators in suspense. There is a talented cast which is headed by Lyle Talbot and Marguerite Churchill in the romantic roles with Claire Dodd again portraying a siren. The plot involves the murder of the black sheep member of a proud, aristocratic family. The night after the murder, another member of the family is found dead in the attic of the great mansion, the victim of a noxious drug. A maid also is found writhing in agony, evidently from the elfects of a deadly poison. With the aid of the district attorney, related to the family by marriage, an attempt is made to cover up the crimes in order to prevent a scandal, • and it is announced that a string of priceless emeralds has been stolen irom a wall safe, in order to give the impression that the murder was the outcome of a robbery. But Lyle Talbot, the doctor in the case, calls in a nurse with whom ho is in love, a part played by Marguerite Churchill. In the night she encounters some harrowing situations in one of which an attempt is made by an unrecognised assassin to hurl her from the roof to certain death. Eventually she solves the mystery in an amazing climax to the story. Royal Command Picture.

The latest Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers production, “Swing Time,” which-is coming shortly to tile State Theatre, is to lie screened by Royal command for His Majesty the , King. These two fomous stars have made screen history in recent years; and “Swing Time” has been declared by not a few reviewers to be “Rolierta,” “Top Hat” and “Follow the Fleet” all rolled into one. With its captivating singing, spectacular dancing numberSj and sparkling comedy, “Swing Time’ possesses a powerful human love interest. Novel Filmed.

The Arthur Somers Roche novel is the basis of the powerful film drama of a woman’B battle for her life and son, “The Case Against Mrs Ames,” coming on Saturday to the Regent Theatre. Madeleine Carroll and George Brent are starred in the production, supported by a strong cast of featured players, among them Arthur Treacher, Alan Baxter, Beulah Bondi, Brenda Fowler, Esther Dale, Edward Brophy, Richard Carle and Scotty Beckett. Romantic Comedy. A fortune and a young lady could be his for the asking, but Bunker was too shy to open his mouth! That’s the starting point for the unusual romantic screen comedy of “Bunker Bean,” which, with Owen Davis junr. in the title role, traces the adventures of a meek lad who becomes a masterful figure of romance and business. The film is now showing at the Kosy Theatre. Handsome and brilliant, but held down by an incomparable inferiority complex, the hero of Harry Leon Wilson’s book and Lee Wilson Dodd’s play, from which the picture is taken, gets tho courage to satisfy his suppressed desires by convincing himseil that he is the reincarnation of departed monarchs, and that he lias inherited their powers for conquest. Louise Latimer has the feminine lead, as the girl who frightens him speechless until he determines to take what he wants when he wants it, whereupon he frightens her speechless. Robert •McWade is the boss who gets the surprise of his life when he tries to browbeat the once timid Bunker into selling his vastly valuable patents for a pittance. A Dramatic Plot.

The script of the picture, “Dracula’s Daughter,” contains several extremely dramatic sequences. One instance will indicate the gripping power that the author of the screen play has written into the picture, which opens at the Mayfair Theatre next Wednesday. London shrouded in fog. A young girl on a bridge is about to cast herself into the river. Her wrist is suddenly grasped by a giant of a man. Reassuring the girl, he convinces her that his mistress will pay her to pose for a portrait. The two go to the. apartment of Countess Marya, lmman vampire. Next morning, the girl is found in an alley, with two fang marks on her throat, the terrible sign of the vampire. Drncnla’s daughter is portrayed by Gloria Holden, the noted stage actress. The girl mentioned in the script is played by Nan Gray, -remembered for her work in “Sutter’s Gold.” Other prominent performers are Otto Kruger, Marguerite Churchill, Edward Van Sloan and Irving Pichel, who is seen as the vampire’s servant.

The pantomime “Aladdin” will be staged by 100 .children in Wellington next month. „ Babby Peggy, the little star of silent films, has grown up, and as Margaret Montgomery' is in “Girls’ Dormitory, 1’ with Ruth Chatterton and Herbert Marshall.

The Dunedin Little Theatre Society has selected for its next major production the comedy success “Youth at the Helm.” The cast comprises 11 men and two women. Frank Craven, eminent stage character actor, who is now a contract writer will have the role of Penrod's father in the forthcoming production of “Penrod and Sam” adapted from the book by Booth Tarkington. The role of Penrod will be played by the remarkable boy actor Billy Maucli, who portrays the child Anthony in “Anthony Adverse,” and who also appeared with Kay Francis ill “The White Angel.”It is probable that the staging of “The Maid of the Mountains” bv the Wanganui Operatic Society will result in a loss of lietween £SO and £6O. A good deal of that would have been saved if the public had supported it earlier in the season instead of trying for 6ea.ts on the two crowded last nights, says the Wanganui Chronicle. Mona Barrie, the Australian actress, has been assigned to the role previously assigned to Frieda Inescort in “Mountain Justice,” now in production with Josephine Hutchinson and George Brent. The change is the result of the fact that it lias been decided to put “Another Dawn” into production with Miss Inescort playing one of the most important parts in that picture in support of Kay Francis, Errol Fl ( ynn (- and lan Hunter. Marlene-Dietrich and Robert Donat are- the ; stars in ‘'Knight Without Armour,”- from the screen version of James Hilton’s best-seller. The story, as written .by Frances Marion, is an exciting ’ yarn concerning- the exploits of a young Englishman in the British Secret' Service in Russia, who inadvertently becomes a Soviet Commissar, and whose job it. is to take a Russian Countess (Miss Dietrich) to the execu-, tion block.

Circus Thrills. There are many thrills of the sawdust ring in “The Three Maxims,” which comes to the Mayfair Theatre on Saturday. Anna Neagle, as “Pat,’ tlie lovable Irish girl member of the Maxim trio, adds still another triumph to her already long list of popular successes; Tullio Carminati, of “One Night of Love” fame, appears in a new type of role which will add to his legion of admirers, and Leslie Banks, who scored such outstanding personal successes in such pictures as “Sanders of the River,” “'Hie Tunnel,” and “The Man Who Knew Too

Much,” appears as the strong man of the famous Maxim act. The early sequences of the film, when the Maxims are a struggling small-time act. reveal the charming companionship of the three members—a companionship which is later shattered by feelings of

love and jealousy, when, on the eve of the success they had all so long and eagerly awaited, realisation comes to the two men that Pat, their Pat, is no longer a girl, blit a beautiful woman.

Famous Band Leader. Very few people have had the opportunity of meeting or even seeing a certain couple described as “the world’s most romantic pair,” the news of whose . marriage recently flowed round the world on a tide of excitement and good wishes for the popular Harry Roy, famous dance leader, and his beautiful bride, the “Princess Pearl,” daughter of the Rajah and Ranee of Sarawak. Now there has been produced a film which not only brings Roy in contact with millions of rhythm lovers, but which also introduces Mrs Roy and the band. Also bringing along eight brand nijw song hits,. “Everything is Rhythm,” which is the chief feature at the Kosy Theatre beginning on Saturday; has been acclaimed by critics overseas as “the most sparkling band film ever made.” Hear Harry ' and his boys play, “You’re The Last Word in Love,” “Black Minnie’s Got The Blues,” “No Words —No Anything,” “Internationaile,” “Sky-High Honeymoon,” while Princess Pearl sings “Man of Aly Dreams,” and also a duet with Roy in “Life is Empty Without Love.”

John Howard, the young actor who was discovered in an Ohio university eighteen months ago, has been given a new contract. He has just finished playing in “Lost Horizon” and will next appear in “Internes Can’t Take Money.”

NOTES AND JOTTINGS. Colin Bergersen, the well-known saxophonist, formerly of Palmerston North, appears with the orchestra featured in “The Flying Doctor,” which is coming to the State Theatre on Saturday. Walter Wanger has bought Vincent Sheean’s “Personal History,” a recent best-selling biography, and will star Madeleine Carroll in it. Lewis Milestone will direct and Frederic March will probably play opposite Madeleine.-

The Paeroa Light Opera Company presented “Our Miss Gibbs” on two nights last week. “Dark Journey,” the spy story starring Conrad Veidt and Vivien Leigh, has not only an ingenious plot, but shows some of the amazingly ingeni-

ous tricks used by international spies during the Great War. Robert Young, who was recently displaced by Francliot Tone in the cast of “Love on the Run,” has been given the leading role in “Maiden Vnvage.”

It is the story of a flirtatious young Americans adventures in the Tyrol. A most enthusiastic reception was accorded the Monte Carlo Ballet Company, when it opened in Melbourne recently, according to advice from Mr J. Tait. The receipts for the first night’s performance were £IOG'J, which was the best return since the 1928 opera season. According to Mr Tait, a season in New Zealand lasting 6ix to eight weeks would be warranted. The company would probably come to New Zealand at the close of the Sydney engagement in February.

Adapted from a Russian comedy by Ilf Petroff, “Keep Your Seats, Please.” is stated to be a riotous comedy, with the broad Lancastrian humour of George Formby well to the fore. The star portrays a youth who has been left a fortune by a whimsical female relative who has hidden the jewels and money that compose it in the seat of a chair, one of a set of seven. The new Marion [Davies—Clark Gable starring picture, “Cain and Mabel,” will soon be seen in New Zealand. This production is said to be one of the most elaborate musical pictures ever filmed. Appearing with the stars are Roscoe Karos, David Carlyle, Walter Catlett. Hobart Cavanaugh, William Collier senr., Allen Jenkins, Ruth Donnelly, E. E. Clive, Pert Kelton, Sammy White and many other headliners.