ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 50, 29 January 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE “A STAR FELL - FROM HEAVEN.” The success of Joseph Schmidt’s “My Song Goes Round the World” made inevitable a further exposition of the “pocket tenor’s” talents. Schmidt has a voice of extraordinary power for so small a frame,; and certainly uses it to popular point in the perennial “I Hear You Calling Me,” and two or three charming modern numbers. His vocal appeal, too, is emphasised by .'liis physical characteristics, for these make their own unconscious bid for your sympathy, and arc punched home by a story in which he is a forlorn lover with ever the hand of. Fate against him. Yet tho entertainment is by no means a purely vocal affair. On tho contrary, it is particularly strong in comedy, thanks to a genial burlesque of film production traditioiiSj while delightful romance and an occasional hint of drama agreeably round off a picture rich in popular appeal. Nor is the spectacle neglected, for in the “film within a film” sequence, in which Schmidt doubles for a juvenile who has lost his voice, we have an ornate Hawaiian interlude in which song and dance combine to achieve both aural and ocular . interest. The star is scon as Josef, a singer in a beer, garden whom a pretty Anne essays toHelp. Calling at the offices of the .Miracle Film Corporation she mistakes tho leading man for the producer when she asks for a joo for Josef, and not unnaturally falls in love with him, to Josef’s evident regret. Josef has his compensations, however, for after various vicissitudes, ho lands the job of doubling for the leading man when the latter loses his voice, and is eventually given a handsome contract. We have stressed tho picture’s vocal bid, and wo have only to add that George Graves is immense in a caricature of an uneducated film magnate, and that Stove Geray is delightful in naive, ingenious comedy as tho loading man’s dresser, who is also in love with Anne. Other well-east players include Billy Milton as the leading man, who uses Josef’s voice, but makes generous amends; Florine McKinney ns the pretty and vivacious Anno; and W. H. Berry as a publicity man with a keen eye on his rakeoff. “A Star Fell from Heaven” is now showing at the Kosy Theatre. “MANHATTAN MOON.” Laid in the glamorous background of Broadway, Universal’s screen play, “Manhattan Moon,” featuring Ricardo Cortez as a romantic “main stem” figure, and Dorothy I’oicjC, beautiful radio singer known tq millions via the ether waves, if now at the Kosy Theatre. MAYFAIR THEATRE. “ENLIGHTEN THY DAUGHTER.” Screening finally to-day, the mueh-discuss-ed film, “Enlighten Thy Daughter” will be the attraction. Here is a gigantic photoplay upheaval to awaken the world to the danger that lurks in our unforgettable ignorance. Parents should take their children to see “Enlighten Thy Daughter.” It is the picture which every man. woman and cliild should see. It is a beau tiful moral, and it shows in very vivid manner the necessity for parents to instruct their children and enlighten them in sex problems. The story is far super ior to tho everyday talking picture, and the treatment so subtle, it could offend no one. One leaves the theatre with a sensitive appreciation of a human situation that has caused a tragedy, and a feeling that ono is grateful to the producers for presenting a truth in such, a way as to save a high ideal of family life. “LONELY ROAD.” A fascinating love story, dashing adventure, thrilling gun-running, music, song and catchy humour make "Lonely Road’ a picture at once exciting and highly entertaining. ' Commencing on Saturday and co-starring Clive Brook and Victoria Hopper, the action of “Lonely Road” shilts from London to a Leeds Palais-do-Danse, Scotland Yard Headquarters, and seat coast locales, thus providing ample variety of settings. Clivo Brook, popular hero of a hundred films, in the rolo of an ex-commander of a submarine, now turned Secret Service, is refreshingly different from his customary Hollywood characterisations. He has starred opposite many famous sirens of the screen;' Tullulali Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich, Liana Wyn yard, Ruth Chattcrton and Madeleine Car roll, but it has remained for this, his latest English production to present the real Brook, in the tyxie of role he was horn to play. The management announce a special engagement of Trevor and Dawn, famous Continental adagio dancers, on Saturday.