FILM and STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 50, 29 January 1937, Page 5

FILM and STAGE

Special Big Attraction. Never before has a star been asked to perform such a task as sing in five different versions of a picture; this was the performance of Gladys Swarthout, who is co-starred with Fred MacMurray in “Champagne Waltz,” the special attraction which comes to the State Theatre on Friday next. This film is something out of the ordinary. Gladys Swarthout made her debut in “Hose of the Rancho,” a picture which proved her to be among the finest singers ever to grace the screen, and by this success she was chosen to make a picture that Would have world wide recognition, In “Champagne Waltz” Gladys Swarthout sings in five different languages, English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish, this something that has never been done

before, and by this marvellous performance will certainly make her the biggest name in motion picture singing stars. “Champagne Waltz” is set in the city of Vienna, where Gladys Swarthout is a direct descendant of Strauss, and a singer who renders his songs much to the delight of all Vienna. She is the reigning personality of this city, until Fred Mac Murray, the leader of an American swing band, visits Vienna and puts her and her grandfather out of business, thus bringing about a climax of romance, drama and delightful music. Colourful Romance. Two of the world’s greatest voices and two of the screen’s most vovid personalities are seen in “New Moon,” costarring Lawrence Tibbett and. Grace Moore, and coming to the Mayfair Theatre on Wednesday next. “New Moon” in,its picture form is far different‘from the original stage version, although preserving all its salient parts and its most popular songs. The locale, changed to Turkestan, permits a sweeping colourful narrative of love and intrigue, romance and advonture. The story deals with a Russian princess who plays with fire in the person of an impassioned lieutenant only to find that she has burned herself in the intrigue and dangerous circumstances which follow upon her fiance’s discovery of the The charming music of the stage success is augmented with two outstanding songs Both Tibbett and Miss Moore give flawless performances exclusive of their brilliant, singing. Adolphe Menjou is excellent as the suave but sinister supeiior officer. Nelson Eddy has signed a new seven-year contract. His next picture will be “The Girl of the Golden West,” with Jeannette MacDonald.

Fast Moving Drama. [ When the 'world’s nerviest jewel , thief returns to stop a rival from geti ting away with the world’s largest . diamond, the stage is set for fast-inov- • ing adventure drama that’s packed i with exciting situations and comedy ! twists. “The Return of Sophie Lang” i in which this is featured, and which comes on Thursday next to the Regent Theatre, is the second in a series of Frederick Irving Afijlersott stories. The first, “The Notorious Sophie Lang,” also with Gertrude Michael in the , lead role, proved its worth in enteri tainment. “The Return of Sophie Lang” is even better. In addition to ■ Gertrude Michael in the title role, the enst boasts at least four “name” I players, Sir Guy Standing giving an i excellent performance as tho suave

arid ruthless rival jowel thief; Ray | Milland, developing the love interest; ! Elizabeth Patterson and Colin Tap- ’ ley. i Laughs and Thrills. A murder-mystery drama, doubly i blessed with fine performances by an . outstanding cast and a generous allot- ■ ment of general hilarity, provides tho , snlendkl screen eutertainment at the Ivosy Theatre in “Panic on the Air,”

commencing Saturday. Lew Ayres, cofeatured with Florence Rice, is seen ns a radio newsman, who conies into possession of a five-dollar bill bearing a strange, cryptic message. He investigates the history of the bill and discovers that its various owners have met with death or violence. "When he receives a mysterious note, instructing him to deliver the bill to an attractive intovocl- Ja fiirfliP-r nmiifcO/l.

From this point the drama grows thrilling, for Ayres finds himself neckdeep in a murder mystery and in love at the same time.

Star of “Cavalcade” Returns. A versatile plot, exciting adventures, and an engaging We story are features of the new Clive Brook-Victoria Hopper production, “Lonely Road, at the Mayfair Theatre, commencing to-morrow, and readily account for the popular appeal of the picture. Cffive Brook is seen in a role which _ offers opportunities rarely met with _ in his earlier characterisations. Victoria Hopper has never been seen to greater advantage than in her role of the dance-hall partner. The story deals with the adventures of art ex-com-mander of a British submarine (Clive Brook), now an agent of the Secret Service, and the entrapping of an Unsuspecting lorry driver in the mealies of a gun-running plot. It is the several interests of the commander and of the young driver’s sister (Victoria Hopper) in the fate of the victim that bring about the romance which runs through the story. Revolt in China. The awakening of China’s teeming millions to battle, against age-old oppression is the basis of a thrilling romance of intrigue and adventure, “The General Died at Dawn,” which is now showing at the Regent Theatre. With Gary Cooper as a dashing soldier of fortune who links liis fate with the oppressed, and with beautiful Madeleine Carroll as the woman whose charms are used by a scheming warlord to destroy him, “The General Died at Dawn” was based on a background of facts. Enmeshed in the web she helped to prepare, Miss Carroll finds her admiration for her victim blooming into love. She offers her life in return for his freedom. But their destines are worked out as they could be only in the modern, war-torn Orient. Bitter-Sweet Romance. An exciting screen event is in store for patrons of the State Theatre, commencing to-morrow, for “Ladies in Love,” the brilliant new picture featuring tho greatest cast of feminine personalities ever assembled in one film, opens there. Janet Gaynor, Loretta Young and Constance Bennett are starred and Simone Simon featured in this fascinating story. of four lonesome young Indies, looking for a love that will last forever. So romantic about love, so practical about lovers, tho picture is a bitter-sweet romance of the adventures and heartaches of the four in search of tho men they love. Don Ameche, Paul Lukas, Tyrone Power, junr., and Alan Mowbray are also featured in tho supporting' cast. As the roles of each of the four famous feminine personalities are mathematically equal, so too are the

elaborate gowns and up-to-the-minute fashions they display in the film. Thirty-five thousand dollars’ -worth of gowns, especially designed, will be displayed in the picture. Each actress will have on the average ten complete changes. Gay Song Hits. Lawrence. Tibbctt, gloriously sing-

ing three new songs, brilliantly cast against a background of riotious comedy provided by Gregory Ratolf and Arthur Treacher and a romance with Wendy Barrie, is coming soon to the State Theatre in his newest and greatest musical-comedy romance, "Under Your Spell.” The new songs give a lilt and a swing to the picture that is new to the screen, in a role very closely paralleling real life, the world-famous baritone is oast as a popular singer, kept so busy by his vigorous manager, Gregory Katoff, that his every moment is filled with a continual round of engagements, endorsements and publicity stunts. Manager Ratolf gets away with murder (of the English language), but finally his protege has enough of the super-ultra-salesmanship and flees out West to resume his former occupation as a cowboy. Accompanying Tibbett is Arthur Treacher, wildly comic as a coldly formal English man-servant. Pursuing Tibbett to the wide open spaces is Wendy Barrie, as a coldly formal society girl who loses her heart on a mountain top and turns romantic.

Jack London’s Magic. Jack London was the master fiction writer of the last generation. His magic still lives to-day. One of his outstanding tales, “The Abysmal Brute,” has been adapted for the screen under the title of “Conflict. This picture, starring John Wayne, opens at the Kosy Theatre on Saturday. The dramatic narrative sets forth the struggle of two men for mastery. One of them is a treacherous prizefighter who gains his money by cheating the simple folk of small towns in tho California, of 1890. The other is a clean limbed giant who defeats the bruiser in exciting fashion. “Conflict is a simple tale presented in the manner that Jack London wrote it. John W’ayne, who gives valiant battle to the prizefighter, is the tall, handsome

fellow who recently starred in “The Sea Spoilers.” Playing opposite him is Jean Rogers, the lovely actress who scored in “Stormy,” “Elash Gordon, “Ace Drummond” and ‘ 1 ailspm Tommy.” A Great Story. The tremendous canvas of “Anthony Adverse,” which comes to the Regent Theatre on Saturday, February 6, is shown by a synopsis of the story. Maria, daughter of John

Bonnyfeatlier, a Scottish merchant in Leghorn, Italy, is married to a Spanisli grandee and diplomat under P.L^ S “ sure brought by her father. But Maria is in love with Denis Moore, a young Irish officer. They keep secret trysts but are found out by Don Louis who kills Denis in a duel. Don Louis treats her so cruelly that she dies gi\ - ing birth to her son, and ; Don Louis horn. The hoy, Anthony is brought up bv Father Xavier until he is ten years leaves the boy at a convent near Logold. He is then apprenticed to Bonnyfeatlier, who is startled by the

resemblance to his daughter. .The trinkets of Maria, which were left at the convent with the boy,, confirm the belief that Anthony is his grandson, although Don Louis, in telling him ot Maria’s death, did not mention an heir. Faith Paleologus, Bonnyfeather’s housekeeper, and one tune sweetheart of Don Louis, suggests tliat he did not mention it because it involved a scandal. Bonnyfeatlier dc-

cides to keep the matter secret but to bring the boy up ns his grandson and heir. This leads to a remarkable series of developments which make the film one of the best yet to be screened.

Big Musical Show. “New Moon,” which opens next Wednesday at the Mayfair Theatre, with Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore in the principal roles, is unquestionably ono of those pictures which may he immediately placed as being head-over-shoulders above the average. This picture not only enables moviegoers to hoar the finest voices eliminating from the talking screen to-day, but it permits them to enjoy in one vehicle two of the cinema’s most interesting personalities. Fortunately, the story if worthy of its distinguished stars, tho producers having adapted the New York stage success, “Now Moon,” to the screen with

such of the original song hits as “Lover Come Back to Me,” “Wanting You,” “One Kiss” and “Stouthearted Men” included, in addition two new songs by Herbert Stothart and Clifford Grey, whose music was one of the attractions of “The Rogue Song.’ Tibbett plays the swashbuckling Michael, Russian lieutenant who falls in love with Princess Tanya, portrayed by Miss Moore.

Humour, Song, Romance. “A Star Fell From Heaven,” now showing at the Kosy Theatre, is a romantic musical comedy, a scintmating satire on the eccentricities of filniland, set in a Continental atmosphere of captivating picture-] Kiscard prettiness and decorated with a delightful musical score, magnificently rendered by Joseph Schmidt, the famous “pocket tenor.” Not only are humour and song blended with delicate showmanship, hut wedded to tins irresistible union is a love interest of whimsical

.tenderness. On tlie same programme is featured “Manhattan Moon. With comedy and music predominant, although it contains some tense as well as laughable situations. It is a gay and colourful romance with a Broadway background. Dorothy Page, the sensational screen find,. is introduced to motion, picture audiences in this after three years of singing on national networks.

Frank Lloyd is to make a picture with an American background patterned after Noel Coward’s “Cavalcade.” Sinclair Lewis will write the story.