ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 79, 4 March 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “CRAIG’S WIFE.” “Craig’s Wife,” with Rosiland Russell and John Boles in tho starring parts, and an imposing supporting cast that includes Billio Burke Jane Harwell, Dorothy Wilson, Alinn Kruger, Thomas Mitchell, Raymond Walburn, Robert Allen, Elizabeth Risdon, Nydia West man and Kathleen Lurke, screening to-night at tho Regent Theatre. “Craig's Wife” marks Miss Russell’s first portrayal of a dramatic role on tho screen. Heretofore, the star, who has been in films only sinco 1935 when she appeared in “No More Ladies,” hus identified herself solely with comedy parts. It is said, however, that Miss Russ/dl gives the best performance of her career in the emotional title role of “Craig's Wife.” Boles, co-starred with Miss Russell, is making his first important screen appearance sinco ‘’.-V Message to Garcia.” 110 onacts the role of Walter Craig, one that gives him an excellent opportunity to display his acting talents. “Craig’s Wife” is the story of a cold and calculating woman who marries merely to attain hor lifetime goal—absolute independdcnce. She stands aloof from everyone, oven, subtly, her own husband, whom she considers merely a necessary evil. Hor homo is her temple, her symbol of triumph, and she jealously guards it from all. fcloon, however, she goes too far in her machinations, and her adoring husband, who has never before suspected that she only looked upon him as another valuable piece of furniture in her sumptuous home, loaves her. Gradually her world comes toppling down until she stands alone, a tragic figure, surveying tho ruins of her life. Dorothy Arzner, Hollywood’s only woman director, brought “Craig’s Wife” to the screen. Mary C. McCall, junr., wrote the screen ploy.

STATE THEATRE. "IIOPALONG CASSIDY RETURNS.” A really fresh angle in Western films is presented in the latest of tho scritn oi popular “Hopalong Cassidy” pictures, "llopalong Cassidy Returns,” a Paramount picture which is now showing at the State Theatre. Tho screen play has a. woman lor its most sinister character-attractive Evelyn Brent, cant as the proprietress of a saloon and gambling hall in a roaring Western mining town. As guiding spirit of the Crystal Slipper ctiloou and boss of its outlaw band of workers, -Miss Brent is the chief problem with Which Cassidy, played, of course, by William Boyd, ban to deal in attempting to bring law and ortler to the little town. Cassidy is aided in his fight by a young brother -new in this film —played by William Janney, junr. George Hayes, the “Windy” ot so many Cansid.v pictures, also lines up with this pair. The town ol .Mesa Grande lias been virtually ruled by 11 10 outlaws who make the Crystal Slipper their headquarters. A crippled crusading newspaper editor, Joint Beck, calls for help from Cassidy. As Cassidy arrives, he find,* Beck dying of injuries inflicted by the gang, lie immediately begins his campaign. The war leads to open opposition of Boyd and Miss Brent, who rtahsee too late that she loves the fighting peacemaker. She pays with her life for her outlaw activity. In the course of the story, six-gun street battles and a fight at the month of the mine take place. Cornered, tile gang has made the mine into a fortress lor the Mast battle. Its leadens succeed in capturing Cassidy’s brother, and threaten to kill him unless Hopalong calls off the war. He outwits them in one of tho most thrill-packed sequences of the fast-stepping story.