ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 30 April 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “THE INVISIBLE RAY.” Imagine a man who had death in his touch, who, at the actual contact of his finger tips with anything living, would bring death and destruction to it! Picture the tcrrei- which such a man would exert if he were loosed in this community, his whole body charged with poisonous chemicals of radium X which rendered him luminous by night and a terrific force for good or evil | Such a man is Karloff, who as Dr Rukh in “The Invisible Ray,” discovers a substance a thousand times more powerful than radium, which by the mere direction of its rays will crumble to destruction an entire city a hundred miles away. In this Universal story, which shows finally at the Kosy, Karloff is co-starrcd again with Bela Lugosi, and the two antagonists battle this time against weirder, stranger background and with mightier forces of science than over betore. Karloff ns the lone scientist who is looked upon with unbelief by Lugosi, penetrates into the mountains of Africa and brings back I with him the secret, of tho stars, found in a fallen meteor. It is this secret formula which Lugosi wrests from him and through which death and destruction follow, involving two young lovers in its path. Frances Drake, blank Lawton, Beulah Bondi, Walter Kingsford, Frank Reicher, Violet Kemble Cooper, Winter Hall and Inez . Seabury are just a few of the big names in the supporting cast. “THE GREAT IMPERSONATION.” A lion stalks Edmund Lowe as be fights his way through the undergrowth ol an African jungle in the opening scenes of “Tho Great Impersonation,” Universal production which is now showing finally at the Kosy Theatre. With so tense a beginning setting ttic pace, the screen dramatisation of E. Phillips Oppenheim’s greatest novel never lets uj> for a moment. Soon Leopold- von Ragonstein (Edmund Lowe) is plotting the death of his double, Kvcrard Domincy—and then begins “The Great Impersonation” for the munitions trust utilises the resemblance between the two men in a scheme for prolonging the war. Revelations concerning the machinations of international salesmen ■ of war materials form a vital part of the plot. The eerie touches which the public lias learned to expect from' an E. Phillips Oppenheim novel are present liberally. Much of tho action is set in a mysterious English feudal castle. From tho nearby fearful Black Bog comes the weird howl of a creature never seen but often heard. No one can guess the nature of tho creature, and its howling is like nothing on earth. The explanation comes during the exciting closing minutes of the film. Featured opposite Lowe are Valerio Hobson and Wcia Engels. Alim Hobson plays the rote of Lowe’s wife, a sensitive woman verging on madness. She will be long remembered for her roles in “Werewolf of London” and “Tho Bride of Frankenstein.” MAYFAIR THEATRE. “THE GREAT O’MALLEY.” An excellent dramatic performance by Pat O’Brien is the outstanding feature ot “The Great O’Malley,” which will begin to-night ot the 10.30 o’clock session. lie is cast as a policeman who is continually discovering and prosecuting trivial breaches of the law. In spile of the advice of his colleagues and the ridicule of tho press ho persists in this course. One morning ho stops a young man whose motor-car in rather noisy and warns him that unless it is attended to there will be a summons. Through tin's delay the man loses his job, the first ho has had for several years. To get money for his wife and crippled daughter lie commits a robbery and when escaping is slopped by O’Malley for not having had his car fixed. He is caught and sentenced to several years’ imprisonment. After this O’Malley is taken off his beat and given the job of escorting school children across a busy street. Here be meets the 'child of the man lie sent to gaol, a part delightfully played by Sybil I Jason. He is not aware of her identity un'til one day he saves her from the wheels of an approaching van and takes her home where he secs a picture of her father. O’Atalley becomes aware of the havoc ho has been causing and does all lie can to repair it. He obtains the services of a great surgeon to restore the little girl to health, arranges for the release of her father on parole, and obtains him a job. The story is brought to a climax by his arrival with some to;** for tho little girl. Her father thinks that O’Malley is going to arrest him for some minor breach of the law and after some highly dramatic acting tho story draws to a happy conclusion with O’Alallcy reproving his colleagues for the very fault they used to find in him. There is a pleasing romantic interest provided by an at tachment between O’Mallej’ and the • little girl’s school teacher. Humphrey Bogart. Frieda Incscourt and Anne Sheridan head the supporting cast.