ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 4 June 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE, “STOLEN HOLIDAY.” For several excellent reasons “Stolen Holiday,” screening at the Mayfair at the 10.30 p.m. session to-night is a fine film. It is strong emotional romantic drama, and it presents its 6tar, Kay Francis, with a most impressive series of dresses to wear. Ultra-modern costumes and gowns attract attention continually, but fortunately for the male element, tho plot is strong enough to more than retain interest, apart from any other consideration. 'Then there is acting which is at times magnificent. Kay Francis frequently achieves the impossible —she forgets her clothes in the emotional intensity of tho situation. Filmgoors regard her as one of the band of Hollywood stars from whom a finished performance may invariably be expected, and she docs not disappoint her admirers in this production. Although the film belongs to Miss Francis, she does not monopolise it, and, con.veisely, therein lies much of tho charm ol “Stolen Holiday.” Two leading mon divide male honours—the handsome, quiet, restrained lan Hunter, so quiet that liedodges most of the limelight which is rightfully his, and Claude Rains, the unforgettable “Invisible Alan.” The romance and drama of the plot is engaging, located as it is in a Paris -modist’s shop. Nicole rises to eminence with the financial backing ot •Orloff, to whom she is intensely loyal. During a stolon holiday from him, following a delightful interlude oil tho Riviera, _ she meets and falls thoroughly in love with a British diplomat, Anthony Wayne. She sticks to Orloff. however, despite her discovery that he is an audacious crook and that ho is forcing her into a loveless marriage, until his death at the hands of the police leaves her free to pursue her romance with the handsome Englishman, but reduced once more to the status of a mannequin. All of which conveys little conception of tho setting and staging of the story. Throughout, backgrounds appear to have engaged especial attention from the producers, and the result is a harmonious effect which sets tho drama off to perfection. KOSY THEATRE. “ARIZONA MAHONEY.” Joe Cook. America’s “one-man-circus,” rides to the rescue of the gal on —of all lliitigs—an elephant! And it is no mere forty-five Joe packs. His weapon- is a 22-inch cannon of the type tired in circuses to shoo'. “living bullets” into the lir. And for ammunition, Joe uses Iry-ng-pans, kettles, washboard? and other touscliold accoutrements. Does it work? Paramount’? “Arizona Alalioticy,” a madcap travesty of life on the plains, screns at the Kosy Theatre finally to-day. Joe and his assistant. Robert Cummings, carnival operators, are stranded in a Western town. Cummings improves his time by courting beautiful June Martel, a bit of ■ Jivorsion also being ptactised at I lie same I time by Larry Czabbe, a bandit chief, 100 makes his famous ride —atop the elc- < iliant—when rival .bandits, who resent 1 Jrabbe’s rustling raids, made just to fulfil ] Miss Martel’s desire lo own cows, surround the trio in a ranch house. It is a timely } md cllieaeions arrival, you may be sure, J illicit somewhat irregular for flic \\ iI el West cinema-goers have come to know. Aslisting in the madcap goings-on are A'laroric Galeson, John Miljan, Dave Chascn, [rving Bacon, a. talking goose, two Julians, a sway buck horse and talented lit- < lc Billie’Leo. \ “LET’S MAKE A MILLION.” \

As gay and merry a comedy as you .■ould wish to see screens finally at the Kosy Theatre to-day in Paramount’s “Let’s Slake a Million.'’ a story of one man’s jonus and how it grew, with Edward L'Ncrctt Horton as the vet, and charming Jliarlotte Wyntons as the girl lie intended o marry —without reckoning with “pixiated” sisters, 'to Horton, a typical smallown business man in a typical American •mall town, the bonus is, nothing short of i godsend. One of the things he wants .O do is to make Aliss Wyliters his wife. Jut his ma'dert aunts, played by Margaret Seddon and Margaret Ale Wade, the amous “pixilated” pair have other plans or his money. ’J hey want him to use it o buy a monument to honour his grandather, tho founder of the town, and when 10 balks they resort to convenient faints md the other tricks which made them j 'muons. But everything works out very licely, you may be sure, after Horton ! not only all of .his own money in a it.oek swindle, but tlie money ol most of lis pals who warded lo make millions villi their bonus money. But Horton not j i/y gets his money back in an entirely msuspeoted way, but becomes a rich nan. The film ends with him and Aliss (Vynters bound for Niagara Falls after a icries of hilarious circumstances which toeps the audience ill one continuous gale if laughter.