FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 23 July 1937, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

Intriguing Attraction. Delightfully adapted • from Michael Egan’s daring play that ran for over seven hundred performances on West Enel, “The Dominant Sex,” the story of everybody’s married life, comes on Saturday to the Mayfair Theatre. Miss Diana Churchill played the leading feminine role in over seven hundred performances of “The Dominant Sex” on the stage, and she was the ideal choice for the screen version playing opposite Phillips Holmes from Hollywood. “The Dominant Sex” is an entertaining story of modern married life. Hiding and swimming are Miss Churchill’s favourite sports, while her favourite pet it a wire-haired terrier called Barnabas. Her tastes in clothing are simple, for she prefers simple tailormade outfits, and while her favourite colour, is blue, she wears a great deal of green, which is strange for a superstitious person. Blue-eyed, golueiiliaired, and five feet four inches tall, •she has loads of personality and a grand sense of humour. She is" the youngest of three daughters of a Loudon doctor, and was born at Wembley in 1913, where she still lives with her father.

Attractive Star. Richard Arlen has never been seen to such advantage as in “The Great Barrier,” which comes to the State Theatre on Saturday. He has played in many American films with conspicuous success, but “Hickey” seems to be just right for him. Lilli Palmer, attractive Viennese blonde, plays the role of Lop and steals every scene in which she appears. As Mary, Antoinette Cellier proves that producers do know how to cast films, and Barry Mackay and J. Farrell MacDonald also add to their past successes. Antoinette Cellier, who plays the part of Mary Moody in “The Great Barrier,” has only one real-life worry at the moment, and that is that the public may still think of her as “Frank Cellier’s daughter.” She is, indeed, the well-known character

actor’s daughter, but she is also a strongly individual lass who hopes to establish a screen reputation of her own that is quite independent of her famous father. Of dark hair and hazel eyes with just the faintest colouring in qheeks and lips, Antoinette is an extremely attractive young actress and one who is rising rapidly on the English stage and in films. Radiant Player.

“She’s slender and graceful as a willow —and dances like a leaf in the wind. She’s Britain’s greatest dancing star and she earned the title after years of hard work and sacrifice aitoi a childhood, of rigorous discipline and study.” Eo says ope of England's greatest authorities ot Jessie Matthews, a star of the first rank, who is featured in “Head Over Heels, which comes next Friday to the state, Theatre. She was horn in London in 1907, a.nd made her stage debut in 1923 Her first professional appearance was in “The Music Box Revue” at the Palace Theatre, and then Andre Chariot engaged her to understudy Gertrude Lawrence in his revue. Then Miss Lawrence became ill and Jessie s big moment had. arrived. From then onward, her success was assured and she became a name. Then she went to America. Back in London again i=he scored a great success in 1926, and then C. B. Cochran. London’s greatest showman, starred her. Her first film appearance was in “There Goes the Bride a.nd from then onwards the screen has not let her go for one moment. Other films include “The Man From Toronto,” “Waltzes From Vienna,” “First a Girl” and “It’s Love Again.” Now comes her latest and greatest filmusic.al, “Head Over Heels,” in which she will delight even more with her radiant and. refreshing personality.

Carv Grant, Grace Moore’s leading man ill “A\ hen You re in ltore. is a desert addict, and whenever lie lias be tween-pictures vacations, lues himself to Palm Springs, Hollywood s desert resort.

Railway Saga. How the Canadian Pacific Railway was constructed, in the early ’eighties, is pictured in “The Great Barrier,” an adventure drama with a background of husky pioneering thrills. It is coming to the State Theatre on Saturday. Based on “The Great Divide,” written by Allan Sullivan, the producer Milton Rosmer has handled the story in a most praiseworthy manner. The story centres around two young men in search of adventure, named Hickey (played by Richard Arlen) and Steve (Barry Mackay), who find their way to a small town in Canada on the track of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which is in the late stages of construction. Mary Moody (Antoinette Cellier), daughter of one the “railway bosses,” is here, and they meet her, Steve making up to her; but she rather likes Hickey who, however, affects disinterest in women. Through a fight in which they become involved at the “Rat-Trap Tavern,” where the charming Lou (Lilli Palmer) entertains them, they are arrested, and

through the lack of money to pay the fines, are forced to work on the railroad. Hickey soon shines as a leader and becomes a- foreman. Mary tries to influence her father in his favour, and when a small party of men are selected to prospect for the final and most important pass through which the railroad is to cross the Rocky Mountains, Hickey and Steve go with it. From this point, the film moves to ail exciting and moving climax. Tenor To Tour. A singer the public of New Zealand will enjoy is contemplating a world tour, and expects to be in the Dominion in the latter part of the year. This singer is the famous Irish tenor, Danny Malone, who signs the well-known ballads of Ireland, England and Scotland as well .as the big classics always popular with tenor voices. He has a sweet

voice of good range and quality, and is known as the legitimate successor to John McCormack. Born in Ireland, lie sings with all the feeling of that country and has a.n ingratiating way with his audiences. He has recently concluded a brilliant American tour, and is now on a farewell tour of Ireland and England before setting out on bis world itinerary. Mr Maurice Ralph, the well-known entrepreneur, will have the direction of the tour.

Madeleine Carroll, recently seen in “On the Avenue,” and Francis Lederer will shortly appear as a new starring team in a film entitled “Thanks For Nothing,” to go into immediate production.

Espionage Spectacle. It is safe to expect the unusual in motion picture entertainment from Alexander Korda, who now follows his highly successful “Eire Over England” with a modern and spectacular picture 1 entitled “Dark Journey,” which opens at the Regent Theatre on Saturday. It is a thrilling and spectacular espionage drama, the action of which takes place mainly in the neutral city of Stockholm during the World War and ends in'a clash in the English Channel between British Q-boats and the German U-boats, presenting one of the most realistic scenes ever enacted upon the screen. The story takes the form of an intriguing battle of' wits between ,an attractive French agent and a subtle : German, the master mind and head of a secret service planning death and destruction from a distance. The French agent is Madeleine, a French girl, who poses as a Swiss, and then operates behind the facade of a Stockholm modiste shop for her country’s espionage service bv parading definite pro-German sentiments. Vivien Leigh, who will l>e remembered for her brilliant acting in “Fire Over England.” plays the most important part as Madeleine. .Conrad Veidt plays the role of von Marwitz. Anthony Bush ell, Elliott Makcha.m and Joan Gardner are also

in the east. Unusual Theme. The films write a page of current history in “Black Legion,” a thrilling melodrama, which will open at the

Rosy Theatre on Saturday. Recently in Michigan, a band of masked and hooded men took the law in their hands and killed their chosen enemies without semblance of justice or mercy. Investigation clearly showed .that" the Black Legion was founded on ’ prejudices, race-hatred, and bigotry. The story of the organisation as it is filmed is the more dramatic for being basdd on fact. The havoc wrought in the families of its victims, as well as in the families of its members is stark melodrama. The main character in the screen play is a young working man deluded into the belief that it is a duty to take the law into his own hands. Because the job which he thought he deserved was given to a foreigner, lie feels that lie has been cheated of his rights as an American citizen. By so doing, he

spoils a beautiful romance, utterly destroys the happiness of his neighbours, and in the end kills his own best friend. The part is played by Humphrey Bogart, who was the outstanding bandit in “Petrified Forest.” As a picture of an acunl phn.se of America’s complicated social struggle. “Black Legion” is said to he unusually interesting.

“Sound of Your Voice,” starring Grace Moore, is to be placed into production immediately. Melvyn Douglas, who scored such a. hit in the recent Irene Dunne production, “Theodora Goes Wild,” has been selected as Miss Moore’s leading man.

Thrills On The Ranch. In a film that will satisfy every thea-tre-goer with entertainment and thrills, Hoot Gibson opens at the Kosy Theatre on Saturday in “Sunset lta.nge.” Gibson has swung away from the typical Western in “Sunset Range,” and the result is a story filled with comedy and dramatic situations, plus the thrilling rides and rescues that make for action and excitement. From a performance standpoint this is one of Hoot’s best. So much has been written about his horsemanship that it is needless to add that he is perfect in this respect. But the real surprise to .audiences will be Hoot’s handling of comedy and drama. In this he proves himself as 'excellent an actor as he is a rider. Mary Doran furnishes the romantic angle, and her beauty and ability leave nothing to be desired. Mary plays an Eastern girl who buys a ranch in Arizona, where Hoot is employed as a cow-hand. She is an innocent victim of a weakling brother’s crookedness with gangsters, when he hides ransom money in her trunk. The racketeers follow her to the ranch, and in their demand for funds a.re captured by the Sheriff and his posse, led by Hoot. A happy ending finds Mary and Hoot married and ensconced on the ranch. Musicale Returns.

Clothes may make the man, hut it requires hard work to make a man a ! comedian, according to Adolpe Meujou, who is prominently featured in “Girl In a Million,” the spectacular

musicals which introduces Sonja Henic to the screen and comes back to the State Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday next for a short session. For years, Adolphe specialised in sophisticated rolos and was univerally dubbed as the best-dressed man in pictures. It was the part of the hard-boiled managing editor in the screen version of “Front Page,” that marked a turning point in Menjou’s career from a faultlessly attired dramatic actor t-o an excruciatingly funny one. He followed that preformancc with a whole series of hilariously funny picture portraits, culminating in his mad portrayal in “Sing Baby Sing.” ’ “Comedy parts are infinitely more difficult to project than straight roles,” said Menjou recently, “hut I much prefer the funny ones.” Jean Hcrsholt, Ned Sparks, Don Ameche, the irrepressible Ritz Brothers,, Arline Judge, Borrah Miucvitch and his gang, Dixie Dunbar, Leah Ray

and Shirley Deane are also featured in tho cast of this wonder show.

Stirring Drama. Adapted from the novel by James Oliver Curwood, “God’s Country and tho Woman” will present a stirring dramatic theme, excellent acting, ancl direction and outstanding production effects at the Regent Theatre, where it will start on Saturday, July 31. Essentially the story is one of mental, physical and romantic conflict. It moves at a steady, unflagging pace, splendidly combining the three necessary qualities of good cinema entertainment —tense drama, appealing romance and mirthprovoking comedy. A story of lumber folk of the north woods, scenic values in the film are enhanced considerably by the use of the technicolour medium, so successfully merchandised in “The Trail of the Lonesome Pine,” “llamona,” and “The Garden of Allah.” The film tells of how a gay playboy was made into a man and of how a most masculine young woman was transformed into her more delightful feminine self. Human essentials are thoroughly treated and because of this the film holds a universal appeal. George Burnt and the talented little newcomer, Beverly Roberts, arc the stars, with a spectacular supporting cast.

Ralph Morgan is the latest addition to “Story of Emile Zola.” “Castles in Spain,” in which Madeleine Carroll has the feminine lead, has been retitled ‘“The River is Blue.”

Ricardo Cortez, Margaret Lindsay and John Litel are in the east of the film version of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Pit and the Pendulum.”

Douglas Scott, eleven-year-old actor, has been given a contract for his work as the young -Nelson in “Lloyd’s of London.’’ He is now playing in the Shirley Temple film, “Wee Willie Winkie.”

Mary Young, New York diameter actress, is to appear in “This is My Affair,” co-starring Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck.

Binnio Barnes lias been signed to play Daisy in “A Bicycle Built tor Two.” Adolphe Menjou is featured m ‘‘Easy Living,” with Jean Arthur and Ray Mill and. “Woman Chases Man,” a comedy starring Miriam Hopkins, Joel McCrea, Charles Winninger, Erik Rhodes, is shortly to be released. Title changes: “China Bandit” to “War Lord”; “The Years Are So Long” to “Make way for To-mor-row”; “Stopping Toes” to “Shall We Dance”; “Weather or No” to “Let's Get Married.”

Lawrence Tibbett, the renowned American baritone and operatic artist, is to tour the Commonwealth and New Zealand next year. There will be a return trip in 1939 of Richard Crooks, the popular American tenor, and in 1940 Yehudi Menuihin will return.