ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 232, 31 August 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “A STAR IS BORN.” All the thrills of a trip to Hollywood are provided in “A Star is Born,” screening at the Regent* Theatre to-night, David O Selznick’s # glorious teehnicolour production starring Janet Gaynor and I'redric March. For this first really modern story to come to the screen in colour is so vividly told, so convincingly played and so brilliantly directed by William A. Wellman that you leave the theatre feeling us if you had actually paid a visit to filmland Janet Gaynor and Fredrio March have written-to-order roles and have never turned in performances to match these. Janet emerges a lovely, new sophisticated personality—with a rare flair for wearing clothes —as Esther Blodgett, the little country girl who comes to Hollywood in search of stardom, lace, the 100,000 to one odd as an extra, and soars overnight to fame. And March, as Norman Maine, the hard-drinking screen ido. of the moment, who helps Janet get her first break, falls in love wilu her and marries her, has a granu role which offers him plenty of oppoitum ties for the kind of comedy at which ho excels. '1 lie story, which depicts all the thrills and gaiety and heartbreak of a climb to fame in Hollywood, was adapted by Dorothy Parker, Alan Campbell and Robert Carson from a story written by Carson in collaboration with Director Wellman. Adolphe Menjou is at Ids splendid best as Oliver Niles, the pro ducer, and May Robson is grand as the fiery old grandmother who urges Esthete go to Hollywood and realise her dream of movie tamo. Others who shine in the brilliant cast are Andy Devine as an assistant director, Eionel Stander as a press agent, Owen Moore, • Edgar Ken nedy, J. C. Nugent, Guinn Williams, anti three important new Selznick “finds. ’ 'these are Elizabeth Jenns, an English society beauty, lovely Margaret Tallichet, and the 13-ycar-old A. W. fcwcatt. STATE THEATRE. “SHALL WE DANCE.”

In “Shall We Dance,” latest of the As-tairo-Rogers musicals which screens finally to-night at the State Theatre, the dancing accs eclipse their own records for gaiety arid terpsiehorean entertainment, and present the most engaging film of their careers —a sparkling, colourful story spiced with dolightlul comedy and decorated with songs and dance numbers in profusion. The story, which plays a more important part in this offering than in its predecessors, deals with a romance that starts in Paris and winds up in a New York roof garden. Miss Rogers portrays an international iovue favourite and Astaire a famous bullet dancer named Polcrs, but who calls himself PctrolF lor professional purposes. Attracted by the levuo dancer s beauty, Astaire starts a high-speed courtship, hut through tho stupidity of his manager, reports art circulated that tho two arc already married. This makes for dismaying complications, but Astaire wins out iii a hilarious ending. Tho two stars give brilliant c-har. acterisations, and a distinguished east headed by Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blorc, Ketti Gailian, Jerome Cowan and William Brisbane turns in noteworthy performances. The bullet dancing feature* of the offering constitute much of its very real novelty. Harriet lloctor, America’s greatest ballerina, contributes two spectacular dances, one as a solo and the other a duet with Astaire. Several striking ensemble numbers enhance a glittering finale. Tne dancing of the As-lairo-Uogers duo also tops their former efforts, ivith three memorable duet dances, one of which, the unique roller-skating

number, is especially remarkable. A bur priso novelty is his dance with 20 chorut twirls each made to appear as Ginger Rogers. Astaire offers two solo dances II is sensational engine room dance, performed against the throbbing mechanisms of an ocean liner’s engines, stands out as one of the finest of his career. The songs of “Shall We Dance” are likewise notable. Be sure and put “Shall We Dance” on your “must” list; it is grand amusement. For reservations ’phono the State Theatre 6563, or the C. M. Ross Co., Ltd., phone 5464.