ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 9, 8 December 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “MEN IN EXILE.” An intriguing and romantic adventurous story of an island paradise in the Caribbean Sea, packed with action and thrills—is “Men in Exile,” First National feature production now showing at the Kosy Theatre. The story concerns the adventures of Purcell, who flees from an Atlantic seaboard city when he is unjustly accused of murder. A former gangster, he makes connections with an associate of the old days, who gets him aboard a tramp steamer for Caribo, an unextraditable port in the Caribbean. Norman Willis, head of a smuggling ring operating on the island, takes Purcell in and tries to involve him in his nefarious operations, but Purcell, determined to go straight, manages to escape. Staying at the Imperial Hotel, ho meets lovely June Travis, daughter of Margaret Irving, who operates the place,' and promptly falls in love with her. He gets a. job in the hotel but is constantly importuned by Willis and by Alan Baxter, who plays the role of June’s brother. Willis, Purcell learns, is in league with Carlos de Valdez, who is planning to overthrow the existing administration. Feeling that Purcell knows too much about him and his smuggling and revolutionary activities, Willis determines to put him out of the way when he refuses to put in with him. Meantime, however, ho lias to land another cargo of machine-guns arriving on an incoming ship. Baxter, in love with Mrs Willis, played by Veda Ann Borg, tips off Victor Varconi, head of the local police, and the cargo is captured, but Willis escapes. Willis suspects that Purcell has betrayed him, but en route to the hotel to get revenge encounters a pal who tells him that Baxter is the guilty one. Baxter beats him to the draw and kills Willis and hides the body in the hotel. June, witness’to the shooting, hides her brother’s gun in Purcell’s coat, a factwhich leads to his arrest. Juno, then realising that she loves Purcell, begs her brother to confess and when he refuses, goes to Varconi and tells him she shot Willis. Purcell tells Varconi the girl is lying and insists on taking the blame As he is led out to be shot, Baxter breaks down and admits his guilt. He is absolved of blame for the killing on the grounds of selfdefence, but has to pay the penalty for his revolutionary activities.

STATE THEATRE. “THE TOAST OF NEW YORK.” Another of these masterpieces of motion picture art, still an all too rare pleasure for theatre-goers, screens to-night at the State Theatre. Based on the life oh Jim Fisk, “The Toast of Now York” is a gripping and entertaining dramatic romance, its high emotional appeal being in its_ love theme—the flambuoyant courtship of fascinating Josio Mansfield by the financier. Frances Farmer is ideally suitod to the role of Josic Mansfield, the woman for whom Fisk tries to solidify his financial empire by gaining a corner on the world gold market. Her pleasing contralto is heard in throe songs, one of which is “Sweet Alice Ben Bolt,” a classic of the post-Civil War ora. Edward Arnold steps into the 1865 frock coat and squaretoed boots' as naturally as did Fisk himself of his licydey of big railroad stock manipulation when Commodore Vanderbilt, Daniel Drew and others battled with him to gain leadership of the financial world. Arnold again proves that ho is one of tho most able cinema portrayers of strong-hearted figures. Cary Grant, as tho handsome partner of Fisk, takes full advantage of his romantic role and gives a convincing portrayal of an equally shrewd manipulator. Ilis rivalry with Fisk for the love of Josio is portrayed with appeal and power. As the canny Daniel Llrew who is so treacherous in his partnerships with Vanderbilt and Fisk, Donald Meek probably gives his most outstanding film performance. Thelma Leeds as Fleurique makes her debut in this picture and should prove a “find.” Jack Oakie gives his usual: capable comedy performance as a foil to the emotional situations, which are many. The screen should, welcome the return of Clarence Kolb, of tho veteran stage team, Kolb and Dill. His resemblance to Vanderbilt and amazing portrayal of that colourful gentleman make outstanding a comparatively minor role. Rowland V. Leo directed .this Edward Small production for RKO-Radio Pictures.

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “LOVE ME FOR EVER.” Grace Moore, the beautiful star of ‘One Night of Love,” is now presented in “Love Me For Ever,” a dramatic musical screening at the Mayfair Theatre tonight. Grace Moore is the outstanding personality on the screen to-day, lovely to look at. endowed with a heavenly voice, and a dramatic talent that enhunces her characterisation with colour and emotional depth. Millions thrilled to this glamorous star in her initial film. “One Night of Love.” People came time and again completely bewitched by the performance of Grace Moore. Now in “Love Me For Ever” sho surpasses that triumph; never has a voice as thrilling as Grace Moore’s been heard on the screen; never before ha® such divine music, sung as superbly, been incorporated in motion pictures; never before was if possible to tell a modern moving credible story with grand music until tho auspicious cinema debut of Grace Moore introduced to the world her versatility and .singing artistry. The scope and depth of tho story make of “Love Me For Ever” one of the most exciting and stirring dramas of all time. Written by Victor Schertzingor, director, writer and composer, the thome brilliantly aiid intelligently introduces the vitally important music as sung by tho star, Grace Moore. Because Mr Schertzinger thoroughly understands the mood of music, music is used in “Love Me For Ever” to heighten the drama, suspense and romance of the picture. Adapted to tho screen by Jo Swelling and Sidney Bucliman, two of the finest motion picture writers in Hollywood, the story emerges as a monumental work "of spariding dialogue and sheer, breath-taking drama. Story, music and mood have been blended and draped for die superbly gifted Grace Moore. Her role as a tone-time heiress who becomes the musical protege of a big-shot gambler is a' dynamic,. emotional, courageous characterisation. Each role of “Love Me For Ever” has been perfectly written, making such beautiful musio as “Jingle Bolls,’ - “Funiculi Funicula,” “II Bacio,” “The Bells of St. Mary’s,” “Rings on My Fingers and Bells on My Toes,” selections from “La Boheme” and “Rigoletto,” and several new Victor Schertzinger tunes. The supporting picture is “Forgotten Men.”