ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 16, 16 December 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “DESIRE.” Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper, who are co-starred in Paramount’s romantic comedy, “Desire,” at the Mayfair Theatre to-night, stand at the top of a list prepared by Director Frank Borzage, of the famous screen love teams of all time. “Desire” tells of a sensational jewel robbery executed by a breath-taking Continental beauty. She makes a jeweller think that a famous pathologist is her husband, and tho doctor that the jeweller is her spouse. While they are busy misunderstanding ono another, she skips off with the precious string of pearls, and meets an American engineer out for a glorious vacation. Out of a hilarious scries of misunderstandings, an ardent romance cnicrgos. The comedy and romance are skilfully blended in this picture which brings Miss Dietrich and Gary Cooper' - together for tho first time since “Morocco.” In the supporting east are such popular players as John Halliday, William Frawley, Ernest Cossart, Akim TamirofT and Alan Mowbray. “WHARF ANGEL.” ' Tho colour of San Francisco’s waterfront, the - thrills of battling men maddened by love and _ the tender appeal of a lovestarved girl of tho slums, enlivened by stirring scenes aboard ship make gripping entertainment of Paramount’s “Wharf Angel,” also screening; to-night. Victor McLaglen and Preston Foster, as two contrasting, fearless men of action, give excellent performances, as docs Alison Skipworth as the proprietress of tho waterfront saloon. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the picture is the outstanding 'performance of Dorothy Dell, former Zicglold Follies singing sl:ar L who makes her first screen appearance in the title role. STATE THEATRE. “YOU CAN’T HAVE EVERYTHING.” Spotlighting a swiftly paced parade of outstanding entertainment personalities such as has been seldom seen on the screen. Twentieth Century-Fox offers a grand festival of top-notch singsational musical comedy in “You Can’t Have Everything,” commencing at the Stale Theatre to-morrow. Featuring Alice Faye, lilting to new hi-dc-hoights; tho Riez Brothers, triple threats to gloom; Don Amcchc, screen heart-throb and star of radio’s biggest show; Charles Winninger. radio’s “Cap’ll Henry”; Louise Hovick, brjnging a new personality to tho screen; Rubinoff and his violin; and Tonv Martin, romantic wave of the airwaves, Ilarryl I l ’. Zanuck’s newest hit surpasses his famous “Sing, Baby, Sing,” “One’ in a Million,” “On the Avenue,” “Wake Up and Livo” and other musical numbers. Song hits by the acc song-writing team of Mack Gordon and Harry llevcl stud the story, which was adapted by Harry Tugend, Jack Yellen and Gregory Ratoff. Alice Faye plays a singing playwright whose stark, serious, tragic masterpiece is adapted by the Ritz Brothers into a howling farce. Bocause she thinks Don Aniecho has had a hand in this blasphemous act, Alice puts the kibosh on his romantic ideas, only to relent in subsequent scenes. Liberally interspersed with a variety of entertainment from beginning to end, the story finally united Alice and Don despite tho attempts of Louise Hovick to get Amochc for herself. Other amusement experts in the cast include Arthur Treacher, ono 1-o-n-g laugh; l’hyllis Brooks, sweetest of to-morrow’s stars; Tip, Tap and Toe, rhythmic as rain on the roof; Louie Prima and his band, tho trumpet king at his hottest; and Tyler Brooke. To Norman Taurog, the director, goes much credit for a well-rounded production with its smooth and imperceptible transitions from ono variety spot to another.

On the supporting programme is a special newsreel. “Japanese Bombard Chinese,” comprising the latest complete films from the war front, where the frightful carnage continues unchecked.

METEOR THEATRE. “DANGEROUS.” A picture that is said to give Bette Davis an even greater opportunity to display her raio dramatic genius than did “Of Human Bondage” or “Bordertown,” has boon booked for the Meteor for a limited engagement, screening finally tonight. The picture is the Warner Bros, drama, “Dangerous,” in which Miss Davis is supported by Franchot Tone, who has the leading masculine _ role, and Margaret Lindsay, again her rival in love. “Dangerous” has been hailed as a masterpiece wherever it has been produced, and is sheer, stark drama, featuring both the glamour and the shadows of Broadway life. It is the story of the most brilliant actress of her day, who was loved by many, but who loved only her own career and who sacrificed everything and everybody to her ambitions. Then, a fallen idol, she becomes an object of scorn, pitied oven by those she had ruined. This fallen idol is portrayed by Bette Davit. Sho is rescued by Franchot Tone, a young architect, who also succumbs to her fatal fascination, neglects his profession, and his finacec, Margaret Lindsay. He seeks in vain to wed the girl he had saved, despite the fact that she was thought to be a “jinx” and fatal to anyone coming in contact with her. Alison Skipworth, the famout character actress of both stage and spreon, has the role of the housekeeper for Franchot Tone, who cares for the actress during her recuperative stage at the country home. John Eldredge is the husband whom the actress had ruined and cast aside and Dick Foran plays the part of the society man and friend of the architect and his fiancee. Others in the cast include Walter Walker, Richard Carle, George Irving, Pierre Watkin, Douglas Wood and William Davidson. Alfred E. Green directed the picture.