ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 77, 28 February 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “THUNDER TRAIL.” “Thunder Trail,” tho Paramount picture now showing at the Kosy Theatre, is a dramatic story of two orphan brothers, whose lose each other and see their father killed in a massacre of a wagon train in the Old West. Their paths do not cross for nearly twenty years, and their father’s death goes unpunished. Finally they meet in a little milling town, where the man responsible for killing their father is “boss” of the district. The brothers (Gilbert Roland and James Craig) set out to destroy tile murderer and his whole gang, in order to clean tho district of its outlaws and gain revenge. In addition to Roland and Craig, tho cast of “Thunder Trail” includes Charles Bickford, Marsha Hunt, J. Carrol Naislij Barlowe Borland and Monte Blue. “ON SUCH A NIGHT.” Flood—unpredictable terrorist and destroyer—is tho background against which the powerful motion picture drama, s - “On Sucli a Night,” the second feature at the Kosy Theatre, is laid. In this story, six persons of divergent classes and interests —a beautiful actress, a convicted murderer, a racketeer, a newspaper reporter, a wealthy planter, and a medicine show operator —arc caught in tho Hood. And the flood, wrecker ot lives, and harbinger of destruction, irons out for these people their tangled fatek!—it mends the broken lives of the accused murderer and the actress, and brings swift justice to a transgressor who had cheated lite and death but couldn’t escape rampant nature. “On Such a Night” is one of the most dramatic pictures of the season. Its excellent cast includes Grant Richards, Karen Morley, Rcscoo Karns and many other fine players. IMAYFAIR 'THEATRE. “YOU’RE A SWEETHEART.” Alice Faye, more glamorous and beautiful than ever before, singing the hit songs of the year, and for the first time on the screen dancing, the art which brought her to the screen in the beginning. George Murphy, in the hilarious rolo of a waiter who becomes a millionaire for a week, wins tho love of a Broadway star and figures in the headline romance of the century 1 He dances as he never danced before. These two favourites of the screen, together with an all star cast of the-world’s most brilliant entertainers, were swirled together in a lavish cocktail of melody, laughter a.nd grandeur to produce Universal’s smashing musical triumph, “You’re a Sweetheart, ’ which screens to-night at the Mayfair Theatre. Costing more than a million dollars, tho B. G. "Buddy” De Sylva production .reveals Ken Murray and Uswakl at their funniest, together with Frank Jenks and Frances Hunt, two new comedy discoveries of the year. Loading a dancing chorus of more than a hundred beautiful girls is Edna Sedgwick, famous ballerina of two continents.- Andy Devine is seen as the comical bodyguard who wants to get back into prison so he can play oil the football team. These and a dozen oilier elements make You re a Sweetheart” a tbp-nolch musical that stands in a class by itself. Seen in a Uaneing role for the first time on tho screen, Alice I aye and George Murphy form a new team of dancing stars, backed by a chorus of pretty girls, that will literally take one’s breath away as they spin, whirl and glido to the newest song creations of Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson. Hollywood critics, acclaiming the picture at its premiere, wrote glowing compliments for the dazzling dialoguo and comedy scenes. Capitalising on tho talents of Alice Faye, Georgo Murphy,

Frank Jonks, William Gargan and other capable members of the east, the writers filled the story with laugh-provoking situations, and surprise plot twists that gave it the momentum and tempo of an express train in high gear. Those who have soon tho lavish production declare that there is more solid entertainment, more laughs, more spectacular dance routines and beautiful song numbers woven into the picture than in any other musical that was ever filmed. FAY COMPTON. “VICTORIA- REGINA” TO-NIGHT. To-night at the Opera House, beginning at 8 o’clock, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management will present England’s greatest actress, Fay Compton, and her own complete London company in Laurence Housman’s world-famous drama “Victoria Regina,” which is the present reigning theatrical attraction in London, and in which Miss Compton and her company achieved a sensational triumph in Auckland recently.. Scats in central positions may be (selected at Oollinson and Cunninghame’s and afterwards the pians will be on view at the Opera House. Miss Compton’s Victoria, from the ago of 19 to that of 80, demands her continuous appearancc on the stage and repeated changes of make-up, combined with delicately shaded indications of the changes of time" and domestic influence upon an imperious will. With subtle art Miss Compton, it is said, makes an everlasting pictures of the woman and the tyiocn, lovable even in her . tolerant prejudices, often humanely democratic and susceptible to cajolery, but intensely jealous ot her prt vileges. It is a tremendous role, entailing the demands of at least half a dozen ordinary roles, and involving delicate gradations of voice and deportment.. I’ay Compton’s brilliant artistry, first as a romantic girl and bride, then a happy wife, then os the broken-hearted widow, and finally as tiie tired old woman, holding her burden of Stale, but living the memories of the past, will prove a revelation to playgoers hero, as it has done in other parts of tho world. Through ten scenes created by the author as the outline of the portrait, Fay Compton delicately brushes in dramatic colours to bring out the emotional . features which make Victoria Regina a living picture to. tho audience. Mr Bruno Barnabo.is saiu to bo perfect in the role of Prince Albert. Ho invests tho character with dignity, gallantry and quiet humour. . He and Miss Compton make Queen Victoria’s romance a delightfully entertaining series of episodes, and the revelation of the “foreign prince” as the power for good behind theThrono and the chastening influence on Victoria's tendency to arrogance, is an interesting view, of history. Mr Guv Hastings presents a fine characterisation of John Brown, and Stafford Hilliard a brilliant, representation of Lord Beaconsfield (Disraeli). Other artists who have greatly assisted to make “Victoria Regina” one of the finest and most successful productions ever staged in New Zealand are Ann Codrington as the Duchess of Sutherland. Miss I fay ley Bell as Lady Jane, Jack McNaughton as Mr Anson, Marv Charles as the Duchess of Kent, ’ Michael Wilding as Prince Ernest Others in the production include Georgo Blackwood, Field Fisher, Yvette Anning, lan Harvey and Norton Harnmond. 'I lie scenery and effects are features of the production, as also are the magnificent dresses and uniforms, The production is staged under the direction of Mr Peter Dearing.Day salo tickets at 4s and 2s- may he purchased this afternoon at Oollinson and Cunninghame’s, or tho doors this evening. *