ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 95, 21 March 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “CHARLIE CHAN ON BROADWAY.” It’s “candid-camera night” in Manhattan’s gayest cabaret when Death writes the last entry in a night-club singer’s diary and Charlie Chan finds his grimmest mystery stalking tlie killer through tlie brightest spots of tlie Great While Way in his latest Twniieth Century-Fox film adventure. “Charlie C’lian on Broadway,’’ screening to-night at the State Theatre with Warner Oland again playing the keen Oriental sleuth. America's greatest hobby sinoo tlie advent of radio is a prominent factor in the solution of this most baffling of crimes ever to confront tlie New York police, when nhaneo snapshots of a hundred miniature-camera fiends at tlie scene of the crime provide Chan with tlie opening clues in his jigsaw puzzle reconstruction of the double murder. More hinder than help to (lie Chinese detective in liis attempt- to track down (lie killer is, his self-appointed assistant. Keye Luke, in the role of Chan’s “number one son.” Lee Chan’s efforts to imitate his famous father and do a little independent sleuthing offer several amusing interludes in a mystery which begins aboard the .transatlantic liner on which the pair are returning to New York after Chan’s previous cases abroad. Louise Henry, beautiful Broadway chorus girl, secrets a mysterious packet in Chan’s luggage, which she tries io regain from their hotel room in New York. She is interrupted by Lee Chan, makes ail excuse for her presence, and hurries off to the Hottentot Club, where “candid-camera night” is in progress, and where she is murdered. The murder of a second person is discovered in Chan's own room when he returns to liis hotel. Harold Huber, in the role of police inspector, rounds up J. Edward Bromberg, Joan Marsh, Joan Woodbury, Donald Woods, and Douglas Fowley, all of whom are under suspicion. A swift succession of events gives the all-perceiving Chan a complete clue-picture of the entire affair, and in a surprise climax he unmasks the murderer. Adapted by Charles Bolden and Jerry Cady from tho original story by Art Arthur, Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, based on tho oharaeter created by Earl Riggers, tiie film was directed by Eugene Fordo,” with John Stone as associate producer.

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “DEAD END.” Twenty-four hours of throbbing life in a city street, paved with riches and poverty, comedy arid tragedy, romance and heartaches, thunders across tlie screen in Samuel Goldwyn’s production of “Dead End,” which screens to-night at the Mayfair Theatre. Sylvia Sidney and Joel MeU'rea are starred at tho head of a great cast in t Ijis powerful human story based on tho stage hit by Sidney Kingsley. Miss Sidney has her greatest role as Drina, tlie girl who valiantly fought a losing battle to keep her little brother Tommy from the gangster’s fate ahead of him and to raise them both out of tlie slums. McCrca is seen os Dave, tlie poor architect she loved, who dreamed of tearing down all tlie tenements in tlie world and loved the beautiful Kay, played by Wendy Berrie, who had found a way out of tlie slums into penthouse luxury. Humphrey Bogurd plays “Baby Face Martin,” tlie killer, drawn back from his gangland haunts to tlie slum where lie was born by an irresistible yearning to sec liis mother and liis boyhnud sweetheart, Framey, once more —who faced tlie cold steel of tlie Gmou’s pullets, all to find that liis mother hated tho very sight of him and that Francey had taken life tho easiest way. Claire Trevor plays Francey. Allen Jenkins is seen as Hunk, “Baby Face’s” lieuchinan, and Billy Hnlop, Gabriel Dell, Bobby Jordan, 11 uni z Hall, Leo Gorcey and Bernard Punsloy, the Dead End kids from tlie original Now York stage cast, are seen again in their unforgettable characterisations of Tommy, “T. 8.,” “Angel,” “Dippy,” “Spit,” nncl Milty. The sets, chief of which is tlie “dead end” slum street, where the fashionable apartments brush against the tenements of tlie waterfront, wero designed by Richard Day, “Dead End” is released through United Artists. 1 FRANK NEIL’S REVUE COMPANY: GAUTIER’S COMEDY DOGS. The sensational succw achieved by Frank Neil's latest revue company at Auckland is almost without- a precedent in the history of the J. C. Williamson, Ltd.. theatre there, and night after night witnesses the “house full” cards being displayed long before 8 o’clock each evening. This show, which is entitled “The Wonder Show of World’s Stars” will ho presented to local playgoers at tho Opera House on Friday night next, and judging by • tlie amount of interest which lias been created by its success in other places there is bound to bo a large demand for scats when the box plans arc opened here at t.ollinson and Cunninglinnic’s on \\ ednesday morning next. Head line acts from all over the world are included in Frank Neil’s stupendous revue, and the chief comedian is Mr Jim Gerald, whose genius for creating humour was expressed when lie last appeared hero in J. C. Williamson’s pantomime, “The House that Jack Built,” and in “Tlie New Moon” and “Tlie Belle of Now York.” One is always assured of a good laugh when Jim Gerald is tho chief comic. Miss Ella Shields is without any doubt the world’s finest male impersonator; her brilliant representation of “Burlington Bertie” is one on its own,a great entertainment. Her grace and artistry have made her famous in England, America, Australia, and New Zealand. Of all tlie animal acts over presented on the stage Gautier’s comedy dogs is by far the best and most entertaining. Since they were last scon here tho Gautiers have, of course, obtained, now performing dogs, and the present ones, it is stated, arc vastly superior to the clever ones we enjoyed in tiic past. Don Galvin is a bright personality and lie sings and plays tlie guitar and banjo brilliantly. Arne Hartman is regarded as the best exponent of. the pianoaccordion ill the world, and his inteipietation of “The Barber of Seville” never fails to arouse the audience to enthusiasm. Petillo and Pcseoe arc original acrobatic novelty artists, and Jauetski is said to be a brilliant expont of tlie xylophone.