ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 224, 20 August 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “TEST PILOT.” ic- Spectacular flying, four stellar players, is and a four-star story provide startling enle tertainnient in “Test Pilot,” most authen w tic aviation picture yet produced, now [i- screening at the Regent Theatre, !C j and continuing for one whole week. Clark >r Gable, Myrna Loy, Spencer Tracy and l 0 Lionel Barrymore head the cast of the first air picture produced by Metro-G01d-,3 wyn-Mayer in more than two years. I)i- - rector Victor Fleming has incorporated h some of the most striking flying scenes yet y seen in an aviation picture. The nature of the subject, dealing as if does with men who daily dare their lives in a duel with e death, insures a world of thrills. They’re there. The story is that of a test pilot. „ played by Gable. Without varying from g factual experience, ‘it tells exactly how one j_ of these daredevils lives, not sparing the man, but withal showing that he is human. . The romance is a three-cornered affair bej_ tween Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, and the “woman in the sky,” who is the pilot’s first love. Spencer Tracy sacrifices Ins life to prove to Gable that his wife is far more important than the calling which has j been forever clutching at the narrow , thread of his life. Box plans are most ' certain to fill quickly,' and patrons are | urged to make their reservations at the . earliest possible moment. Plans now' on ’’ view at Collinson and Cunniriglmme’s, ’’ ’phone 7178. a • J s MAYFAIR THEATRE. I “THE FROG.” n , “The Frog,” a Hcrbort Wilcox producs tion, is an adaptation of “The Fricnd--3 ship of the Frog,” by Edgar Wallace, and is one of the most baffling mysteries ever to come from the thriller-pen of that famous author. The country is horrorstricken by the revolting crimes which have been committed far and wide by a gang of crooks, calling themselves “The Frogs,” the leader being a master-mind whose identity remains concealed, despite the machinations of Scotland Yard. Who is “The Frog?” Is it Gordon Harker as , Sergeant Elk, bowler-hatted wearing a dila- > pidated raincoat, he gets within an ace of [ iLiscovory every time to be thwarted by the i leakage of inside information, or is it his ' partner, Captain Gordon, played by Haw- ; kins? As special commissioner of “The i Frog” investigations he has a perfect • shield for hiding his identity. Who is the s mysterious American if he is not “Tho i Frog?” Noah Bcerv continues to be on tho spot but definite proof is not forthcomi ing. What of the millionaire’s secretary, . Esino Percy ? He knows something, or tvhy else should he waste his employer’s tirrm by playing dominoes with the morose 'Elk ? John Bennett, father of tho girl beloved by Captain Gordon—what is his mysterious occupation? Felix Aylmer incites sympathy and suspicion by his actions. Are the fears of Stella and Ray Bennett for themselves or their father? Vavian Gajc and Richard Ainley present a problem, to tho investigators, but is it, divorced from their more important puzzle, “Tho Frog?” Lola Bassano is turned by Carol Goodncr into one of the most charming of nightclub ! queens —but what does her laughing ex- | terior hide? | “THE MAN WHO COULD WORK I MIRACLES.” | “Tho Man Who Could Work Miracles” i is the second attraction now showing at ] the Mayfair Theatre. j LAWRENCE TIBBETT COMING. Ops of (he greatest masters of make-up j over seen on the stage of the Mctropoli- ; tan Opera House is Lawrence Tibbett, the j famous baritone, who will make one appear- j ance in Palmerston North, at the Opera | j House, on Saturday evening, September 3. i Before appearing in a new role, ho studies : out every detail of personal appearance in j keeping with tho character. For some parts ! he builds a now face on the foundation i of his own by making a putty nose, black- i ing out his own eyebrows and painting j others higher up; maybe a beard or mous- j tachc is added. Finally, ho frames the j whole altered visage in an appropriate wig. : So skilfully has he learned to build a face, ■ : completely foreign in appearance to his own, j that it would take shrewd eyes to rccog- ■ niso the Lawrence Tibbett who had gone ! into his dressing room as the Lawrence E Tibbett who came out an hour later, ready § for one of his great impersonations. His | walk, his every gesture is in keeping with the character; and his costumes, instead of being slavish to tradition, are planned to bring out forcefully tho character’s individual traits. When he steps on the stage, Tibbett is-no longer Tibbett, he is a king, a clown, a bandit, or any other being lie is called on to impersonate. Tibbott’s power of facial expression also plays a splendid part in this. Those who watch the everchanging expression of his face as he sings, find it part of the pleasure he gives them. Lawrence Tibbett lives his colourful parts and he looks them in every atom of his flexible being, o