ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 20 October 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “TROUBLE IN MOROCCO.” The over-romantic French Foreign Legion provides the background for Columbia’s now Jack Holt picture, “Trouble in Morocco,” which opens at the Meteor Theatre on Friday. It is the story of two rival newspaper correspondents, a man and a woman, on the trail of a gun-run-ning story in Morocco. Holt’s leading lady in the film is Mae Clark. Others who appear in prominent roles are C. Ilenry Gordon, who was the Arab chieftain in “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” Harold Huber, Victor Varconi, Paul Hurst, Bradley Page and Oscar Apfcl. Accordng to the story, Paul Cluctt, an American newspaper man, meets Linda Lawrence, rival newshawk, in Paris, and tricks her into rovealing that her destination is Morocco, where large-scale gun smuggling has broken out. Cluctt “borrows” Linda’s passport so that she cannot follow him. and heads for Morocco with the intention of scooping his girl rival. They have been haying a private feud for years. Upon his arrival in Morocco. Cluett sends Linda’s -passport back to her. His first inquiries regarding the gun-running to Arabs hostile to the French Foreign Legion proves fruitless. Attempting to glean some information from a Lcgionnarie, Cluett is given knockout drops by the man and dressed in his uniform. The Legionnaire then deserts, and Cluett finds himself practically slianghied in the Legion. Things go from bad to worse with the newshawk. Linda arrives on the scene and spitefully refuses to help him. The tale is climaxed with a spectacular battle on the desert, with a Legion patrol, Cluett and Linda in the thick of it. “IF YOU COULD ONLY COOK.” The main feature of the programme is “If You Could Only Cook,” featuring Jean Arthur, Herbert Marshall and Leo Carrillo. A riot of comedy from start to end and produced by the same company that gave you “Mr Deeds Comes to Town.” Patrons are advised to make early reservations. KOSY THEATRE, “INVISIBLE ENEMY.” A well-written story, excellent direction and woll-enacted parts all combine to make screen faro to please everyone who secs “Invisible Enemy,” showing at the Ivosy Theatre to-morrow. Alan Marshall, Tala Bircll, C. Henry Gordon, Horbert Mundin arc the featured names in the story and everyone plays his part to the utmost. Marshall is seen as. Jeffrey Clavering, a former English Intelligence Officer who has been dishonourably discharged from the department for squandering government money on a mad Parisian adventuress who is known as Sandra. Clavering is hired by the Great Eastern Oil Company to stop the plans of a powerful and unscrupulous capitalist Kamarov (C. Henry Gordon) who is attempting to sell valuable English oil lands to a foreign government, hollowing her affair with Clavering, Sandra (Tala Bircll) has married Kamarov because he was the wealthiest man on the Continent. Clavering’s agreement with the oil company is that if' ho stops Kamarov’s plans lie will be reinstated into the intelligence department. His first step is to re-establish himself with Sandra. Through her h° learns many of Kamarov’s plans. 1\ ith the help of his valet, Clavering gathers evidence against Kamarov. However, the capitalist discovers Clavering’s identity. Bassett, the valet, is killed by one of Kamarov's agents, who ransacks Clavering s rooms. Migg6 (Herbert Mundin) replaces Bassett. After many exciting events Clavering and Miggs manage to prevent the sale of the oil lands. “FUGITIVE IN THE SKY.”

The capture of a desperate criminal on an aeroplane flying by night in a terrific dust storm, is one of the many exciting happenings in the second attraction, \Varncr Bros.’ “Fugitive in the Sky.” The criminal who, disguised as a woman—is fleeing from the law with a G-man at _ his heels, reveals himself when a mysterious murder is committed in an aeroplane on which both he and the detective arc passengers. Knowing that his disguise is bound to. be discovered in the investigation of the murder, he holds up the detective, the other passengers and the pilots. Handcuffing the G-Man and stripping everyone of their weapons, ho orders the pilot's to change their course, but the motors go dead in a terrific storm and tiic plane is grounded. In the midst of the excitement a triangular romance is going on, with two men fighting for the love of a girl. The girl is Jean Muir in the role of a nervy aeroplane hostess. “BALALAIKA.” GALA PREMIERE PRODUCTION. To-night at the Opera House, beginning at 8 o’clock, J. C. Williamson Theatres will present their incomparable Royal Comic Opera Company in the studpendous musical spectacle “Balalaika,” which achieved an electrifying triumph in Wellington and Christchurch, and which is in its fourth year in England, where it is regarded as the most entertaining comic opera the stage has ever known. Only the one representation can be staged of “Balalaika” and to-morrow evening the company will present a brilliant revival of the delicious romantio musical play “The Desert Song,” which is proving even more popular to-day than when it was originally produced. With its wealth of colour, its exotic music, its kaleidoscopic movement, its romantic love story, its exhilarating an refreshing humour and the beautiful ballets, “Balalaika” has never failed in England, the Continent, America, Australia, and lastly in New Zealand to attract and to delight large audiences, and the splendid booking recorded at the box office indicates the great interest which is being taken by local playgoers in its production here. “Balalaika”, is packed with rich musical numbers, among which the following are the most notable: “If the World Were Mine,” “The Russian Gypsy Songs,” “The Gay Chanson,” “At the Balalaika,” the gorgeous hymn “Hail to Thee, Russia,” the drinking chorus and “Nichero.” Miss Violet Carlson, the comedienne, who hails from the principal New York theatres, receives almost unlimited opportunities for the display of her outstanding artistry,- and it is said that she causes ripples of laughter the whole time she is on the 6tage. Mr George Hancock, the new leading baritone, has a good singing and acting role to portray, and he has more than sustained his very high English reputation in the part of Count Peter Karagin. Miss Diana Ducano is the possessor of a pure soprano voice of exceptional range and quality, which is heard in several exquisite musical numbers. Mr Don Nicol is probably one of the most popular comedians who has ever appeared in New Zealand, and he particularly delighted playgoers with his delightful performance of the comedy part in “White Horse Inn.” In the amusing and whimsical part of Nicki, Mr Nicol is said to be at his funniest best. Others in the long_ cast include Gaston Mervale, Yvonne Banvard, Ilori Thomas, Cliff Cowley, Dorothy Dunckley, Douglas Herald, Sydney Wheeler, Charles Zoli, Tim Blackman, Gwenn Bullock. The Russian Ballets are big features of the production. ‘ The box plans are at Collinson and Cunninghame’s. The company arrived by special train this morning. The final appearance to-morrow night of the company will witness a magnificent revival of the deliciously tuneful, very picturesque and highly amusing comic opera “The Desert Song,” which proved a record breaker when it was originally staged in New Zealand.