ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 21, 23 December 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “BACK IN CIRCULATION.” “Back in Circulation,” showing at the Kosy Theatre to-night, is a Warner Bros, picturisation of the Cosmopolitan magazine story, “Angel Shooter,’ by Adela Rogers St. Johns; and starring Pat O’Brien and Joan Blondell, Is an engrossing newspaper drama, presenting a behind-the-scenes view of the ethics of news gathering and the.power of the press over lives and reputations. A spectacular train wreck provides a thrilling introduction to the murder mystery elements of the swiftly paced narrative that follows. Tho photo-play presents a new and exciting characterisation by Joan Blondcl, as a smart girl reporter who takes keen professional pride in her job. The story revolves around the death, under mysterious circumstances, of a millionaire. This becomes known, through an anonymous letter, to Pat O’Brien, editor of a metropolitan tabloid newspaper. Sensing sensational news, he assigns his star reporter to investigate. Amassing a damaging amount of circumstantial evidence, the widow of the seemingly murdered man, portrayed by Margaret Lindsay, is brought to trial. Refusing to enter any defence to the charge, she is found guilty, chiefly on the strength of stories unearthed by the news sleuths. Amidst the melodramatic involvements of the murder trial, Joan Blondell, although her activities have been the moving influence in the persecution, becomes convinced of the condemned woman’s innocence. Facing the woman she has practically sent to her doom, she contrives to make her confess that her silence is shielding someone. In rhe clash between the two women, the underlying play for life and death is one of the dramatic highlights of the picture, and provides the solution to the mystery. “PRAIRIE THUNDER,”

“Prairie Thunder,” an exciting melodrama of tho days when hostile Indians tried to prevent the white man from linking coast and coast with his railroads and telegraph lines, has the handsome Dick Foran as its hero. Those who have previewed the picture proclaim it the best of all the many that Foran has turned out within the past two and a half years. Tie plays the part of a cavalryman whose assignment is to keep the rails and the. wires intact and aid the progress of civilisation across the wild places.

METEOR THEATRE. “PORT OF SEVEN SEAS.” Wallace Beory’s long success on tho screen has been dominated by a steadfast refusal to be typed. The result lias been a scries •of triumphs in so variegated a series of (pictures as. “Min and Bill.” “The Champ,” “The Big House” and “The Bad Man of . Brimstone.” Now he creates another new character for motion pictures, the rough, dynamic, big-hearted Cesar of “Port of ’Seven Seas,” in which be stars with Frank ' Morgan, Maureen O’Sullivan, John Beal and Jessie Ralph. The new picture shows ( to-night at tho Meteor Theatre. A new locale for Hollywood, the gay waterfront of Marseilles, is the background of the picture, adapted ro the screen from Marcel Pagnol's famous stage play, “Fanny,” which | ran for two years in Paris. The story is : woven around Cesar, owner of a Marseilles cafe, his son, Marius, and Madelon, the girl Marius loves. When Marius sails away in search of adventure, leading Madc- : lon behind, Cesar transfers the affectation lie lias for his son to her. . Cesar helps Made- | lon work out her problem in a unique way, : j with a surprise climax. James Whale, who ; gave the screen “Journey’s End,” directed, j j Henry Hcnigson was the producer. | “DANGEROUS NUMBER.” j I Robert Young was knocked down twelve |

1 times by Prince Groat Dane of motion j picture fame, in the start of production of “Dangerous Number,’ 3 Metro-Goldwyn-IVlayer’s new comedy of marital life featuring Young and Ann Sothcrn. The picture is showing at the Meteor Theatre. The' first scene called for the newlyweds in the • story to receive a visit from a vaudeville dog trainer who cheerful 1 / has the dog knock the 'bridegroom down to show his favourite trick. Prince did it, expertly and exactly a dozen times. “Dangerous Number” is a story of the quarrels, reconciliations, tangled marriage status and legal complications resulting from a runaway wedding of a business man and a vaudeville actress. Richard Thorpe, director of “The Voice of Bugle Ann” and “Tarzan Escapes,” directed from Carey , Wilson’s screen play based on a magazine story by Leona Dalrymple. Bandit chases, police troubles, a wedding complicated by daylight saving and the California threc-day marriage license law, are among the highlights.

REGENT THEATRE “WOMAN AGAINST WOMAN.” “Woman Against Woman” screens finally to-night. “THE CROWD ROARS.” “The Crowd Roars” will commence at the Regent Theatre at 10.30 to-night and will continue for an extended season of one week. As Tommy McCoy, the boy who fought his way from the slums to the heights, Robert Taylor presents the finest, most vigorous acting job he has ever essayed in “The Crowd Hoars.” Here is the answer to the plea for action in pictures, with Taylor putting over ounce of energy and ability into his first prize fight role. The picture is packed with thrills, warm romance, and gripping suspense. A cast of champions supports the star: Frank Morgan as his father, ex-vaudeville trouper; Edward Arnold as the gambler behind the scenes of the fight "game; Maureen O’Sullivan as his daughter, and June Wyman as her school chum and rival for Taylor’s alfections; William Gargan as the ex-light-heavyweight champion killed in the ring by Taylor, his former pupil ; Lionel Slander as the star’s trainer; Nat Pendleton a.s Arnold’s gambling rival; Isabel Jewell as Gargan s wife; Gene Reynolds as Tommy McCoy as a boy. Every one makes a standout of his or her characterisation. Early reservations for ali holiday sessions are strongly advised. Box plans are now open at Coliinson ano Curininghame’s, 'phone 717 b Be wise and be early!