ENTERTAINMENTS

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

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “BLOCKHEADS.-”. One of the liveliest and funniest bits of film entertainment, “Blockheads,” now Hal Roach-M.G.M. production starring the everpopular Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, shows to-night at the Mayfair Theatre at the 10.30 p.m. session. In this hew. comedy the comedians revert to their former formula —an abundance of new gags, familiar mannerisms, and ludicrous situations. Their side-splitting antics are not deterred by spectacular background or musical interludes. They have free scope for the kind of humour their fans expect. Stan is a front-page newspaper celebrity in ‘ “Blockheads,” not through his own initiative, but through one of the funniest introductions that the screen has reflected. Although he tells Hardy that he is not so dumb as he used to be, fortunately hits actions belie his words. Hardy is the successful business man, takipg vast pride in his swank apartment and in the house-keeping capabilities of his wife. The introduction of Stan, although he is momentarily the nation’s hero, into these surroundings precipitates a merry-go-round that spins dizzily until the final fade-out, which is a surprise finish. The supporting east, small but of stellar calibre, plays well into the hands of Laurel and Hardy. Patricia Ellis exhibits an unsuspected flair for comedy. As the wife of the big-game hunter, living across the hall from the Hardy’s apartment, she flits in and out of the picture with grace and charm. Minna Com bell, cast as Hardy’s shrewish wife, exacts every bit of humour from the role.

STATE THEATRE. “GOLDWYN FOLLIES.” Presenting a dazzling array of stars and a variety of talent that staggers the imgaination, “The Goldwyn Follies,” the glorious tcchnicolour musical extravaganza, marks the first entertainment in Goldwyn’s 25 years of picture-making to carry the producer’s name. “The Goldwyn Follies” screens to-night at the State Thea- , tre. Goldwyn invaded every field of entertainment to find stars to augment the. screen cast headed by the suave Adolphe Mcnjou, the Riiz Brothers, and the beautiful rising young star, Andrea Leeds. From radio he took Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, the comedy sensation of the world; Kenny Baker, Jack Benny’s silver voiced romanticist; irrepres-. siblc Phil Baker and his accordion; from grand opera, lovely Helen Jepson and the sensational newcomer, Charles Kullman; from the world of the dance, the beautiful Zorina and George Balanchine’s American Ballet of the Metropolitan Opera; and from i musical comedy goggle-eyed Bobby Clark to j clown with petite Ella Logan. Then there i arc the hand-picked Gorgeous Goldwyn | Girls as well as Hollywood’s 12 loveliest and most talented tap dancers; Jerome ! Cowan, Nydia Wcstman, Frank Shields and a hundred more who fit into the'pattern of one of Ben Hccht’s best stories —a comedy of Hollywood which casts Menjou as a film producer out of touch with his public, and Andrea Leeds as the typicalf American girl whom he hires as “Miss Humanity” to keep him posted on what the public wants. “The Goldwyn Follies” has three sessions on Saturday (Christmas Eve), at 2 p.m., 8 p.m., and 10.20 p.m.