ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 21 January 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “PRIDE OF THE WEST.” One of the boldest and most prevalent crimes of the frontier West, stage coach and mail robbery, forms the background of Paramount's latest “Hopalong Cassidy” action drama, “Pride of the West,” which screens to-night at the Mayfair Theatre. A pair of criminals, who pose as respectable citizens of the pioneer town in which the action of the story takes place, make their big mistake when they try to pin the blame for the robbery on “floppy's” two saddlematcs, “Windy llalli day” and “Lucky Jenkins,” as this brings the Bar 20 foreman into the fray against them. With the help of a daring youngster and a beautiful girl, “Hopalong” catches the thieves red-handed with the gohj. and clears his friends of suspicion. _ order to clear the names of “Windy ’ and “Lucky,” who arc suspected cf complicity in the hold-up, William Boyd, playing the dauntless rancher, combs the Western cattle country until he tracks down the men guilty of the affair “KING OF ALCATRAZ.” A thrilling story of an escaped convict's desperate effort to escape following a “break” out of Alcatraz, supposedly America’s most “unbreakable” prison, opnnc the story of Paramount’s now screen drama, “King of Alcatraz,” the second attraction. With J. Carrol Na-ish cast as Public Enemy ■No. 1, “King of Alcatraz’ shows what can happen when a prisoner breaks from Alcatraz and with his loyal henchmen tries to make off with an ocean-going steamer. Paramount’s newest star discovery, Robert Preston, and Lloyd Nolan, aro the two radio operators who give Naish the battle of his life. Lovely Gail Patrick, who has been called “Ihc most beautiful brunette in films,” will he seen in the featured feminine lead. Miss Patrick, who is oast._ opposite Lloyd Nolan and J. Carrol Naish ir. tho film, was recently seen in “Dangerous to Know,” in which she played t lie society girl pursued hv Akim Tamiroff; “Her Husband Lies,” in which she played opposite Ricardo Cortez; and “Artists and Models,” in which she appeared with Jack Benny and Ida Lupino.

KOSY THEATRE. “MISSING WITNESSES.” “Missing 'Witnesses” —those honest hut timid citizens who are frightened away from the law courts or otherwise disposed of by racketeers against whom they might testify—form tho subject of the W’arncr Bros, melodrama which screens to-night at t lie Kosy Theatre. It is one of those “plucked-fiom-the-hoad-lincs” stories at which the Warners are so adept, and it seemed to be highly satisfactory to the audiences that watched it unreel, “Missing Witnesses” shown, in tho lirst place, a city honeycombed with rackets, which are headed by a certain Ward Sturgis, played by Harlund Tucker. But tho Governor is an honest man; and lie apixjinls Insjicctor Lane (John Litel) to head a new undercover body of investigators to mop up on the racketeers. The picture was directed by W illiam Clemens front a screen play by Don Ryan and Kenneth Garnet, these latter a couple of aco police reporters who have written several successful crook movies. It is said that these two writers haunt the courts in search of realistic movie material, and have as their anonymous collaborators any number of judges, dotactives and special investigators'. From the quick-moving realistic tempo of “Misting Witnesses,” it would appear that that is how they get their ideas. Packed with drama, the film sacrifices nothing not oven romance —Lo reality. “Missing Witnesses” is well worth seeing. “MANHATTAN MERRY-GO-ROUND.” “Manhattan Merry-Go-Round,” the second attraction, offers a rare treat ot musical comedy entertainment to the theatre-loving public. Republic Pictures have spaicd neither time nor expense on this production, and it promises to bo one ot die most popular in years.

MfeTEOR THEATRE

“I AM THE LAW.”

Painted against the stark background of a big city and replete with fresh dramatic turns which make it a groat original amongst the more familiar types of antigangland films, Columbia’s “1 Am the Law,” shows to-night at the Meteor Theatre, with Edward G. Robinson convincingly (starred as its dynamic, gang-bursting, fighting prosecutor. Robinson’s performance it superb; better—if that he possible —than his work in many previous stellar roles. Otto Kruger, who never fails to give smoothly, artistic characterisations, is peerless as the glove-smooth czar of the racketeers. Tho story, capably directed by Alexander Hall from a clover screenplay by Jo Swcrling, concerns the idealistic aim of a law professor to rid The city of murderous gangsters. His chief encouragement cornea from Kruger, a supposedly respectable citizen. One of Robinson's graduate aitorneys, brilliantly portrayed by John Beal, is enlisted by the fighting prosecutor as his crime-combating aide, lie is Kruger’s son, though ignorant of his father’s true character. Barbara O'Neil id seen as a competent helper of her professorial husband in his campaign, while Wendv Barrie is a beautiful hut vicious feminine adjutant to Kruger. A veritable orgy of crime ensues as a result o? the campaign and this is only halted when Robinson enlists modern science, as represented by motion pictures, on his side. The splendid use to which tho professor nuts movicd, bv the way, is one of the unusual plot angled of the production.