ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 46, 23 January 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. ‘TRIDR OF THE WEST.” One of the boldest ami most prevalent crimes of the frontier West, stage coach ami mail robbery, forms the background of Paramount's latest “llopalong _ Cassidy” action drama, “Pride of the West, which screens to-night at the .Maytair Theatre. A pair of criminals, who pom as respectable citizens of the pioneer town in which the action cf the story takes place, make their big mistake when they try to pin the blame for the robbery on “lloppv’s” two saddlemates, “Windy Halh day" and “Ducky Jenkins,” as this brings the Ear 20 foreman into the fray against them. With the help of a daring youngster and a beautiful girl, “llopalong’ catches the thieves red-handed with the gold and clears his friends of suspicion. Disorder to clear the names of “W indy ’ and “Lucky.” who are suspected cf complicity in the hold-up. W illiam Boyd, playing the dauntless rancher, combs tho Western cattle country until he tracks down the men guilty of the affair. “KIND 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, opens ‘lie story of Paramount's new screen drama, “King bf Alcatraz," the second attraction. With J. Carrol Naish cast a- Public Enemy No. 1. “King of Alcatraz ’ shows what, can happen when a prisoner breaks from .A leatraz and with bis loyal henchmen tries to make off with an ocean-going steamer. Paramount’s newest star discovery, Robert Preston, and Lloyd Nolan, are the two radio operators wiio give Naish the battle of bis life. Lovely Gail Patrick, who has been called “the most beautiful brunette in films.” will he seen in the featured feminine lead. Miss Patrick, who is cast opposite Lloyd Nolan and .1. Carrol Naish it. the film, was recently seen in “Dangerous to Know," in which she played the society girl pursued hv Akim lamiroff; “Her Husband Lies.” in which she played opposite Ricardo Cortez; ami “Artists and Models/’ in which she appeared with Jack Benny and Ida Lupino,

STATE THEATRE. “ALFS BUTTON AFLOAT/’ A film which gives unlimited rein to the irresistible slap-stick, gag-pulling genius for which the “Crazy Clang 1 ' is noted is “AIPs Button Afloat/ 1 which Miuws at the State Theatre to-night. Consisting of Flanagan ami Allen. Nervo and Knox, and Naughton and Cold, the “Crazy Gang” ensures that laughter is packed into every foot of the film. Giving them heroic support, is the genie of the magic button in the person of Alastatr Sim. Alf’s button is nothing less than the* original Aladdin's lamp melted down into a new shape, and when the gang realises its potentialities the fun becomes fast and furious. The film opens with the tricking of six street musicians into the Royal Marines. The battleship on which the six are serving lends it suit to their particular type of humour, which is maintained at high speed after Flanagan, as the celebrated A If, discovers the supernatural powers of the uncleanable tunic button. Wine, women, and song descend on the ship with breath-taking suddenness; an o flic ions sergeant to put in his place once and for all, and, finally, when they have made the ship too hot to hold thorn, the six men are whisked away to a vast country mansion, where iho genie surrounds them with every Oriental luxury.