ENTERTAINMENTS

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

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “MISSING WITNESSES.” “Missing Witnesses” —those honest but timid citizens who are frightened away from the law courts or otherwise disposed of by racketeers against _ whom they might testify—form the subject of the Warner Bros, melodrama which screens to-night at the Kosy Theatre. It is one of those “pluekcd-froni-the-head* lines” stories at which the Warners are so adept, and it seemed to be highly satisfactory to the audiences that watched it umeel. “Missing Witnesses” shown, in the first place, a city honeycombed with rackets, which are headed by a certain Ward Sturgis, played by llarland Tucker. But the Governor is an honest man; and lie appoints Inspector Lane (John Litel) to head a new undercover body of investigators to mop up on the racketeers. 'I tie picture was directed by William Clemens from a screen play by Don Ryan and Kenneth Garnet, these latter a couplo of aee 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, dotectives and special investigators. From the quick-moving realistic tempo of “Missing Witnesses,” it would appear that that is how they get their ideas. Racked with drama, the film sacrifices nothing —not oven romance —to reality. “Missing W itnesses” 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 spared neither time nor expense on this production, and it promises to be one ol the most popular in years. METEOR THEATRE. “I AM THE LAW.” Painted against the stark background of a big city and replete with fresh dramatic turns which make it a great 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, figliting prosecutor. Robinson’s performance is superb; better —if that be 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. The story, capably directed by Alexander Hall from a clever screenplay by Jo Swerling, concerns the idealistic aim of a law professor to rid the city of murderous gangsters. His chief encouragement comes from Kruger, a supposedly respectable citizen. One of Robinson’s graduate attorneys, brilliantly portrayed by John Beal, is enlisted by the fighting prosecutor as his crime-combating aide. He is Kruger’s son, though ignorant of his father’s true character. Barbara O’Neil is seen as a competent helper of her professorial husband in his campaign, while Wendy Barrie is a beautiful but vicious feminine adjutant to Kruger. A veritable orgy of crime ensues as a result of the campaign and this is only halted when Robinson enlists modern science, as represented hv motion pictures, on his side. The splendid’ use to which the professor puis movies, by the way, is one of the unusual plot angles of the production. REGENT THEATRE. “LOVE FINDS ANDY lIARDY.” “In Love Finds Andy Hardy,” screening to-night at the Regent, the Judge Hardy Family creates alternately liumorous and dramatic episodes from the life of a tvpical American family. “Love kinds Andy Hardy” has youthful charm, exuberance and scintillating moments of high comedv. r Phe fourth episode in the life of the’ Hardy Family is by far the most amusing and’ entertaining to date. Once more it affords the family, consisting pi Ijcwis Stone, Mickey Rooney, Cecil a Parker, Fay Holden and Betty Ross Clarke with every opportunity for capitalising on the homespun drama of everyday life. In addition, Judy Garland makes her appearance a 6 one of Mickey’s three girl friends. In one climatic scene, she grows up ior a night, attends the big dance of the year with Mickey and takes it over with her rendition of three new songs. Alickej Rooney again proves himself one of the most versatile actors on the screen with a characterisation surpassing Ins best previous efforts. Lewis Stone is superb as the head of the family, handling his role adroitly and with an innate understanding nf the problems of family life, ihe story centres around a second-hand car purchase by Mickey without his father’s knowledge. In order’to pay for the car he becomes entangled in a scries of puppy love affairs that arc at once ludicrous and tragic. M ith the aid of Judy, he extricates himself from a seemingly hopeless dilemma, makes a triumphant appearance at the big dance of the vear, and brings forth some of the most spontaneous laughter heard in mail} As usual with a Motro-Goldwyn-Mayer programme, the featurettes that will be shown with this feature, arc of an outstanding nature. These include a 1 etc Smith specialty, “Anaesthesia ; a I Hzpatrick Travel Talk in colour, Madiera, Is',, of Romance”; a cartoon, ’ Burned Treasure”; as well as the latest world news items. Box plane now open at Colhnson and Cunninghamc s, phone /lio.

PICTURE THEATRE CHANGES

Mr T. L. Craigie, manager of the Mayfair and Ko?y Theatres, has been advised by the directors of Palmerston North Amusements, Ltd., that the Mayfair Theatre will be closed for the time l>oing as from Friday next, January 07 The Meteor Theatre has been taken over by Palmerston North Amusements, Ltd., and will be under Mr Cnaigie’s supervision. The popular manager of the Meteor Theatre Mr Maurice Tombs, has been advised of his transfer to Masterton, where he will manage the Regent and Rosy Theatres.