FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

Boyhood Work Aids Star. Delivery-boy experience received by Lew Ayres as a school boy in Minneapolis proved most useiul to him during the production of "King of the Newsboys,” a powerful human drama, realistically taken from New York’s throbbing tenement turmoil. In this film, Ayres portrays the role ot a newsboy in the slum area, who builds his corner stand into a profitable distributing agency, lie is required to ride a motor-cycle, and the role on the screen is quite similar to his job in Minneapolis, before entering motion pictures in 1929, Ayres was a veritable jaek-oi-all trades, lie had worked as a baker’s assistant. He was once employed in a slaughter house; he was a caddy at a fashionable Chicago country club; he had worked in department stores; he has sold toys; and has been a professional banjo player in an orchestra. As the underprivileged youth who rises above the sordid surroundings of the streets the playground and schoolroom of a million hoodlums, growing gamblers and gunmen Ayres gives one of the best performances of bis screen career. Helen Alack plays the feminine lead, with lovable Alison Skipwortli and Victor Varconi beading the supporting east. Fine Supporting Programme. Tiie exceptionally line supporting programme screening with ‘'Holiday,” which commences screening for one week at the Jiegent Theatre to-night

Two Special Features. "When a theatre presents a doublefeature programme the public generally liiul.s more appeal in one of the features than in the other, but it would he difficult to say which of the pictures to be shown at the .Meteor Theatre, commencing to-day, would appeal the most, jo those who enjoy a good laugh and who like their entertainment to be Western, "In Old Mexico” will take first place. but those who delight in gangster films will vote for “ Illegal I rallie.” William Boyd, George Hayes and .Bussell Hayden, the familiar and wellliked suddlcmatcs of many a ‘Tlopalong Cassidy” outdoor action, romance, return to the screen in a new Clarence K. Midlord thriller, “In Old Mexico.” The story revolves about “Cassidy’s” campaign to avenge the murder of one ol his closest friends, a wealthy rancher, and break up a gang of bandits who have been plaguing the untamed Mexican cattle country. Weaving in and out of the drama is a romance between Hayden, who plays the spirited “Lucky.’ and Jane Clayton.

'Trans-continental flights by Ingitive from justice, the killings of mohsler suspected of betraying the gang. ; racket-kings desperate efforts to wn an innocent young girl, and a cross country chase ol fleeing gangsters b; government aeroplanes are some o

the thrills of Hollywood s newest or

at the 10.30 session, includes a sports thrill “Golf Magic,” ■ opening with action shots of United States chainpious and closing with amusing trick shots by an ace goiter; it community sing short, which introduces Carson i’obinson and his 11 uekaroos in a ticlightful session of melody by presenting “Hoots and Saddle,” “My Darling Clementine,” “The Lone Prairie,” "Home On the llange,” and "Old Crev Mare”; a coloured cartoon "Snowtinie,” which ; liows Professor Owl giving his daily lecture betore a crowded room of birds and animal students, and who is interrupted by wayward pupils who demand to know what makes the north wind blow and why there is snow ; scenes from their next attraction "Cold Is Where You Find It,” starring George Brent and Olivia de llnvillaml: and the latest Australian Cinesound and Fox Aussie newsreels complete this well-balanced programme.

| drama, “Illegal Traffic.” As the title suggests, this picture is a fearless attack on the "getaway and shakedown racket,” by which a transportation company helps fugitives escape in return for a big share of the loot. Chief roles are played by J. Carrol Naish, .Hubert Preston, 31 ary Carlisle and Larry Crabbe. Masterpiece Of Comedy. Bernard Shaw’s laugh sensation “Pygmalion,’’ which secured the Academy Award as the greatest play of ISWB, comes soon to the State Theatre. It is a magnet, noted for longrun seasons. The Christchurch StarSun writes:—“Five weeks’ season has not proved long enough for ‘Pygmalion,’ the run of which has been extended indefili tely at the Civic Theatre. The film’s popularity in Christchurch lias merely been consistent with its outstanding success in other centres. Adapted from Bernard Shaw’s brilliant play, the film stars Leslie Howard and delightful “Wendy Hiller. It is not only the plot and acting which make the film, for the background of London life is entertainment in itself. The busy city streets and quaint Cockney characters arc of great interest to British people overseas. On this panoply of London life, is told the tale of Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower seller, who was,

moulded b.v Professor Higgins, a phonetics professor, into a refined lady of the West End. A masterpiece of comedy, the story also directs sharp barbs'of satire at the shallow conventions of the day. Shaw’s brilliant wit and the talents of Leslie Howard and .Miss Hiller have combined to make the film a masterpiece of British ■screen entertainment.

The composer ol the "Lambeth "Walk, Noel Ora.v, has composed four, numbers for “Let’s lie Famous,” which stars Jimmy O’Den, Petty Driver. and .Sonilie H.'Uc.

London’s .Raymond Massey, appearing on the New York stone in “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” delimited the patrons of Club IS the other night by doing an Edgar Bergen bit of ventriloquism with Rat Harrington. The committee of the first film Exhibition held in Blow, . Poland. has awarded the highest price ol the exhibition—a diploma “cum laude —to “The Drum.” , , fsa Miranda, the Italian beauty, who is making her American screen debut in “Hotel Imperial,” says that glamour is a product of nature, and cannot be developed by bmndy specialists or all the finery m Hollywood. “There are doubtless a. million women In America who are aetresscss because a woman who leeks in her heart the urge to act ic> truly am actress,” she says..

A Kate Wiggin Classic. r J he contrasting romances of two beautiful sisters during a lamily’s struggle for happiness lorin the thematic basis ol “Mother Carey’s Chickens,” which opens to-day at the State theatre. Marking a. definite deviation from the current screen melange of thrillers, madcap comedies unci heavy dramas, “Mother Carey’s Chickens”' is a rousing and entertaining pielurisation ol the immortal family portrait by Kate .Douglas Wiggin. The down-to-earth sentiment and rich American lore which endeared "Little Women’’ to millions ol screengoers arc prominent in “Mother 'Carey’s Chickens.” ’The trenchant story revolves around the efforts of a New England mother and her lour children to rehabilitate themselves in the face of near-poverty caused by the father's death. Added conflict ensues when the two sisters fall in love with the same man. and when an unscrupulous couple seek to obtain their liaidwon “dream house.” A cast conspicuous for talent and past achievements appears :in “Mother Carey s Chickens.” Featured are Anne Shirley. Rubv Keeler, James I'.lhson ,I'av Bainter, Walter Brennan and Trank Albertson. Also screening is the latest Walt Disney Mickey Mouse coloured cartoon, “Donald’s Golf Games. Hillbilly Film. Take Bob Burns with a lost memory; Martini Rave as a lovelorn lass who wants a husband and does not cure where she finds Inm ; Terry Walker as n mount.'.i-in beauty, and John Howard as a hillbilly, and a background of the catchiest mountain music one has ever heard -pul them all together, and they spell "Mountain .Music,” Hie new eoinedv which opens ;u the Kosy 'theatre on'TiiesiUiv. "Mountain Music” is the talc of Bob Burns who runs into Marth.i. Rave in a strange city. Bob thinks be 'is wealthy, ami so does Martha, and when they discover that lie is really only a hillbilly who ran out on marriage to u girl lie did not love, it is a shock to both ol them. Terrv Walker plays the. girl Bob leit behind him. hut Terry docs not care about that. She is looking lor Boh to t.-i.ke him back home, so that Ins brother John Howard, whom she loves, ran be freed from a charge of having murdered Bob. Bob. Martha and Jerry retii.rn Immc just as Howard is abouL to lie convicted. The judge and jury recognise Boh. lull insist that no matter if‘.Howard did not kill him. they have found him guilty, and he lias got to suffer. Actress Prefers Drama.

Jessica Rogers, whose amusing lines in "The Women.” which comes to the Opera House on April 2S create Hindi of the laughter in that show, is keener on drama than comedy, and is one of the few actresses who is not anxious to take up a film career, allhough she lias been closely identified with many film stars. She gained much of her experience of drama with Cary Cooper at the Grinned Brunnell College in America, and was also associated with Margaret Sulla van when that actress had her first .job, ‘‘The Rivals.” in Boston. At that period. Margaret Sullivan was by no means the success she is to-day, and the theatre managers were not too keenly disposed to her. South Carolina accent; in fact, it was one of the things she had to live down. The poor girl used to cry about it in those days. Miss Rogers was identified with many Shakespearean productions. playing opposite John Craig of the Castle Square Theatre for three seasons. She was Katharine in “The Taming of the Shrew,” Juliet In “Romeo and Juliet,” Lady Maohoth in “Macbeth,” and Gertrude in “Hamlet.” A Star’s Biography—No. 9.

Jeanette MacDonald was born ill Philadelphia Pennsylvania, on June 18. 1907. When she was fourteen she went to the theatre with Blossom, her sister, who was dancing at the time with Ned "Way-burn's Demi-Tasse Revue at the Capitol Theatre. Wavburn signed Jeanette for a two-weeks’ try-out. When she graduated from the Tv'ayburn revues she played a small part in “Irene” and followed in a number of other musical comedies. "While she was singing “Angela” on Broadway she was offered the leading role opposite Richard Dix in a picture. Her stage contract would not permit her to accept the offer, however, so she devoted all her energies and ambitions to the stage. A year later, when Ernst Lubitsch was looking for a leading woman for “The Love Parade” he saw Miss MacDonald’s old test and sent for tier. So in 1929 she said good-bye to the New York stage, and with a role opposite Maurice Chevalier and a two-year contract, she went to California. After

she had finished “Love Me To-night” she went on a concert tour through Europe. On her return, she signed a new contract and went back to California to play opposite Ramon Novarro in “The Cat and the Fiddle.” Her next picture was with Maurice Chevalier in “The Merry Widow.” Then came “Naughty Marietta” and “Rose Marie” with Nelson Eddy as her co-star in both. Following these she co-starred with Clark Gable in “San Francisco,” in “Maytime,” and “Girl of the Golden West,” with Nelson Eddv. and with Allan Jones in “Firefly ’’ Her latest starring vehicle with Nelson Ed civ is “Sweethearts,” which will be shown in Palmerston North soon.

Clark Gable and M.vrna Loy will bo next seen together in “A Lady Conics to Town.” Add to the cast of “Beau Gestc starring Gary Coo)ht —Kay Millaim, Brian Donlevy. Robert Preston, J. Carrol Naisb. and Susan Hayward. Mius Hayward was formerly tested to pla.v Scarlett O’Hara. Bette Davis, who is president of the Tuilwaggers’ Association, is planning to build a Seeing Eye School to train dogs for leading the blind. There is only one of these schools in America, and it can train only 90 dogs a year. Bette wants to assist as many blind people as possible, and probably will finance the school herself.

Wealth of Laughs. The new version of the comedy “Holiday,” which was among the most successful of tho early talking pictures, is to ho 7>resented at the Regent Theatre to-night at the 10.30 session for one week. Cary Grant gives an entertaining portrayal as a young man, Johnny Case, who is engaged to tho daughter of a wealthy industrial magnate. Case loves the girl, but he is unable to adapt himself to s his fiancee’s way of life and alter every quarrel he falls hack ou the sympathy of the girl’s sister, who really understands him. The situations have been worked with dramatic force and all the parts are capably played. Grant is responsible for a great deal ol the humour ill the film and his performance is reminiscent of his characterisations in such films as “The Awful Truth” and ‘‘Topper.” Among the supporting players are Edward K\erett Horton, Doris Nolan, Lew Ayres and Katharine Hepburn. Gets Wish At Last.

Alter a series of roles as a collegian, young Tom Brown saw die fulfillment of a Jong-desired ambition, Lo appear with Jeanette MacDonald in a musical picture, lie was signed as the juvenile lead iii “Maytime,” in which Miss MacDonald is co-starred for the third time with Nelson Kddv. The picture comes soon to tht Meteor Theatre. Cast as a small-town boy, Brown’s “ romantic scenes are with Lynne Carver, a newlysigned actress. Almost from the start oT his career Brown has been a perpetual

high school and college screen student. His first big film success was in “Torn Brown at Culver.” Ho recently was signed by a major company after “Annapolis Farewell” in which ho was a freshman at the Naval Academy. He has just completed a football boro role in “Rose Bowl.” Between these collegiate roles Brown had two heavy dramatic parts in “I’d Give My Life” and “And Sudden Death.”

Most Popular Stars. For the fourth ye.ar in succession Shirley Temple lias been voted queen of the box-oflico by America’s independent theatre owners in their annual poll. This means that this little child lias been the greatest monCy-maker lor the film industry lor four years in a row, truly an amazing performance, writes a commentator. No wonder her studio bauds spend sleepless, nights worrying about her iuture, and no wonder she is so closely guarded. Each year the Motion Picture Herald, a trade paper, makes an exhaustive poll among independent theatre owners to choose the top 10 money-making stars. Those 10 do not necessarily make tho highest salaries, but their appearance in a film at a theatre means they will bring in the largest number of admissions to the box-office. Ability has nothing to do with the poll, either. Clark Gable, for the third successive year, is runner-up to tiny Shirley Temple. As a matter of fact, Gable has been in

the select 10 for each of the seven years the poll has been in existence. The remaining eight in order of preferenco arc Sonja Ilenio, Mickey Rooney, Spencer Tracy, Robert Taylor, Myrna Loy, Jane Withers, Alice Faye and Tyrone Power. It is interesting to note that of the 10 three are juveniles —Shirley Temple, Mickey ltooncy and Jane Withers—and one, Sonja Henio, is a specialty artist. Of the four men selected three are of the romanticlover type, and the fourth. Spencer Tracy, is more of the rugged character actor. Some of the top 10 of other years have dropped from the high ratings. Ginger Rogers slipped to No. .18. and Nelson Eddy was one place behind her. Among the others who are considered less potent at the lsix-office than in previous yeans are Claudette Coll>ert. Joan Crawford. Carole Lombard, Lu.ise Rainer, Loretta Young and — way at the bottom of the list —Mac West.

Wallace Berry is trying bis band at writing as well as acting. He lias ail idea for a story in which he will he star, which lie will shortly submit to his studio. He will play tile role of a tramp, and fellow-actors will be a boy and a dog.

European Intrigue. Action, international intrigue arid romance in generous portions keep “The Girl From Scotland Yard,” which commences on Tuesday at the Kosy Theatre, moving at a swift pace. The story presents Karen Morley in the title role as an agent who uses her beauty and wit to trap the inventor of a death ray who threatens to destroy England’s air force with his invention. Since the ray is operated at a distance and is invisible, it- is not an easy job that confronts her. Miss Moi'ley is assisted in tracking down the inventor by Robert Baldwin, an American newspaper man who gets involved in the intrigue when he falls in love with the beautiful secret agent. He and Miss Morley succeed in trapping the inventor, but not before (he latter wrecks several bombing ’planes in a thrilling aerial battle high over London. Baldwin is a newcomer (o films. He appeared in only one picture before, “Mind Your Own Business,” in which he played “deeper,•” the newspaper columnist. Another newcomer in “The Girl From Scotland Yard” is Milli Monti, the beautiful Italian songstress who makes her American film debut in ibis pic I lire.

A Family Comedy. Palmerston North picture patrons have been offered numerous comedies during tho past year, but few have proved as entertaining as “The Young In Heart,” which comes next Friday with four sessions—2, 5. 8 and 10.30 p.m.—to the State Theatre. It has an interesting story, while tho principal characters are well-pur-

1 traced by a very strong cast. Roland j Young, who will long be remembered for his performance in “Topper/’ is | cast as an ex-actor, “Colonel” CarleI ton, who, with his family, makes it his occupation to relieve wealthy people of some of their money. "While “Sahib” and Mrs Carleton are making the acquaintance of touring millionaires. the two children, Ann (Janet Gaynor) and Richard (Douglas Fairbanks. junr.). are hoping to make wealthy marriages. After a successful holiday on the Riviera, Mr Carleton makes a slight error and the result is that they have to make a hurried departure with the police on their trail. On arriving in England they are perpared to wait for a suitable victim and ono is found in tho person of a wealthy spinster, Miss Fortune, who decides to make them her heirs because of their kindness to her. But complications ensue when the Carletons feel a touch of conscience at robbing tho charming old lady. Good supporting performances _ are given by Paulette Goddard, making her first appearance in talking films, Billie Burke, as the attractive Mrs Carleton, Richard Carlson and Henry Stephenson. Farmers v. Miners.

“Gold Is Where You Find It,” which comes next Friday to the Regent 1 hea-t-re at the 10.30 session for six days, is an outdoor action drama, dealing with

the colourful war between the California farmers and hydraulic miners of the 1870’s. Done in the newest teehnicolour and co-starring George Brent and Olivia de Havilland. it includes, too, Claude Rains, Margaret Lindsay, John Litol. Barton Mac Lane, Marcia Ralston, Tim Holt (son of Jack Holt), and Sidney Toler. It was made almost entirely in tho outdoors, on the actual location of the bitter conflict which it liortrays in remote Trinity Country, California. Tho hydraulic miners, whose powerful streams of water tore away tho hillsides, claimed that they had a right to search for gold in any way they chose. But tho muck caused by their work (a combination of mud and sand and stone, called “slickens”) poured over the fertile fields and crops. Conflict resulted. Battles were fought and many were killed.

According to a Hollywood reporter you can hear Mickey Rooney’s laught above all the others in a film audience. Bette Davis and Raul Muni have a strong supporting cast in “Juarez.” including Brian Alierae, Claude Rains, John Garfield, Donald Crisp, Gilbert- Roland, Joseph Calloia, and Montagu Love.,