ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 117, 18 April 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “ARIZONA LEGION.” Frequently seen in the role of a sheriff or other law-enforcement officer, George O’Brien plays a new kind of rule in his latest action-packed outdoor drama, “Arizona Legion,” which opens to-morrow at the State Theatre. The story goes back to early Arizona history for its basic idea, bringing to light forgotten historical events of tho West that was. O'Brien is cast as a patriotic young Arizonian who organises a secret group of rangers under equally secret Statu authority to combat a rising tide of banditry. When lie allies himself with the outlaw group in an effort to learn the identity of their chief, his sweetheart, played by Larainc Johnson, and other members of the community, believe lie is actually one of the gang and ostracise him from their society. The

exciting story traces O’Brien’s adventures in obtaining evidence against tho bandits by participating in several daring holdups, during all of wheh lie still cannot learn the name of the chief. Sworn to secrecy, along with fourteen other men, O’Brien is unable to defend himself against the insinuations of Miss Johnson qnd of a lieutenant in the U.S. Cavalry. However, when ho leads the bandit group into an ambush, and they are all captured by the lieutenant and his solders, O’Brien reveals his true identity. He is not believed and is sent to gaol,, while Tom ('hatterton, a U.S. Commissioner, is appointed to investigate O’Brien’s story, Knowing that Chatterton himself is the bandit chief. O'Brien makes a daring gaol break and overtakes him just a* he is making his get-away aboard a stage coach with a large sum of money. An exciting hand-to-hand battle atop tho swaying coach takes place to bring to a climax otm of the most thrilling of ail O’Brien Westerns. “PACIFIC LTNER.”

A terrific clash of wills between a belligerent chief engineer on a vessel and a determined ship’s physician, motivates the exciting plot of RKO Radio’s “Pacific Liner,” the- second attraction at the State Theatre, which servos as a starring vehicle for Victor MoLaglen and Chester Morris. With its action transpiring on board an ocean steamer, the sforv presents McLaglen as the masterful chief of the ship’s engine and fire rooms, Morris as the vessel’s doctor and Wendy Barrie as a nurse. REGENT THEATRE. “JEZEBEL.” •

“Jezebel” wasn’t written for Betlc Davis. But it might bate been. It’s tho story of a fatally fascinating woman, who lived and loved recklessly. Few actresses would dare to play such a role, but Bette Davis was delighted witli it, and she plays it as no other actress of to-day could. In “Of Human Bondage.” in which she played opposite Leslie Howard, she gave -i brilliant and merciless characterisation of Somerset Maughariis beautiful and vicious Cockney waitress. In “Dangerous,” which won her the Academy Award for the year, she played a, drink-sodden beauty who ruined the lives of all 1 1 or lovers. “.Marked Woman” showed her as a hard-boiled night club hostess, part of an underworld mob. But these characters were heroines of sweetness anti light compared with Julie, the “Jezebel” of preCivi! War New Orleans. Heartless, selfish and spoiled. she defies all the traditions of the day—sends away the man she loves because of a. silly whim. Next she proceeds t,-.> break tlie heart and spirit of another dashing cavalier. His life cutis ill a thiol fought over her. When her former beau marries another woman, she exerts all her oil charm to win him away from li is wife. That’s the kind of gal “Jezebel” i.s. And that’s the kind of acting that Bette Davis excels in. In “Jezebel” llcnry Fonda and iGcorgo Brent play opposite Miss Davis.

KOSY THEATRE. “REPORTED MISSING.” Combining the speed and thrills of aviation with a modern mystery plot, Universal’s exciting flying story, “Reported Missing,” is now showing at tho Kosy ’I heatro with William Cargan and Jean Rogers in tho leading roles. The picture deals with tlie adventures of a young inventor who perfects a navigating device for the giant transport ’planes of a major airline —and then sees ’plane after ’plane, depending upon his instrument, plunge to destruction. The resulting tragedies give rise to protests from the press against a man, who, it is charged, lias used innocent passengers as “guinea pigs” for his experiments. Ihe story reaches a smashing climax and a surprise ending, when the young inventor, by clever detective work, unmasks an unscrupulous and merciless Ay bandit who is responsible for the wrecks. Cargan and Miss Rogers are supported by an outstanding east of favourites, including Dick Purcell, •Too Sawyer, Michael Fitzinauriee, llobart Cavanaugh and Billy Wayne. “TOP OF THE TOWN.”

Echoes of springhtly music, madcap fun and, lively music are featured in Universal'» film-musical, “Top of the Town,” which is now showing at, the Ko.-y Theatre. The breezy story concerns a millionairess with a lot of sillV ideas. Her charms, as well as her ideas, keep a handsome young orchestra leader swinging. Appropriately, he is a swing band leader. This role is played by the dancing wizard of Broadway stage hits and of the screen, George .Murphy.