FILM AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 9 June 1939, Page 10

FILM AND STAGE

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera. liver since the iilius were given a mice 10 years ago people have wondered when Gilbert and Sullivan operas would he brought to the world on the screen. Now at last il has been done, and it is lilting that the first to be produced as a film is “'The .Mikado,’’ the most popular id them all. The film of “The .Mikado,’’ which opens to-day at the SlaLe 'theatre, is notable achievement as a spectacle as well as musically. Without colon;', i.t

could have given only a pale imitation ol (lie Gilbert and Sullivan atmosphere. hut the technieoloiir process enables the splendid costumes and decorative settings to achieve their lull effect, lint the spectacle is only part of such a show. Thu music is everything, and hero the film is triumphant. The melodies arc sung by jin assembly of singers such as has never before been got together for a film. The loading players, all with years of Gilbert and Sullivan tradition

behind them, sing the famous songs in a way that brings to life memories of f amous performances ol the past. Jliev are backed liv a chorus, every mem her of which is a highly skilled singer with the qualitv of voice that is insisted on in all Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Philosophical Comedy-Drama. Tinged with satire, but definitely refreshing, “Mr Deeds Goes to Town,” which commences a popular return season at the Maylair Theatre . tomorrow is an interesting and powerful picture, hilarious at times, and quietly serious at others. Gary Cooper as the whimsical small town boy who inherits '20,000,000 dollars is excellent, llis portrayal of a simple, basically intelligent, often pathetic character is done with great sympathy and bound to affect one. The improbable story takes Longfellow Deeds to New York to look alter his fortune, lie is ridiculed by the Press, hounded by moneygrabbers and finally attempts to give ilis money to the poor. He is tried for insanity, but the political jeering is handled ”so deftly as to offend no one. One will enjoy Jean Arthur as the reporter who tricks Air Deeds into a stroy then falls in love with him. J jionel Standee is funny, and Douglas Dumbrillc is good as the crooked lawyer. Plenty of Action. A gangster screen story written and produced as such stories should lie—never glorifying the desperadoes who prey upon deleiiee!os> business men, never extolling law and order to the point of detracting from the swill,

breath-taking action “Crime Takers a Holiday” opens to-day at the Kosy Theatre. Jack llolt is starred in the film, as a fighting district attorney forced to desperate measures in order to rid his city of gangland terror. Vliable to trace the racket crimes to the “head man,” the district, attorney prosecutes an ex-convict ol lniirdeis dircctlv traceable to the gangsteis he must capture. The former convict, conniving in the scheme, is sentenced to be hanged and the gunmen take a “holiday,” until after the execution. But the district attorney, unable to obtain a reprieve for his ‘ victim forces their hands. Police pretend to he a rival gang, and “take over the territory. The gunmen swing into- immediate action. And the district . attorney promptly cracks down. \n American company are groomin- Grace Hayes as a successor to the late Mario Dressier. She will make hu debut as Mickey Booncy s moUie. “Babes in Arms,” and mil «n up pea, in a film tvifch Ataßaco Beer> Nelson Eddy occupies the san e dress --room which was :**»»**£ ss MW wills of ancient sailing ships, weie sc le'cted by Laughton, tl,o / l " I chosen bv Howard, and the lamps -acre left'behind by Aiauneo Clicvalitl.

Thrills in Technicolour. The first great aviation picture ever tu lie filmed in tcclmicohnir is thepanoramic history of flight, “Men With Wings.’’ which will have its local premiere to-uighi at. the 10. MO session at the Regent. Theatre. Produced and directed bv William A. Wellman, Hollywood’s foremost authority on aviation and the man who made “Wings,” “A ,'stnr Is Born,” ami Nothing Sacred,” ".Men With Wings,” traces the history ot aviation from the dawn of tlm twentieth century, when the "Wright Brothers made their ncver-to-be-lor-gotten lliglit, down to the present day of luxury airliners, round-the-world flights, .super-bombers, and transAlan tic transportation. .Fred iVlacM array, Ray Midland and Louise Campbell will be seen as the three modern pioneers who devote their lives to furthering man’s conquest of the skies.

Two Action-Packed Films. The determined efforts of a young cattleman to clear the father of the girl he loves from an unfounded charge of robbery and murder, and his brilliant expose of the real criminals, comprise the dual theme ol George O’Brien’s new western, “Trouble in Sundown,” which conies to the State Theatre next Tuesday as the main attraction. O’Brien is cast as the rancher who comes to the assistance of his sweetheart’s father, a hanker, accused of stealing 90.000 dollars from his own brink, and murdering the night watchman. By spiriting the banker out of town, the rancher and his companions conduct a secret campaign to track down the real criminals, bringing about a series of norvo-tinglmg events. The capture of the banker by tlic sheriff', the efforts of a certain faction of citizens to lynch him, the heated trial, and O’Brien’s sensational discovery of the actual robbers and their unique device for cracking the hank safe, all lead to the actioncrammed climax. Richard Dix, one of the few stars of the silent film era whose popularity has never decreased, is back in a new picture, “Twelve Crowded Hours.” which is the second feature. Lucille Ball plays opposite him. Noted lor his \ irile* characterisations Dix plays a two-fisted newspaper reporter who virtually conducts a one-man crusade against’ crime in a gra It ridden eitv. The current offering marks the first | time the star has played , a news rc- | porter since the immortal “Cimarron.” Dix made his cinema debut in 192 L in 1 a film entitled “Not Guilty.”

Much Discussed Film. Once in a very lon- time there conics to I lie screen a picture which proclaims that the screen possesses powers inherent in no other medium of artistic expression, a picture which appeals with equal strength to the intelligence and to the emotions. Such a picture is “Ail Quiet on the "Western Front.” which conics next Friday to Ihe Meteor Theatre. This is primarily the story of youth—-the youth of all nations—in war. It is the story of one young man who symboilses in himself "the 'fate of all youth—comrades and foeinan —cast into the flaming maw of war. Bv eliance and the -coins that guided the pen of Erich Remarque, the central figure of “All Quiet on the ."Western Front” is a German. But nationality menus nothin-. The "hero is the “unknown soldier” of all nations, the epitome of all youth that suffered and died in war. Lew Ayres gives a superb performance as the young German soldier. John AY ray. the late Louis NVoljicirn. Slim Summerville and Zasn Pitts are all flawless in their respective parts. Louise Stanley, the charming young plover who is John Alack Brown s feminine lead in “The Oregon trail, is a direct descendant of Alary I odd r incoln the wife of Abraham Lincoln. Anion- her most prized possessions are several gowns which Airs Lincoln on lied and wore while she was mistress of the White House.

Epic of British Courage. ' I Glorious in its sweep of exciting ad-| venture in North-West India, farflung outpost of Empire, and moving in its depiction of gallantry and heroism is “Storm Over Bengal,” a thrill-teeming romance of the Bengal Lancers, which comes to the Meteor Theatre to-day. When the story opens Richard Cromwell, a young officer in tlie aviation corps, is escorting lovely Rochelle Hudson, who has just arrived from Knglnnd, to Fort Dungra, where she is to marry Jeff (Patn’c Knowles). Gromwel) falls in love with Rochelle Hudson, and further complications set in when Rahman Khan, a hill tribe chieftain, cleverly portrayed by Douglas Dumbrillc, incites North-West India to rebellion against the British. Sir Austin Carter, peace ambassador from the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and liis military escort are trapped and murdered on their way to Llanapur. Allison is ordered to fly to Llanapur to complete the mission Sir Austin started and the regiment march to punish the murderers and restore order. And as they swing along, eager to revenge the death of Sir Austin and their comrades, little do they know that they are riding into a

death-trap in the pass, where hiding tribesmen, heavily armed, are ready to swoop down upon them. flow the, troops are warned of the ambush and how Rahman Khan and his revolutionary leaders are finally defeated, is told in the most exciting climax ever flashed upon the screen. Picture With a Heart.

Aimed straight at the heart of America, “Boys Town,” starring (Spencer Tracv and" Mickey Rooney, cornea to the Regent Theatre next Friday at the 10.30 p.m. session. Based on the story of Father Edward J. Flanagan’s Boys Town, located twelve miles outside ol Omaha, Nebraska. the role of the priest whose mission in life is to give home and shelter to needy boys affords Spencer Tracy an opportunity lor olio of the sincere, natural portrayals ior which he has become deservedly famous. Seldom lias Tracv found a role more suited io his personality than that of liis quiet idealist, Father Flanagan, whose contention that "there is no such thing as a bad boy,” leads him to build a monument of faith to boys the world over, llis battle to win public opinion and to prove his idealistic contention, «s well as bis fight to make good citizens ot the boys who coino within his jurisdiction, provides smash entertainment. Sharing honours with Tracy as Whitcy, tough, unmanageable and non-conforming. is Mickey Rooney, cast in one of the most dramatic roles of his career. Gone in tins picture is the flip, wise-cracking Andy Hardy. In his place is a young actor whoso ability to tug at the heartstrings marks him as one of the really great young performers of the screen. Fantasy Plus Hilarity. Roland Young is back as Topper, in “Topper Takes a Trip,” which comes to the State Theatre next Friday with four sessions—2, 5, 8 and 10.30 p.m. —and he is still harassed by the ghostly Marion Kerby, again portrayed by Constance Bennett. Billie Burke and Alan Mowbray have their old roles of Mrs Topper and Topper’s^mail, respectively. Yerree Teasdale, Franklin I’angborn, and Alexander D’Arcy are additions to the comedy cast. The sequel takes Topper to Paris in search of his wife, who is seeking divorce from her husband. .Marion Kerby decides to go along and help out but, as usual, she succeeds in getting ’topper in even hotter water. The situation is somewhat complicated by. the appearance of “Mr Atlas,” Marion s phantom fox-terrier, who is too lazy to disappear completely, and usually compromises with one ball or another. In Paris, Marion goes to work on a scheming Baron, wins tor Topper at roulette? scandalises a hotel, and finally lands Topper in gaol. Between these dilemmas she finds time to eieato a host of equally uproarious situations by appearing and disappearing at odd moments. Sequel to “Fast Company.” Murder amid ten thousand hooks -is the novel situation around which was woven the exciting mystery picture, “Fast and "Loose,” starring Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell and coming soon to the Regent Theatre. The picture, a sequel to last season’s mystery hit, “Fast Company,” relates the adventures of Joel Sloane, rare book dealer, who becomes involved in a scries of murder mysteries which, as an amateur detective, ho inherits for solution. Montgomery plavs iSloano and -Miss Russell portrays Garda, bis wife, who shares. m the’ thrills of bis work. As the setting for the mystery, studio artisans constructed tlie upper and lower floors ol ; i mansion that filled two ol the studio’s largest sound stages. Outstanding among the sets is a great library. the main walls formed by hookshelves that reached to the high ccilin<r a nd filled with ton thousand books rented from several of'the finest private libraries in America. The mansion represents the home of Reginald Owen, wealthy booklovcr, from whom Sloane seeks to purchase one of the worlds rarest books, a purchase which motivates the crimes. A Star’s Biography—No. 20.

Spencer ’Tracy, who portrays the role of a priest for the second time in his career as Father Flanagan in •■Boys Town.” was born on April 5. 1900, in Alilwaukec. AYisconsin. This is the film which Tracy won the gold statuette of the Academy of Alotion Picture Arts and Sciences for the best performance by any male player for 1938. lie attended various schools in Milwaukee and Kansas City. At Pi poll College he was a classmate and close friend of Pat O’Brien. After'trying a number of professions, among them lile with the navy, I racy decided to go on the stage. Ho enrolled in the American Academy of Drama tie Arts where he remained until his money gave out. Tie then obtained a job which netted him 15 dollars a week in “R.U.8.” produced by the New York Theatre Guild. A period in stock followed, taking him to AVhite Plains. "Pittsburgh. Grand Rapids and Brooklyn. "Returning to the Theatre Guild he was spotted by film scouts and appeared in “Up the River.” Tracy, who also won the 1937 Academy Award for his performance in “Captains Courageous.” began his rise to film stardom following his role as Father Tim in “San Francisco.” Since that time he has been one of the ■screen’s most active stars appearing in such recent successes as “Aliinuefinin’’. will, Joan Crawford, and “lest Pilot” with Clark Gable and Alyrmi Ley. “Onlv Angels Have AYings’’ is the final title selected for the production formerly known as “Plane No. 4” which co-stars Gary Grant and Jean Arthur. One of the entertainment world’s most distinguished groups of creative artists have been assembled to depict the score or more of world famous historical personages that ans to be presented in the dramatisation of the iife of Sam Houston, which picture has been titled “Alan of Conquest.” The east includes Richard Dix, Gail Patrick. Edward Ellis, Joan Fontaine, Robert Armstrong, A’ictor .lory, George Hayes, Atax Tcrhune, Ralph Atorgan, Robert Barrat, Janet Beecher, and AVilliani Benedict.

Triple Murder. Second in a scries of defective stories, “The My.Mery of Mr Wong,” | which opens to-day at the Rosy | Theatre, is an eerie thriller continuing the exploits of the celestial sleuth. James Lee Wong, otherwise known as Boris Karloff. “The Mystery of Mr Wong” even surpasses the introductory picture, “Mr Wong Detective,” in suspense and chilling action. 'The story of a fatal jewel, and of the three people who met violent deaths because of its curse, “'The Mystery of Air Wong” is sombrely played against an eerie, .supernatural background. Brandon Edwards dies on tile very night lie brings tlie “Eye of the Daughter of the Moon’’ to America; and liis household, smoldering in hitter hatred, and greed, shelters two more wiio are murdered. 'Then. Janies Lee i Wong, a house'guest at the time, unearths some startling clues, and nnimasks the leal killer, who is protected ,by tlie curse oil the fatal star sapphire. Boris Karloff, deserting liis “horror” roles, is again excellent as the Oxford educated Chinese; and Grant Withers, playing Captain Street, emphasises the fact that police captains arc usually intelligent, and not the typically movie “stooge” detective.

Underworld Story. The dramatic picture, “Marked Woman,” starring Bette Davis, comes to the Meteor '.I lreutro on Tuesday. Eduardo Ciannelli, the smoothest villain in pictures, takes over the night club “lntiino,” changes it into a “clip joint,” and forces its hostesses into helping him rob tlie patrons luring them into the gambling rooms. Aliss Davis. Isabel Jewell, Rosalind Marquis, Lola Lane and Alayo Alcthot play tlie hostesses. When a patron of the club is killed by one ol C'ianiielli’s henchmen, a city-wide protest against the racketeers gathers force. Humplirry us tlio uttornoy, arrests and prosecutes the gang. Aided by Retie Davis, who turns . against Ciannelli’s gang when her sister is murdered, he is able to break up the racketeering mol) and place Ilio leaders behind bars. As the bard and cynical hostess whose one vulnerable point is her devotoin to her sister, Retie Dates gives a performance that lops the one in “Dangerous.” A Fighting Fiend. That word “brute” seems to follow Victor AlcLaglcn around like liis shadow. The first picture that lie made in the United States was "The Beloved Brute.” Now he is starred in “The Magnificent Brute,” which opens at the Kos.v Theatre on Tuesday. While the titles may seem to indicate that MeLaglen is a “hard guv,” he is a most genial companion who loves a laugh and relishes the company of jolly friends. He lias portrayed the iron-headed Captain Flagg in “What Price Glory,” the granite-eouled Legionaire in “Beau Geste,” the rockfisted “Captain Lash.” Accent was

placed on his lirawn in “Strong Bov’ and on his military background in “Cockeyed World.” “Professional •Soldier” and “Under Two Flags.” Another outstanding interpretation h.v AlcLa-len in “The Informer”- won for him the 1935 Academy award. In his role in “The Magnificent Brute.” Alc-La-len is a steel worker who is torn between two blondes, portrayed by Binuie Barnes and Joan Dixon. An American company intend to film Alexander AYoolcott’s “Dark Tower,” and the studio-developed “Return of Dr. X,” vehicles for Boris Karloff. Errol Flynn will play the lead in the production of Jack London’s “Burning Daylight.” Edward G. Robinson previously had lieen scheduled for the picture and will probably have a supporting role. Before this is made Flynn will star in “The Ren llawk” mid “The Knight and the Lady.” Air Robinson will play the title role in “The Life of Rauf Elirileh.” after completion of “Confessions of ;i Nazi Spv.” Reuniting a popular film team of two years ago, an American company has signed June Lang and Robert Kent for flic romantic leads in “For Love or Money.” During 1937, Miss Lang and Kent played opposite each other in several films. Now free-lance performers, this will be Aliss Lang’s first appearance in a Universal picture. Kent, at present, is appearing with Bin— Crosby and Joan Blondell in “East Side of Heaven.”

NOTES AND JOTTINGS.

“Young Lawyer in Illinois” is the first film under Henry Fonda’s new contract, and deals with Abraham Lincoln's youth, in" which Fonda will play Lincoln. Back in Hollywood for the first time in more than two years Helen Twelvetrees reported lor work before tlie cameras recently. Tlie actress will play ii featured supporting role as the screen wife of Lynne Overman in “Persons in Hiding,” an inside story of the (!-AI oil’s warfare against headline criminals based on the J Edgar Hoover book of tlie same title. Due to the great success of “Suez” an American company is planning “Panama Canal” as one ol its big productions for this year. The film will deal with the tragic failure of dc Lesseps to build the Panama Canal, after Ills success at Sue/., and of the engineering feat of Colonel Goethals, who completed the Panama Canal. J. Al. Kerrigan, one of the finest character actors in motion pictures, lias been .signed for top role in “Sorority House.” now being produced by Robert Sisk with Anne Shirley

and James Ellison beading tlie east. Kerrigan, who will appear as .Miss Shirley’s father, will bo called upon for an unusually powerful characterisation as the plot of the Dalton Trumbo script centres to a large degree around tlie sacrifices made by a small town storekeeper to send his only daughter to college. Priscilla Lane and Jeffrey Lynn will continue to co-star in “Episode,” ill which tlie former is a music student. Loretta Young, who was to have played the feminine lead in “Our Wife.” with C’arv Grant, lias cancelled her contract because Grant lias withdrawn from tlie male lead. Anno Shirley will he featured in “Anno of "Windy Poplars.” a sequel to “Anno of Green Gables.” The studio lias obtained an option on alt future “Anno” stories. Rutli Chatterton is back in America after her visit to England and is appearing on Broadway in “Farewell Performance.,” with. Waller Alad. Bela Lugosi. Orson AYelles and Rolv ort Aforlev’are being considered for the title role in “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Lon Chancy starred in the original version. An American company is preparing “A Yank at Eton” as a junior sequel to “A Yank at Oxford,” and as a possible vehicle for Mickey Rooney and Freddie Bartholomew. Clark Gable, who played a dancer in “Tdiot’s Delight.” dances again in “Gone AYitli the AYiiul.” His second day’s work in the picture found him rehearsing a polka with his leading ladv Vivien Leigh, who appears as Scarlett O’Hara. “I never guessed that role of Harry Van was going to ‘type’ me,” confided Gable. “But you

can toll Fred Astaire that lie lias nothing to worry alwnit. as yet!" They oei'tainlv go in for c-loa 11 1 ilic-ss in Hollywood. Bette Davis’s house in Coldwaler Canyon lias nine rooms and six baths (let us hope it does not live up to the name of the district); Janies Cagney’s new house in Coldwater lias seven rooms and four baths, and the house John Barrymore is trying to sell lias seven baths and three swimming pools.