ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 161, 9 June 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “THE MIKADO.” .For 60 years the billing wit and bon mots of ox-civil servant and dramatic critic Sir William Gilbert and tbe lilting music of Sir Arthur Sullivan have thrilled the world. Somewhere one of the much loved operas of these two famous gentleman is always being enacted. The Rupert D'Oyly Carte Opera Company endlessly tours England and makes periodical visits to the Dominions. Thu first of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas to appear on the screen is “The -Mikado.” Geoffrey Love, responsible for the adaption and production of the film version, decided that lie could look no further for his cast than members of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. So, with the exception of Jean Colin, musical comedy and radio star who has made one or tyvo film appearances, "The Alikado's” cast comprises a number of people who have never before been inside a motion picture studio. But what they don't know about Gilbert and Sullivan isn’t worth mentioning. Kenny Bilker, the American screen actor and radio star, of course, plays Nanki-l’oo, and Jean Colin yvill he the screen’s YumViiiii. The role of “The -Mikado” yvill he enacted by John Barclay, familiar concert and musical comedy figure in England and slightly known in America. Constance Willis, who plays Katisha, is a noted concert and opera singer with numerous I appearances at Covent Garden and Sadler’s Wells to her credit. Elizabeth I’aynter (I'itti-Sing) has played with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Co. for five and a-half years and is well-known in English radio circles. Mnrtyn Green (Ko-Ko) also has considerable Gilbert and Sullivan experience. Both Gregory Stroud (I’ish-Tush) and Sydney Granville (Pooh-Bah) have toured Australia with the D'Oyly Carte companies and arc veiy well-known in England, l’arl.s of the Gilbert dialogue and Sullivan music have been transferred from flic opera to the prologue, hut, there 'is no word sung or spoken in the film that Gilbert did not write; no note of music irs played or omitted that Sullivan did not contpo.se. REGENT THEATRE. “MEN WITH WINGS.” Hollywood’s first epic ever to be iilmed in teehnicolour is Paramount's “Men with Wings,” Fred MaeMiirray, Ray Midland and Louise Campbell head the cant of tile i thrilling romance of three young pioneers of the air who lived during the surging years from the iligliL of the. Wright Brothers at Kitty Hank in 1903 to the lightning round-the-world hops of the pro- i sent day. Opening when the three leading j ell a meters arc ten years old, just after tin: triumph of the Wrights, “.Men Willi | Wings” carries them forward in the I sweeping torrent of man’s progress in the air. The success of the aeroplane opens up 1 a glorious now world to them, and they ! plunge into aviation with (lie almost religious enthusiasm which has characterised I every group of pioneers in history. Even their love for each other ranks second to J their love of flying. Miss Campbell, in love with Hot It men, must choose between the romantic daredevil swashbuckler of llie air. AlacMurray, and the courageous, pioneering builder of ’planes. Millaud. lit her decision is hound up the future of aviation’s progress for many years.