ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1939, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “STORM OVlili UKNUAI./’ Glorious in its sweep of exciting adventure in noilh-we-l. India, far-flung oulpo-t of Empire, and moving in its depiction of gallantry and heroism is “Storm Over Bengal,” Republic's thrill-teeming romance of the Bengal Lancets, now showing at the Alotecr Theatre. 'The dashing Patrie Knowles, taller and more handsome than ever, is the leading figure as (’aptain Jeffrey Allison, hero of the British Army in India. Richard Cromwell is seen as the younger Allison, bitter toward his big brother, because he is constantly flung in his face as a fine example to live up to. By his amazing deeds in army secret service, in battle against, fanatical tribesmen and on the polo fields, Jeff has certainly set a mark for his younger brother to shoot, at. Sir Austin Carter, peace ambassador from the Viceroy ami Governor-General ofIndia, and bis military escort are trapped and murdered on their way to Llanapur. Allison is ordered to fly to Llanapur !«• complete, the mission Sir Austin started and the. regiment march to punish the murderers and restore order. And as they swing along, eager lo revenge the death of Sir Austin and his comrades, little do they know that they are riding into a deathtrap in the pass, where hiding tribe-men. heavily armed, are ready to swoop down upon them. Sidney Salkow directed “Storm Over Bengal” with great skill, drawing the utmost, from its finely written screenplay by Garrett. Fort. Knowles. Cromwell, Miss Hudson and Drumhrille are excellent in their portray*ls. as are supporting players Ilalliwell Hobbes. Colin Taplev, Gilbert Emery, Claude Allister, Douglas \\ alton and Clyde Cook.

STATE THEATRE. > “TIIK MIKADO.” For 60 years the bitting wit, and bon . mots of ex-civil servant anti dramatic | critic Sir William Gilbert and the Jilting , music of Sir Arthur Sullivan have tiinli- . od the world. Somewhere one oi the , much loved operas of these two lamou- . gentleman ir> always being enacted. The , Jiupert D’Oyly Carte Opera Company endlessly fours Kug<and and makes periodical visits to the Dominions. The first ol the Gilbert and Sullivan operas to appear on the screen is “The Mikado.” Geo ft rev Love, responsible lor the adaption and production of the film version, decided that, he e<ydd look no further for his cast than members of the D’Oyly (arte Opera Company. So, with the exception of .lean Colin, musical comedy and radio c-tar who has made one or two film appearances, “Tho Mikado’s’* card comprises a number

of people who have never before been inside a motion picture studio. But wind they don’t know about Gilbert and Sullivan isn’t worth mentioning. Kenny Baker, the American screen actor and radio star, of course, plays Nanki-Poo, and Jean Colin will be tbc screen s Y umYum. 'The role of. “'The Mikado J will be enacted by John Barclay, lamiliar eon corf and musical comedy figure in England and slightly known in America. Constance Willis, who plays Katisha. i«-; a noted concert and opera singer with mmierouappearances at Covcnt Garden and Sadler’s Wells to her credit. Elizabeth Paynfcr (Pitti-Sing) has played with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Co. for five and a-halt years and is well-known in English radio circles. Martyn Green (Ko-Ko) al*o hay considerable Gilbert, and Sullivan experience. Both Gregory Stroud (Pish-Tn.-hI and Sydney Granville (Pooh-Bah) have toured Australia with the D’Oyly ( arte companies and are vetv well-known in England. Parts of the * Gilbert dialogur and Sullivan imunc have been transferred from the opera to the prologue, luit, there is no word sung or spoken in the film that Gilbert did not write; no note oi music in played or omitted that Sullivan did not compose.