ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 85, 8 March 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “TELEVISION SPAT” Dynamic, startling motion picture fare concerned with the international and romantic problems which will arise with the development of long-range television —now showing on the screen at ihe AJetcor Theatre as Paramount’s “Television Spy” is presented to local audiences for the first time. With a featured cast including such grand performers ns William TJonry, Judith' Barrett, William (.'oilier, sent'.. Anthony Quinn and Richard Denning, the picture tells how a courageous and brilliant young scientist tries, to keep his perfected plans lor long-range television from Ihe hands of enemy powers after a gang of ruthless ■-pics have photographed them. Jt shows him falling in love with a charming girl via television, across 3000 miles of space, becoming desperately in Jove with her although'he has onlv seen her on the television screen. William Henry plays the scientist, Judith Barrett the girl, and William Collier, senr., is cast as Henry’s wealthy, eccentric hacker. A I,SO SCREENING—“NIGHT WORK.” The further—and funnier! —adventures of that merry screen menage, the “hitches” (remember them in “Boy Trouble”?) are recounted in the new Paramount comedy,

“Night Work,” now showing at the Meteor Theatre. With that grand team, Alary Boland and Charlie Reggies, cast again as the average man-and-wile, the story telb how they attempt to adopt "Butch’’ legally, the boy to whom they gave a home in “Boy Trouble.” “Buuii.” played again by Donald O’Connor, wants lo stay with Alisa Boland anil Charlie, hut a problem arises on the scene in the person of “Butch’s” I tidy, steeplejack grandfather. He ban to lie convinced that- Charlie is a fit father —and it takes plenty of convincing, what with Charlie constantly being put on the spot by the tough stall' and the tenants of the apartment house which he is managing. Joyce Ahuhows again plays the romance-bent daughter of the family, and also present in supporting roles are William .Krawley, Billy Lee and John Hartley. STATE THEATRE. “THE RAINS CAME.” Tito power of one of to-day s great novels finds its full scope on the screen in Darryl E. Zamick's production of “The Rains Came,” the sensationally sue-| cesslul best-seller by Louis Bromfielil, which screens at the State Theatre with Alyrna Loy, Tyrone Power and George Brent sharing stellar honours. These fascinating strangely-assorted humans, cut off from tho world "in the colourful mythical, city of Ranchipur, India, with all restraint swept away, as tlie angry forces of nature made life a fading hope and love a desperate longing, are brought vividly to life in this 20th Century-Fox film. Faithful in mood and detail lo the hook, “The I Rains Caine” preserves till of BroniHold’s characters. Myrmi Loy breaks with flic “perfect wife” tradition lo play the amorous Lady Edwina Esketh : I yrone Power lias his most romantic role as the high-caste Hindu surgeon, Major Rama Safti, who proves the one great love of Lady Eskcth’s life; and _ George Brent is seen as the worldly Tom Ransome, a ghost out of the lady's romance-strewn past. Brenda Joyce, discovered by slart maker Zanuck as the climax of a nation- ] wide search, heads a brilliant supporting least in the role of Fern Simon, the fresh, young' beauty, whose lore gives the worldweary Ransome a new lease of life. Others who bring Bromfield’s colourful characleis to life arc Nigel Bruce as Lord Eskrth ; Maria Ouspen.skaya as the Moharani: Joseph Schildkraut ns Air Bannerjeo ; Alary Nash as Miss MeDaitl; Jane Harwell as Aunt Phoebe Smiley; Marjorie Rambeatt ns Airs Simon; Henry Travers as Rev. ITomer Smiley; and If. B. Warner as the Maharajah. Zanuck entrusted, the direction of itis most ambitious production to tho distinguished Clarence Brown, while Philip Dunne and Jttlicn Josophson prepared the screen play. Harry Joe Brown acted as associate producer. The Rains Came.” which has been hailed by preview critics as one of the truly great pictures of all . time, was given the hearty approval of the author Brotnficld. Ihe earthquake flood, fire and plague which highlight the novel have been faithfully reproduced in the motion picture production and are said to provide the most breath-taking spectacle scenes tho screen lias ever shown.