ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 95, 20 March 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. ‘MR SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ Six of the biggest stages in Columbia's widespread Hollywood studios wore monopolised by Frank Capra lor life-size reproductions of the United Stales Senate Chambers, tho Senate building and other structures in the national capital during production of “Mr Smith Goes to Washington,” Frank Capra's latest production which screens at the Regent Theatre. One entire stage was filled with an authentic copy of the Senate Chamber itself, which Columbia boasts is the first full-scale replica of the historical hall ever constructed. It mirrors the original to the last inch, the last detail of moulding. Hollywood directors are noted fur their meticulous attention to detail in important productions, hut the Senate Chamber was a truly amazing replica. All the, furniture was made to order. Even inkwells nud documents wore duplicates. The tamo c-aro was apparent in the filming of scones in the Senate, and the climax of the “Mr Smith Goes to Washington,” a brave “stone-wall” by young Senator Smith (played by James Stewart) gives a fascinating glimpse of Senate procedure. Tho principal parts in "Mr Smith Goes to Washington” are taken by James Stewart and Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Claude Rains, Eugene Pallettc, Thomas Mitchell and Guy Kibbeo. Capra, as is well-known, makes just one picture a year for Columbia. “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” is I bis offering for 1940.

METEOR THEATRE. “MAN-PROOF.” Myrna I-oy, recently voted the most popular actress in American films, comes to the Meteor screen to-day in “ManProof.” surrounded by a stellar cast which includes such well-known personalities as Frnnehot ’Tone, Rosalind Russell and Walter Pidgeon. In the new picture, based on a novel by Fanny Tlcaslip Lea. Miss Loy makes a striking departure from her familiar role of the "perfect wife” to play an ultra-modern girl who overrides oldfashioned conventions in her pursuit of I the man she loves. The plot, in brief, describes Miss I.ov as: a newspaper artist in love with a. social cliiitbcr, Waller Pidgeon. When lie 'marries Rosalind Russell, society heiress. Miss Loy resolves to win him back. Meanwhile, Franchot Tone, voting cartoonist, falls in love with her. When tlie boneymooners return Miss Loy renews her siege. Pidgeon is surprised by his wile in Miss Riy's apartment. But when he is offered a divorce he refuses, knowing that he is in love only with himself. Mies Loy at least realises tho futility of her false romance and turns buck to Tone. “THEY ALL COME OUT.”

Story of a romance which bloomed even against the discouraging and depressing background of prison walls, filmed in the dramatic and authentic locale of actual Federal prisons. “They All Come Out,” now screening at the Meteor 'i hentre. emerges as one of the most refreshingly' unusual features of the year’s film fare. With a cast headed by Rita Johnson mid ’.loin Non I as the romantic leads,' it achieves a sincerity and compelling flavour which many a picture with bigger •'names'’ has lacked. Dealing with a gang of five, of which the hoy ami girl are members, the-film dramatically traces their capture by G-Men arid their sentence and ultimate incarceration in Federal penitentiaries, the actual backgrounds of which ate dramatically shown.