ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 96, 21 March 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. "HELL’S KITCHEN.” More sympathetically presented than they ever have been before, the "Dead End” Kids are the central characters of "Hell’s Kitchen,” llie Warner Bros.’ picture which opens at the Mayfair Theatre on Saturday. The story is also unusual in that it includes as a foil for the boisterous youngsters an adult character who is in ell'eet just such a kid grown much older, much wiser and much tougher. This character is played by Stanley Fields. ’J he other lending roles are taken by Margaret Lindsay, Ronald Reagan, Grant Mitchell and Frankie Burke, the erstwhile Cagney impersonator being in this instance added to the "Dead End” gang. In a series ot absorbing sequences which range from the luridly melodramatic to the hilariously humorous, the picture tells of the regeneration of tho thuggish racketeer played by Fields as a result of the sympathy aroused in him by tho tough hut essentially good inmates, of a shelter home for boys. Tho boys, tho leaders among who arc depicted by the "Dead Knders,” arc just such kids as Fields realises lie was liimsclf as a youngster. They are halfstarved and brutally treated and eventually they revolt against their intolerable lot. Fields’ original interest in the shelter home has been that of a racketeer who has just come across something from which he can make some money hut it hasn’t taken long for the boys to arouse in him ;t rough but genuine paternal interest. And lie proves this effectively when lie voluntarily surrenders himself for a prison term just, so that he can help in defending and exonerating the boys from the consequences of their revolt. "FLIGHT TO FAME.” Char'es Farrell, active abroad for tho past two years, returns to tho Mayfair Theatre screen on Saturday in "Flight to Fame.” a breath-taking film whose thrill) ing aerial sequences and timely narrative make for plenty of audience excitement and attention. .Jacqueline Wells is cast opposite the virile young star. The actor is seen as a daredevil aviation officer, assigned to the Wa.r Department while awaiting the testing of a new type of pursuit ’plane ho has developed. He meets Miss Yells, Ihe pretty daughter of an eccentric inventor, a former World War flyer who has invented a "death ray” gun. The latter, by means of an elect ronic hen in, litora.ly blasts ’planes out of tho sky and dreadnoughts out of water. These opening scenes launch an action-packed chain of events. Murder, jealousy, reicnge, mystery, all throng the thrilling narrative, together with romance shared by Farrell and Miss Wells and sonic c i the most brilliant and spectacular aviation scenes ever to reach the screen. Also screening is chapter 1 of the weird and mysterious serial, "The Phantom Creeps,” starring Bela Lugosi. * REGENT THEATRE. ‘MU SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON’ Six of the biggest stages in Columbia s widespread Hollywood studios were monopolised by Frank Capra for life-size reproductions of 11 to United States Senate Chambers, tlic 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 I liealre. One entire stage was filled with an authentic copy of the Senate Chamber itself, which Columbia boasts is the lirst full-scale replica of tho historical hall ever constructed. It mirrors the original to the last inch, the last detail of moulding. Hollywood directors are noted for their meticulous attention to detail in important productions, but the Senate ( haiuber was a truly amazing replica. All the furniture was made to order. Even inkwells nut! documents were duplicates. Hie same care was apparent in the filming of scenes in the Senate, and the climax of the ' Mr Smith Goes to Washington, ’ a brave “stone-wall” by young Senator Smith (played by Janies Stewart) gives a fascinating glimpse of Senate procedure. Tho principal parts in "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" are taken by Jatnos Stewart and .lean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Claude Rains, Eugene Balletic, .1 liotnas Mitchell and Guv Kibbce. Capra, as is well-known, makes just one picture a year tor Columbia. “Mr Smith Goes to Washington is his offering for 1940.

KOSY THEATRE. "NO LIMIT." George Forrnby. famous FnglLh comedian. in ‘’No Limit,” is tiio attract ion at iin* Ko.-v Theatre to-night, lie has a great role, that of George Shwttleworth, a mere chimney sweep’s help whose miroma.nt.ic position was enhanced somewhat I>y his great .ambition to win the famous Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race. But lie only had an ancient machine with various’ additional gadgets constructed by himself. At last, lie takes his fortune in hand, borrows sufficient money and sets oil to ride in the big race. On the journey he meets with Fiorrio Dilmoy, who at once recognises George’s helpless nature and determines to mother him. During a trial on the track some days before the big contest, George, by some remarkable chance, manages to break a record. The ollicials and onlookers are amazed and George is looked upon as something in the nature of a certainty. But George is positively frightened. During the trial the machine had got out ol control and lie was quite resolved that he would not ride in the big race. This desire is strengthened immea.-mably hy the £SO bribe which iho manager of a rival team offers him to stay out of the race. To satisfy this unscrupulous gent, he even drives his motor-cycle over the cliff. But it. is not as easy as all that. In comes Florric that very night to tell him that lie ha* been appointed the official rider of the Rainbow Cycle Go., and she provides him with a new cycle. Poor old George is thus pm in a terrible quandary. Lit her ho lias to offend Florric or double-cross his rivals. ‘•Til IS SCRAPPER/’ The second feature is the screen\s most popular hoy. Mickey Rooney, in “flic Scrapper.” lie is seen as a young impoverished schoolboy who is considered, with his sholl-.shockcd father, the nuisance of the town.