ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 215, 9 August 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “MY SOIUIY SON.” An unforgettable story, brilliant performances. outstanding direction, and a beautiful production make Edward Small’s film version of Howard Spring’s “My Son, My Son!” one of the finest pictures of the year. This new film drama is being released by United Artists at the State Theatre to-day. “My Son, My Son!” has a brilliant array of stars in Madeleine Carroll, Brian Aherne and Louis Hayward, a trio which enhances the picture by down-to-earth, unforgettable acting. Others who turn in excellent performances include Harry Hall, one of the best contemporary character actors, Josephine Hutchinson, Larainc ' Hay, Sophie Stewart and Bruce Lester. With his usual skill for maintaining swift tempo and clear characterisation, Charles Vidor has directed “My Son, My Son 1” with a remarkable uureness of touch and, with unsurpassed clarity of insight. _ The story of “My Son, My Son 1” is rich in emotional implications and every day drama. It concerns a father and a son, and the high hopes that fail to materialise. William Essex's dreams for his son fade into thin air when he realises that Oliver is a vain and stilish young man, over sophisticated, insincere and cynical. Oliver realises almost too late that he has brought misery to the people who have surrounded him with love and understanding. Golden-haired Madeleine Carroll, portraying the role of Livia Vaynol, has never turned in a screen characterisation to equal her present one in this picture. METEOR THEATRE. “CHEER BOYS. CHEER. A frothy comedy to suit all tastes, “Cheer, Boys, Cheer,” starring Edmund Gwenn and Nova Philbeam, is now showing at the Meteor Theatre. The story opens with Ironsides Brewery out to so euro control of its smaller rival, the Grcbnleaf concern which enjoys the twin advantages of an excellent bitter and a useful chain of lucrative hotels. Ironside’s son, John, gets a job with Grcenleaf’s as publicity .manager, planning to ruin the firm with extravagant bills, hut he falls in Jove with Grceiilcaf’s daughter and decides to forsako his nefarious scheme, fronsides look like winning the battle for a time, but in a thrilling sequence Dan Cupid lakes tbo honours* The funniest sequence takes place when Jimmy O’Dea, as the Crecnlcaf’s chief brewer, dopes the Ironsides vats with a concoction that 'causes all who drink it to burst into copious tears. Young Ironside’s romance with Greenleaf's daughter produces some witty wisecracks, while additional comedy comes from two brewers who are perpetually in hot water, Edmund Gwenn is an irascible Ironside, while C. V. Francis gives a polished portrayal as Greenleaf. Nova Philbeam and Peter Coke arc capable romantic leads and Jimmy O’Dea puts over his own brand of humour with Graham Moffatt and Moore. Marriott as his two worthy assistants. Others in the cast include Alexander Knox, Sidney Monckton and Ivon Barnard. KOSY THEATRE.

“SWISS MISS.” Laurel and Hardy reach a new peak ot comedy in an Alpine setting, climbing to dizzy heights of mirth in “Swiss Miss,” their new musical film. Their efforts to sell mouse traps to cheese producers, including demonstrations of the devices, all of which in ingenuity would do credit to Hu he Goldberg, arc sequences as hilarious as have ever come to the screen. In success or in despair, their reactions never fail to hit the bell of pure and unadulterated comedy. Romance enters the picture in the persons of Holla Lind and Walter Woolf King. Their vocal numbers are well above the average and the music written especially for this production by Phil Cliraig possesses Warmth and melodic appeal. Miss Lind, dainty and blonde, is a Viennese ' star of stage and screen who is making her American debut in “Swiss Miss.” 1

A scintillating new comedy team conies to the Rosy Theatre to-day in “Lucky Night,” in which Myrna Loy and Robert Taylor make their first appearance together before the cameras. Interweaving moving heart throbs with uproarious laughter, the story unfolds the accidental meeting and later marital careers of Cora Jordan and Bill Overton. Cora, the spoiled daughter of a millionaire steel magnate walks out on her fourth engagement to hunt for a job. Bill is a playboy down on his luck. Following an accidental meeting on a park bench, they gamble, frolic and fight their way to fortune, got married, quarrel over the family budget, separate and come together again after a series of rnad-as-march-iiarc complications as hilarious as they are novel.