ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 106, 3 April 1941, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

Meteor Theatre.—Paramount’s “Way of All Flesh,” which has no connection with Butler's book, is now screening at the Meteor Theatre with Akim Tamiroff and Gladys George at. the top of a tine cast. The story is simple and of perennial interest., and the drama and excitement arc intense. Paul Jvriza (Akim Tamiroff) has risen by years of patient, honest work, to lie cashier of a small country-town bank in America. He lias a wife and four children, he is liked and respected in the community, and he is in line for the presidency of the bank. of his boys, Paul Junior (James has music in his blood, and all the family—except one rather more active and mischievous brother —foster his talent and themselves delight in the music and dancing transplanted from the old home in Austria. The decency and kindliness, the squabbles and fun of this family, with Gladys George as Alania, are so well handled as to seem exciting and amusing and very moving. Also on the programme is the latent British documentary film, “Men of the Lightship,” which provides nearly 30 minutes of extraordinary entertainment. As an action-picture, showing with breathless realism the bombing of the Hast Dudgeon lightship by the Germans a few months ago, “Men of the Lightship” is an outstanding example. The Mayfair.—“ Dark Victory,” the Warner Pros.’ picture which screens at the Mayfair Theatre to-night, presents Bette Davis as the ill-starred heroine of one of flic tend crest, one of the 'most poignantly beautiful romances ever unfolded , upon Hie seieen. It is a story of great love and fl*M.intJnss courage, both pitted against an implacable fate ,and it offers the brilliant Miss Davis what she herself considers the greatest role of her very impressive career. While the character por- | trayed by Miss Davis might, still domi- | natc the narrative even if played by a ] lesser actress than the mat eh less Belie

—so compelling is the role —the production is by no means a one-woman tour do force. It has a supporting cast that is •fully worthy of its gifted star, and the brilliance of her performance serves to inspire them all to a superlative pitch of excellence. Playing opposite the lustrous star is George Brent, and in uniting with her to bring this moving romance to the screen he has the most sympathetic jole of his notable career. Another lover of Bette’s, albeit a frustrated one, is played by Humphrey Bogart, and his portrayal of an uncouth but honeH and genuine Irish horse-trainer, different *r»iin anything on the screen, is fraught with interest, for it proves that he is not only an ace bad man but a superb actor.