PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7411, 19 December 1930, Page 8

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

PALACE THEATRE

“ROADHOUSE NIGHTS”

Movie directors just won’t let Charles Ituggles act a sober part. In his years as one of the funniest men he was always at his very best as a “drunk,” and the tradition has been carried into the realms of audible celluloid. lie is appearing in “Roadhouse Nights,” Paramount’s all-talking and singing riot, which shows finally at the Palace Theatre to-night. Buggies is a carefree Chicago reporter in this riot of fun and rum, comedians and contraband, thugs and t.hcspians. He is sent out by his city editor to get the story of a rum king’s activities in the little town of Moran, near the big city. When he arrives he runs into his old sweetheart, Helen Morgan. Fellow performers with her at the rum king’s roadhouse arc Clayton, Jackson and Durante, singers, dancers and funny men par excellence. Fred Kohler, the rum king, in love with Helen, finds the two sweethearts in a loving embrace and vows that Charlie shall pay plenty for stealing his “dame.” From then on it is a rapid-fire salvo of riotous entertainment. Included in the supporting bill arc an all-talking comedy, “Marching to Georgia,” a selection of songs by Mme. Aida Doninelli, and a Paramount sound gazette. “This Mad World” Has Absorbing Plot

An episode of the World War, dealing with the conflict between love and patriotism, has been admirably conceived in “This Mad World,” a Mctro-Gold-wyn-Maver all-talking production which opens at the Palace theatre at 2 p.rn. to-morrow. Although no actual uni-, fare is depicted, the production is given a realistic military atmosphere and is made particularly effective through being filmed from a stage viewpoint, the entire action taking place between i p.m. of one day and 10 u.m. of the next. A capable cast helps put this picture across, Kay Johnson giving a sympathetic performance as the general’s wife, Basil Rathbonc as the spy, Louise Dresser as his mother, Veda Bucklaml as a maid and Louis Natheaux as a co-conspirator.

AT THE REGENT

LAST NIGHT OF MARILYN MILLER

IN “SALLY”

“Sally,” Marilyn Miller’s first motion picture, which will be finally presented at the Regent to-night, is made entirely in tcchnicolour, showing the natural colours of costumes, settings and other spectacular effects. The picture has been adapted from Miss Miller’s greatest stage success, with singing and dancing on the most lavish scale ever attempted on the screen. An all-star supporting cast is seen with Miss Miller. Pert Kolton, who played in Ziegfcld’s “Rio Rita,” is the ingenue lead, and Alexander Gray, the musical comedy favourite, who sang in “The Desert Song.” appears in the romantic lead. Joe E. Brown, lord fetciling and T. Roy Barnes are the chief comedians in the gay and rollicking story of a grand duke who becomes a waiter and a humble waitress who becomes a stage star. Plans are on view at the Central Booking Office, phone 7175. “The Grand Parade” Opens at Matinee To-morrow

Dramatic, romantic picture ’of. backstage, plus a minstrel show ot gripping interest —a heartbreaking love storj minstrelsy with its glittering pageantry and wondrous parade tears, joys, laughs —a production that will live long in the memory of all who .see jt. Coming to the Regent theatre to-mor-row, Bathe’s all-talking picture, Ihe Grand Parade.” It is prophesied by all who have seen and heard reviews that at least one new song hit will be launched with the release of this Pat he musical picture. Catchy music and a beautiful lyric are said to combine m giving “Molly,” one of the several songs sung by Fred Scott in this picture, all the elements that catch the public fancy. Plans are now on view. John McCormack in “Song o’ My Heart” on Christmas Eve

The soul of the theatre is finally captured by the wondrous art of talking and singing motion pictures, and hox Movietone, with its lifelike realism ot recording, has enshrined the voice ot Jolid McCormack, the world’s most popular tenor, in a romantic story of tender laughter close to tears, “Song o’ My Heart,’’ which will open the Christmas season at the Regent on Christmas Eve. Never before lias the talking and motion picture risen to such heights above the conventions, of the oldrtime theatre. Before a glowing background of unusual beauty runs like a thread of gold a story of love that finds its exaltation in perfect song. The epic is directed by Frank Borzade. and the cast includes Maureen o’Sullivan, .T. M.* Kerrigan, John Garrick, Tommy Clifford, Alice Joyce, Farrell Macdonald,. Effic Ellsler, Andre de Segurola, Emily Fitzroy and Edwin Schneider. Plans open at tho Central Booking Office this morning (phone 7178).

KOSY THEATRE

LIGHT OPERA. SINGER IN “DOUBLE CROSS ROADS'

George MacFarlanc, who used to sing with the famous “Bostonians, and who has been starred by the Shuberts and Ivlaw and Erlanger, portrays a featured role of the warden in “Double Cross Roads,” Fox Movietone all-talking emotional drama, having its final screening at the Ivosy theatre. MacFarlane appeared in “South Sea Rose,” another Fox Movietone production, in which Lonorc Ulric starred, and was widely acclaimed for his characterisation of the Irish bartender. Robert Ames, who played the leading male role in “The Trespasser” with Gloria Swanson, .and was co-featured with William Harrigan in “Nix on Dames,” a Fox production, plays opposite Lihi Lee, who enacts the feminine lend. Montagu Love and Ned Sparks are odso featured. Alfred Worker directed. Rinty Assisted by Good Speaking Cast in Latest Talkie “The Million Dollar Collar,” Warner Bros.’ Vitaphonc talking picture, starring Rin-tin-tin, which comes to the Kosy theatre to-morrow, boast’s, an excellent speaking cast of lmnv.uis. Motion picture fans w r ho saw Ijinty in “The Land of the Silver Fox” are well aware of his excellent speaking “voice.” The screen’s wovidcr dog has a big cast of humans in support, Matty Kemp and Evelyn Pierce Vicing included among them. The voice recording tests at the Warner studios sUowed that both these young people aro tho possessors of exceptionally fine speaking voices. Tom Dugan is the comedy element in “The Million Dollar Collar,” and he keeps the audience-in roars of laughter from start to finish;. Philo -McCullough, Grover Liggon, Allan Cavin and other members of the oast also have speaking •roles in. the picVu’"