PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6541, 4 May 1931, Page 12

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

KGSY THEATEE "PRINCESS AND THE PLUMBER” With a mythical little principality in the Balkans as its setting and a delightful little romance, sparkling with humour and unexpected situations as its theme, aud with Charles Farrell and Maureen O’Sullivan in the leading roles, Fox Movietone’s "The Princess and the Plumber” will make its initial appearance here at the Kosy theatre, beginning to-day. The story is a faithful adaptation of Alico Duor Miller’s recent serial in a national weekly, and deals with the love affair between the lonely little princess of Daritzia' and the young American engineer who eomos to look over the heating plant in her royal father’s castle. Not knowing the girl is a real princess, the engineer gravely tells her that he is the Duke of Mamaroncck, and when each discovers the other’s real identity the basis is laid for a series of hilarious misunderstandings. Farrell as the engineer and Miss O’Sullivan as the princess make a thoroughly delightful team and their work presages many appearances together. H. B. Warner is perfect as the impetuous Prince Conrad, and Joseph Cawthorn adds to the comedy of the film as the all-in-one official of the little village. In the notable supporting cast Bert Roach enacts the part of the millionaire, and Lucien Prival that of the unwelcome baron, with Murray Kinncll as the sympathetic friend of the young couple. Louise Glosser Hale does excellently as the princess’ chaperon and governess, and Arnold Lucy plays the role of the prince’s faithful servant. Alexander Korda, who directed "The Private Life of Helen of Troy,” also directed this offering. A native of Hungary and a Continental traveller of wide experience, Korda has a perfect background for a story of this type and makes it thoroughly convincing. Howard J. Green has adhered faithfully to Miss Miller’s original novel, and the colourful settings created by Stephen Goosson and the photography combine to make "The Princess and the Plumber” a genuine treat.

PALACE THEATEE "A LADY’S MORALS,” AN OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION The story: Jenny Lind, the famous Swedish singer, is paying a visit to her native land after opera triumphs abroad when, in a village inn, she meets Paul Brandt, a composer. Brandt promptly starts making love to her, to the anger not only of the star, but of her travelling companions—her maid : companion and musical directors. He has written a song, and prevails upon her to sing it. Though at first angry with him, she finally becomes attracted to the handsome composer, whose music is really good. After meeting him again in the city, she returns to opera, though he urges that she go with him alone to a mountain fastness. Then he warns her that she is forcing her voice and will lose it, and urges her to see his relative, the great Garcia, a famous teacher. She spurns his advice, sings on, and her voice fails during a big operatic scone. Brandt blames the gallery crowd, into which he has mixed to' hear his beloved, and he attacks the men nearest him. But Brandt is injured, and his doctor tells him he will bo blind. Ho brings the great teacher Garcia to Jenny to restore her voice, then slips away. It is Garcia who tolls Jenny about Brandt's gallery fracas and his failing sight, and then the woman’s love brings about a reconciliation, she taking Brandt to her home. After a long period of treatment Brandt’s sight utterly fails and he slips away to America, leaving a note for the heartbroken Jenny. New York has heard of Jenny, and P. T. Barnum, the master show-man, takes her there for a debut. Olaf, a Swedish compatriot, asks her to sing a song which a friend of his, a blind pianist in a saloon, composed. To her amazement it is Paul’s first song. This loads her to finding him and learning the truth, and the lovers are reunited. “A Lady’s Morals” will commence a three days’ season at the Palace this afternoon. The box plan is rapidly filling.

AT THE REGENT. WINNIE LIGHTNER, CAPTIVATES LARGE AUDIENCE. "You may tempt your upper classes with your villainous demitasses, but heaven will protect the working girl,” sang a heroine from years back—but Flo and Dot dumbell heroines played by Winnie Lightner and Irene Delroy in Warner Bros.’ comedy, "The Life of the Party,” now playing at the Regent Theatre are not blessed with such sublime faith. 'When they decide to do a little first-class gold-digging and need a wardrobe to do it in, they work on the good graces of Lee Maire, owner of a Fifth Avenue gown shop. The poor man, not suspecting the wily two, give them carte blanche in his shop, for clothes to wear to a party he is giving. Flo and Dot have ideas of their own, however, and after gathering up full wardromes they set sail for Havana and once there, form a gold-dig-ging corporation. This is only one situation in this rollicking comedy in which these two Broadway babies wisecrack their way through a series of uproarious mix-ups including a horse race with Flo as a jockey —a jail jam and numerous roughucck attacks on unsuspecting sugar daddies. There arc sev oral intriguing musical numbers. The cast includes Charles Judcls, Charles Butterworth, Jack Whiting, Arthur Edmund Carew, John Davidson and Arthur Hoyt. Winnie, queen of song pluggers, sings several brand new numbers in her own inimitable style in "The Life of the Party.” In the story, this famous comedy songstress is first heard, in a New l r ork music shop where she! is employed as a song-plugger, and later does her stuff at an exclusive Havana hotel where she has journeyed in search of a millionaire. A SECOND CHARLIE CHAPLIN. HEADING NEW STORY AT REGENT ON WEDNESDAY. Specially notable is the performance

of Leslie Henson in the part of the naughty and embarrassed Mr. Corner. Ir. is his first appearance in the talkies, and-the genius for comedy he displays in it has caused him to be hailed as the Charlio Chaplin of the British screen. With him is a brilliant cast, which includes such famous artists as Connie Ediss (as the wife), Heather Thatcher (as the girl), and Austin Melford a? Heather Thatcher’s husband. “A Warm Corner” is a TOO per cent. British film. Plans are now on view at the Central Booking Office, ’phono 7175.