PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6621, 6 August 1931, Page 4

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

PALACE THEATRE MOVIE COMEDIANS SURPRISE THEMSELVES You never can tel 1 until you try. An old adage, but again proved truo in the easo of Charlie Ruggles and Natalie Kingston, that pair of romantic comedians who appear with Clara Bow in that star’s latest hit, “Her Wedding Night,” which as a. Paramount picture shows again at the Palace to-night. Ruggles and Miss Kingston found they could do things for laughs they had nevor done before, while making “Her Wedding Night,” and without trying. They discovered, to their own surprise, that they were acrobatically talented. Directed by Frank Tuttle, the two comedians went into a secno in which Miss Kingston was to faint and R.ugglcs was to catch her and hold her up. They were instructed to “make it funny. ” The scene was to climax when juggles loaded the inert form of Miss Kingston on a carpet sweeper 'and dragged her from the room. All wont forward with reasonable smoothness until Ruggles, struggling to support the relaxed Miss Kingston, slipped and fell, with her crashing on top of him. Director Tuttle refused to believe the fall had boen unintentional, and on the next “take” ordered them to do it again. Counting two “takes” each for the long, medium and close angles, Ruggles and Miss Kingston did their fall six times. Now they are ready to go out ns the opening act on any vaudeville bill. AT THE REGENT “TONS OF MONEY” IS A PERFECT SCREAM Walls and Lynn had had just about the samo vast amount of stage experience when they teamed up in London with plans drafted for the production of farce comedies at the now worldrenowned Aldwych theatre, and the fame of the two men spread equally as they appeared together in such productions as “Rookery Nook,” “Cuckoo in the Nest,” and “Plunder.” Whimsical Walls jumped out in front of his partner in mirth with his magnificent performance at the Aldwych in Ben Travers’ “Thark,” but Ralph retaliated by hitting the bulls-eyo in the London presentation of “Tons of Money.” The comedy pair both went oil’ the .same mark when British Dominions signed them up to make a screen version of “Rookery Nook”; both were acclaimed the world over, and although Walls has appeared on his own in the Frederick Lonsdale pictures, “On Approval” and “Canaries Sometimes Sing,” Lynn adds souio popularity laurels to his crown as Aubrey Ailington in “Tons of Monoy,” the current attraction at tho Regent theatre. Lynn during the courso of tho xu c t uro dpcs three impersonations, each succeeding ono being seemingly moro brilliant and inimitable than its predecessor. Tho cast includes Mary Brough, Robertson Hare and Yvonne Arnaud. The latter, incidentally, appeared with Tom Walls in “On Approval” and “Canaries Sometimes Sing.” “Tons of Money” undoubtedly the best comedy the screen has over given us, not forgetting “Rookery Nook,” “Tho Middle Watch” and “Plunder.” “Monte Carlo”,on Saturday “Monte Carlo” is the name of the new Paramount picture at the Regent theatre on Saturday. Named after the famed town of the tiny principality of Monaco, playground of the rich, comic opera land of princes, princesses amiblue horizons, this picture has been deftly directed by Ernst Lubitsch. It is a musical romance. A bride runs away from her wedding, gambles her fortuno on the spin of tho wheel and falls in love with a hairdresser. That in itsClf does not sound intriguing, but tho charm and skill of Lubitsch vinakc “Monto Carlo” oue of the greatest productions we have had the honour to present. Jeancito MacDonald is the runaway Countess Vera. Jack Buchanan, the London musical comedy favourite, shares the honours as tho Princo of an unknown kingdom posing as a barber. Others in the cast arc Zasu Pitts, Claude AUister and Edgar Norton. Several catchy songs are sung by Jeanette MacDonald and Jack Buchanan. The plans arc now open. KOSY THEATRE REX BEACH THRILLER BROUGHT TO TALKING SCREEN The iirst story ever sold on a royalty basis for motion picture production was “The Spoilers,” according to information brought to light by Paramount during the recording of this famous thriller as an all-talking picture. It is now at the Kosy theatre. It was in 1913 that Selig was first approached by Box Beach with an offer to sell the story for tho screen. Negotiations between tho two were conducted by John Pribyl, literary agent for Selig, who was somewhat astounded when Beach demanded £(325 for the screen rights. Tho figure was unprecedented in tho industry. An agreement was finally reached whereby Beach was to receive a. certain royalty of tho gross returns. He subsequently realised a fortuno from the deal, receiving many times the amount ho had lirst demanded. The stoiy has sinco bccomo one of tho greatest pieces of motion picture property in the industry Paramount secured the screen rights through Edwin Carcwc, who bought them as a personal investment several years ago. Carewo directed the production as a. modern sound picture of elaborate scale for Paramount, with Gary Cooper featured in tho cast.