PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 12

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

AT THE REGENT. FINAL PRESENTATION OF. “KISMET.” Otis Skinner will finally appear at the Regent to-night in the stage-to-scrccn success, “Kismet.” Erilliant “East Lynne” Opens J To-morrow —Matinee at 2 p.m. Hollywood, possibly me most critical oi ! all screen audiences, has placed its enthusiastic stamp or approval on “East Lynne,” hailing it as one ot tho finest contributions to the art of motion pictures. Ann Harding, Olive Brook, Conrad Nagel, Occilia Loltus, Beryl Mercer, David Torrence —an these artists have been accorded deep and sincere praise lor their part in the making oi : this romantic screen Frank Lloyd, the director; A 1 Rocket, the associate producer; John Beits, the cameraman; Joseph Urban, the creator of the settings; and Winheld Sheehan, Avho selected the story for production, jpll have received their share of credit, iln reviewing the picture’s world premiere at the Carthay Circle Theatie in Los Angeles, the various critics said: I “A marvel of transcription—England, J with its cultural Mayfair and its somnolent green eountryshire, the dock at I Dover with the Calais boat gleaming I through the fog; Vienna, gay and riotous, with its cafes; Bohemian Pans, rumbling to tlio murcli ot Gcilimn ui tillery through the night, and “Versailles, scene of historic peace treaties.” Like paintings, these—Frank Lloyd directing, and John Seitz photographing, have expended loving care in bringing to tho screen this paiioiama created on the Fox stages by architect Joseph Urban, so that no audible film within memory shines so worth:.y beside. Reduced many a first-nighter to tears. It would bo harder to imagine a better performance than tuat of Ann Harding.

S.OSY THEATRE. “IRON MAN” TALE OF BONING arena. In “Iron Man,” which opens tomorrow at the Kosy theatre, _ Universal has given Lew Ayres a picture of power, strength, and utter sincerity. It is to the credit of the star and it is Lew Ayres' first real starring picture —that he rises to the occasion and proves himself an actor, and one w-hich makes no concessions to tho situations or solutions which are “typically movie.” It proves with inevitableness from start to finish. Strangely enough, this story, taken from W. R. Burnett's novel, is the love story of a man, but not of a woman. Perhaps, as such, it has moro appeal to feminine audiences than to masculine, although it is a picture that deals with fio-hts and fighters, and resounds with the thud of punches in the squared arG na. “Iron Men” is the tale of the development of a fighter, from the time he is a “palooka,” or ham fighter, until he wins tho lightweight crown. The man directly responsible for this result is the fighter's manager, played by Robert Armstrong, who gives a portrayal which proves again what an excellent actor he is. He knows how to handle his young fistic artist, fiow to nurse Mm through his moods,_ how to deflate his ego at the proper time, and how to inflate it when it means success,

PALACE THEATRE LAWRENCE TIBBETT IN “TilE PRODIGAL” Lawrence Tibbott, opera and screen star, ‘‘goes modern” and presents to liis fans his first role played strictly in the garb of to-day in. “The Prodigal,' Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's drama of love, divorce and the inhibitions of society, which will open at the Palace theatre to-morrow. Tibbott, heretofore associated with the vivid trappings of “The Rogue Song” and “New Moon,” opens the film in tramp garb. Later ho assumes the garb of a gcntloman and finds himself catapulted into one of the most daring situations a playwright over conceived. Tibbott sings several southern songs, including “Do Glory Road,” one of his greatest concert hits, “Chidlins,” “A Child Is Born,” “Looks Like Pappy,” “Life Is a Dream,” and “Without a Song. Esther Ralston, of “Fashions for Women” and “Peter Pan” fame, appears as the heroine, and a notable cast includes Roland Young, Cliff Edwards, Purnell B. Pratt, Hedda Hopper, Emma Dunn, Stepin Fetchit, Louis .Tolm Bartels and Theodore von Eltz. Among the spectacular details are a fox hunt and a negro camp barbecue, the latter filmed with special photographic effects, in which Tibbetts sings his finest song, accompanied by hundreds of voices.