PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6632, 20 August 1931, Page 4

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

PALACE TI-lEATEE BIG DOUBLE FEATURE. : Heading the list at the Palace tonight is First National's melodrama hit “The Nidow nom Chicago," wliica uegins its engagement with “Hot Heiress. The picture is entitled to be labelled all-star, including as it does Edward G. Robinson. Neil Hamilton, Frank McHugh and A’liee White. Neil Hamilton plays opposite Miss White in an interesting role that ends by making him a hero, though ho just escapes the villain class. The lovo story is said to be very original, and don’t get.the idea that Neil is killed oil to justify the title. Alice only pretends to be the widow from Chicago. Outstanding in the cast is the iigurc of Edward G. Robinson, who ercatod the uuforgetablo gangster role in the stage version of “The Racket." lie portrays an entirely ditto rent type of- gangster, one more human, subtle and realistic, In “The Widow from Chicago." Even in smaller roles are such well-known players as Betty Francisco, Lee Bhumwuy, Brooks Benedict, E. li. Calvert and Harold Goodwin. Edward Cline directed thu picture, which was adapted by Earl Baldwin from the thrilling crook melodrama of the samo title.

“The Hot Heiress." featured on.the same programme with “The Widow from Chicago," is one Of the most hilarious and human comedies of the year. There are three songs in keeping with the spirit' of the piece. They are “Like Ordinary People Do," “You’re the Cats," and “Nobody Loves a Riveter."- Ben Lyon, celebrated for his line work in “Hell’s Angels," is featured with beautiful Ona Munson. “The Hot Heiress" is modern, suffused with the gaiety of youth, and amusing in the extreme, AT THE REGENT. “SON OF THE GODS" IVITH DICK •BAETHLLMLSS. “Chinatown, my Chinatown, When (he lights arc low. . . . Haunting, mystic Chinatown was recreated for one- of the important scenes of “Son of the Gods,” the current Richard Bartholin ess starring feature, which comes to the Regent theatre tonight. Several hundred Chinese extras wero brought to the First National Studios from Los Angelos’ own China-town—-mid all the resources of modern cinema production were brought to bear in the creation of an authentic background'. This sequence was photographed in toehnicolour, and is said to be extraordinarily vivid and impressive, expressing all the weird glamour and mystery of tho Orient. Frank Lloyd directed “Son of the Gods," a dramatic screen version of the Rex Beach novel. It is the story of an American youth raised by a Chineso family in tiro belief that he himself is of Chinese blood. How he discovers his true heritage, his love affair, tho dramatic complications which follow—these make what has been generally hailed as the greatest Barthclmess feature since “Tbe Patent Leather Kid.” Constance Bennett plays tho feminine lead opposite Barthclmess with an excellent supporting cast, including Aliya Warren, Mildred Van Dorn, Dorothy Matthows, King Ilou Chang, Anders Randolf, Frank Albertson and others. Plans are now on view at tho Central Booking Office. Phono 7178. CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S “CITY LIGHTS" ON SATURDAY. Chaplin Defies Movie Trend In Making “City Lights” the Best He Has Attempted,

Having declared that he considers the talking picture an inferior medium of screen entertainment to the silent motion picture production, Charlie Chaplin backs his opinion with the presentation of “City Lights," a romantic comedy photoplay to bo shown at the Regent on Saturday, which is synchronised with music aud sound effects. At no time is the human voice heard. It is the comedian-producer's contention that dialogue limits the field of expression and being primarily a pantomime artist, ho regards silence as the best medium for him and the character ho portrays. -Chaplin adds that he is not being prejudiced in the stand he lias taken but that ho is merely carrying on in what he believes a superior art form. The picture is heralded as a supreme effort. Of considerable significance are the facts that reveal that Chaplin expended £300,000 of his own money and close on three years of his time in the making of this photoplay. from sources it is learned that the comedian's onthusiam over “City Lights" is greater than he has ever before evidenced. It is believed that this production will pave the way for moro non-dialogue pictures aud start renewed activity in studios as well as in theatres. Chaplin's film is the first of any importance to come out of Hollywood in close to three years, in silent form. Plans opened at the Central Booking Office this morning. KOSY THEATRE GARY COOPER IN “FIGHTING CARAVANS.'' “Fighting Caravans," the thrilling and spectacular drama of the battling pioneers who beat new trails across the North American continent, is the mendous attraction which the Kosy theatre commences to-day. Gary Cooper and Lily Damita head an exceptionally largo and forceful cast of well-known screen favourites in this epic picture of the forefathers of the west. “Fighting Caravans" has been filmed on the same gigantic scale which made “The Covered Wagon a never-to-be-forgotten screen presentation. The lives, the equipment, the characters, even the dangers and privations of those for-ward-pushing days have been reconstructed and brought to life on the screen in a breath-taking production that will mako moving picture history. Into the intense atmosphere of the frontier caravan is introduced a tender romance between Gary Cooper, the swaggering, devil-may-care junior scout ol the expedition, and Lily Damita, a French girl immigrant whose father dies during the gruelling march, leaving her alone with a giant wagon and a valuable cargo to carry ou to the land of gold. Cooper, tempted to take advantage of the girl’s helpless position, is quickly brought to his senses by her indomitable will. Their romance bios, sums in danger and bursts into full bloom as the caravan straggles into F 1 dorado.