PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6633, 21 August 1931, Page 5

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

AT THE REGENT

LAST PRESENTATION OE "SON OP THE GODS"

Dick- Bartholmess and Constance Bennett will iinally appear in "Son of the Gods" at the Regent theatre to-night.

Some screen observers have chosen to consider Charlie Chaplin’s "City Lights" as an experiment in silence. Chaplin himself sees nothing expefimental about it, and even avers . that the results may go far toward eliminatiiig excess dialogue from other producers pictures, and even toward restoring non-dialogue pictures to grace. “City Lights" is the only synchronised picture of any importance made in Hollywood since the town went talkie. That Chaplin’s picture, silent except for a synchronised musical score, will be successful is practically assured, because his name over any theatre would drawcrowds, and "City Lights" represents the utmost in his pantomimic art—his defiant answer to the microphone’s usurpation of the screen. The subject of interesting conjecture now is how; far its success will influence other producers in their use of . sound and dialogue on the screen. The Chaplin studio is unique in Hollywood, being the only lot not cluttered with vault-like sound stages. No microphones swing over the sets where Chaplin acts and directs the minutest details erf his pictures. There are no strained silences during scenes, as there are no sound stages; no hordes of mysterious electrical wizards reigning as lords of the set. The studio is like a relic of the pretalkie era, when pictures were made m free and easy fashion, unmarred by electrical complications Virginia Cherrill, the girl chosen by Chaplin for his leading lady, has yet to be seen on the screen, but she has been well paid week after week for the delay in her debut. Two years ago she sslected the evening dress she would wear to the premiere of the picture, but Chaplinas habit of working only when he chose, of taking and re-taking scenes for perfection, many of which never see the screen, has allowed fashion to outstep the little gown. If she wore it now no doubt it would create a sensation,, so out-model would it be and so radical have been changes in feminine styles. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Plane are now rapidly filling at the Central Booking Office, phone 7178.

HOST THEATRE I WARNER OLAND IN "CHARLIE CHAN CARRIES ON” While there are many contestants for the title of the best ingenue, or the best leading man, or the best comedienne on the screen, when it comes to selecting the best portrayer of Oriental roles there is no choice. Warner Oland, who portrays the title Tole in ‘ ‘ Charlie Chan Carries on," the Pox mystery drama scheduled to open to-morrow, at the Kosy theatre, wins that distinction without an argument. Born in Umea, Sweden, Oland went to America when a mere youngster and attended school in Boston, graduating from high school there, and received his first theatrical training at Dr. Curry’s dramatic school. During the next 20 years he remained before the footlights, specialising in Shakespearean and Ibsen roles, and toured extensively, making. several round-the-world trips with various travelling companies. Oland’s first .screen roles were in four Theda Bara pictures for Pox Films in 1917. Subsequently he played in a number of Pathe serials, but his first role of importance was that of Charlie Tong in “East Is West," with Norma Talmadge, in 1922. A few months ago Fox was searching everywhere for an actor to play the title role in "Charlie Chan Carries on," based on Eail DeTr Biggers’ wellknown mystery story. More than 20. eminent actors were tested for the role, but none proved suitable until OlancL’s test was screened. "That’s the man," said director Hamilton McFaddon. The studio officers agreed, and Oland was signed to enact tho first sympathetic Oriental role of his career. Marguerite Churchill, John Garrick, Warren Hymer, Marjorie White, C. Henry Gordon and Lumsden Hare are in the cast of this unusually entertaining film.

PALACE THEATRE ; BRILLIANT COMEDY CAST IN “STEPPING OUT” A particularly strong cast has been assembled by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for “Stepping Out,” a comedy of Hollywood marriage entanglements, which will bo showing at the Palace theatre to morrow.. Reginald Denny and Leila Hyams are cast as one married couple, Charlotte Greenwood and Harry Stubbs us another, and Lilian Bond and Merna Kennedy as the “gold diggers’’ who slip into the picture when the wives, go for a holiday. Cliff Edwards and Richard Tucker, on the other hand, aro.tho men who entertain the fed-up wives when they give their “bachelor husbands “the air” for a while. The story is laid in Hollywood, the theme being the backing of pictures as a speculation, with entangling results to the ladies of the piece. An elaborate swimming pool sequence, where the errant husbands hold their business conference by entertaining the picture girls, is a feature of the settings, while the dialogue is particularly funny from beginning to end.