PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6866, 24 May 1932, Page 10

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

PALACE THEATRE ■ ••SURRENDER” Alexander Kirkland, the handsome blonde six-footer from the New York stage, who 'plays a featured role in “Surrender,” the William K. Howard production for Fox Films, which screens at the Palace to-night, proves to have had one of the most interesting lives in the film colony. Young Kirkland did not know a word of English until he was nearly 15 years of age, speaking only Spanish and French. He was then educated at the Taft School at Waterbuvy, Connecticut, and at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, after which lie decided to sec the world. On one occasion, finding himself without funds in Paris, lie teamed with a girl and worked in a night club. At another time he found himself “broke” in the same city, and spent two months in a monastery. Kirkland made his picture debut in “Tarnished Lady.” His next role was as tho young Prussian lover in "Surrender.” AT THE REGENT V “BELOVED BACHELOR” AND THE “FLYING WINSKILLS.”

Finally at the Regent to-night is “The Beloved Bachelor,” Paramount's com-edy-romance, featuring Paul Lucas, Dorothy Jordan, Charles Buggies and Vivienne Osborne. The story lias to do with the life of a young San Francisco sculptor, played by Lucas, who foils in lovein his youth with a beautiful actress (Vivienne Osborne). Because of a misunderstanding she forsakes him for another man and gets married. Meanwhile, Lukas lias adopted the orphaned daughter of a woman who had once been a model for his early sculptures. One of the cleverest vaudeville turns ever seen on a Palmerston North stage is that provided by the “Flying Winskills,” as an additional feature on the stage, and those who enjoy skill, thrill and humour should not fail to see them. The three artists do amazing feats on trapeze and horizontal bar, swinging dizzily from one to the other with a graceful case that leaves the audience breathless. The comedian of the trio is not only a pastmastcr of comedy, but in some respects is the cleverest of the acrobats. His Chaplinesquo humour is irresistible and causes roars of laughter. Particularly neat is his byplay with his headgear which almost appears to be endowed with intelligence. lie meanders over the stage on a dnc-whcel cycle, and then creates a storm of delightful applause by propelling himself across perched on top of a broomstick. In all their work the Winskills arc graceful, swift and faultless, and their act adds a piquant note to an excellent picture programme. “Polly of the Circus.”

With Marion Davies enacting the role of a trapeze artist, and Clark Gable that of a modem young minister, “Polly of the Circus” will commence at the Regent theatre matinee to-mor-row. As the circus performer who marries a minister, only to find that she stands in the way of his happiness, Miss Davies is said to have a role which gives her even greater dramatic opportunities than that of lier last vehicle, “Five and Ten.” The story also has its amusing moments, for the hoy'denish circus acrialist discovers that ministers are not quite the forbidding persons she had thought them to be, while the small-town parson gets a new slant of life under the “big top.” Highlights of the drama include me sensational fall of the trapeze star, the scandal which ensues as a result of her convalescence in the minister’s house, the refusal of the board of clergymen to give the minister a church when lie marries the circus girl, and the subsequent attempt of the girl to “repair the damage.” C. Aubrey Smith lias a prominent role in the production. The featurettes supporting this programme are excellent, much the best the Regent has presented to the public for some time, include London, the City of Traditions, Dogs is Dogs, Mctrotone News and Flip the Frog. KOSY THEATRE "SIDE SHOW" The present programme, "Side Show,’’ at. the Kosy finishes its season to-night. There will be a complete change tomorrow. Clever Settings for "Stamboul'’ The interior and exterior settings for the new Paramount British production, “Stamboul," which shows at the Kosy theatre to-morrow, will be greatly' admired. They', were made under the capable direction of Mr. Holmes Paul, who has been responsible for some of the finest sets in motion pictures sined their early days. Holmes Paul has

worked under many producers and was the first art director to introduce solid sols into motion pictures, which up to then had been using flimsy theatrical scenery. Some fascinating scenes were designed and carried out for "Stany.boul,” including a big street scene which i» an exact replica of a busy street in Constantinople. Valuable and authentic furniture was collected by Mr. Fau] and used for the lavish interior shots of modern Turkish homes. This furniture included priceless carpets, armoury and museum pieces which add special interest (o “Stambou!” for lovers of art. Scenes depicting the .Bosphorus were so cleverly contrived that they wore absolutely indistinguishable from those actually taken in Turkey, which were also woven into the picture. Altogether, the -settings for “Stamboul” arc in every way worthy of one of tlm finest casts of star actors ever assembled for a British picture. The picture was directed by Dmitri Buehowetzki, the director who has never produced a failure.