PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7037, 22 December 1932, Page 9

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

REGENT THEATRE. BERT WHEELER AND ROBERT WOOLBEY IN “GIRL CRAZY.’» Pepped up to the cadence of rippling Gershwin melodies, a morry melange of comedy opened at the Regent Theatre last night in the form of RKO-Kadio Pictures’ all-star comedy, “Girl Crazy.’’ Tho film, which marks tho rebirth of film comedies made undor the new ideal Bound reproducing conditions, presents one of the finest all-star comedy casts of the season in a screen rendition of tho famous Broadway extravaganza of tho samo name. Heading the imposing array of talent are the inimitable Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, Who start tho film as city slickers and wind up as rough and ready westerners. Eddio Quillan carries tho romantic lead of a girl crazy youth who transforms a respectable cattle ranch into a whoopee dude resort. Mitzi Green, Hollywood’s child mimic wonder, plays an annoying little sister and the romance and beauty brigade is beaded by Dorothy Leo, Arlino Judge, Kitty Kelly and Lita Chcvrot. Besides this uproarious' comedy satire of this modern dude-ranch West, and tho gay buffoonery of Bert tho picturo ts the music by the Gershwin brothers, George and Ira, who add to tho entertainment of tho film with such song hits as “I Got Rhythm,” and “Bam and Delilah.” The story is farco throughout, with an abundance of novel comedy episodes which riso to extreme heights. Tho supporting programme —a notably line one —is composed of an Audio Review, a sound cartoon, “Love in a Pond”; a travelogue, “Bong of tho Voodoo”; a Patho Gazette, and an item of the Sportlight Beries entitled “Timing,” being the correct timing of strokes and muscle in popular sports. Special Children’s Session Saturday Morning. At 10.30 o’clock on Saturday morning, the Regent Theatre will hold a special session for children. This is styled “Mickey’s Christmas Party,” ar.d is an entertainment w'hich should appeal strongly to juvenile taste. Each child attending will rcceivo a piece of the huge cake that has been supplied by Dustin’s, Ltd., and appropriate pictures will be screened. That very popular Western star and idol of tho children, Ken Maynard, will appear in his new, thrilling out-doors drama, “The Song of the Caballero.” Mickey, himself, will offer for tho occasion his latest cartoon, “The Moose Hunt,” undoubtedly ono of tho best Mickey Mouse features yet made. Children will bo admitted to all parts of the theatre for sixpence. Adults will bo charged ordinary matinee prices.

KOSY THEATRE. CHICK SALE AND DICKIE MOORE IN “THE EXPERT.” Chic Sale, as “Old Man Miniek,” and Dickie Moore, as an orphaned waif, brought tho warmth and humour and pathos of life itself to the screen of the Kosy Theatre yesterday as “The Expert,” a Warner Bros, picture, was unreeled to an audience which alternated gales of laughter with an occasional tear. Sale is the grandpa we all know, coming to live with his son and daughter-in-law after a lifetime in a small city. Alone in the world, Uo has no one to turn to except his children. But the difference in age, the alwayschanging ideas of successive generations throw him out of line. His has been a different life-routine. He does not realise this and goes his sincerely meddlesome way in an effort to help, usually hindering. He estranges his daughter-in-law’s fellow club members, antagonises the cook and generally has his say on almost everything. The humour inherent in such a situation is capably handled by the featured players and enhanced by Archio Mayo's masterful direction. The occasional tear in the audience is aroused by sympathy for tho old gentleman and his orphaned friend. Old Man Miniek meets young Dickie, the orphan, in the course of his wanderings and begins a friendship which carries through to the end of the picture. Right to the happy end when Old Man Miniek and Dickie are admitted to membership in the Home for the Aged, “The Expert” will hold you in the grip of its “real-life” spell. It is everything a wholesome, engrossing story should be. A truly brilliant programme is in support of tho r.iain feature and includes items that appeal to all tastes. Ted Husing gives interesting descriptions of hockey and Soccer, while “Dr. Crabtree” solves a murder mystery. PALACE THEATRE. MARIE DRESSLER IN “EMMA.” Tho art of being able to sway the emotions of thousands belongs to few artists of the screen to such an extent as it does to Marie Dressier. This 61-year-old figure has demonstrated time and again that she possesses the ability to mako an audicnco enjoy crying as well as laughing. Her latest, production, “Emma,” in which she gives the most outstanding performance of her career, is now attracting largo audiences to the Palaco Theatre, where it is playing a return season, A faithful, loving old housekeeper who has taken the mother’s place in the lives of four | children, Emma is a character played by Miss Dressier with all tho force and understanding that made her contribution to “Min and Bill” so noteworthy. The picturo opens on a note of tragedy. P.y giving life to a boy, the mother forfeits her own. Then comes a gap of some years, by which time one son and a daughter aro married, but they all live in the one house, tho father having become wealthy through his inventions, and Emma is still their housekeeper. For the first time in 30 years she decides to take a holiday and prepares for a trip to Niagara Falls. At the last moment sho is accompanied by her employer, and the lonely old man proposes to her. During tho honeymoon he dies, bequeathing all his possessions to his new wife, knowing that she will supply the children’s needs.. The children refuse to see it that way and believe that Emma is trying to defraud them. They bring a bogus murder

charge against her and she is taken to Court. A verdict of not guilty restores tho children to their senses, and they would have Emma stay with them, but sho prefers to look after another family of children. This picture i 3 unquestionably a notable contribution t,o screen history. A beautiful travelogue, “Ireland, the Melody Isle,” in which John McCormack sings some charming Irish songs; Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd in a mirthful comedy, entitled “On the Loose,” and other entertaining items complete the programme.