PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7068, 30 January 1933, Page 8

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

EOSY THEATRE. ALBERTA VAUGHN WITH TIM McCOY IN “DARING DANGER.” All good film fans remember the chfirming little comedienne, Alberta Vaughn, who starred in several senes of comedies a few years ago. Alberta’s beauty and talents made “The Telephone Girl,” “Fighting Blood” and “The Adventures of Mazie” popular* wherever pictures were shjw.u. The; young actress has been seen but few times, however, since the talkie 3 supplanted silent pictures. Together with many other established silent film stars, Alberta faded out of the picture. She had not the benefit of stage training, she didn’t know how to speak lines and was frightened of'the microphone. But not for long. The clever young actress determined to get plenty of training and experience, and prepare herself for the talkies. She enrolled in the classes of one of Hollywood’s most famous! teachers of voice control. Sho took up dancing. Sho undertook tho study of French and Spanish. Constant study during the past two years has given Alberta a great deal of confidence in herself. She is quite prepared to “come back” in a big way. And the odds are that Alberta will succeed. The Jfans who see her in one of ner first talkies, “Daring Danger,” in which she plays opposite Tim McCoy, will judge for themselves. Tho McCoy picture is showing at the Kosy Theatre. Miss Vaughn also had a featured role in “Dancers in tho Dark,” with Miriam Hopkins and Jack Oakie. Robert Ellis, Wallace MacDonald, Vernon Dent, Ed Lc Saint, Dick Alexander and Bobby Nelson have other prominent parts in “Daring Danger,” which was; directed by D. Ross Lcderman, associated with Tim McCoy in several previous thrillers. Two clever cartoons are included in the supporting programme one in particular which introduces a number of popular stars in caricature, A 1 Jolson, Joe E. Brown, the Marx Bros., Laurel and Hardy, being a few of those to be seen. Also of particular interest is a New Zealand Government Publicity film on ‘ ‘ Swordfishing, ’ ’ taken in the Bay of Islands, and a Cinesound News with excerpts of New Zealand v. Queensland and England v. Australia in Rugby football. REGENT THEATRE MAURICE CHEVALIER IN “LOVE ME TO-NIGHT” Maurice Chevalier’s latest starring Paramount picture, “Love Mo Tonight,” and featuring Jeanette MacDonald, Charlie Ruggles, Charles Butterworth and Myrna Loy, concludes at Regent theatre this evening. Like previous pictures starring Chevalier, “Love Me To-night” is done in a humorous and whimsical vein, and is set to music. Most of the musical numbers, all written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, noted song-writing combination, arc sung by the French star and Miss MacDonald, but other members of the cast join in at one time or another. Chevalier is cast as “the best little tailor in France”—a business man with a big heart and few funds. Chevalier and Miss MacDonald are soon in love, but their romance seemes futile when the difference in their social positions is revealed. An amusing, and, at the same time, romantic climax straightens matters up to everybody’s satisfaction. The Chevalier film has as companions an Old-time Novelty, presenting interesting views from movies of bygone days ; a Betty Boop talkartoon, entitled, “Stopping the Show; a Fox News showing the English and Australian teams meeting on the Sydney Cricket Ground for the opening of the Test matchos, and other items of interest. To-morrow, Monday and Tuesday, the Regent will screen a special film depicting Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s arrival at New Plymouth, the reception accorded the famous aviator and other happenings in connection with the termination of his memorable trans-Tasman flight. REGENT THEATRE. RONALD COLMAN IN “ARROWSMITH.” Admirers of Ronald Colman have their first opportunity to see him playing the role of an American hero in “ Arrow smith,” Samuel Goldwyn’s picturisation of the novel by Sinclair Lewis, which starts at the Regent Theatre to-morrow evening. In his iong and successful picture career, Colman has played Frenchmen, Dutchmen, Eng" lishmen, Italians, and Spaniards, but never Americans unitl ho took up his “Arrowsmith” role of the gallaut young doctor fighting against ignorance and disease. Helen Hayes, tho stage star plays opposite Ronald Colman in the role of the devotee! wife. For tho first time tho frank inside story of modern medicine is brought to the screen in “Arrowsmith,” in which Colman plays the leading role of the brilliant young doctor who risks his iite and everything he has in his pursuit of scientifle truth. When “Arrowsmith” first appeared as a novel several years ago, it raised a storm of protest from medical men all over the world. It pictured the ignorance and jealousies and thirst for publicity which handicap disinterested workers in scientific medicine. It described the heroism of scientists who fearlessly expose themselves to the worst forms of death in the interests of humanity, but it also bitterly attacked the pedantic “stuffed shirts” of medicine with all of Sinclair Lewis’s well-known powers. And it is Arrow smith's battle with his selfish an«i jealous colleagues which is the theme of the picture as well as tho book. Richard Bennett and A. E. Anson, Bert Roach, Myrna Loy, and Alec. B. Francis are supporting players. Among the featurettes to be shown will

bo an inteiesting Super Sound Gazette and a new Micky Mouse cartoon, entitled • * The Picnic. ’ ’ PALACE THEATRE. WILL ROGERS IN “DOWN TO EARTH.” Very different in theme and treatment from its star’s previous screen offerings, but all the more interesting and entertaining for that, “Down to Earth” scored a decided hit with local Will Rogers fans at its opening on Saturday at the Palace Theatre. Realising the timeliness of turning liis witty spotlight on present conditions, the noted humourist has unobtrusively woven tho very human story of a business man’s domestic and financial worries into the background of a riotously funny picture. His solution for his problems is as significant as it is liilarous. “Down to Earth” brings back the lovable Pike Peters and the socially ambitious Idy Peters of Rogers’ first talkie, “They Had to See Paris;” Their European jaunt over, they are again in Claremore, Oklahoma, where Idy is now the town’s social leader. Pike is worired over the financial outlook, but Idy and their son, Ross, arc too busy spending tho family income to pay any attention to his

warnings. A bank failure sends Pike Hurrying to Chicago for a big loan, tue only tnmg tiiat will save las business from a crash. In this ho is unsuccessful, but ho meets the Grand Puke Michael, an old friend of Paris days, and brings liim back to Oklahoma. On arrival matters come swiftly to a head ; Rossi has gambled away tne family fortune ; Idy is giving au extravagant costume ball to announce Ross' engagement to a girl he dislikes but whose money he feels the family needs; Pike himself is about to be thrown into bankruptcy. The unconventional methods Pike uses to bring his headstrong family “down to earth ’’ again makes a whirlwind climax to the lilm, which in many respects is the best effort of the star'si career. Irene Rich again plays the parti of his irresponsible wife and TheodoreLodi once more becomes the Russia: | duke. Dorothy Jordan, Matty Kcmp.j Mary Carlisle, Brandon Hurst and other; notables head the supporting cast W’ith. uniformly excellent work. David Butler, who has two previous Rogers films to his credit, has done a line job of directing, and Homer Croy's story is even better suited to the cowboy philosopher’s personality than was the author 's ‘ ‘ They Had to Sec Paris. ’ ’ By all means see this offering—and bring the family. Admirably chosen fcaturettes include a comedy entitled “Here Comes the Circus’’ ; an item of the Magic Carpet scries, “Havana Ho,” and two Pox News reels showing many events of topical interest.