PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7105, 14 March 1933, Page 8

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

PALACE THEATRE. "THE FIRES OF FATE.” “The Fires of Fate,” which will conclude this evening at tho Palace Theatre, is a stirring Conan Doyle story adapted by Dion Titheradgc, and worked out with the assistance of the Royal Air Forco and the Sudanese Camel Corps, which gives a clue to the picture. Colonel Egcrton has been given a year to live owing to an affection of the spine due to an old wound. He is contemplating a quick way out, when he is invited to join Sir William Royden, his medical man, and his brother, on a trip up the Nile. On the river steamer ho meets an old friend in Nora Belmont, and her two friends, Byrne and Kay Byrne. The latter falls in lovo with Egcrton, but lie dare not reciprocate, though his feelings run that way. The programme also includes some charming views of the picturesque scenery of Capetown and the Capo of Good Hope, and a remarkably funny comedy entitled ‘‘Strip, Strip Hooray.” ‘‘The Phantom of Crestwood.”

E.K.O. Radio Pictures’ “The Phantom of Crestwood,” will come to the Palaco Theatre to-morrow afternoon. Blonde, vibrant-voiced Karen Morley plays Jenny Wren, a girl with a beautiful body and an ugly soul, whoso sense of tho ironical prompts her to stage a house party in a spooky old mountain mansion to which she has in the style to which they accustomed her, invited tho men who have supported her. She is about to extract a final sum of money from each of her former supporters and to arrange the marriage of her young sister, played by Asita Louise, to a scion of wealth and position, when a feathered dart punctures her brain. From then on unusual situations, full of compelling interest, follow one after another, pointing suspicion and guilt at practically, every member of the party. The supporting programme includes “Shocks From the Third Test/’ being exclusive pictures of this much discused match, attributed to tho adoption of the “Leg Theorya comedy entitled “The Bride’s Bereavement”; a cartoon, “Feather Follies”; a travelogue, “Empire of the Sun,” and a News. REGENT THEATRE.

“BLONDE VENUS,” STARRING

MARLENE DIETRICH.

Marlene Dietrich’s latest starring Paramount picture, “Blonde Venus,” continues to attract excellent business to the Regent Theatre. The picture, directed by Josef von Sternberg, who discovered tho glamorous star three years ago, and has been in charge of production of her four previous Eng-lish-languago films, presents her in the role of a woman who, to save her husband’s life, accepts the love of another man. At first, cold-blooded about the proposition, she soon finds she is in love with her benefactor. Her love for her young son, however, binds her to her husband. When her husband discovers tlio situation, he orders her from their home, and she is compelled to make a decision that leads to a highly dramatic climax. Herbert Marshall, noted star of the dramatic stage, plays the role of the husband, with Gary Grant, promising young screen player, as the lover. Dickie Moore is the son. There is a worthy array of subsidiary films, fully up to the standard filmgoers have come to expect from the management of the Regent Theatre. These include: A 'Tom Howard comedy entitled “Breaking Even,” an old-time novelty, a screen song, “Just a Gigolo,” and a British Overseas News. “His Wife’s Mother,” An Uproarious English Farce.

A very human problem,, ever before us, is dealt with in a joyfully humorous and competent maimer in “His Wife’s Mother,” the 8.1. P. comedy, which comes to the Eegent Theatre on Thursday evening next. The mother-in-law, in this case played by Marion Dawson, is faced with almost undeniable pre/.f that her son-in-law was elsewhere than where she saw him, but remains adamant until an American detective, a Herman crook and a deaf colonel have all conspired to prove otherwise. Jerry Verno, as the son-in-law impersonates a non-existent double, and with the help of Joy, his friend’s valet, robs his wife and mother of their jewels, plants them on Iris unsuspecting father-in-law and succeeds as a notorious criminal in making a miraculous getaway only to reappear in the nick of time as his rightful self, thus saving both his happiness and the day. Gus McNaughton as Joy is called upon to don three totally different guises in the course of this film and succeeds hot only in deceiving the mother-in-law but the audience as well. In viow of the tremendous popularity of tins production’s predecessor (“My Wife’s Family'"), it is suggest, ca that intending patrons make reservations as early as possible at the Central Booking Office, ’phone 7178, and thereby avoid disappointment. KOSY THEATRE. “JACK O’ LANTERN.” Three leading men, in the persons ot Arthur Wontner, Edmund Gwenn and Gordon Barker, vie with one another for the coveted honours in the mystery drama, “Jack o’ Lantern.” The picture’s greatest claim to fame is the appearance of the three above-mentioned notables in the one picture, although the story, auiTpted from the stage play of the same name, is tensely exciting. Wontner, Gwenn and Barker, are all famous character men of the British stage, and it is significant that each has scored in talkies. Wontner was the “perfect Sherlock Holmes” in “The Sleeping Cardinal”; Gwenn gave a memorable initial film performance in “The Skin Game”; and Barker has had a dozen great roles, including the rather shady butler in the comedy, “The Sport of Kings,” Chapter 11 of the serial, “The Jungle Mystery/” is included with the supporting items. To-morrow’s Attraction—“Mo and My Gal.” Joan Bennett and Spencer Tracy, who scored a composite success in “She Wanted a Millionaire,” are again cofeatured in “Me and My .Gal,” .the

comedy-romance coming to the Kosy Theatre to-morrow. The story pivots around the adventures of a youDg New York detective whose flirtation with a shop girl leads to the arrest of a merciless bank robber and killer and a reward of 10,000 dollars as a wedding present. The cast supporting the featured players includes Marion Burns, Henry B. Walthrall, J. Farrell Macdonald, George Walsh, Noel Madison and Adrian Morris. “Me and My Gal” is based on an original story by Barry Conners and Philip Klein and was prepaid for tho screen by Arthur Kober. Raoul Walsh directed it. The featurettes in support of this attraction include two Fox News Reels of topical interest, “Burlesque,” and a musical number, “Mississippi Showboat.”