Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7460, 10 May 1934, Page 10

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE “SHOUL DLADIES BEHAVE?” AND LAUREL AND HARDY IN "TWICE TWO” If one is to believe the story of "Should Ladies Behave?” which opened at the Resent theatre last night, there must be many lovelorn hearts, in America at least, which are broken, healed, rebroken and Tehealed, to the satisfaction of all concerned. But however romantically unreal the story may seem, the picture is enthralling entertainment from start to finish, and the interest is borne lightly along on the airy flights of fanciful comedy. Place a divorced philandress, a young impressionable girl who is seeking “experience”; a silly, giddy wife, a suave continental lover, and a suspicious husband together under one root for a, week-end, and the. stage is set. It is a drawing-room comedy, farcical to the extreme, but tempered with a tender love Interest which gives the story a piciuancy of its own. As the crabby and irritable husband, who despises hypocrisy and believes in saying outright what ho. thinks, with complete disregard for the other person’s composure of mind, Lionel Barrymore resents the Intrusion in his home of his sister-in-law and her clandestine lover. Rather than conceal his disapproval, he gives vent to his feelings bluntly. Complications arise when his wife, who treasures fond memories of her youth, imagines that her sister's lover wishes to elope with her. The web becomes more tangled when the daughter of 111 throws herself at the head of the cavalier and brooks no refusal. The lover, Conway Tearle, is too polite to say “No” to any of the amorous mis-chief-makers, and merrily starts _ the game of “round the mulberry bush.” Just how the problems are solved by the scheming of the husband and the daughter’s youthful admirer is revealed in a happy climax. Alice Brady, in the role of the dizzy wife, chatters her way through the picture to the brilliant repartee of her sister, Katherine Alexander, and Mary Carlisle uses her platinum beauty to perfection in her dainty role of the lovelorn daughter. A specially selected supporting programme includes Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their latest comedy riot “Twice Two”; a traveloguo and the latest Metrotono Newsreels. Plans are on view at the Central Booking Ofiicc where reservations can be made without extra charge.

NEW PALACE THEATRE "THE "SLEEPLESS NIGHTS” LAUGHTER LEADER BACK AGAIN A brilliantly conceived and originally staged, riotously funny musical comedy, starring Britain’s laughter leader, Stanley Lupine, is now screening at the Palace with excellent supporting featurottes. Entitled "Facing the Music,” the new B.i.P. production continues me laughs Lupino started in "Sleepless Nights,” and the music is a delightful treat in itself. The story, in tire main, concerns ihe adventures of a young man who is spurned by a girl with whom he falls in love at first sight during a performance of "Tristan and Isolde.” Ho visits her at her hotel, where he discovers she is the famous prime donna's niece, but life is thrown out; he disguises himself ns her chauffeur, but suffers an untimely discovery, and even volunteers as one of the soldiers’ chorus for "Faust,” but all to no effect. Eventually ho manages to insinuate himself into tho good graces of (lie prima donna herself, and as her publicity agent arranges a stunt by which she shall wear and have stolen tier own jewels during the singing of “The dowel Song.” The jewels are in truth stolen, but not by .Tael;, whose efforts to regain the jewels before the thief leayes the opera house are well-nigh breath-taking,, and as hilarious as anything yet seen on the screen. The fact that the chase after the thieves takes place during a performance of "Faust” gives the director a splendid opportunity of introducing some of Gounod's best-known numbers, superbly mounted. Jose Collins, the famous musical comedy star, makes a. brilliant talkie debut as the . prima donna, and Nancy Burn, a charming newcomer to the films, plays opposite Lupino. Lester Matthews, Dennis Hoey, Nancy Brown and Morris Harvey also play leading roles. An excellent supporting programme includes Fathetone Weekly and Pictorial, Cinesound News; championship wrestling showing London and George Zaharias, and the official Government film of the Treaty of Waitangl celebrations entitled "The Magna Charta of the Pacific.” Tills film,is exclusive to the Palace theatre. For reservations ’phone 7178 between 10 a.in. and 5 p.m., or after 0 p.m. ’phone 5050, when seats will be reserved free of charge.

STATE THEATRE. "I BELIEVED IN YOU" Exceeding- all expectations, Rosemary Ames, who portrays the leading feminine role In Fox Film’s latest release, “I Believed in You,” proved to be not only a fresh, beautiful and delightful personality, but one of the screen's most promising actresses. Her acting in this colourful, fast-moving production that opened at the State theatre yesterday, is indeed a revelation and a delight. Beautiful and unsophisticated, a young girl in the company of a labour agitator sets forth for Greenwich village, where he introduces her to a number of his artistic but poverty-stricken friends. While there, she meets and makes the acquaintance of a wealthy gentleman. He becomes impressed with her desire to raise sufficient funds to foster the ambitions of her friends and he agrees to back them for six months. If none of them makes good, tlie girl must consider the obligation as hers. Her friends squander the money foolishly, and she realises that they are all fakers. Thoroughly disillusioned, she is about to call quits, when she receives word that the book she has been writing has been accepted by a publisher. With the small cheque she has received, she goes to make her first payment on her obligation to her wealthy friend. He pleads with her to let him see her, but she insists on going on alone, though she permits him to feel that perhaps some day they may meet again. Besides the splendid performance of Miss Ames, the two leading men in the cast, Victor .Tory and John Boles, contribute excellent portrayals. The other members of the cast who acquit themselves with distinction are Gertrude Michael, George Meeker, Leslie Fenton, Joyzelle, Jed Prouty, Morgan Wallace and Luis Albernl. Irving Cummings, who selected Rosemary Ames for the role, did a fine piece of directorial work from the screen play by William Conselman.

KOSY THEATRE "I'M NO ANGEL” TROVES A DECIDED HIT .Mao West came back to town yesterday in a new Paramount picture, "I'm No Angel,” currently showing at the Kosy theatre. That is real news for picture fans. Miss West soared to the greatest heights of popularity any screen actress ever has attained, and revolutionised feminine styles as the result of her last film, "She Done Him Wrong.” The imagination fails in an attempt to ffjure what, her latest picture will accomplish. For it is superior to her first starring film in every respect—story, star performance, excellence of production, wisecracks and songs. Miss West gives a splendid performance—she portrays a colourful character, Tint, a hardboiled, carnival-dancer who becomes a New York sensation. On her rise to fame and fortune, she vamps any number of men, finally ending up besieged by her "tall, dark and handsome,” a society millionaire. Slio sings four sensational songs, dances the "midway a spectacular variation of the same shimmv which, wo are told, she herself originated; wears lovely clothes, and she scintillates with wit in an hilarious courtroom scene. Since the movies were in their swaddling clothes, no star ever has so completely dominated a film as Miss West, but Paramount cleverly'viirrounded her with a capable cast including Cary Grant, Kent Taylor, Edward Arnold and others. "I'm N'o Angel” was' made from a story by Miss West herself, I lie talc Tirn, a carnival dancer. Supporting foatureUes' of a very enjoyable nature include an item of the .Sporllight series, entitled "Tho March of the Champions”; a Popeye cartoon, ’"Blow .Me Down ; a Screen .Souvenirs’ old-time novelty, and a Paramount British News. The uproarious comedy, "Come Clean,” featuring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, will continue to be screened at the afternoon sessions only.