Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 274, 22 November 1934, Page 10

Palmerston Picture Programmes

SPECTACULAR SCENES IN / “WONDER BAR.’’ REGENT'S PICTURE IS BRILLIANT. In making tho “stupendous spectacle” type of picture, it must be conceded that Hollywood producers know their job. In making "Wonder Bar,’’ a Paris musicale, which is now screening at tho Regent Theatre, Warner Bi'others-Flrst National have mado several scenes of which “stupendous spectacle” now becomes an almost inadequate description. The cleverness and ingenuity of a battalion of experts must have been concentrated in the production of these scenes, which are the most notable features of a remarkably entertaining film. And an army of actors and actresses is their material. Not very unusual, perhaps, when a large mixed chorus nimbly kicks and patters a speedy modern ballet on an ordinary stage, but when the setting gradually changes and becomes no less than a broad plain of moving figures, stretching as far as the eye can see, it undoubtedly has become extraordinary. When, however, the plain has turned into a vast leafy wood, through which the dancers still move rhythmically, it really has reached the “stupendously spectacular.” Designs foi-med by dancers and “shot” from far above prove very effective. Some brief “glimpses” of the Pearly Gates and of Heaven may not quite be in accord with our own ideas, but nevertheless they are most interesting. Apart from the settings, however, “Wonder Bar” has much else to offer. A plot, essentially dramatic in type, is woven through the picture, and mainly conceims Kay Francis, A 1 Jolson, and Dolores Del Rio. A 1 Jolson has plenty to sing about and, fortunately, seems to have lost that catch in his voice that made many of ills earlier attempts almost absurd. Dick Powell also sings. The dancing of Dolox-es Del Rio is delightful, and she has an able partner in Ricardo Cortez. In Louise Fazenda, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert, and Guy Kibbee, there is a first-rate comedy team. PALACE THEATRE. GEORGE ARLISS IN “VOLTAIRE." “Arliss”—“Voltaire” practically sums up the picture which is at present screening at the Palace Theatre, because Mr. George Arliss is unquestionably "Voltaire” and “Voltaire” is certainly Mr. George Arliss. It is a real delight to witness such character acting and it will remain a most pleasant memory in the minds of the particularly largo audience pi-esent last evening. There are many who are pi-epared to say that George Arliss is at his very best in “Voltaire," but it is difficult to make compai'isons, as Arliss has so many big pictures to his credit that one begins to expect a masterpiece in every pi-oduction, and remarkable enough, up to the present time we have certainly i-eceived that. As the cunning, scheming Frenchman, who controls tho destiny of the whole Empix-e by maintaining an illicit and unsavoury fi-iendship with the King’s mistress, but whose whole life’s work is to lift the load from the masses and better tho lot of the poorer classes—George Arliss Is in his element. An exceptionally good cast of characters gives the star admirable support. "Voltaire” can be classed as ono of the screen’s triumphs of that so] triumphant actor, Mr. Georgo Arliss. An entirely new supporting px-ogramme includes tho first and only film taken of the assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia and M. Barthou at Marseilles. This is shown with all the details and is certainly a remai'kable picture of the recent event which stirred the whole world.

KOSY THEATRE “UNCERTAIN LADY” Two favourite film stars, Edward Everett Horton and Genevieve Tobin, head the cast in “Uncertain Lady,” an unusual film ,of the eternal ' triangle which is now screening at the Kosy Theatre. The picture reveals what happens when a modern, sophisticated business woman loses her husband to another girl. She is quite willing to let her husband go, but expects another in return.That, at least, is what she says, and as she is too busy “to lurk and lure” a new cKa vxlaaaa uam defaulting

STATE THEATRE “PURSUED” AND “JUDGE PRIEST” A BRILLIANT PROGRAMME ■Will Rogers—in tho most human and lovable rolo he has yet played! That is the screen fare promised at the State Theatre to-day and to-morrow, wtiere Will's latest Pox picture, “Judge Priest” will have its final screenings. According to advance reports, the star has never been so well suited ns by this screen character, , the shrewd, kindly but strong-willed Kentucky jurist, who is already famous in the stories of Irvin S. Cobb, perhaps America’s most noted humorist. With his characterisation of the “Judge,'’ Rogers is said to add a new and original figure to his already famous gallery, which includes such memorable portraits as David Harurn, Mr. Skitcli, Dr. Bull and the Connecticut Y’ankee. This time he plays a wise old fellow who, following the Civil War, has settled down in nis native Kentucky village with his Confederate cronies. The story opens in his court room on a lazy spring day in 1890. One does not expect drama in a village, perhaps, but in “Judge Priest” plenty of it transpires, according to advance accounts. The Judge's nephew, a novice lawyer, and his sweetheart, a girl whose birth is shrouded in mystery, figure importantly in tho touching and dramatic story. Always there is Judge Priest, who dilutes justice with the milk of human kindness and who helps to shoulder the troubles of the town. The notable cast includes Tom Brown, Anita Louise, Rochelle Hudson, Henry B. Walthall, Daviil Landau and Stepin Fetchit. Enacted amidst the colourful sui-roundings of a copra plantation in the Dutch East Indies, "Pursued,” described as a love drama of the tropics, packed with thrills, is the second featui'e on tho programme. In the cast are Rosemary Ames, Victor Joit, Pert Kelton and Russell Hardie, with George Irving and Torben Meyer in support. “Stand Up and Cheer.”

Pilmdom's most lavish contribution to the entertainment of the world comes to the Stato Theatre on Saturday in Pox Film’s musical extravaganza, “Stand Up and Cheer!” It is a production that supersedes anything of its kind ever produced, combining the quintessence of players, stoi’y, dialogue, music, sets, costumes and feminine pulchritude. With Warner Baxter heading the cast of prominent players, "Stand Up and Cheer!” presents such outstanding perfox-mers of the screen, the stage and radio as Madge Evans, James Dunn, Sylvia Proos, John Boles, Nigel Bruce, Arthur Byron , Shirley Temple, Ralph Morgan, Jimmy Dallas, “Axxnt Jemima,” Mitchell and Durant, Nick Foran and Stepin Fetchit. , The film was produced for Pox by Wirffield Sheehan, in association with Lew Brown. The dances were staged by Sammy Lee. The musical numbers, destined to be tho song hits of 1934, were wi-itten by Lew Brown and Jay Gorney. They are: ”Our Last Night Together,” "Baby Take a Bow," "I’m Laughing,” “Bi'oadway’s Gone Hill Billy,” and “Out of the Red.” Five breath-taking spectacles, to which each of these song-hits is the musical accompaniment, are yours as only part of the most elaborate musical pi-oductlon ever to have come out of Hollywood. It is eoixicthing to see!

spouse the duty of finding his successor. His efforts axe not very successful, and when the lady herself takes a hand in the game tiie house party at which most of the action takes place assumes quite a new aspect. For the wife knows a very wealthy and very attractive shipowner (Paul Cavanagh) and when he comes to the rescue thero is a change all round. The husband is not so certain that he wants a new wife, the new wife is quite certain that she prefers the millionaire, and the present wife begins to have doubts about the success of her little plan. Then the party breaks up and there Is a quite unexpected ending. In the large cast supporting Horton and Miss Tobin, who play the parts of the couple around which the action revolves, are Renee Gadd, Mary Nash, George Meeker and Dorothy Peterson. The supporting bill includes the latest newsreels, a cartoon film, “The Gingerbread Boy,” a novelty number, a comedy, and the first pictures of the assassination of King Alexander of Yugoslavia.