Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 98, 29 April 1935, Page 10

Palmerston Picture Programmes

KOSY THEATRE ANOTHER TWO-STAR PROGRAMME. 1 Paul Muni is showing at the Kosy Theatre to-day in “Bordertown,” a Warner Bros, production that is said to he the most colourful and the most powerful drama in which he has yet appeared. The picture, suggested by Carroll Graham’s best selling novel, is set for the most part in a resort town on the United States border, a picturesque community, wild and lawless, the rendezvous of rogues, gamblers, outcasts, adventuresses, and also, the trysting place of American millionaires and bored society women. The plot is crammed with thrilling action, intense dramatic situations, tremendous suspense and a most unusual triangular romance. In “Bordertown," Muni has the role of a foreign youth fired with inordinate ambition, who drudges at hard labour all day and studies law at night, only to be disbarred for attacking an opposing lawyer. Dauntless, he goes to a border town, where he rises to riches and power in the community as the proprietor'of the most fashionable night club and gambling resort. Two women play a vital part in hi 3 life, one a fiery adventuress, the wife of his partner. The role is played by Bette Davis, who is so much in love with the handsome youth she murders her husband in the hope of winning his affections. Margaret Lindsay has the other leading feminine role, as a rich and bored American society woman who takes a passing fancy to him. An imposing cast of British stage and screen playerd have been assembled in “Something Always Happens,” a romantic comedy produced by Warner Bros, at their Teddington studios. lan Hunter, who has recently signed a contract to make pictures in Hollywood, has the leading role as a happy-go-lucky motor salesman who, by personality and push, rises to an important automobile magnate. Of late, lan’s performances have been outstanding, hence the attention of the Hollywood movie moguls, and his piece of acting in /‘Something Always Happens” is no exception. Winsome Nancy O’Neil has the role of lan’s sweetheart and secretary.

REGENT SATURDAY “THE GOOD FAIRY” Margaret Sullavan has brought to the screen the role . of Lu. the little theatre usherette, created by Helen Hayes in the stage version of “The Good Fairy,” the Ferenc ■Molnar play. Miss Sullavan brings to the role a charm, wistfulness and vivid personality which will make the character •of “The Good Fairy” immortal in film history, as Miss Hayes made it in the theatre. “The Good Fairy,” which shows at the Regent Theatre to-day, was first produced in America at the Henry Miller Theatre in New York, in 1931. It is a spicy, delightfully-audacious comedy, which does not go too far in recording the romantic career of the unsophisticated usherette.- who, captivated by tire heroic characters she sees on the screen,

dedicates her life to doing good for others. And so, with all the high ideals of a Sir Galahad and a Don Quixote,' the lovely Lu starts out on her first “good fairy” adventure. "The Good Fairy” was presented in New York after triumphant showings in 193 Oin Budapest, where it was created, and in Germany. Franzislca Gaal played the Helen Hayes role in Budapest, while in the Max Reinhardt production in Germany, the good fairy was played by Grete Moshiem. In his characterisation of Lu, the man who was responsible for such sophisticated plays as “Liliom,” “The Phantom Rival.” “The Swan" and “The Guardsman,” has epitomised the Cinderella ideal, cleverly intermingled with his avowed beliefs that all women are congenital liars; that they are splendid actors and generally ruinous to, the happiness of men. And in “The Good Fairy,” the happiness of three men comes near to being wrecked under the magical spell of Molnar’s heroine.