Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 196, 21 August 1935, Page 3

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE “THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL" Made famous by the pen of Baroness Orczy, “The Scarlet Pimpernel” has at last come to tho screen in tho picture of that name which commenced an extended season at tho Regent Theatre last night. In it, all tho desperate thrills of the French Revolution are wrapped up in the romantic and dangerous deeds of that prince of adventurers, “The Scarlet Pimpernel." Tho picture follows closely the spirit of tho book, and none of tho excitement is lost. The long film is an Alexander Korda production, and as such has the stamp of excellence, surpassing oven “The Private Life of Henry VIII” and "Catherine the Great.” “The Scarlot Pimpernel” also is a period film, the theme and scenes being set in tho time of the French Revolution, and the costumes, with their old-world charm, hark back to the days of the snuff box and silken hose, when fashion produced dandies who still were men at heart, and English gentlemen at that. As Sir Percy Blakeney and his unsuspected counterpart, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Leslie Howard gives a masterly portrayal of foppishness, gallantry, charm and elusiveness. Indeed, Mr. Howard is the Pimpernel come to life. In this film he has achieved the most outstanding performance of his screen career, and as the Pimpernel he will be remembered. Merle Oberon, whose unusual typo of beauty could almost be termed exotic, and who also had the feminine lead in the “Folies Bergere,” makes a winsome Lady Blakeney. Nigel Bruce plays the role of tho Prince Regent, while the fiendish Cliauvelin is impersonated by Raymond Massey. The settings of the absorbing story have been lavishly staged without theatrical "improvements,” tho photography is flawless, and no effort lias been spared to produce scenes remarkable for their loveliness, and even more remarkable for their tense reality, as when tho guillotines of Paris and Boulogne are seen, reminiscent of the dark days when annihilations were episodes and so many unoffending aristocrats fell victims of mob rule. Heads do not, ot' course, fall into the basket while tho slatterns of Paris yell with glee without dropping a stitch of their knitting, but tho sceito is a gripping illusion.

ROSY THEATRE “DRAGON MURDER CASE” MOST BAFFLING OF MYSTERY THRILLERS Never has that master of mystery dramas, S. S. Van Dine, woven a plot with moro thrilling and hair-raising incidents set in background of eerie detail that makes cold thrills creep up and down the spine, than in "The Dragon Murder Case,” the First National picture which opens at tire Kosy Theatre to-day. Warren William, portraying the now internationally famous fiction detective, Philo Vance, has created a character with which he undoubtedly will be forever linked, for William is Vance, and Vance is William. Tho story is weird enough to pleaso the, most avid collector of screen thrills. A man dives into a swimming pool from which there is no outlet except through a very fine grating, and disappears. Even draining the pool fails to disclose the body. But there! are found strange tracks like those that might have been made by the talons of a prehistoric monster. Surrounding the pool is a legend that it is the lair of a dragon which seizes and destroys unwary swimmers. Into this situation comei the police and Philo Vance, in time to; prevent a couple of other murders and eventually to solve the first Two other great actors have previously portrayed Philo Vance. These were William Powell and Basil Rathbone. But William seems to be a closer embodiment of tho character than either of the others. Eugene Pallette again, plays the part of Sergeant Heath with his characteristic droll humour. Robert McWade also is once more District Attorney Markham, and Dr. Doremus returns in the person of Etienne Girardot who created the role. Margaret Lindsay is tho leading lady and a most charming and.capable murder suspect sho

pi eves t.o be. Lyle Talbot has tho role of a half-breed college type Indian with whom. Margaret is in love. Robert Barrat, Helen Lowell, Dorothy Tree, George E. Stone, Arthur Aylesworth and William Davidson arc all noted film players, who always may be counted, on for finished and masterly performances. Others in cast who deserve mention are George Meeker, Robert Warwick and Charles Wilson. H. Bruco Humberstone directed and sustained tho suspense until tho' climax. The adaptation by Rian James is excellent as is the screen play by F. Hugh Herbert and Robert N. Lee. “The Dragon Murder Case” is pure melodrama, but so excellently handled that even the suggestion of the supernatural is plausible. It will bo enjoyed oven by those who pride themselves upon their ability to solve screen mysteries at the end of the first reel. Hero’s one that will fool them. Tho supports include a newsreel, musical revue, a Master Melody and comedy.