Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 248, 21 October 1935, Page 5

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE. ".MiSSISSIPPI," STARRING CROSBY AND FIELDS IN MUSICALS. Tho screen’s leading- exponents of song, comedy and beauty—Bing Crosby, W. C. Fields and Joan Bennett, respectively—vie for honours in Paramoilnt’s “Mississippi,” tho new and gala musical film, v screening to-day at the Regent Theatre, and comes off in a glorious tio that makes the picture a flood of mirth and melody. "Mississippi" is a story of Dixie in the days when the ladies wore crinoline- and the gentlemen did not enjoy their morning coffee unless it had been preceded by a.duel. Into this colourful and somewhat dangerous country comes Bing Crosby, a youth from Philadelphia, to claim tho hand of his lady, played by Gail Patrick. He will not duel with his rivals for the lady’s affection, not because; he is afraid, but because he thinks the custom ridiculous. Crosby is branded coward by the others and goes off with Fields, the captain of a river steamer in order to escape their taunts. Under .the tutelage of the blustering -old braggart, Crosby rapidly develops into a. gun-fighting terror, billed all along the river as the singing terror. The comedy climax of "Mississippi" occurs when Crosby discovers that he has not loved Gail Patrick but her little sister, Joan Bennett, all along. And she despises, anyone who duels! So Crosby and Fields have to go to work undoing his '■reputation all over again. Crosby, who has’ shown- definite talent as a comedian in his recent pictures, develops into a superb partner for Fields, at the top of his form in "Mississippi.” And Crosby's score, composed by RiciTard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is just as chock-full of hits as "She Loves Me Not” and "Here Is My Heart” were. The highspot of tlie film is Crosby’s singing of that grand old Stephen Foster melody, "Swanee," with the assistance of a negro chorus. Queenis Smith, singing star of the Broadway stage, makes her debut in a supporting role of "Mississippi.” Melodic diversion is furnished by the singing of the Cabin Kids, who are featured with Claude Gillingwater, John Miljan and Fred Kohler, appearing in the supporting, dramatic roles.

'• KOSY THEATRE THRILLING MELODRAMA OF THE SECRET SERVICE "PUBLIC HERO No. 1" Dramatic details of the Government secret service in its war on organised crime; the heroism of the Federal men in their perilous work, and the trailing of a public enemy, in a story based on actual facts and cases, are the thrills of "Public Hero No. 1,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s new thriller now playing at the Kosy Theatre. A drama immortalising the unknown soldiers of peace in their relentless war against organised criminals, the story is. aside from being breathless entertainment, an eye-opener to the public, in showing intimately what goes on in the struggle on the side of the law daiiy. Chester Morris as the adventurous Jeff Crane, and Joseph Calleia as the fugutive crime overlord, are the centres about .which the amazing plot revolves. Lionel Barrymore adds both comedy and pathos in the principal, character role, as the strange 01d... physician, tool of the underworld, and blande Jean Arthur, with Morris,'provides the romantic interest. The! excellent ..cast also. features Paul Kelly, Lewis —Stone, Paul Hurst and George E. Stone. The sensational prison break, the stampede of a thousand convicts, the breath-taking operation sequence. where the doctor performs a transfusion in the crook’s hide-out, the raid on the gangster stronghold, running battles' between fast automobiles, and other exciting details embellish the story as the audience follows the Federal men in their dangerous task. The story is an original by J. Walter Ruben and Wells Root, founded entirely on actual facts. One of the amazing details is the resort of tho crook to plastic surgery as a disguise, that, however, fails to elude the

vigilance of Uncle Sam’s watchdogs. The excellent supporting programme includes newsreel, Pete Smith oddity and the latest Laurel and Hardy comedy, "Live Ghosts."