Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 275, 21 November 1935, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE ' *’LES MISERABLES”—TO-MORROW Fresh laurels were heaped on the heads of Fredric March and Charles Laughton as co-stars of Darryl Zanuck’s stirring production of Victor Hugo’s "Les Miserables.” A truly great picture, handsomely mounted and (lawlessly directed by Richard Bolesjawski, the latest 20th Century production follows the eventful life of Jean Valjean, who suffered live years of torture in the galleys of a French prison ship. Ho stole a loaf of bread and found his whole life darkened by the shadow of the Law, in the person of Javert, a fanatical detective who has dedicated himself to carry out that Law to the letter. March does the finest -work of his career as the unfortunate Valjean and Laughton is superb as Javert. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, the celebrated English stage and screen star, is splendid, making his American screen debut in the role of the kindly Bishop Bienvenu who starts the brutalised ex-convict on the road to a noble and prosperous life. Rochelle Hudson, as Jean Valjean’s ward, Cosette, and John Beal, as her sweetheart, Marius, furnish the love Interest which offers a counterpart to Valjean's desperate adventures in ills life-long attempts to evade the relentless Javert. The film is released through United Artists. "Les Miserables" lsi magnificent entertainment, full of the colour and passion of the novel which millions have read and will enjoy the privilege of seeing so brilliantly transcribed to the screen. If Hollywood actors were rated according to the system now prevalent among the country’s film critics, Fredric March would be rated as a three stand-in star. A stand-in, as you probably aro aware, is a person of approximated the same height as the star who stands in front of the camera while technicians arrange lights, focus cameras and C > the innumerable things that arc necessary before photographing a scene. It was necessary at one time to have throe such men working on the set at the same time. This was required because March played two different characters in the scene, but not at the same time, however. The third chap was accounted for by the fact that one of the scenes called for the cameras to shoot the back of one of these characters while March in the other character faced the camera. KOSY THEATRE “The Glass Key.” Dashiell Hammett's “The Glass Key,” la worthy successor to his phenomenally popular "The Thin Man,” is at the Kosy Theatre to-day. With George Halt in the starring role and Edward Arnold, Claire Dodd, Rosalind Keith and Charles Ilichman featured, the picture finds an ingenious solution to a murder that threatens to blow up the political structure of u big* oily. .Edward Arnold, the city’s political boss, is supporting Charles Richman for a senatorial post when the latter’s son is killed. Rumour lays the responsibility for the murder at Arnold s door. Arnold is in the throes of an autumnal love for the boy’s sister; the boy has jilted Arnold’s own daughter, and witnesses are ready to testify that tho two were seen arguing. Only Raft, Arnold’s trusted friend and henchman, believes in the politician’s innocence. To find tho murderer, Raft pretends to cooperate with Arnold’s enemies, is caught and subjected to fiendish torture. He escapes without solving the murder. Then, just as ho is about to give up the pursuit as a bad job, he stumbles on the clue that leads to the person least suspected. Tho climax of tho film shows how Raft, traps the criminal into a confession, clears Arnold and wins the love of his daughter. Frank Tuttle directed the picture, which also features Guinn Williams and Tammany Young. “Ready For Love.” Richard Arlen and tho young English actress, Ida. Lupino, will bo seen in the new Paramount picture. “Ready for Love,” at tho Kosy Theatre. Supporting tho two young stars Is Marjorie Rambeau, one of America’s stage and screen’s bestknown character actresses. “Ready for Love” tells tho story of a girl who unwittingly loves her reputation. Instead of being overcomo by the apparent disaster, sho turns it to her advantage. She is headstrong, gay and likeable, but she refuses to allow a bad narno to Interfere with her activities. Even tho young editor of tho local paper plays up the scandal in which she appears as the central figure until he falls in love with her. Then he is forced to change his attack and instead of fighting against her, he

STATE THEATRE TO-DAY SPARKLING MUSICAL COMEDY They sing tho season’s catchiest tunes, step its gay dances, tell Broadway’s most happy-go-lucky success story in RKORadio’s tuneful, mirthful romance, “Hooray for Love," which opens to-day at the State Theatre for a limited season of two days. Against a background of smart cosmopolitan Sets is projected a regular kaleidoscope of entertainment. Ann Sothern and Gdne Raymond play the leads m this charming story of two ambitious youngsters out to win in the toughest game in tho world —the theatre. They try a little of everytliing, including night club performances ancl radio, before Gene finally manages to present Ann as the star -of his first big revue. In a great city’s smartest night club, a stunning set, featured bv Illumined glass panels decorated in dancing figures, a glamorously gowned Ann sings tho amusing nonsenso song, "Palsy Walsy,” accompanied by a chorus of Vi peppy girls. Backstage in a big broadcasting station, the world can see “how it’s done,” sis Ann sings to a listening world the romantic air, "I’m In Love All Over Again.” Most fascinating of all, four great specialty acts are staged for the pair’s musical revue. Maria Gambarelli, world-famed ballerina, leuds the eiisemblo in a graceful ballet. Bill Robinson and Jeni Le Gon, against an amusing black and white Harlem background, prove—to the tune of “I’m Livin’ in a Great Big Way”—that they’s tlio all-time, leaders of the world’s tap dancers. Ann, gowned in shimmering black, takes the stage again to sing "You’re An Angel,” with a two-plano accompaniment. Here tho performance is swung into a smashing finale, a gay whirl of dancing, singing girls in daring gold costumes, led by Anil in a golden gown. With the entire company they sing the theme hit, “Hooray for Love,” bringing down tho curtain for botli revuo and picture in a brilliant climax. Comedy in tho story is contributed by Port Kelton, who is cast as a wisecracking chorus girl, and by Thurston Hull and Georgina Caine in tho roles of an old-time thesplan and a wealthy widow, respectively, and by "Fats” Waller, radio favourite. “The 39 Steps”—Saturday Next. One of the greatest spy mystery stories ever written was Joint Buchan’s “The Thirty-Nine Steps,” coming on Saturday to the State Theatre, and tho author paid graceful tributes to the adapters and producers of a real masterpiece of mystery in tho picture which is so aptly acted by Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll in the principal parts. The story opens in a music hall where the announcer Is faced by an excited audience, which becomes so unruly that a free fight culminates in tho sound of revolver shots. This is a signal for an unceremonious rush for all doors, a Canadian visitor rescues a girl front being crushed and pilots her out in safely. At her request ho takes her to his flat and learns tiiat sho is a spy on the track of a certain professor with a missing finger-joint, who plans to divulgo vital secrets of Britain’s air defences, and as she is later found stabbed to death, lie is impelled to take up her work. Learning that the base of tlic professor’s operations is in Scotland, he loses no time in following up the information imparted by tho girl, but, as soon as he arrives at Waverley station, ho finds himself deeply involved not only in the great spy mystery, but also in the responsibility for the girl’s death. Quito a different Madeleine Carroll will be seen in tho Gaumont-British production of John Buchan's “The Thirty-Nine Steps.” In her last two films she has been a marble Venus. In “The Thirty-Nine Steps” she never gets a chance to be either a Venus or marble. Sho is dragged over rocks and under fences; and handcuffed for a whole night to Robert Donat, whom (in tho film) sho hates. Others in tho cast include Lucy Mannheim, Godfrey Tearle, Peggy Ashcroft, John Laurie, Helen Ha ye, Frank Collier, Wylie Watson, Peggy Simpson, Kate Cutler, Hilda Trevelyan.

rallies to her defence. Ida Lupino plays tho girl who suffers tho scorn of gossips, endures tho shame of a , bad name until her ability to laugh in the face of trouble enables her to come out on top. Richard ! Arlen is cast as the editor who makes the most of a scandal until he is forced to [ eat his own words. In addition to Marjorie Rambeau, the supporting cast includes Beulah Bondi and Esther Howard. “Ready for Love” was directed by Marion Gerlng.