Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 45, 24 February 1936, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT TO-DAY. “CHINA SEAS’’ Putting thrills into pictures usually is one of the hardest jobs film folks have to face. They’ve all been, done a thousand times. But for “China Seas,” Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature, with Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Wallace Beery in the starring roles, showing to-day at the Regent Theatre, it was no trouble at all to evolve a brand new series of thrills, according to James K. McGuinness and Jules Furthman, who wrote the scenario. “The thrills wrote themselves because the locale is brand new,” McGuinness explained. It is said to be the first sound picture ever made with the wild south-east coast of Asia, last frontier of the sea, last stronghold of pirates, as the setting. The entire action of the story takes place aboard he wheezy old liner Kin Lung, as she beats down the coast from Hong Kong to Singapore, bearing- a strangely assorted group of white people in her cabins and a wild assortment of Malay gangsters in her forecastle. The plot deals with fierce loves, bitter hates, and dangerous intrigues, and is played against a background of tropical hurricanes and pirate raids. Storms batter the Kin Lung and all but disable her. Pirates capture her and torture Gable, her skipper. But the physical thrills only keep pace with the tempestuous human drama worked out between Gable, hard-bitten seafaring man; Miss Harlow, frank lady of the Oriental ports, who is not ashamed to show her love for Gable; and Beery, bluff trader who also -wants Miss Harlow’s affections. Box plans are now open at Collinson and Cunninghame’s, ’phono 7175.

ROSY THEATRE “MOSCOW NIGHTS” Showing To-day, “Moscow Nights,” beautifully directed by Anthony Asquith, is responsible for bringing to the screen three players who, by their magnificent performances in this film, reach the heights of stardom. Harry Baur appears as the peasant, Brioukow, giving a performance which sweeps across the screen with power and virility. His co-stars are Penelope Dudley Ward and Laurence Olivier. Penelope Dudley Ward has appeared but once before —in "Escape Me Never,” in which she showed definite promise—a promise which has more than been fulfilled. In "Moscow Nights” she leaps right into the forefront of British stardom with her beauty, charm, personality and histrionic ability. Although no newcomer to the screen, Laurence Olivier for the first time has a role worthy of his talents. The three stars are supported by a cast in which names such as Athene Seyler, Morton Selten, C. M. Hallard and Hay Petrie figure prominently. All preconceived notions of a spy are upset by Athene Seyler’s portrayal of Madame Sabline, a kindly old lady with a heart of stone. The story shows the 'clash of temperament between a peasant whose adoration for the beautiful Na-

STATE THEATRE "TOP HAT." Even belter than “The Gay Divorcee” and "Roberta”! That’s the ultimate in' praise which must be awarded "Top Hat,” newest of Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers co-starring musical pictures. Dancing and singing to the tunes and lyrics of Jrving Berlin, Asaire and Miss Rogers unquestionably set a new high for screen musicals in this picture, which opened for an extended run at the State .Theatre on Saturday. As was to be expected, the two stars introduce a number of sensational new dances. These are climaxed by the Italian flavoured “Piccolino," which is their completely satisfying answer to public demand for a successor to "Carioea” and the "Continental.” Their singing, too, is very pleasing and in general they invest their characterisations with inimitable verve and appeal. There are five big song hits, "Isn’t it a Lovely Day?” "The Piccolino,” "Cheek to Cheek,” "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” and “No Strings.” Splendid support is accorded by a comedy cast which has seldom been matched on stage or screen. It includes. Helen Broderick, 1 brilliant comedienne from the stage, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes and Eric Blore, the butler of “The Gay Divorcee.”- This crew does not let comedy drop for an instant. Blending romance with gay comedy, “Top Hat” tells a light, thoroughly intriguing and at all times plausible story, with never a lag or a dull moment. Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont, Americans, meet In London, in a novel and amusing manner. It’s a case of love at first sight for Jerry, and he is not long in swaying Dale to his viewpoint. But through a natural mistake .Dale comes to believe that Jerry is the husband of her best friend. And then things begin to happen, fast, furiously and furmy. Tho later sequences of the story have the Lido as their locale and action unfolds against settings of unrivalled colour and pictorial appeal. An exceptionally fine supporting programme includes "Our Beloved King Passes.” Events of note during the reign of the late King George V. A novelty support, "Neptune Mysteries,” a coloured cartoon. “Bird. Scouts,” State news and the popular Fox Aussie News.

tasha leads him to shower gifts on her which in his position as a, w r ar contractor he can afford, and a penniless young Russian officer who scarcely conceals his contempt of the peasant whom he regards as a profiteer. He becomes involved with his rival gambling and having no money feels that the only way an officer and gentleman can settle the debt' is—death. With this fatal decision comes the realisation of his love for Natasha. He is offered money to settle the debt and decides to avail himself of the generosity of the kindly old Madame Sabline. The climax is reached when he is arrested on a charge of being involved in a network of espionage of which she is the head.