Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 46, 25 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 Bung, 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 Bung 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, ’phone 7175. KOSY THEATRE "HERE COMES THE BAND”Ted Bewis, high-hatted troubadour, and his merry mad musicians, who have established innumerable all-time boxoffice records on their recent tour of America’s theatres, come to the screen in a blaze of glory in “Here Comes the Band.” Romance is set to melody and mirth rides high on wings of song in this love story set to music, which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced as one of its most elaborate extravaganzas, and which comes to-morrow to the Kosy Theatre. One of the most unusual musical features ever attempted in motion pictures is the courtroom sequence, where singing cowboys from the plains, negro spirituals from . below the Mason and Diron line, hill-billies from the Ozarks, and other singers of American folk songs join in a vocal presentation to establish the rightful ownership of a song "Headin’'Home,” the key number of the picture, written by Herbert Stothart with lyrics by Ned Washington. Other outstanding musical numbers in the picture include "Roll Along Prairie Moon,” by Ted Fiorito, Albert von Tilzer and Harry Macpherson; the big production number, "You’re My Thrill,” by Bane and Washington, in which Ted Bewis sings with “Spanky” McFarland, “Our Gang” child comedian. The story of “Here Comes the Band” starts with the end of the war, with Bewis piaying a regimental bandmaster who goes into civilian life and becomes a noted orchestra conductor. Others in the band go into various walks of life, but on Armistice Hay they get together. A boy writes a great song, which is stolen by a publisher. The girl who loves him, the musicians who,have faith in him, and the old army band, get together and offer musical evidence in court that proves his ownership to the number. Beautiful Virginia Bruce, following a series of outstanding portrayals in many recent •M-G-M pictures, PMs JJie heroine ang

STATE THEATRE “TOP HAT.” Even better 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 Irving; Berlin, Asaire and Miss Rogers unquestionably set a new high for screen musicals in this picture, which is now showing to tremendous crowds for an extended run at the State Theatre. 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 “Carioca” 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 Bovely 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, 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” teils 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 Eondon, 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 funny. The later sequences of the story have the Bido 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.

Harry Stockwell, one of America’s foremost baritones, is the singing hero. Ted Healy and Nat Pendleton keep up their comical feud, with the elephantine Pendleton as a piccolo player whose art is constantly ridiculed by the disparaging Healy, who tries to get music out of a clarinet. Second Attraction. "Hide-Out,” the new M-G-M comedyromance, is a show that is as clean as a whistle, and as such holds great appeal for every member of the family. Its action is well sustained throughout with comedy stressed, both in direction and action. Blessed with a swell story and W. S. Van Dyke’s expert direction, the players really “go to town” in their respective roles. As the crash, lady-killing but withal human and likeable big-city racketeer, Robert Montgomery has a role which fits him like a tailored suit. It’s Montgomery as the fans like him—which is 'nuff said! Maureen O’Sullivan, beautifully photographed, is thoroughly charming as the sweet unwordly country lass, and makes a splendid foil for the jaunty, wise-cracking Montgomery. The supporting cast boasts a number of exceptionally effective character portrayals. The performances of Edward Arnold, Elizabeth Patterson, young Mickey. Rooney, Henry Armetta and Herman Bing are particularly, eoiabje*--