STATE THEATRE—TO-MORROW

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 64, 17 March 1936, Page 12

STATE THEATRE—TO-MORROW

“WHISPERING SMITH SPEAKS’’ Instead of riding a loping horse over the plains, George O’Brien is riding the iron horse over the singing rails in his new adventure picture for Fox, “Whispering Smith Speaks,” which comes tomorrow to the State Theatre. Swiftpaced and filled with the zest for adventure that has made O'Brien a film favourite, "Whispering Smith Speaks” pictures the adventures of a rail-road magnate’s son when he undertakes to become a rail man himself. In the course of his adventurous wandering O’Brien chances across a dilapidated old railroad which has a beautiful girl for a general manager. Fascinated by this unusual situation, O’Brien decides to stay, although he is only a lowly track-walker. In time, however, O'Brien gets his chance to outsmart his father, Frank Sheridan. The old rail mogul is negotiating secretly to obtain control of the old road on which O’Brien works, because ho knows that Miss Ware’s farm contains valuable deposits of minerals. Through the plot and counterplot, O’Brien cleverly weaves his way, until he finally races his opponents to Detroit in a wildly careering engine. In a showdown, ho forces his father to admit that his son is a capable railroading man after all, and wins the hand of Miss Ware. Kenneth Thomson is prominently featured as O’Brien’s rival, and Spencer Charters and Vic Potel are amusing as his two railroading companions. Directed by David Howard, the picture was adapted from the novel by Frank 11. Spearman. “Navy Wife.”

A dramatic story, rich in romance, studded with bright comedy and revealing for the first time life in the medical and nursing corps of the United States Navy, “Navy Wife” opens to-morrow at the 'state Theatre. Claire Trevor heads the film cast. Ralph Bellamy, one of the screen’s most popular young actors, has the romantic lead opposite Miss Trevor. Others prominently cast are Warren Hymer, Ben Lyon, Jane Darwell, George Irving and Kathleen Burke. “Navy Wife” is the screen version of Kathleen Norris’ popular novel, “Beauty's Daughter,” and was directed by Allan Dwan under the supervision of Sol M. Wurtzel. Miss Trevor enacts the role of a young nurse who, against her better judgment, falls in love with Ralph Bellamy, a physician in the naval hospital. She accepts his proposal of marriage knowing that he is still in love with the memory of his dead wife. She believes that love will come to him after marriage. Miss Trevor soon learns that the memory of a dead wife is almost too much to overcome. Then, when she returns from a trip with the daughter, she discovers that another woman, Kathleen Burke, has come into his life. But a surprise-filled climax serves to bring understanding, real love and happiness to the young couple. Hymer is cast in the comedy role of a “tough” sailor with a romantic attachment for Miss Trevor.