Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 291, 9 December 1936, Page 8

Palmerston Picture Programmes

• THF. REGENT TO-DAY. Jean Harlow, at one time In her career, expressed the fear that she had been typed. She was the "platinum blonde and it was her conviction that when her hair was snow white with the years she would still be remembered as the piatinum blonde. Miss Harlow appears now in “Suzy,” which shows at the Regent Theatre to-day, and her fears are dispelled. Her hair is the spun-honey tone that is her own and the role she plays is nothing like any that has gone betort. With Franchot Ton© and Caiy Grant a* war time' aviators, both of whom, incidents, she marries, Miss Harlow plays the part of an American chorus girl who is stranded in London just before the war breaks out. The two marriages piesent a problem which frequently affords conjecture among women. The girl marries the first man and in the intrigue of prewar days he is mysteriously shot under circumstances which indicate her guilt.. Believing him to be dead, the teriiiieJ girl runs away to Baris, and there, attei. a respectable lapse of time, remarries. Her second hushand. also a combat pilot, is unfaithful and she is correspondingly unhappy. Then the iirst man leappeais. The girl learns from Him that spies shot him and thaL her present husband is involved with them. Together, the P air , to warn him, but they are too late. The, spies already have killed him, £eal l , ° | tbai he will tell what he knows, fho matter is adjusted eventually, in a teat of spectacular heroism that not only, buries the unfaithful husband with honours, but brings the original lovers together in lasting peace. Miss Harlow is superb and the supporting players are. highly satisfactory. The picture has been cleverly directed by George Bitzmaunce. There is an excellent supporting programme which comprises a and a Pete Smith novelty enti Jed Bare Deviltry." Box plans are now open at (Jollinson and Cunninghams’s.

KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY •'BORDER FLIGHT” The staccato rattle of machine-gon fire, the roar and whine of speeding Planes ‘•dog-lighting" hign above ttae i'acini., and thrilling hand-to-hand battll "S ot guardsmen and smugglers run through Paramount’s “Border blight, whlcll opens to-day at the Kosy Theatre. The tilm tells a dramatic tale ot high aa venture and dangerous missions of the United States Coast Guard air corps. Officers of the air corps aided in the mm ing. The crack-up of two planes and the pancake landing of a third which has lost its landing gear add to the thrills of the story. Two members of the corps, John Howard and Grant Withers, become rivals for the attentions of the same girl, Frances Farmer. In the course of -he story one Is discharged from the service and joins a band of fur smugglers wit.i which it has been fighting. The dramatic finish comes in a pitched battle of the forces of the coast guard and the smugglers, closing in to hand-to-hand light. Last breath-taking shot is of a power dive of a piano directly on to the smugglers’ ship, bringing the wreckage of both in an explosion. "Border Fight” sustains its pace as a top bight thriller and gives an insight into a little-known branch of Government service as well. "Palm Springs.” Frances Langford portiays a pretty heiress whose heart is won by Smith Ballew, a guitar-plucking, torch-singing cowboy, in Walter Wanger's “Palm Springs, produced for Paramount and opening'today at the ‘ Kosy Theatre. In the comedy Frances discovers that her once wealthy father is penniless and she is forced to give up the man she loves to marry another wealthy enough to provide both for her and her parent. In the process of fortune hunting, she pretends to be an English noblewoman and almost succeeds in marrying a wealthy playboy when her devoted fatner discovers she is sacrificing herself to cave him from poverty. He denounces her as an imposter, and frustrates the marriage, leaving France% high and dry and husbandless. Frances Langford and Smith Baliew sing five songs written for the picture by Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, and Mack Gordon and Harry Revel. "Palm Springs” was directed by Aubrey Scotto,

STATE THURSDAY. "TWO'S COMPANY.” A new and most interesting comedy partnership is introduced to the screen in "Two's Company,” commencing at the State Theatre on Thursday. Ned Sparks, one of Hollywood's leading comedians, is co-starred with that inimitable Cockney humorist, Gordon Harker, and the result is one of tne funniest comedies turned out of Elstree for a long, long time. The story opens in'New York, B. G. Madison, a wealthy business man, is, reluctantly persuaded by his wife and daughter, and his lawyer, Al' (Ned Sparks), to take a health trip to England. -On board the liner they meet Muggridge (Gordon Harker), valet to the Earl' of Warke. Muggridge is travelling back to England jin, charge of his master’s, champion dog. Of course the Americans mistake Muggridge for the Eari. Madison's daughter, Julia (Mary Brian), makes a hit with the Earl's sou, Jeriy (Patric Knowles), and fun begins when the Eari (an ardent butterfly collector) gets into holts with the fiery Madison. Muggridge and the lawyer, Al, take up the cudgels, and it isn’t until the lovers, Jerry and Julia, are in need of support, that the two get to'getlier and smooth matters out to an . uproarious climax. Written by the 'famous J. B. Morton, the dialogue is I snappy and full of humour. The action !is fast and mirthful in the extreme, ! scenes especially between Gordon Barker and Ned Sparks being uproarious. The principal honours are taken by Sparks ;and Harker, and sterling support is given 'by Patric Knowles, Mary Brian, Henry Holman, Gibb McLaughlin and a fine cast of players. Bouquets should be handed to the producer, Paul Soskin, and the director, Tim Whelan, for giving us a : comedy that is a riot. "Two’s Company” shows at tho State Theatre on Thursday. MAYFAIR—TO-DAY i

"TO-DAY WE LIVE” ONE OF YEAR’S NOTABLE FILMS. The firs; joint appearance in a talking • film of Joan Cravviurd and Gary Cooper in "To-day We Live” is a happy event for movie-goers. Bor here is a picture which comuines romance of a stirring order with a clean-cut, forceful story oi the war, with the emphasis laid on the part played by the commanders of the dangerous British two-man torpedo boats, known as the "skeeter fleet.” Miss Crawford, who seems to grow more exciung in appearance with each succeeeding vehicle, has<ja striking role as the aristocratic English girl who cannot stand remaining at home whilst her brother and the two men who love her are at the front. Franchot Tone, the brother, and Robert Young, the childhood sweetheart, are members of the torpedo squad, while Gary Cooper, who is closest to her heart, enrols in the flying forces. In order to be near these three, Miss Crawford becomes a member of a British ambulance unit. Cooper Is reported killed, and his unexpected return precipitates a stirring dramatic climax. The picture is brought to a smashing close when two men give up their lives in the sinking of a ship in order to save Cooper for the girl whom they all love. In "Today We Live,” Miss Crawford offers what is probably the finest work of her entire career, and she is ably seconded by Cooper, the scenes between these two rising to a new high level in the way of fervid romance. Robert Young as the lover who loses out offers a distinctive and sympathetic portrayal, and Franchot Tone as tho brother proves to be a new talkie "find." Excellent performances are contributed hy Roscoe Karns, the inimitable Louise Glosser Hale, Rollo Lloyd and Hilda Vaughn. This is the first story to come to the screen by William Faulkner, the much discussed author of "Sanctuary” and “Light in August.” The unexpected 'touches-of this remarkable writer are prevalent, throughout the picture. Considerable credit also must go to Howard Hawks, who has given "To-day We Live”, the same Intelligent, discerning direction which marked this director’s previous success, f'Acarface.^