Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE TO-DAY “THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" A glorious feast of colour and romanci is David O. Selznlck’H technlcolour pro ductlon of the Immortal Robert Hicliena lovo story of tho desert, ‘‘The Garden o: Allah," with Marlene Dietrich anc Charles Boyer In the stellar roles. Word: cannot deacrlho tho beauty for effectiveness of this second independent production of tho young producer who last sea son so auspiciously inaugurated SelzniclInternational Pictures with tho charming "Little Lord Fuuntleroy." Inspired Is £ much-abused word, but Is aptly appllec to Mr. Selznick’s choice first of a ston that would lend Itself perfectly to th« magic of technlcolour and second to t brace of stars who could bring that storj to ii living, throbbing life on tho screen You cannot possibly have the remotesi idea of how truly beautiful Marleno Dietrich really Is until you see tho glory oi her golden hair and blue eyes and perfec complexion revealed in colour and It alsf enhances tho swarthy good looks o; Boyer. Marleno is perfectly cast as th< lovely Domini Enfllden who goes to JJenlMora, tho parish of tho kindly Fathei Roubier in tho Algerian desert to find t now life and falls madly In lovo with tin strange, brooding, mysterious Boris Androvsky, who, unknown to her, Is actually a Trappist monk who lias tied fron the monastery after taking the eternu vows; und Boyer gives a brilliant anc deeply understanding portrayal of the terrible conflict in the soul of a man whe in torn between his lovo for a woman ant his duly to God. Tho glorious but 111-•’-.Larred romance that flowers under the magic spell of tho desert between thii man and woman from widely separatee worlds provides one of the most thrilling lovo stories that has ever come to the screen. The soft colours of the genuine desert background adapt themselves perfectly to colour and offer a striking contrast to tho vivid scenes In tho Algerlar bazaar and the cafe of tho Ouled Mai dancing girls. Basil Rathbono plays the Italian nobleman. Count Anteonl; <J Aubrey Smith Is seen as Father Roubier Tilly Loscb, internationally famou; dancer, makes her film debut as Irena, the fiery Arabian dancing girl; Joseph Schllclkraut plays Batouch; and all are superb KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY "ESCAPE FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND" The harrowing drama of Devil’s Islanc springs to vivid life again on tho sllvei screen in Columbia's "Escape Fron Devil’s Juland,” a lusty and stirring pic turisution of the Infamous French pena colony, now showing at the Kosy Theatre Notably important about tho new fllm’i remarkable success is tho adroit combination of a powerful .nid gripping stor’ from the pen of Fred Do Greeac, Intelligent direction by Albert RogOll and at authentic and colourful atmospheric pro ductlon. All of which serves to enhance and emphasise the skilful performance! registered by Victor .lory, Florence Rice Norman Foster und Stanley Andrews ii tho leading featured roles. Opening will gay Paris scenes, continuing with lnsld» glimpses of international spies and thei; clever machinations, tho action shifts t< tho dreaded prisoners’ islund off tin coast of South America. There Victo; .lory and Florence Rice, established elos< to th© prison Jungle, conspire to offec tho escape of her father, Stanley An drows, and of a convict who has be trlended him, played by Norman Foster With many breatn-tuklng moments, tin film moves swiftly to a lieart-grlppinj climax, cleverly contrived and eonvinc ingly executed. Underlying tho mail l homo of t lie horrors of this tropical licil hole is a sincere and lender romance be tween young Foster and tho lovely Mis Rice. Victor .lory Is excellent as thhard and ruthless adventurer. Normal Foster’s sincerity as tho sensitive la< falsely Imprisoned highlights his llawles performance. Florence Rico rises admlr ably to the occasion of her first Import ant dramatic opportunity as tho girl tori between her lovo for tho two mon. An draws’ portrayal of tho kindly old mai who willingly dies that the others mlgh livo is one of heart-warming poignancy "Escape From Devil’s island" is stlrrim entertainment, worthy of the fine effort of Its fine cast. Earle Snell und Frei Nlblo, junr., wrote the screen adaptation "Lawless Riders." Once again Ken Maynard, stalwar western star, leaps into tho saddle of hi favourite mount and rides Into blazlru adventure, tracking down masked plun dereiH or tin? range In "Lawless Riders,' West, which Is now nt the Kosy Theatre "Lawless Riders" presents Hie king of throw boys as a. roving adventurer wh< makes the western town of Fantana hi headquarters when he rneela tho banker’ daughter, played by Geneva Mitchell Terrifying the region with raids, hold ups and attacks is a, gang of bandits, le< by Harry Woods, who poses as a cattle man. Miss Mitchell is the first to suspec the villain’s duplicity, but it is Maynari who single-handedly Interferes with > bank hold-up. Accused of tills and othe crimes, the web of circumstantial evi deuce keeps Maynard in gaol while thglrl ho loves becomes the prey of tho ban dit, leader. But Mnynard’s horse am Wally Wales, seen ns Maynard’s pal, dtholr part and Maynard breaks out o prison in time to save Miss Mitcrcll. H tnteateca in a gripping flght-to-tho-ilnlsl

STATE THEATRE—TO-MORROW WHEELER AND WOOLSEY "MUMMY’S BOYS" Egypt’s mysterious and romantic Val- , ley of (ho Kings, a barren depression near tho Nile where Tutankhamen arid many ‘ other Pharoahs of tho ancient days were entombed, forms tho unique sotting foi many of the scenes in "Mummy’s Boys,' Bert Wheoler and Robert Wool Key’s new cst starring vehicle for RKO Radio. An r pair of ditch-diggers who join an expedl tlon to the tomb of King Pharatime, not : knowing that a sinister "curso" has already taken tho lives of ten members of a previous party, Bert and Bob find themselves involved from the outset In a series of exciting Incidents. Myste,rious .Orientals peer through the windows of : tholr employer’s home; en route to Egypt I tho ship is in a collision; two members of Mho expedition disappear In a strange fashion, to the accompaniment of rnenne•lng warnings; and when tho Intrepid pair - finally reach tho tomb a landslide im- , prisons them Inside with a murderous maniac. These and the other weird hap- , penlngs that befall them, however frightening as they may be to Wheeler and Woolsey, produce nothing but laughter as far as the audience is concerned, and the authors and scenarists have Ingeniously devised a plot that, makes "Mummy’s Bo.vk" an outstanding contender for tho year’s hilarity honours. In a huge ro- , | production of an actual Egyptian lomb , ias tho setting for the final third of'the picture, film audiences will witness a sight that even tourists In Egypt are seldom allowed to observe, most of the i tombs being closed to tho general pifbllc. The "sot," which fills one of Hollywood’s largest studio stages, was built after , months of research by Van Nest Polglase and Feild Gray, of RKO’s art department Tho carvings and decorations on the walls of tho three main rooms and the many Intersecting passages are exact copies o! those found in the real tombs tunnelled Into the rocky cliff of the Valley of the Kings and the elaborate sarcophagi, chariots, weapons and other objects In the sef are also perfectly reproduced. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-MORROW "THE CAPTAIN’S KID" A mischievous littlo girl with a vlvhl Imagination, a. lovable old liar and a crotchety spinster get Into a sea of 1 trouble that makes for much hilarity In ; tho First National comedy drama, "Tho 1 Captain’s Kid.” which comes to Urn Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. The picture. 1 largely a swift moving frolic of fun, also ' combines melodramatic thrills, romance and touches of pathos. "The Captain’s Kid" Is enacted by a talented cast with | May Robson, famous for half a century on the stage, in tho leading role, that of | a. crabhed old maid who tries in vain to bring up her two nieces, one seven and tho other 20, according to her straight--1 laced New' England standards. But she 1 finds her hands full In the seven-year-old [ ehlld star, Sybil Jason, whoso Imagination makes her yearn to he a pirute. In ! this Him Is aided and abetted by a llko- . able old roustabout In the person of Guy Klbbeo, who much prefers a lie to tho ! truth. Sybil, although forbidden to asso- ; clato with the harum soarum water dog. ’ who would rather fish than go to his own wedding, manages to slip away with him ’ to the old fishlng smack, where ho ro- ; gales her with lurid tales which sho takes | as gospel. Whllo rummaging through the attic tho finds a map that Indicates that treasure had been buried on an island in the sound near by. Thin she takes to ' Klbbec. The old man and the child start on their hunt for pirate treasures, and actually find a chest full of silver. But . Klbbeo, unfortunately, has let his tongue ‘ wag and two city crooks, roles played by T>tok Purcell and Maude Allen, who are hiding out, try to high-jack them. In : the scutTlo that, follows, Kibbee accidentally fires off nn old pistol, killing the crook. He Is arrested for murder and also for kidnapping Sybil, Things look dark. An unforeseen circumstance brings ; him his freedom In a surprising climax to ’ tho story. Jane Bryan and Fred Lnw- , renee play tho roles of young lovers, Miss Bryan being tho olhor niece who has been • forbidden to associate with her lover. Tho . snmo Incident that frees the old "pirate,” , however, brings the two together In a \ happy reunion. There Is a secondary ro- ’ rnnnco between Mary Troon, housemaid, ;„nnd Gtis Hhv, chauffeur of tho family. I l*vbl| sings a rollicking song, "I’m the 1 Gaptnln’s Kid." whllo Fred Lawrence warbles "Drifting Along.” both written ’ hv M. K. Jerome and Jar'll Heholl especi- ' nlly for the picture. Tim picture was ) directed by Nick Grlriae. : With tho treacherous Woods as a. shor--1 iff’s posse is ambushed by the villainous ; crew. Once again the horse outwits his ; pursuers and leads a rescue party into 1 the hidden valley where his master Is waging a valiant struggle against desperate odds. Nato Gatzert, who has collab ■ orated with Maynard on many of hla most 3 successful pictures, wroto the origins' ' story and screen piny of "Lawless Rid 1 ors." Spencer Gordon Bennett directed ’ Seen In support of Maynard. Miss Mitr .-hell and Woods are Frank Yaeonelli, > Wally Wales, Slim Whitaker, Frank Ellis 1 and Jack Rockwell