Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 77, 2 April 1937, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—SATURDAY "THIS’LL. MAKE YOU WHISTLE’’ "This’ll Make You Whistle.’’ Jack Buchanan’s latest comedy for Herbert Wilcox Productions, is a deliciously daring musical, crammed full with gaiety, song and dance, overflowing with witty wisecracks and hectic situations, with Jack in the embarrassing position of being engaged to two girls at the same time. His attempts to extricate himself from this dilemma only land him into further difficulties, which are not in any way improved upon when his two "nitwit" pals, Reggie and Archie, join in the fun. And so. the three settle down to a little hard thinking whereby Jack can be released of his engagement with Laura without letting Joan know. Jack can think of nothing. "Oh. well,” he says, "I might as well go the whole hog and commit bigamy while I’m about it.” But Reggie cannot let such an opportunity pass—" Well, of all the fools, you’re the bigamist!" was his trite Hilarious scenes move from London to a French airport hotel, ■and comes to a terrific climax, supercharged with comedy, when he is pursued by French police as a counterfeiter. The cast, most of whom appeared in the stage (Version, which created such a riot all over England, include Jean Gillie. Elsie Randolph, who makes a welcome re-appear-ance on the screen, David Hutcheson and William Kendall as Jack’3 pals; Anthony Holley, and Marjorie Brooks. "This’ll Make You Whistle” will give you six brand-new song hits. KOSY THEATRE—NOW SHOWING "WEDDING PRESENT” The first of a series of screen plays t.o be produced by the newly-organised B. P. Schulberg studio for release through Paramount, "Wedding Present.” is now showing at the Kosy Theatre, with Joan Bennett and Cary Grant in starring roles. The film is a fast-moving romantic comedy set against a background of newspaper life. Heading the stellar supporting cast are George Bancroft, Conrad Nagel, Gene Lockhart, Inez Courtney, Edward Brophy and Damon Ford. Richard Wallace was director. Taken from a Saturday Evening Post Story b.v Paul Gallico, "Wedding Present” introduces Grant and Miss Bennett as reporters on a metropolitan daily. Their ability and pranks make them the joy and despair of their hard-boiled city editor, Bancroft. As the story opens, one of these pranks puts a halt to a proposed marriage of the two reporters. Bancroft resigns as city editor and Grant succeeds him. Intent on becoming a success! he forgets his playful nature and becomes as hard-boiled as his predecessor. An argument with Miss Bennett results in her running away to New York, where she convinces herself she is in love with Nagel, a writer of inspirational books. Grant, quitting his job and following her, prepares to give her the most impressive wedding present of all time. The story’s rapid-fire laughs are added to by Brophy and William Demarest. Demarest is a New York gangster whom Grant has saved from drowning. Novel Solution Used in Murder Mystery. The solution of a perfectly-planned murder by the all-seeing eye of the camera is the story benind the gripping Paramount mystery drama, "Murder With Pictures,” starring Lew Ayres and Gail Patrick, now showing at the Kosy. Ernest Cossart, a crooked lawyer, is killed in a room crowded with people. Suspicion points to every one present, including a number of newspaper photographers who came to take pictures, and beautiful Miss Patrick, who was heard to quarrel with the lawyer shortly before his death. The girl takes refuge in Ayes’ apartment when the police begin their search for her. Paul Kellv,'a reporter, gets hold of a plate taken by Benny Baker, a cub reporter, which he knows will reveal the identity of the slayer. When he begins to develop a 'print ho too is murdered. Baker, in a distant city, has a print of the plate but doesn't realise its importance. But his editor does. It is placed on the new Wirephoto Service and broadcast to the world, revealing the slayer In the act of murdering the lawyer.

I STATE THEATRE TO-NIGHT. 10.30 P.M. j "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN.” I Revolving about the romance of a beauj tiful photographic model and a masquer[ading wealthy playboy, "Smartest Girl in .Town" brings Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond together again at the State Theatre to-night, commencing at the I State’s popular 10.30 p.m. session. The two favourites who scored so notably in their recent “Walking on Air,” are endowed with an even faster and funnier story in "Smartest Girl in Town." They share the stellar niche, supported by u. brilliant cast, including Helen Broderick, Eric Biore, Erik Rhodes, Harry Jans anu Frank Jenks. The delightful story has Miss Sothern spending her days posing before the camera for advertisements of everything from tooth paste to lingerie, and spending her evenings planning to marry a millionaire. Her only marital prospect is an excitable foreigner, more interested in birds’ eggs than in romance; so she is somewhat sharp with a goodlooking young strangei' who poses with her in some yacht photographs. The young man, played by Raymond, happens to bo tho wealthy owner of the yacht in question, and, while keeping up his incognito as a penniless model, pursues his one-sided romance. He Installs his own valet as the head of a fictitious advertising agency, has him sign Miss Sothern to a contract and proceeds to pose with the lady to his heart’s content. Despite her resolutions to marry for money. Miss bo them discovers that she is falling m love with Raymond. The resulting complications, with Miss Sotliern’s practical sister endeavouring to sever the affair and spur the egg-collecting foreigner to tlie point of proposal, leads to the hilarious climax of tho picture. Miss bo them and Raymond are ideally cast for their respective roles, with the comedy possibilities of the story and situations affording splendid opportunity for their clever foolery. . . . Helen Broderick as the acid-tongued sister, Eric Biore as Raymond’s timorous valet, Erik Rhodes as the foreign egg-fancier, and Ilarry Jans as Miss Broderick’s indolent hus bandall have noteworthy parts in the laughterpacked scenes of the film. With its settings in and around New York City, "Smartest Girl in Town" depicts modern advertising agency work and the Jives of the alluring models who pose for the advertisements in magazines and newspapers to-day. Besides the featured players, the cast includes Jenks, Fred Santley, Hattie Mac Daniels. Arthur Loft and other well-known film personalities. MAYFAIR THEATRE-SATURDAY "MEN ARE NOT GODS" Her performances in successful . films, such as "Becky Sharp" and "These Three" broought Miriam Hopkins into prominence as one of the foremost dramatic actresses on the screen. Her latest role, the leading part in the London Films production "Men Are Not Gods," should fully maintain her reputation. The mo-tion-picture public have come to expect films of a high standard from Alexander Korda, and they are never disappointed. "Men Are Not Gods” is as good as anything that Korda has previously -produced. Miss Hopkins fits so naturally into her rolo that the remainder of the cast, brilliant as it admittedly is, is subservient to her throughout. Considerable demands are made upon her powers as a dramatic actress, particularly in the final scenes, but she responds to them unfalteringly. Her handling of the happier moments of the part tends to gain by her magnificent acting in the tragic scenes. The story- of "Men Are Not Gods” concerns the life and love of the secretary of a great dramatic critic. When in a London theatre "Othello” is produced, he writes a scathing criticism of the principal actor. Later Ann, the secretary, learns from the actor’s wife that he was not acting with his usual ability owing to an attack <jf nerves. Without authority she alters tho attack to unrestricted praise, and although she is dismissed she is more than rewarded by the consequent popularity of the actor, to whom she has become attached. His wife’s objection to such a friendship, however, leads to a thrilling climax. Gertrude Lawrence, Sebastian Shaw and a newcomer, Rex Marrison. fill prominent roles in the supporting cast.