Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 9

Entertainments

“IT ISN’T DONE” “It Isn’t Done,” a modern comedy romance which transports audiences on the magic wings or entertainment from Australia to England, as the laughter-laden story of a lovable, bighearted Australian squatter and his Inherited Earldom unfolds at the Regent Theatre to-night. “It Isn’t Done” Is the first Australian picture with a genuine all-star cast, including such sterling favourites of stage and screen as Cecil Kellaway, John Longden, Frank Harvey, Nellie Ferguson, Harvey Adams, Campbell Copelln and Sylvia Kellaway, together with Cinesound’s new lovely star “find,” Shirley Ann Richards. “It Isn’t Done” Includes some of the most ambitious sets yet built for an Australian picture. Among these were the Blaydon lounge, with its rich pannelled walls, the Great Hall, also one of the largest interiors ever used at Cinesound, the picture gallery, with its huge framed portraits, Hubert Blaydon’s bedroom, and a London night club. The latter set, designed by Mr. Eric Thompson, Cinesound’s art director, who recently returned to Australia after ten years in Hollywood, gives a lighter mood to the film, with its white and silver walls, tall window's and decorative doors in ebony, scarlet and silver. MAYFAIR THEATRE “SENSATION” Commencing at the 10.30 p.m. session to-morrow evening, “Sensation,” the inside story of a murder hunt—Fleet Street versus Scotland Yard, with a ruthless newspaper reporter known as “Lone Wolf Heaton” exposing a defenceless woman’s most precious secrets to provide frontpage news for a sensation-loving public. Perfectly cast in the starring role is John Lodge as the unscrupulous Pat Heaton, “ace” crime reporter of the famous “Murder Gang.” Lodge’s versatility has been proved in the many and varied roles that have come his way—Captain of the Hussars with Marlene Lietrich in “The Scarlet Empress,” Inspector of Police with Antoinette Cellier in’ “Ourselves Alone,’ genius flnancer, again with Antoinette Cellier in "The Tenth Man,” and now, as a crime reporter in “Sensation” with a new Australian “find” playing opposite him—lovely Margaret Vyner—in the role of his fiancee, Claire Lindsay. “Sensation” is tensely dramatic, charged with a million thrills, yet it doe® not lack in humour, and there is also a touch of romance provided by Pat and Claire. Comedy is supplied by Jerry Verno in the role of a newspaper photographer, while Francis Lister, who was last seen as a disgraced doctor in “Living Dangerously,” continues his heavy roles as a villainous commercial traveller who Is suspected of murder. Diana Churchill also distinguishes herself in the role of a barmaid with whom Lister is in love. Malting her English screen debut, Margaret Vyner, beautiful 22-year-old Australian mannequin, created somewhat of a sensation at the London preview, critics being most lavish in their praises. Despite her years, this lovely girl has already found time to cram many experiences into her life. Her earlier school days were spent on her father’s large sheep station, where she grew to be a lover of the great outdoors, with a passion for horses. On leaving school, she settled down to the usual debutante’s life in the city, but suddenly decided to go on the stage, and was chosen, with six other debutantes, to appear in “Floradora.” Margaret was the only one who stayed on with the company at the completion of the season. After appearing in several other musical productions, she left Australia and stage career, and went to Europe, where she worked as a model in the famous saloon of Jean Patou. The following year she returned to Australia, and trated on fashion designing. Then Charles Farrell came from Hollywood to make a picture in Australia, and Margaret waj given a featured part in The Flying Doctor.” ?o impressed was Farrell with her work that he persuaded her to go to England for a test—and the result, leading role in her first overseas production.

STATE THEATRE

“SALLY OF THE REGIMENT” There was a time when Hollywood was considered to be the only producer of spectacular films; but that day is definitely past, and one realises this particularly whilst watching the new GaumontBrltish film, “Sally of the Regiment,” which opens at the State Theatre to-day. Hero is a picture from English studios chat has not only spectacle, but thrilling action, tense drama, comedy and laughable situations. It is a film of life and adventure with the British Army and as such, It can bo heartily recommended to the most blase of picturegoers. The story centres around Wallace Ford, who stars in the role of Jimmy Tracey, a Bowery tough fleeing from murder suspicion in New York, and joining the British Army under an assumed name to escape detection. Here he meets the Sergeant-Major’s daughter, Sally, played by Anna Lee, and falls in love with her. He has a rival, however, in Bert, the lance-corporal (John Mills), and the competition between the two men for Sally’s favours, provides some of the most amusing scenes in the film. Jimmy’s past comes back to him forcibly when the girl friend (Grace Bradley) he left in New York, and who knows his secret, reappears. In a panic, he deserts the army and stows away on a ship, by mistake, finding himself on the same ship that is taking his regiment out to the East. Here follow the spectacular battle scenes showing the clash of British troops with Oriental bandits, tanks and armoured cars swooping on hordes of brigands, the blowing up of a great bridge 300 feet in the air, and the firing of an Eastern city. Production statistics tell one that over 10,000 British troops took part in “Sally of the Regiment,” . which was made with the full co-operation of the British War Office. The British soldier is seen on the parade ground, at the regimental concert, taking part in boxing, being reviewed by the King, embarking for the East, and plunging into battle. Every ounce of dramatic action has been packed into this by Director Raoul Walsh, who adds yet another feather to his directorial cap that already bears the triumphs of “Cock-Eyed World” and “What Price Glory.” As “Sally,” Anna Lee gives a vivacious performance that fulfils all the promise she has shown in the past. Anna has everything—beauty, talent, and above all—brains. Wallace Ford, who returned to England for the first time in many years to make this film, has never done abetter piece of work than the tough-guy “Jimmy Tracey,” and the same may be said for John Mills, who will be remembered for his fine performance as Brown in “Brown on Resolution.” This lad is well on the way to stardom. Frank Cellier scores as a blustering sergeant-major, and others in the strong cast are Laurence Anderson, Arthur Seaton and Peter Croft. KOSY—NOW SHOWING. “ORII-EY’S LUCK” Tom Brown, Larry Crabbe and Benny Baker fight their way through many a stirring battle in Paramount’s “O’Riley 3 Luck.” football romance now at the Kosy .Theatre. And it’s not simply because they’re good actors that the scenes are authentic—it’s because every—ene of the three has a real football background. Crabbe, 1932 Olympic swimming champion, was formerly a star of the University of Southern California eleven. Brown played in a Boston high school team and received several college bids. Baker qualifies through experience in a Nebraska team. “O’Riley’s Luck” is the story of a multi-cornered romance, involving all three men and two * ov ®}y ladies—Eleanore Whitney and Priscilla Lawson. Brown and Baker play m one football team competing in the annual East-West classic in the Rose Bowl, with Crabbe and Baker rivals for the hand of Miss Lawson, and Brown is in love with Miss Whitney. The latter, however, loves Crabbe. . “Easy to Take. One of the biggest line-ups of child talent ever gathered together in one picHr appears during radio studio sequences of “Easy to Toke,” the Paramount oom-edy-romance which is now showing at the Kosy Theatre. Child musicians who have won fame in concerts both on the stage and on the radio, perform during the studio scenes. One of the most accomplished pairs is Mary Ruth Kizzair, four, and Saundra Maazel, four and a half, who appear in a duet. Mary Ruth plays the piano and Saundra the violin. Billy Lee, pint-sized tap dancer; Marilyn Knowldon, Carl Switzer and other talented juveniles also appear in station scenes.

REGENT THEATRE— TO-DAY