Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 7

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE “THE GREEN LIGHT” “Green Light,” which will begin on Saturday at the Regent Theatre, Is in many ways a remarkable film. Apart from the magnificent acting of the principal players, this Warner Brothers’ production is notable for the depth of its story, this being the work of Lloyd C. Douglas, author of “Magnificent Obsession.” The central role of “Green Light” is played by Errol Flyn, who appeared with success in "Captain Blood” and “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” In those films he displayed his ability in handling dramatic roles, and in this picture he is given full opportunty in tills direction. His part is that of a clever young surgeon who learns that in the career of every man there are times when for a while he must pause and wait, so to speak, for the “green light.” Sir Cedric Hordwlcke gives a wonderful portrayal of an old man who endeavours to explain this philosophy to younger people. Dr. Page, tho character represented, by Flynn, assumes the blame for the death of a wealthy woman. Later he meets her daughter, played by Anita Louise, with whom he falls in love. As she considers that he killed her mother, he departs to a fever-ridden district where, in an endeavour to find a vaccine for the disease, his life is endangered. The scenes which follow are intensely dramatic, fine work being contributed by Margaret Lindsay ana Walter Abel. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY “ROSE OF THE RANCHO” There really Was a “Rose of the Rancho," and the romantic Paramount picture of that name wmch is now showing at the Kosy Theatre, starling Gladys Swarchout and Joan Boles, is not mere fiction. The original Rose” was Antonia Maria Castro and she sleeps now in a hallowed grave in the shadows of old San Juan Batista Mission. Antonia was a descendant of the Spanish Dons who laid the foundations of early California history. She lived in the trouoious times wneii California was first admitted to the Union, and wuen unprincipled American desperadoes swept into the territory, bent upon wresting tne great estates from the Spaniards. ji.ntoma s home was tho famous Castro raneno near xYionterey, which was the first capital of California. When, in 1850, Commodore Sloat raised the 31starred American flag over the Alcaide’s house in Monterey, fie precipitated one of the bitterest struggles of the nation’s pioneer era, and tne glamorous Antonia Castro found herself plunged suddenly Into a strange world of adventure, vindictiveness and biooosned. 'tne Spanish Kings usually notified Don Castro or Don Rodriguez that ihey oouid have the lanu from tue seasnoro to a point as far inland as they couid ride in, say. three days. The Dons accepted these titles as binding and proceeded to build their haciendas and to develop their estates. A horde oi American land-grabbers moved into California Employing unscruplous methods for tho most part—metnouo which place them little more than a noten or two above tne modern gangsier—they met resistance with gunfire. They knew that a verbal land grant made by a Spanish King 200 years earlier would not noid water in an American court, so they raided the ranchos, shot down all who opposed them, and filed claims for the land under American laws. To combat this invasion, the younger and more daring Spaniards formed groups of vigilantes. Many battles were fought. Many lives were lost. And the situation finally became so severe that the Federal Government was forced to send in secret service agents to break up the deputes. In Paramount's new picture John Boles plays the part of a Federal agent whose romance with Gladys awanhout. as daughter of a leading Spanish landowner and as secret leader of the Vigilantes, ranks aB a nigh-spot on tho season’s calendar. Antonia Maria Castro, who was the original “Rose of the Rancho,” played an active part in this drama of the mid-nineteenth century and was successful in bringing peace to the territory. “Men Without Names.” Scientific sleuths who out-Sherlock Sherlock Holmes and who outfight desperadoes are the centre of attraction at the Kosy Theatre where Paramount's “Men Without Names” is reeling oft the true-lifo adventures of the men engaged by tho American Department of Justice in fighting crime in that country. Plus “Popeye the Sailorman” in “Vim. Vigour and Vitality.”

STATE THEATRE “ON THE AVENUE Swinging merrily along to the tune ox the best songs ever written by the greatest writer of songs in the world. “On the Avenue,” opening to-night at 10.30 and to-morrow at 2 p.m. and. 8 p.m. at the State Theatre, represents Irving Berlin at his melodious best, in a musical that Is full of pep and. lilting good, spirits. With Dick Powell and Madeleine Carroll making a new and romantic twosome of musical comedy, the lively Twentieth Century-Fox musical presents a real-life romance of New York, in a show that is as big as tho town. Alice Faye, the Ritz Brothers and George Barbior add both melody and mirth, to the production. Madeleine Carroll, noted hitherto for straight dramatic roles, makes a charming sweetheart for Dick Powell. The beginning of “On the Avenue’’ finds her, as a wearthy debutante, entering a theatre with her father, George Barbler, and an explorer, Alan Mowbray, at the moment that Dick Powell, Alice Faye and the Ritz Brothers are engaged in an hilarious take-off on the home life of “the richest girl in the world.” Infuriated, Madeleine stalks from the theatre, threatens the manager with suit, and brushes past the stage doorman to snatch Alice’s wig from her and to break the window of Dick’s dressing room before she is forcibly ejected. Relenting later. Madeleine apologises, for being a poor sport, and invites Dick to dinner. Falling in love with her. Dick promises to revise the skit, and invites her to the next performance. At this, however, Alice, Dick’s partner, horrifies him by adding even more caustic lines to tho skit. Madeleine takes her revenge on Dick for the public humiliation, but, in a surprising scene, in which the music of Irving Berlin plays a novel part, Dick finds a way to clear up the misunderstandings that have parted them and to bring a thrilling conclusion to the film. Swank in its songs, in its romantic stars, and in its lovely chorines. “On the Avenue” has the added virtue of presenting some merrily madcap performances by reliable Hollywood fun-makers. Worthy of a separate note are the distinctive and lovely melodies Irving Berlin composed for the film, “This Year’s Kisses,” “You’re Laughing at Me,” “Slumming on Park Avenue,” “I’ve,Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” “The Girl on the Police Gazette” and a novelty number written for the Ritz Brothers, called “He Ain’t Got Rhythm.” MAYFAIR THEATRE “MAI DOF SALEM” Handsome Fred AlAcMurray, who has played roles as a newspaperman, Texas Ranger, band leader, society boy, engineer and whatnot, comes to the screen as a dashing Virginia cavalier in Paramount’s “Maid of .Salem,” a tender romance of seventeenth Century America, in which he is co-starred with Claudette Colbert, and which begins at tho 10.30 session to-night at tho Mayfair Theatre. With the exception of “The Texas Rangers,” it is his first appearance in an historical film and lie was selected for the part by Frank Lloyd, three-time Academy Award winner, because he is regarded as the ideal male romantic lead for Miss Coibert, with whom he appeared in “The Gilded Lily,” his first motion picture, and “A Bride Comes Home.” Mac Murray play 3 the roie of Roger Coverman, a fugitive from Virginia, where he had dared question the king's prerogative. He takes refuge in old Salem, in the Massachusetts colony. Fear of arrest makes It necessary for him to hide in his uncle’s home and it is there he meets the lovely Puritan maiden and the romance begins. There are secret meetings In the forest, where he teaches her the graceful measures of the gavotte, and tells her of his love. Unknown to either, they are observed and, after he leaves, when the famous witch scare of 1692 breaks out, she is accused of having dealings with the devil. When she tells her inquisitors that it was not the devil but a handsome young man with whom she danced in the woods, they insist upon her naming him. This she refuses to do, and she is condemned to die. .She is saved from the scaffold when Mac Murray returns and awakens the fear-stricken populace to the folly of the hysteria which seized them. Many characters of old Salem are redrawn in “Maid of Salem,” and the entire village, as it existed in 1692, was built from old maps for authenticity. Miss Colbert and Mac Murray are supported by a brilr liant cast which Includes Louise Dresser, Bennie Bartlett, Gale Sondergaard, E. E. Clive, Harvey Stephens, Donita Granville, Virginia Weidler, Rosita Butler, Beulah Bondi, Edward Ellis, Donald Meek and many others.