Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 34, 10 February 1938, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE-TO-DAY. “KEEP FIT” George Formby’s series of riotous screen successes has built up for him such popularity as an entertainer that his new picture “Keep Fit” will be welcomed with enthusiasm by his legion of admirers everywhere. And “Keep Fit” has been unanimously acclaimed “Formby’s funniest film to date.” What a laughter treat. This time George is seen as a barber’s assistant with an unfortunate habit of cutting customers’ chins, and a totally undeserved reputation as a crack athlete. Force of circumstances and a pretty manicurist in the barber’s shop make it necessary for George to manage by hook or by crook to come up to expectations as an oarsman, swimmer, gymnasium expert and champion boxer, fighting under the nom de plume of “The Battling Barber.” How George, with the help of a secret mascot, is put through his ’paces in a multitude of feats of prowess and marvellously emerges triumphant, provides meat for the story and roars of laughter for his audiences. Punctuating the laughs are three catchy comical song hits by George to his own accompaniment on the banjo mandolin. Anthony Kimmins wrote the story and also directed this A.T.P. Production, which has a notable supporting cast, including lovely Kay Walsh, Gus McNaughton, Edmond Breon, Hal Gordon and Leo Franklyn.

MAYFAIR THEATRE Another Bulldog Drummond picture that more than upholds the traditional excitement of the Drummond character’s pictures is the new mystery, “Bulldog Drummond Comes Back,” which is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. The story of this Paramount film is of a chase over England, led by rhymed clues, that takes Drummond and his friends on the trail of a gang of criminals who have kidnapped his fiancee. John Howard, John Barrymore, Louise Campbell, Reginald Denny, and E. E. Clive are in the cast. When a band of gem thieves tangles with Dan Cupid almost anything can happen—and everything does in "She’s No Lady,” Paramount’s merry tale of life and love among gem thieves, playboys, society women and a mysterious beauty, the second attraction at the Mayfair. Beautiful Ann Dvorak and John Trent are the boy and girl in the picture, and the cast includes Aileen Pringle. Guinn Wiliams and Harry eßresford. The story was wrtten by James Edward Grant, famous among other things for the recent comedy smash hit, “Big Brown Eyes.” Commencing on Saturday, Britain's premier comedian, Sandy Powell, of stage and radio fame, will be seen in his latest comedy scream “It’s a Grand Old World.” It is a grand comedy with the amusing and amazing adventures of Sandy after he scoops a football pool by winning £16,000. His exploits after he obtains possession of this unexpected amount of money provide the “lad fra’ Yorkshire” with terrific opportunities for grand comedy and fooling. The film can truly be said to put him on the map as one of the greatest comedy players on the screen to-day. KOSY THEATRE “CORONADO”

Lovishly garnished with catchy tunes and bringing two new youtrful and talented players to the screen. Paramount’s musical romance, “Coronado.” now at the Kosy Theatre, is a film worth anybody’s time and money for the “Guest Day” attraction. Eddy Duchin and his orchestra provide the musical background for the film and this popular dance band’s first motion picture engagement is auspicious, to say tho least. The performance of the two leading players, Johnny Downs and Betty Burgess, indicate to this reviewer that Hollywood has discovered something refreshingly new. These two young people not only act competently—they are talented singers and dancers as well. The action, in the main, takes place at the Hotel Coronado ir\ Southern California, a resort frequented by the upper crust of society. Miss Burgess is cast as an entertainer with Eddy Duchin’s. orchestra at the hotel, though she lives on the wrong side of the tracks in a “tent city” with her ebulient father, Leon Errol, and her sister, Alice White, who is somewhat addle-pated. Young Downs is tho son of a wealthy automobile manufacturer stopping at the hotel, and from tne moment they meet the rich boy and the poor girl go for each other. Vicissitudes arise on all sides, blasting their 'romance again and again, but at the conclusion, they’re still “Johnny and June—songs, dances and funny sayings.” The cast fits the story perfectly, ana there Is no end of comedy in the picture, contributed mainly by Jack Haley and Andy Devine as two marine-hating-sailors, and Leon Errol as father of the two girls. The performances of Berton Churchill as the tolerant motor magnate and of Alice White as “Vi Wry” merit special mention. The songs which form an important part of the film were written by Richard Whiting and Sam Cosiow. You will like them, especially the featured number,

‘You Took My Breath Away,” which Miss Burgess sings. •‘Woman Trap.”

Glorious romance creckers stark terror in the new Paramount dramatic thriller. “Woman Tap,” now showing at the Kosy Theatre for the “Guest Day” attraction. The film is guaranteed to please all lovers of the exciting, the romantic and tho unusual. It tells of a front-page crime reporter in quest of a big scoop. He has a roving commission to follow a gang of kiilers, fugitives from justice. Complications pile up when the reporter rescues a thrill-seeking girl from a plane floating on the water. She gets In his way, and into his heart; both are recognised by the crook chief, who coldly plots their murder and bides his time. Thrills that leave one gasping are provided by the desert sequence, when the young couple ride to doom, surrounaed by the desperadoes. Surprises abound, but the strangest of all is that which awaits the film fan at the end, when the crooks are caught in a trap of their own making. Gertrude Michael and George Murphy leave nothing to be desired in their roles; She as an excitement-lover who never thinks of the consequences, and he as a wise-cracking but earnest reporter, give convincing impersonations. So do Sidney Biackmer, as the gang head, and Akim Tamiroff, as the whimsical, vain and subtle “bad man.” For tense action, “Woman Trap” is superb entertainment. It bristles with adventure right through.

STATE THEATRE-TO-MORROW. “ STAGE DOOR ”• Based on the highly successful play by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman, “Stage Door,” the long-awaited RKO Radio picture which teams for the first time Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers, opens at the State Theatre to-mor-row. The two glamorous stars add new laurels to noteworthy careers by their superb performances in the remarkably comopelling drama and share top honours with Adolphe Menjou who, in the role of a Broadway producer, recalls his outstanding performance in Miss Hepburn’s Acadefhy award picture, “Morning Glory” in which he played a similar part. Other players who win distinct recognition are Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel B. Hinds, Lucille Ball, and a score of youngsters, many of whom are newcomers to the screen. The gripping story is laid principally in a theatrical boarding house xn New York and deals with the topsy-turvy careers of a group of stage-struck young ladles who have migrated from all sections of the country. A vivid cross-section of life is reflected in the turbulent strivings of these ambitious youngsters. Katharine Hepburn plays a society beauty aflame with the desire to be a great dramatic actress, despite parental objections, while Ginger Rogers is seen as a happy-go-lucky wise-cracking night club entertainer with an eye on the musical comedy stage. The powerful climax arises when Miss Hepburn is called upon to make her dramatic debut directly after the suicide of a frustrated girl friend, played by Andiea Leeds, an assignment which calls upon her vast emotional reserve, but which catapults her to sensational success. Deftly directed by Gregory La Cava, “Stage Door” will leave a lasting imprint on the memory of those who enjoy brilliant dialogue, tense drama, and genuine human characterisation. Pandro S. Berman produced the film for RKO Radio.

METEOR THEATRE “SEVENTH HEAVEN” Although it will take scarcely an hour and a half to show “Seventh Heaven,” on the screen when that Simone Simon— James Stewart picture opens to-morrow at the Meteor Theatre, there is represented in its final screen-play form over four years of research and editing. Austin Strong, from whose original play the Twentieth Century-Fox screen version of “Seventh Heaven” was made, first planned it as a one-act comedy, dealing with the antics of a taxi-cab driver he encountered in Paris during the Woi’ld War. When he took it to John Golden, 'New York producer, the showman suggested that lie expand his theme into a , three-act serious drama. Subordinating | the comic characters and introducing deep emotional emphasis, Strong rewrote the play, which was opened in Detroit in 1020 by the Jessie Bonstelle stock company. Despite the applause of packed houses, the author decided it needed reworking. In May, 1022, the re-written play was tried out in Elmira, New York., and enthusiastically received, but again Strong decided it needed revision before it went into the “big time” on Broadway. A few months later it opened in Atlantic City, breaking house records. Strong then spent three months at a Lake Placid, N.Y., retreat, working it into the final form which made stage history when it opened at the Booth Theatre in New York in October, 1922. With the decision to make "Seventh Heaven” as a talking picture, there began a little over a year ago another large-scale writing project, wiui Melville Baker, one of Hollywood’s ace scenarists, assigned to the task of adaption. The script completed, Darryl F. Zanuck, production chief at Twentieth Century-hox, began selecting the cast, assigning to Simone Simon, outstanding “find” of the past film year, the role or Diane. JameS Stewart was borrowed for the role of Chico, and Jean Hershlot, Gregory Ratoft, Gale Sondergaard, J. Edward Bromberg, John Qualen, Victor Kiiian, Thomas Beck, Sig Kumann and Mady Christians were cast in featured roles. To direct “Seventh Heaven,” Zanuck assigned Henry King, Academy prize-winner, who recently had charge of the screen success, “Lloyds of London.” Raymond Griffith was associate producer.