Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 40, 17 February 1938, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY •“LET’S MAKE A NIGHT OF IT*

“Let’s Make A Night Of It,” the speotacular musical film produced by Associated British Pictures, is the kind of film which sends audiences home feeling incredible, sparkling and happy.. It is essentially a gay, irresponsible production, containing something to charm all tastes. Although it has been described as a “film revue”—Which Indeed it is. since it contains a cast of variety favourites never before seen together in one single entertainment—it has a strong story interest. Buddy Rogers and June Clyde, the two young American stars who charmed filmgoers in ‘‘Dance Band,’’ play the leading roles in“ Let's Make A Night Of It.” Buddy appears as a waiter with musical ambitions who falls in love with Peggy j(June Clyde), the daughter of a nightclub king. Fred Emney, a comedian from the stage, with strong screen possibilities, gives a delicious characterisation as the owner in spite of himself, while Iris Hoey, of the fluttering personality, is his impressionable wife who, unbeknown to everyone, is also the owner of a night club. These four players are the chief figures in the actual story of “Let’s Make A Night Of It,” but a real galaxy of talent from stage, screen and radio, has been gathered together to give colour, music and comedy to the night-club I sequences. Prominent among these are Claire Luce, of the bewitching hands and husky voice; Bertha Belmore, Steve i <seray, Zelma O’Neal, Syd Walker, Claud Allister, Oliver Wakefield. Afrique, Lyle Evans, Dan Donovan, the Four Aces, the Four Franks, Jack Melford, Brian Mlchie, Arnaud, Peggy and Ready, and Lawrence Anderson. Jack Jackson, Jack Harris, Rudy Starita, Eddie Carroll, Joe Loss, Sydney Lipton and Harry Acres and their bands play the numerous song hits of the production, which include such numbers ns “When My Heart Says Sing,” ‘‘The Spider and Fly” and “I Went to Havana,” composed by Jimmie Kennedy and Michael Carr of “Did Your Mother Come From Ireland?” and “Old Faithful” fame. Graham Cutts, who directed the successful comedy, “Aren’t Men Beasts?,” is the director. MAYFAIR—SATURDAY “MY DEAR MISS ALDRICH” The equality of women gets better than an even break in “My Dear Miss Aidrich,” the amusing comedy which Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer provides at the Mayfair Theatre. With Edna May Oliver, Maureen O’Sullivan and Walter Pidgeon topping a first-rate cast, this picture ranks as one of the better laugh films of the age. It tells the story of a school teacher who inherits a newspaper. The managing editor, strong in the belief that no woman is fitted for work beyond the home, at- ' tempts to block her at every turn, until, of course, he falls in love with her. Miss O’Sullivan has just been selected to costar with Robert Taylor in London in “A Yank at Oxford.” Pidgeon, in reward for his excellent acting, has been signed to a long-term Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract. Every member of the cast excells in his respective role. Edna May Oliver appears as a puzzle addict, in the most humorous role of her brilliant career. J. Farrell MacDonald, the veteran character actor, is a city editor. Janet Beecher is a militant feminist. Others in the cast are Rita Johnson, Roger Converse, Brent Sargent, Charles Waldron, Guinn Williams and Paul Harvey. George Seitz has performed a masterful job of direction.

KOSY THEATRE. '• DESERT GOLD 1

In thrilling action, Zane Grey’g stirring novel is now at the Kosy Theatre. In this picture Paramount has produced an action drama that is real, exciting and entertaining. Every moment bristles with adventure. Prominent among those familiar to fans in featured roles are Larry

“Buster” Crabbe, Marsha Hunt, Tom Keene, Monte Blue, Raymond Hatton and Robert Cummings. “Desert Gold” deals with a young Indian chief, Crabbe, who is abducted by a villainous mine promoter, Blue, and horribly tortured in an effort to make him tell of the whereabouts of his tribe’s hidden gold mine. He is rescued by a young mining engineer, Keene, imported by Blue to locate the Indian’s mine. For this great service, Ci'abbe awards him naif interest in the mine. Keene is attracted to Marsha, Blue's fiancee and, with the help of the girl’s father, succeeds in stealing her away the night she is to marry tne mine operator. Blue is furious and, with his band of ruffians, follows Keene and overtakes him. The action which follows leads to one of the most exciting climaxes seen on local screens recently. “Desert Gold” was directed by John Hogan. “Ship’s Cafe." Carl Erisson, Paramount actor, sought realism for his new screen role as ship stoker by spending much of his time with the “black gang” in the stokehold of a ship, in order teeling and background of liis part. The Danish star is featured opposite Arline Judge in Paramount’s comedy drama with music, “Ship Cafe,” now at the Kosy Theatre. The story deals with the adventures of Brisson, a stoker, who becomes the bouncer in a waterfront dive and makes the place an overnight society rendezvous by knocking out a champion boxer who visits the club one evening with a party of highbrow friends. When the regular featured entertainer in the cafe takes ill one night. Brisson steps into the breach and himself becomes the restaurant’s singing sensation. A countess takes an interest in him, promises him a huge salary in a swanky club and promptly makes him her gigolo. Many hilarious episodes result when Brisson is brought to a realisation of his position, and renounces his benefactress. Directed by Robert Florey, the supporting cast includes William Frawley, Mady Christians, Inez Courtney and Eddie Davis, wellknown night club singer of the famous “Leon and Eddie’s,” Manhattan night club.

sltate theatre,

0 “ THIN ICE ” Dazzling In its undreamed-of crystaltipped spectacle, snow-drenched with shimmering A4pine beauty, exhilarating in its fresh, gay out-of-doors romance that will fill your eyes with delight and open them wide In wonder, “Thin ice,” Twentieth * Century-Fox gay and magnificent musical starring Sonja Henie, more radiantly exciting than ever before, and Tyrone Power, handsome young screen star who soared to fame in “Lloyds of London,” opens on Friday at the State Theatre. A star in her first picture, Miss Henie tops “One in a Million” with new miracles of grace never before revealed, Alpine slopes, with Tyrone Power, as she skates and skiis along the silvery romance following close behind. Arthur Treacher. Raymond Walburn and Joan Davis are featured in the notable supporting cast, which also includes Slg Rumann, Alan Hale, Leah Ray, Melville Cooper, Maurice Cass and George Glvot. The story is: swiftly paced, exhilaratingly exciting, and hilariously funny. It gets off to a fast start when Tyrone, a prince who has come to an Alpine winter resort to escape tile bickering of two agents (Alan Hale and Maurice Cass) over a neutrality pact, accidentally meets Miss Henie while skating, and introduces himself as a newspaper reporter. A case of mistaken identity sends rumours about the village that Sonja is bieing favoured by the prinoe. The two agents, hearing the rumours, attempt to win her to their side in order to get close to Tyrone. When she refuses tney dangle huge offers before her worthless uncle (Raymond Walburn), who is unaDle to refuse. Although Sonja is still unmindful of the rumours she continues to meet Tyrone. At the same time, the agents discover trickery on the part of Walburn. and through sympathy for each other become friends. This makes the situation more complicated than ever, until the ideal solution to the entire affair is found to be what all concerned hoped for—the marriage of Sonja and Tyrone. Interspersed throughout the romantic story are three elaborate skating numbers, which are the Prince Igor Russian ballet, a beautiful Venetian waltz, and the Foxtrot Fantasy. In these ice innovations, Miss Henie executes her most intricate ice designs. Hundreds of gorgeous girls are also in the sensational ice revels set against the dazzling and breath-taking beauty of the Swiss Alps. These innovations on ice are more elaborate and intricate than anything ever before attempted on the screen. MIETEOR THEATRE “SHIPMATES FOREVER’’ The thrill a.nd romance of naval officers In the making, men who in peace or in war, heroically brave death for their country in their line of duty, is colourfully depicted in the new Warner Bros.Cosmopolitan. drama-with-music, “Shipmates Forever,” which is scheduled as the feature attraction showing at the Meteor Theatre to-day. It is an intimate and revealing story of the lives of the midshipmen in their study rooms, on the parade grounds, and their cruises at sea. It pictures :;hem at work and at play; their loves and their laughter; their loyalty and their courage. Dick Powell and Ruby Keller head the cast. Dick j personifies the raw cadet, somewhat I spoiled, but with the makings of a man, !\vho is whipped into shape as a gallant I officer through the rigour of the Naval Academy training, and Ruby, the loyal daughter of the Navy. Dick sings; fights , a bitter battle alone with himself, and 1 finally winds up as a hero who dashes ' through scalding steam and flame to j rescue a shipmate. Ruby dances to gay throngs, the while she fights desperately to win the man she loves to the traditions of the Navy. There is a talented supporting cast which includes Lewis •Stone, Ross Alexander, Eddie Acuff, Richard (Dick) Foran, Robert Light, John Arledge, Joseph Crehan, Martha Merrill and Mary Treen. Frank Borzage directed. “Road Gang.” A picture cf raw, stark realism, said to bare the terrors prisoners are subjected to in certain penai institutions shows at the Meteor Theatre to-day under the title of “Rdad Gang.” Besides its terrifying aspects which make it of vital interest, there is a glowing romance of a girt who sticks to her man even when he is convicted of a crime, and who battles for his release until she eventually wins his freedom. The picture is set in the sombre background of a farm conducted by a county for convicts and a mine where incorrigible prisoners are shipped. In the former place the brutality is almost mediaeval, but at the latter conditions are so terrible inmates are said to either go insane or die. There is a wealth of dynamic drama and fast action, with thrill upon thrill, including a convict’s strike and battle wi th police guards who use gas bombs, in the bowels of the earth; a fight between police cars and an automobile in which a convict is fleeing for his life; and the blasting of a mine tunnel with dynamite. The picture has an unusually large and talented cast which is headed by Donald Woods, Kay Linaker, Carlyle Moore, junr., Henry O’Neill and Joseph King. Others include Addison Richards, .Joseph Crehai, Charles Middleton, Olin Howland anti Eddie Shubert, besides scores of others in the roles of guards, police and convicts. Louis King directed the production from the screen play by Dalton Trumt o, based on the original story by Abein Finkel and Harold Buckley.