King’s Theatre

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 2

King’s Theatre

NOW SHOWING “THE GOOD OLD SOAK” That grand old character, Wallace Beery, is starred in “The Good Old Soak” which screens to-night and on Wednesday at 8 p.m. The story by Don Marquis depicts a typical situation in the average American small-town family during the era of prohibition. Beery, in what is without doubt his most touching role to date, brings to life the lackadaisical character who quits work to keep up with the speakeasies. When the family fortune is missing he, of course, is blamed. He proceeds to find the guilty persons and to knit the family ties with, an efficiency that astonished his townsfolk. It is a satire of a fine order, and Director J. Walter Buben showed rare perception in his filming of the highlights of a never to be forgotten period in American history. Outstanding in support of Beery and Una Merkel in another of her down to earth comedy roles, Erie Linden, Judith Barrett, who sings and dances, Betty Furness, Ted Healy and Janet Beecher. Others who offer true to life small-town characterisations include George Sidney, Robert McWade, James Bush and Margaret Hamilton.