Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 46, 24 February 1938, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY “ MAYTIME ** Splendid in every sense of the word is Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s first lavish musical offering of 1938, “Maytime,” with Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy in the starring roles, which is now screening at the Regent Theatre. A description of the original theme would be superfluous to veterans of the theatre, but it may be written here without fear of contradiction that the studio has gone far and beyond any beauty which the stage attained. “Maytime” was a musical piece of gorgeous proportions when Rida Johnson Young’s play was on the boards and it closely approaches the status of a musical masterpiece on the screen. The skilful adaptation was made by Noel Langley. The songs were written by Sigmund Rom-, berg, composer of the original Broadway score, and also by Herbert Stothart, who has composed the first him operetta, “Czaritza,” which provides a lovely sequence in the picture. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy have not been seen together on the screen for a year. They rose to a unique dual stardom in "Naughty Marietta” and then in “Rose Marie.” In the supporting cast of “Maytime,” John Barrymore plays a picturesque role as the temperamental impressario. his first since the memorable “Romeo and Juliet," which was one of the sensational pictures of 1936. There is a newcomer in the cast, Lynne Carver, a delicately beautiful young singer from the Kentucky Blue Grass regions who sings and acts unusually well. She and Tom Brown provide the juvenile romance in the story. In love with Nelson Eddy, a young singer. Jeanette MacDonald, an opera star, actuated by a mistaken sense of duty, marries John Barrymore, the impressario, to whom she owes her career. When circumstances bring her and tho singer together again, they realise that their Jove is stronger than before. Mad with insane jealousy, the husband kills the singer. The tragedyanswers the problem of the younger girl who is drawn between a choice of love and a career. MAYFAIR THEATRE “THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINES." The first ail-colour picture of the outdoors, "The Trail of the Lonesome Pines,” screens at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. Sylvia Sidney. Fred Mac Murray and Henry Fonda are starred, and Henry Hathaway, who directed "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer,” megaphoned the Technicoiour production. Natural colour and natural backgrounds are used exclusively in this picturisation of the John Fox, jur., novel. It. is a story of "feuding” in the Cumberland mountains, where family battles family for reasons long since forgotten. Mac Murray is a young engineer who Is assigned to build a railway through the hills. Miss Sidney and Fonda are members of the same clan, and Fonda is in love with the girl. She is fascinated by a stranger from the outside world, and Fonda’s jealousy is aroused. He sets out to "get” Mac Murra y—but simultaneously the rival clan sets out to "get” him. A battle royal ensues when they all get together, bringing the film to a stirring climax. Walter Wanger produced the film for Paramount. METEOR THEATRE. “ GIRLS’ DORMITORY.” One of the most important cinema events in years will take place, screening today at the Meteor Theatre when an exciting new personality, Simone Simon (pronounced See-Aloan See-Moan), makes her debut in the Twentieth Century-Fo.\ , production, "Girls’ Dormitory.” Warm, f young, refreshing and vital, with distinct! magnetic appeal and rare, strange beauty, * Miss Simon is being acclaimed the most* Important discovery in recent screen his- 3 tory. Herbert Marshall and Ruth Chat- \ terton are starred with her. in an exceptional cast that features Constance Collier, J. Edward Broomberg. Dixie Dunbar, John Qualen and Shirley Deane. The film opens in an exclusive boarding school. Herbert Marshall is the director of the school, Ruth Chatterton, Constance Collier, J. Edward Bromberg are important members of the faculty.. The students are all young girls in their late 'teens, and all are daughters of wealthy families, sent to the school to complete their education, j Beyond walls barred to men. the girls are I taught and schooled in everything except I what the ruies forbid—life' and love. It P is but a short time before graduation. j Simone, a remarkably beautiful girl, is 5 about to leave the surroundings she has known for years—and the man she has youthfully loved almost as . long,-Herbert Marshall. On a dare, Simone asks Marshall to dance with her at a school social event. He refuses the girl and, ashamed at the rebuff, she runs off. to return just as a searching party is setting out to look for her. Ruth Chatterton is also in love with Marshall, but she conceals her affection behind an appearance of friendly cooperation. One of the teachers discovers a romantic note, evidently wi*itten by one of the girls. She brings the note to Marshall, demanding that the girl be repri- j manded at once. Behind the words of the I letter, Marshall sees that the girl was P evidently creating a fictitious character ill J her mind. Simone is discovered to be the t author of the note. Hailed before the j faculty, she admits writing it, but denies, that the contents of the note are true, f Ruth Chatterton takes h«r aside, afid Simone reveals that she wrote the note, in a girlish mood, to Marshall, and that she is in love with the teacher. When Marshall is informed of Simone’s statement, | he realises that he, too. loves the young girl. In their romance, they find temporary happiness, but Simone overhears a conversation that makes her believe Marshall is really in love with Miss Chatterton. From this foundation, the film moves swiftly, strongly, to its climax, replete with drama and suspense. "Girls' Dormitory” was especially chosen for Simone’s first Hollywood picture. Irving Cummings directed the production, with Raymond Griffith associate producer.

STATE THEATRE-TO-MORROW. “KING SOLOMON’S MINES. During tlx© last six months or so there has been a dearth of brilliant film adaptions of story classics. “Les Misei*ables,” “David Copperfleld,” “Little Women,” are but three productions that come to one’s mind. Strangely enough, England has contributed but little to the really excellent classic productions to date, but now at last we have seen an English film that will rank with any previous classic brought to the screen. For sheer entertainment and unexcelled pictorial presentation of the author’s original ideas, “King Solomon’s Mines” takes first place in today’s film world. H. Rider Haggard has been responsible for adventurous, imaginative tales that have thrilled .readers since the ’eighties and will continue to do so for years to come. These stories have all the glamour and romance that appeals to any imagination, and “King Solomon's Mines” is probably the best of these. It is ideal film material, and as adapted and presented by G.-8.-D. under the direction of Robert Stevenson, it is definitely Britain’s film triumph and intense, exciting entertainment. The story of Kathy O’Brien and her diamond-mining father who obtain a wagon lift from, a hunter, Allan Quartermain, and who* are later joined by Commander Good and Sir Henry Curtis, explorer and adventurer, with the powerfully built Umbopa for driver and guide, makes interesting material. O’Brien then disappears with a map he has obtained, supposedly locating the fabulously rich diamond mines—-King Solomon's Mines—and the party, following in the wake of Kathy who has gone in search of her father, takes an interest in the proceedings. From the moment they are captured by Zulus and Umbopa reveals himself as their rightful king, the story builds up to a thrilling and powerful climax that involves fierce tribal wars, gruesome mischief by witch-doc toys and an enormous volcanic upheaval. These scenes have been brilliantly and realistically produced, and the tribal war and celebration scenes in which thousands of natives take part are both impressive and spectacular. As Umbopa, Paul Robeson has never been seen to better advantage. He sings three songs during the action of the film in glorious voice, and acts with conviction. Sharing all honours is Cedric Hardwicke as Allan Quartermain, adventurer. This convincing English star adds but one more characterisation to his successful list. Roland Young makes Commander Good an interesting, friendly little fellow with brilliance, and the romaninterest is sincerely handled by Anna Lee and John Loder. KOSY THEATRE “EVERY NIGHT AT EIGHT” The brightest spot of light entertainment in town can be found now showing at the Kosy Theatre, where "Every Night At Eight” is holding merry, musical sway. Highly hilarious, with tuneful toe-tapping and an originality of story that is refreshing as an air-cooled theatre on a sweltering summer day, “Every Night At Eight” proves to be as blues chasing, heart-warming a piece of funny business as has come along in a month of musicals. The picture opens on a gay note with Frances Langford. Alice Faye |and Patsy Kelly us three factory workers who lose their jobs throug'h practising harmony singing in the boss’ office. Penniless, they try their luck as a singing | trio on an amateur radio hour. At the radio station they lost the pi*ize to George Raft who appears this time in a new kind of dramatic role, that of a conceited band leader. Attracted to the girls and seeing their possibilities, he starts . them on their career as the Swanee Sisi ters. He builds them up to a trio of ■sweet, unsophisticated Southern girls, inakes them dress alike, look alike, and in general manages their Jives for them j Under Raft’s severe discipline they rise from their amateur standing to queens of ! the air waves. When Miss Langford believes that Raft does not return her love, she rebels with the other two girls, deserts the nightly broadcast, and goes oft on a yachting party. A climax, packed with thrills, romance and action, brings the trio to their senses. There are six outstanding song numbers featured in the picture, including “Then You’ye Never Been Blue,” “Take It Easy,” “I Feel a Song Coming On” and “Speaking Confidentially."' j Associate Feature—“ The Sky Parade.” I He's l <• you with his 'daring exIploits—j.muiy Allen, hero of millions oJ (radio fans and air adventiues. in a .es his [initial screen appearance in a picture [packed with daring sky exploits to thrill you.