Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 153, 1 July 1938, Page 9

Entertainments

STATE THEATRE—TO-DAY “IN OLD CHICAGO.” “In Old Chicago,” which screens today at the State Theatre, is a superb screen, spectacle, with all the elements that go into the making of great entertainment. The strong cast includes Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Alice Brady, Andy Devine and Brian Donlevy. Opening with the O’Leary’s in a covered wagon, bound for Chicago, Pa O'Leary typifies the grim brevity of existence in those days when he tried to outrace a new-fangled (Currier and Ives), locomotive. Molly O’Leary buries . her husband in the praries, only a l'ew hours from the city he longed to see. Then the next morning Ma O'Leary brings her three sons into this brawling bawdy city of ISS4 —and by dint of a fancy lady’s mud-spattered gown, launches herself upon a career as a laundress. The boys grow up and by 1870 Bob O’Leary (Tom Brown) is married to a German immigrant girl (June Storey). Jack O'Leary is a struggling attorney, and Dion is making his first inroads into politics. Dion first swings into his stride- when he woos Fell© Fawcett (Miss Faye) so that he can control the choice site for a saloon which will drive his political boss <Brian Donlevy) out of business. The. violent love scenes end with a slightly subdued Belie Fawcett becoming Dion’s aide in a series of machinations which are culminated by a political plot electing Brother Jack O’Leary as reform Mayor oi Chicago. The strange O’Leary tribe fights tooth and nail at times, and tfie climax comes when Dion lias his brother perform the marriage cererrfony which makes Lelle Fawcett the bride of Dion O’Leary. Mayor Jack O’Leary learns that the marriage was engineered by Dion so that Belle could not testify to Dion’s political chicanery A fight begins here, and far away in The Patch the cow kicks over the lantern in the barn. Then the screen flowers forth in the most terrifying beauty, Chicago is wiped out before the eyes ... to the accompaniment of the most furious sounds and scenes ever captured on celluloid. The final moment which shows the indomitable O’Learys re-united in tho spirit of a regenerated Chicago to come, is a scene that beggars laudatory description. KOSY THEATRE —TO-DAY “LIFE BEGINS IN COLLEGE’’ . “Life Begins in College," Twentieth Century-Fox musical smash, stars the comedy-mad Bits Brothers and featured Joan Davis, Tony Martin and Gloria. Stuart, and a tremendous cast. Aug-mented-by the sensational song hits of hew Pollack and Sidney D. Mitchell which include "Why Talk About Love. , "Big Chief Swing It," "The Rhumba Goes Collegiate," "Our Team Is on the Waroath” and “Fair Lombardy, toiothCT with “Sweet Varsity Sue” by Charles Tobias, Ai Lewis and Mencher, “Life Begins in College moves along on a tidal wave of giddy o ag.s, gorgeous girls, songsters and Steppers. The mad merrymaniacs of Sing, Sing,” “On the Avenue” and You con i: Have Everything” have the time of their lives in a three-Ritz circus of the wilde-C maddest gags' ever put over - They are bahU pressers working their waj tnrougn college and they upset all past traditions with their riotous antics. But. that s only the beginning of the fun. Comic-fkcea Joan Davis -A on a heart-hunt for a poor Indian with 10,000 dollars a day to spend, and during the chase staggers around o hor rubber legs in a manner that incite-ritf-tickUng laughter. It is red-headed Joan’s greatest role. There s Tony Mar tm youthful and handsome, leading the land and singing, the Mack and Mitche] song hits. There’s Gloria Stuart catch in°" up with romance amid a setting of campus frolics and musical jamborees, while gorgeous girls sway to swingaoie rhythms in breath-taking dance ensembles surrounding the amusing plot. “The Lady in the Morgue.” For positively eerie suspense that keeps you on tenterhooks till the law gets its prey in the last scene, Universal s thriller, “The Lady in the Morgue,” now showing at the Kosy Theatre. This screen version of Jonathan Latimer’s celebrated Crime Club novel is a grade A baffler, with more twisted clues, zestful rougnhouse and picturesque characters than have been seen on the screen in a month of Sundays. Chief among these ctoat-tei-s is Detective Bill Crane.-, the hard boiled, pleasantly alcoholic sleuth. He- is played by Preston Foster, who created this character on the screen m * Westland Case.” Foster is simply gi and in the part, as is Frank Jenks in the role of Crane’s clownish assistant. Doc Williams Patricia Ellis does a swell job as the girl in the case and Tom Jackson is very amusing as a numskull officer of the law. Crane gets into the plot when a girl’s body is found hanging in a oldging house and the cops call it suicide. Crane thinks the body may be that of the daughter of a iwealthy .client. hen he goes to view the body, it vanishes from the morgue and the morgue keeper is slain. Crane discovers the girl was murdered, not a suicide. By means of some red hairs found In the dead morgue keeper’s hand, he traces the missing body and the events march rapidly to a thrilling climax. “The Lady in the Morgue is so skilfully worked out that it defies the shrewdest amateur detective in the audience to pick the killer in advance.

REGENT 10.30 TO-NIGHT “THOROUGHBREDS DON’T CRY” Launching Hollywood’s newest find in British Boy actors, Ronald Sinclair, of New Zealand, in “Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry,” new drama of childhood loyalties played-against the panorama of American racing, provides entertainment in a new form. Thrills of racing abound. Crooked turf operations are exposed. Yet the story is not a racing story, but the poignant tale of the friendship and loyalty of three youngsters and a racetrack boarding house keeper. Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker and Mickey Rooney, playing a young jockey, complete the dramatic quartette. The N ew Zealand boy is a gifted arid appealing actor, Sophie Tucker has a sympathetic role which she handles superbly. Judy Garland singe “Gotta Pair of New Shoes” and makes herself generally loved, and Mickey Rooney adds another triumph to his list as the conceited jockey who tricks his friend and in his re morse finds regeneration. Alfred E. Green directed with deft skill. The story is an original by Eleanore Griffin and J. Walter Ruben. Tho racing action, with many famous- horses and jockeys, was filmed at the Santa Anita racetrack. Hundreds of people take part in the crowd action. Players include C. Aubrey Smith, Forrester Harvey, Charles D. Brown, Frankie Darro, Henry Kolker and Helen _roy. Special camera effects bring a_. exciting race down to effective “closeMAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-MORROW. “ THEY WON’T FORGET.” “They Won’t Forget,” a Mervyn Le Roy film production which aroused a tremendous amount of discussion at its previews and after its subsequent showings, is scheduled to open at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow. Based upon the sensational Ward Greene novel, “Death in the Deep South,” this picture, presented by Warner Bros., has for its theme the question of whether or not an innocent man may be hurried to a murder conviction on circumstantial evidence—plus a spirit of hatred aroused by an evilly ambitious prosecutor who wants to win the case for the sake of personal publicity. According to the story told by “They Won’t Forget,” the answer is “Yes.” The-movie is described as sensational in its daring, and in the performance of its players. Claude Rains—always the thorough-going villain —plays the part of the unscrupulous district attorney and is said to outdo himself in earning the hatred of audiences. Edward Norris, handsome young leading man, appears as a Northern, U.S.A., school teacher in a Southern town, who is charged with the murder of one of his young pupils. His performance is described as winning and Gloria Dixon, a 20-year-old newcomer to the screen, who as discovered by Leßoy playing a stage production for the U.S.A. Goveernment .Theatre Project in Los Angeles, makes her first movie appearance as the teacher’s faithful and undoubtmg wife. She is said to be headed for stardom. -v Lana Turner, a Hollywood High School youngster of only 17, is seen briefly as the murder victim, and she, too, is said to be full of promise. Otto Kruger, star of both stage and film, has the role of a Northern attorney who tries vainly to save the young teacher from conviction. Others with important parts Include Allyn Joslyn, Linda Perry. Elisha Cook, Jr., Leonard Mudie and Clinton RoseMETEOR THEATRE. “ SHALL WE DANCE.” A bright spot in entertainment is in store for picture fans when “Shall We Dance” commences a season at the Meteor Theatre tomorrow at 45 p.m. This latest Astaire-Rogers picture, surely their best, is bound to find favour. An excellent story links the song arid dancing acts together, the many side-issues, embracing superb’ comedy, popular romance, pleasing spectacle and clever dancing, including some really unexpected novelty numbers, maintain a lively tempo throughout the whole show. The gay tunes fit easily into the various romantic scenes and glorious comedy situations. Fred Astaire is particularly versatile, and he and Miss Rogers are seen at their best. Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore are a great comedy team and the rest of the players, not forgetting Harriet Hoctor, the famous danseuse, are particularly good in their respective supporting roles. The show is a success from start to. enc and we must make mention of the good taste and variety in the staging, the ingenious dance ehseifibies, and the rhythmic tunes by George Gershwin. An interesting “first half” to the programme is promised and .includes an all-colour subject “The Snow Man.” Intending patrons are advised to make early reservations for a happy evening’s entertainment