Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 183, 5 August 1938, Page 9

Entertainments

•TATE THEATRE—TO-DAY “HAPPY LANDING ’’ Brilliant ice-skating by the Olympic | figure skating champion Sonja Henie, a number of new songs sung by Ethel Merman. and excellent acting by a large cast of players combine to make “Happy Landing,”' the bright musical comedy which shows for a season at the State Theatre to-day, one of the most entertaining pictures seen in Palmerston North i for some considerable time. Don Ameche is cast opposite Miss Henie in the lead- : ing male role, this being the second time ho has appeared with her. the first being “Girl in a Million,” with which the Nor- : wegian girl made her screen debut. Miss Henie is cast as one oi the five daughters of Jean Hershodt, who will be remembered for hiss plenaed portx-ayal in “The Countrty Doctor.” She is infatuated with Cesar Romero, an egotistic orchestra leader who, .with Don Ameche, has flown the Atlantic, and becomes engaged to him. Ameche, sincere in his interests, is certain that there can bo little or no real iove on Romero’s part, because he is already engaged to a beautiful American girl fEthel Merman). The two fliers swing from Norway to Paris, Miami to New York in the course of the story. How Romero finally marries Ethel Merman, and how a romance gradually grows between Dan Ameche and Sonja Henie, form the basis oi the story. The two love stones are capably handled b.v the director, Roy del Ruth, the picture being produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth Century-a ox. “Happy Landing” is taken from the original screen piay by Miltou Sperling and Doris mgster. Omy a few years ago it was .impossible to use neon gas signs in low temperatures, but t.i v Twentieth Century-* ox technical stun have recently devised a process whereby they can freeze the tubes into the floor of th ice-rink, a discovery that is made full use of in this latest production, many beautiful effects being gained. Among the Pokrass and Yeilen songs introduce! are the numbers “Hot and Happy,” “a Gipsy Told Ale” and “I’ou are the Music to tho Words of My Heart.” MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “ I SEE ICE.’* Having survived the perils of the T.T. motor-cycle races in “no Limit,” dareu auuiences to “Keep On Tneir meats’’ while laughing at his second screen scream, “jjeatuered the Theatres’ Nests ’ anu shown tno world now to “Keep fit” funnily, George * ormby has now made • i See Ico” on the decidedly slippery way. And you don't know now mucu you can laugh until you see this latest riot oi comedy, which snows at the May fair Theatre to-uay. punctuating Urn laughs are some oi the most exciting thruls ever witnessed, these occur dui ing tne international ice nockey maecn. Which George unwittingly referees. Tne amazing speeu, sain aim uaredevii spillof the wond-iamous exponents of ice skating, in tms sequence, nas to be seen to be believed. As in “ixeep int,” George's leading lady is again mat blue-eyed iove ly Kay Walsh, and ocner principals in tnis Basil Dean-A.T.P. production are Cyril Ritchard, Betty Stockfieid, Garry Marsh and .trank Leighton. Anthom Kimmins wrote the story along witn Aus tin Melford, tne same Austin who pu> such fits of fun into the dialogue of “Keep Pit.” This time they nave made Georg* a young photographer, more amateur than mature, wno takes the train for Birmingham, but is so carried away on meeting petite Kay Walsn that he arrives in London instead. Here George gets a j temporary job as property man in a 5 theatre, all of which is en route to the mammoth ico rinlc and George's antics therein in his endeavour to qualify no; omy as an expert skater but as an ice hookey cnampion! Everything ends happily lor an, except Cyril Ritchard who is the villain of the piece, and of course, George finds the time and occasion to fit in four of fiia inimitable songs, wnicii h. sings to his own banjo accompaniment. ' George Formby s inclusion in the pro- , gramme of the recent Royal Variety performance creates a record which, it is believed, is unique in that Formby’s is the only family to nave tne distinction of a > father and son honoured by Royal Command performances. Twice in lUlo 1 George rormby t>enr. had the distinction, l once in the Annual Performance ana again at Queen Mary’s desire, it is reported that wnen she was present at a similar performance as guest of tho Earl of Derby at Knowsley, and now in 11)37 ■ George Junior comes into his own.

REGENT THEATRE “BLUEBEARD’S EIGHTH WIFE” This excellent comedy starring Gar> Cooper and Claudette Colbert concludes a most successful week’s run to-day at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Commencing To-night (Friday) at 10.30 p.m. “Ever Since Eve.” Robert Montgomery and Marion Davies are co-stars, and a supporting cast includes such popular comedians as Frank McHugh, Patsy Kelly, Louise Fazenda and Allen Jenkins in the Warner Bros. Cosmopolitan comedy “Ever Since Eve. It is described as tne spnghtliest piece of nonsense that either tiie lovely golden haired Miss Davies or handsome Bob has ever played in. Montgomery plays the part of a gooiy author who cannot settle down to finisn his novels because fie aiways has ms mind on blondes. Miss Davies assumes tne roie of a secretary wno has been so pestered by previous employ era on account of her good loons, tnat wnen sue goes to worn ior Bob sue does so m tus o uise, mamng nerseif as homely as possmie. 800 meets her ai night, uauisguiseu, doesn t recognise he., anu fans m iovo with uer. Tne compu cations resulting from this are said to oc last ana xurious. Tne sort oi rotes portrayea by miss Davies and Montgomery in uie. picture are especially suited to their taients, anu triumphs oi termer nans are repeated nere manyfold, rerhaps one ot tne best leatures Of tne picture is tne presence ot a siue-sptftcing auoes by Anen j ennuis, r rank MCnugi* and Batsy neep urn auumnoe m tne proveroiat guies' ot laughter. There are some excenent snorts with this programme, anu they mciUae a meiociy master, a oig ume vauuevnie item, “nrauie of Civilisation,” coiourtour au■ventures in tecnmcoiour, a coiour cartoon “rugs is rugs, ' anu uie latest worm news items. Box pians are now open at Coi linson and Cunmngname s, ’pnone 7178. KOSY THEATRE. “ FOOT LOOSE HEIRESS ” “Foot-Louse Heiress, now snowing a, the rvosy Theatre, is a War uer xuos. pro uuc nun, 00-s tarring craig xteyntuua aim Ahn Miermun, aim was uuecteu uy Wi Ham cieiuviis iium aii orxg.naf screen pm. by rtoneitsoii wane. other liouunea i». tne east uiciUue l_> nomiexi, mutee cuihouian oi stage anu screen, vvunaui nupper vsua ot uie mte great Be w 0.. anu raeuua ruopperj, aluie 0.-.a o ex, Bare, hois cneo.nej', vvimam Hoeiiiarui, learn, ne s uie >.eamiy sun ui a t IUU> , na sue n oo muii-ieu oeiore ner o.gnteenu. uiituuay is over, craig, managing to ge. into uecent ciotning, takes it upon finn sen to stop tnat ousmess. He nnes tncgiri anu auuures uer lather —anu succeeds m ms euorts to oiocn tne silij marriage, r-rom then on the story goes into au sons oi luuicrous—and at times, • uinlimg twists. “Darn World.” “Darn Worm ’ is a powenul drama ' now showing at tne Kosy Theatre. The i story tells of fatepnen's jeaiousy ior his ' younger brother, miiip, and now it is . Drought to a head anu symboiised by a i dancer, the omy woman tttepnen has evei • wanted. The dancer rails in iove witn i Phmp, who has always oeen tne .ucity one of tne two, and btepnen’s jm.ous> ' becomes so overwnexming mat lie pians ■ to murder ins brother. He devise anu : carries out tne perieci murder, omy to i tinu that ne nas mneu the wrong man, • and we see tne dramatic and exciting consequences of his mistake, DON BRADMAN SPECIAL. “How I Play Cricket.” i All admirers of tne woriu-iamous Don • Bradman and iovers of tile game oi i cricket should see tne special short, “How , I Play Cricnet,” in wnich the Australian i is seen in action, now at the Kosy ■ Theatre.