Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 7

Entertainments

STATE 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 1 Landirig, ” 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 for some considerable time. Don Ameche is cast opposite Miss Henie in the leading male role, this being the second time he has appeared with fier, the first being “Girl in a Million,” with which the Norwegian girl made her screen debut. Mists Henie is cast as one oi the five daughters ; of Jean Ilershodt, who will be remembered for hiss pleaded portrayal 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 thei’6 can be little or no real love on Romero’s part, because he i 3 already engaged to a beautiful American girl (Ethel Merman). The two fliers swing from Norway to Paris, Miami to New | York in tho 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 of the story. The two love stories are capably handled by the direc Lor, Hoy del RUth, the picture being produced by Darryl F. Zanuck for Twentieth i Century-Fox. “Happy Landing” is taken from the original screen play by Milton Sperling and Boris Ingster. Only a few years ago it was impossible to use neoii gas signs in low temperatures, but tin Twentieth Century-Fox technical stall 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, manybeautiful effects being gained. Among the Pokrass and Yellen songs intFodu<*ed are the numbers “Hot and Happy,” “a Gipsy Told Me” and "You are the Music to tho Words of My Heart.” MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “ I SEE ICE.” Having survived the perils of th© T.T. motor-cycle races in “No Limit,” dared audiences to “Keep On Their Seats” while laughing at his second screen scream, "Feathered the Theatres’ Nests” ana shown tho world iiow to “Keep Fit” funnily, George Formby has now made ’ i See Ice” on the decidedly slippery way. And you don’t know how much you can la,ugh until you see this latest riot oi comedy, which shows at the May fair Theatre to-day. Punctuating the laughs are some oi tne most exciting thrills ever witnessed. These occur dur ing the international ice hockey match, which George unwittingly reierees. The amazing speed, skill and daredevil spill - of the world-iamous exponents of ice skating, in this sequence, has to be seen to be believed. As in ’’Keep Fit,” George’s leading lady is again that blue-eyed love iy Kay vvalsn, and otner principals in tnis Dash jjaan-A,T.JL\ production are Cyril Rncnard, Betty Stucktieid, Uarr) Marsh ana Drank Leighton. Anthom Kinnmns wrote the story aiung with Alls tin Aiehord, tne same Austin who pu< such fils of fun into tne dialogue of ’’Keep Fit.” This time they have made Georga young photograpner, more amateui than mature, wno takes the train for Birmingham, but is so carried away on meeting petite Kay Walsh that he arrives in London instead. Here George gets a temporary job as property man in a theatre, all of which is en route to the mammoth ice rink and George’s antics therein in his endeavour to qualify not only as an expert skater but as an ice hockey champion! Everything ends happily for all, except Cyril Ritchard who is the villain of the piece, and of course, George finds the time and occasion to fit in four of his inimitable songs, which he sings to his own banjo accompaniment. George Formby’s inclusion in the programme of the recent Royal Variety performance creates a record which, it is believed, is unique in that Fomiby’s is the only family to nave tne distinction of a father and son Honoured by Royal Command performances. Twice in 11113 George Formby aenr. had the distinction, once in the Annual Performance and again at Queen auary’3 desire, it is reported that when she was present at a simitar performance as guest oi the Earj of Derby at Knowsley, and now in IU3) George Junior comes into his own.

REGENT THEATRE “EVER SINCE EVE” Robert Montgomery and Marion Davies are co-stars, and a supporting cast Includes such popular comediahS as Frank McHugh, Patsy Kelly, Louise Fazenda and Allen Jenkins in the Warner Bros.' Cosmopolitan comedy “Ever Since Eve." It is described as the sprightliest piece of nonsense that either the lovely golden - haired Miss Davies or handsome Bob has ever played in. Montgomery plays the part of a goofy author who cannot settle clown to finish his novels because he always has his mind on blondes. Miss Davies assumes th© role of a secretary wh© has been so pestered by previous employers on account of her good looks, that when she goes to work for Bob she does so in disguise, making herself as homely as possible. Lob meets her at night, undisguised, doesn’t recognise her, and falls in love with her. The eompii cations resulting from this are said to be fast and furious. The sort of roles portrayed by Miss Davies and Montgomery in the picture are especially suited to their taienta, and triumphs of iorraer films are repeated here manyfold. Perhaps one of the best features of the picture is tfi© presence of a side-split ting supporting cast of comedians. Performances by Alien Jenkins, Frank Mchuga and Patsy Keily keep Lie audience in tne proverbial gales of laughter. There are some excellent shorts with this programme; and they include a melody master, a big time vaudeville item, “Cradie of Civilisation,” colourtour adventures in technicoiour, a colour cartoon “Pigs is Pigs,” and the latest world news items. Box plans are now open at Col- i linson and Cunmngname s, ’phone 71? a. KOSY THEATRE. “ FOOT LOOSE HEIRESS ” “Foot-Loose Heiress,” now showing at the Kosy Theatre, is a Warner Brbs. production, co-starring Craig Reynolds anu Ann Sneridan, ana Was directed by Wit liam Clemens from an original screen pla) by Robertson White. Otner notables in tne cast Include i-iugh O Connen, fameu uomeuian of stage and screen, William Hopper tson of tne late great D© Won anu nedua Hopper;, Anne Kagei, Tedu.y Hart, Lois Ciieaney, William Ebernardi, Frank urth and Hal Neiman. anu biierxdau, naturally, is tno spoiled heiress. Sne's done what she wanted ail her life, and her latner, O Conned, can't control Uer. Craig Reynolds nr si appears as a tramp wno lias come into town riding tne rods oi a freight tram. In reality, we learn, ne'y the vyeaitny son of a Roston advertising man. The giddy Ann has mane a £louu bet with a friend that sne n be married beiore her eignteenm uirtnday is over. Craig, managing to get into ueoent Clothing, takes it upon him self to stop that ousmess. He likes tne girl and aamires ner lather—and succeeds m nis efforts to block the sill) marriage. From tnen on the story goes iniQ ah ports oi luuierous—and at times, infilling twists. “Dark World.” “Darn Worm" is a powerful drama now snowing at tne Kosy Theatre. The story tells of btepuen's jeaiousy lor his younger brother, pniiip, and now it is brpugnt to a head anu symoonsea by a dancer, the omy woman btepuen has evei wanted. Th© dancer xahs in love witn Philip, who lias always been the lucky one of the two, and Stephen’s jealousy becomes so overwneiming mat lie plans to murder his brother. He devises anu carries out the perfect murder, only to find that he has killed the wrong man, and we see the dramatic and exciting consequences of his mistake. DON BRADMAN SPECIAL. “How I Play Cricket.” All admirers of th© world-famous Don Bradman and lovers of the game of cricket should see the special short, “How I Play Cricket,” in which th© Australian is seen in action, now at the Kosy Theatre. METEOR THEATRE. “ POLO JOE.” Jo© E. Brown would ilk© to know what sort of athletic activity he’ll have to (To next. In a blouse, riding breeches and with a long-handled mallet in his hand, he stood beside a horse at the Warner Bros, studio. He was waiting for the next scene in “Polo Joe,” now showing at the Meteor Theatre. “They’ve got me now as a polo player,” Joe said. “I sock a wooden ball with this thing here, and win the game! In ‘Alibi Ike’ (three pictures back) I was a baseball pitcher—remember? A guy that always had some excuse when anything went wrong, bu. managed to come through in the niffth innings. Just before that, in ‘Six Da) Like Rider,’ I was one of those mugs that go round and ’round and don’t come out anywhere. Jumping four pictures back Alibi Ike,’ I was again a ball-tosser in Elmer the Great.’ Then in the one back of that, ’You Said a Mouthful,’ I was a champion channel swimmer. In ‘Fireman, j Save My Child,’ I was a ball-player again --a sandlot dub who would shed his glov«any time he heard a bell ring. In ‘Maybe it s Love I was on© of those short-pants college athletes of the track and field team, running, jumping, and nole-vault- *«£ ‘Top Speed’—which is picture No. 1U back of this present one—l was the pilot of a high-speed motor-boat.” in Polo Joe,” a riotous comedy romance by Peter Milne and Hugh Cummings, Joe returns to slapstick. Others In the cas t are Carol Hughes, Richard (Skeets) Gallagher, Joseph King, Gordon Elliott, Fay Holden and George E. Stone. William McGann directed.