Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD’’ For those who enjoy a film of romance and adventure, with splendid acting and beautiful scenery, “The Adventures of Robin llood’’ can be recommended. This brilliant Warner Brothers' production is now showing until Friday next at S p.m. at the Regent Theatre. It is a picture which frees one from the cares and worries of the present world to live once again the days of chivalry and romance in England of tno 12th century. The story has its setting in the reign of Richard the Lion-Heart, when that famous warrior is absent from the country on one of his crusades. The government of the country is left in the hands of a trustworthy noble, but It is not long bebrother, gains control. Aided by a band of equally villainous barons, ho proceeds to oppress and tax the law-abiding Saxon citizenry ana for any who refused to pay there Is torture. Then comes Sir Robin of Locksley, who gathers around him hundreds of outlaws and denes the cruel laws of Prince John and ills followers. Their home is In toherwoou Forest anu from these headquarters they proceed to rob the rich and give to the poor. Robin Hood himself is engaged in a personal feud with Sir Guy of Gisborne anu these two are seen in a nuniDer or thrilling battles. Twice Robin Hood allows hiniseu to be captured by Sir Guy’s men, but each time he succeeds in escaping after a desperate encounter with heavily-armed soldiers. His final battle wun Sir Guy is a thrilling contest, for each is an expert swordsman. The choice of tne cast is excellent. No one coulu be better suited to the title role than Errol Flynn, the hero of a number of adventure films. Seldom has Olivia de Havilland’s beauty been seen to better advantage than in her characterisation of Maid Marian, while Basil Kathbone, as tne treacherous Sir Guy, is crafty and unscrupulous as well as aristocratic. Others in the cast are Eugene Pallette, as the rich-voiced Friar Tuck, lan Hunter as King Richard, Alan Halo as Little John, and Herbert Mundin as the amusing Much the Miller’s son. Filmed throughout in technicolour, the film offers one of the best examples of colour yet seen on the screen. There is an entertaining supporting programme In keeping witn tne nigh standard of the main production. Box plans are now open at Coliinson and Ounmnghame's, and patrons are urged to reserve immediately for all sessions. METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “FIRST LADY" “First Lady,” a film version of the Broadway stage hit of the same name, is now showing at the Meteor Theatre. Kay Francis is tne star of tills Warner Bros, comedy of soeiety-and politics at the U.S.A. national capital. Supporting her are Preston Foster, Verreo Teasdale, Anita Louise, Victor Jory, Walter Connolly-, Louise Fazenda, Marjorie Kambeau and a dozen other notables. “First Lady” is a polite treatise on tne Washington society, as seen from the corner of a merryobserver's eye. It liao no mission. It preaches nothing more serious than the gospel of good humour. Lucy is a woman whose grandfather had been President several years before. She is the wife of a Government official and is very ambitious for him. She wants to live In the White House and is not above playing any political game to further that desire. Clever, sophisticated and resourceful, she manages to pull strings in drawing rooms, conference chambers and even in the stately halls of the American Congress. Lucy is as successful in influencing women as in using men. She wields her power with incredible grace. Also on the same programme is Charles Ruggles in Universal’s comedy hit. “His Exciting Night’’ on the happiest round of horseplay and hilarity that ever convulsed you from tho screen.

STATE THEATRE—TO-DAY “STRAIGHT, PLACE AND SHOW’’ It has always seemed that the Ritz Brothers could, if need be, turn out just as funny a picture without a script as with one; that the three freres were entirely capable of ad-libbing through eight or nine reels of entertaining nonsense, unhampered by the restrictions of plotmakers. And if the Ritz Brothers can be funny without a script, just imagine what they can do with a story like Damon Runyon's “Straight, Place and Show.” Betting their shirts on a bangtail named Playboy, the Ritzes are even more surprised than the horse when he romps in I a winner. They decide to keep betting I on Playboy until they have enough to retire on. Richard Alien, however, gambles his happiness with lovely Phyllis Brooks on the chance that Playboy won’t win * another race in three months. Jealous j because he believes Phyllis cares more for Playboy, whom she owns, than for him, Richard promises that if Playboy wins he "will build him a.stable right off the bedroom.” If Playboy loses, Arlen is to become the new owner. Playboy loses and Arlen turns him over to the Ritz Brothers, who plan to enter him in the big sweepstakes. When Phyllis learns of this she breaks off her engagement to Arlen and tries to buy Playboy. But the Ritzes have promised not to sell him. In order to raise the entry fee, and incidentally to insure Playboy’s winning, the Ritzes engage in some tall and hilarious promoting on the eve of the big race, getting themselves involved with what Runyon would call some very desperate characters indeed. But even a Runyon gangster is no match for Jimmy, Harry and Al, and when it’s all over bedlam is the winner by three lengths at least. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY. “ BARBARY COAST. All the flaming colour, the rowdy, boisterous clamour of that lawless colony which, sprang into being In tne early days of the California gold rush of 1849, has been caught in Saamuel Goldwyn's "Barbary Coast,’’ wsich shows at the Kosy Theatre to-day, with Miriam Hopkins, Edward G. Robinson and Joel McCrea offering the finest performances or their respective careers. Into the epic of the building of America’s last frontier, and the part played by pioneer newspaper publishers who fought to the death to build a thriving, respectable town,, that Inimitable writing team, Charles McArthur and Ben Hecht, haye. woven a powerful and thrilling story of love and treachery in this morass of hliman passions. Into this world of gold-mad, love-hungry men, Swan, a beautiful girl,, comes to marry a gold-miner. When she finds him dead, she accepts the offer of the ruthless, powerful Louis Chamalis, to preside over the crooked roulette wheel in his notorious Bella Donna cafe. Chamalis holds the town in tho palm of his hand; men lose their fortune at the wheel and a word of complaint spells speedy death. In this environment Swan grows hard and cold, hating all men and particularly the worsnipping Chamalis who decks her with diamonds and pleads for her love. Then into her life walks Jim Carmichael, idealistic young miner, and they fall in love. Learning her true identity means bitter disillusionment for him, however, and it is not until they have faced great peril together and escape the jealous fury of Chamalis that Jim realises Swan's true worth and .his love for her. Howard Hawks has endowed the film with his usual spirited direction. _ The excellent supporting cast includes Walter Brennan, Brian Donievy, Clyde Cook, Harry Carey and Donald Meek. “The Girl on the Front Page.” Inheriting a large newspaper may seem to be a great deal of good fortune, but it has its draw-backs, "The girl on the Front Page’’ discovers in the Universal picture of that title, which is the second attraction at the Kosy Theatre. A blackmail ring tries to set its claws on her and her wealth, threatening her happiness and reputation. Another tribulation of the front page lady is her hard-boiled manag-ing-editor, portrayed by Edmund Lowe, with whom she Is always squabbling. Tne society heiress is portrayed by Gloria btuart The climax of the picture is reached when Gloria Stuart and Edmund Lowe trap the blackmailers. Tho editor, like Homer, nods for a moment. Then lie discovers lie is married to a mere female, and he sorts of likes the idea.