Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 153, 1 July 1939, Page 7

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE CITADEL.” Th© second American picture from M.G.M.’s British studios at Denham, England, is “The Citadel,” co-starring Robert Donat and Roslind Russell. The first was “A Yank at Oxford,” with Robert Taylor and Maureen O’Sullivan. “The Citadel," based on the popular novel by Dr. A. J. Cronin, was produced on an American scale with King Vidor directing a cast of more than 100 players. In principal supporting roles are Ralph Richardson and Rex Harrison, well-known English actors who have been seen on Broadway. Others in an unusually large cast include Ettilyn Williams, Penelope Dudley-Ward, Francis Sullivan, Mary Clare, Cecil Parker and Nora Swinburne. “The Citadel” relates the story of an obscure young doctor in the Welsh colleries who conscientiously adheres to the ideals of his noble profession. As a mine doctor he saves trapped workmen in a pit disaster, amputates the arm of one of them who is caught beneath a timber and wins the respect of his fellows. He falls in love with a school teacher and they marry, later moving into London, where he engages In a society practice at much higher fees. There the young physician temporarily forgets his ideals in the midst of luxury, but his wife is the influence which restores him to his original convictions. A careless operation on his best friend also serves to jolt him to his senses, and the doctor joins a group of earnest colleagues in the establishment of a great humanitarian clinic. Donat portrays th© physician and Miss Russell is his wife. Much of the atmosphere is autobiographical, Dr. Cronin having served in the Welsh mine district before he wrote the book. METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “FAST AND LOOSE” Something new under the sun Is revealed at the Meteor Theatre where Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell race across the screen in “Fast and Loose,” a rip-roaring sequel to last year’s comedy hit, “Fast Company.” The new picture is a most unusual mystery comedy that contains all the qualities of firstrate entertainment. “Fast and Looso” unwinds in rapidfire manner from the novel motive of baffling crimes actuated by the desire of many persons to gain possession of a rare and valuable document, or at least to prevent Montgomery and his charming screen wife. Miss Russell, from gaining possession of it. Montgomery is seen in the role of Joel Sloane, a young devil-may-care dealer in rare books who inevitably finds himself in the role of amateur detective surrounded by mystery which he eventually solves. Miss Russell plays the charming, fun-loving wife, Garda, in “Thin-Mannish” fashion and shares all his adventures and a few of her own. Montgomery has been assigned by an absent-minded client, played by Etienne Girardot, to purchase a certain rare and precious book. Ills search leads him and his wife, as week-end guests, to the Torrent estate. While there, Reginald Owen, another guest, is mysteriously slugged and Montgomery proves that the rare book, still in the cracked safe, is a forgery. Before Montgomery solves the multi-mysteries that revolve around the disappearance of the rare book and the substitution of a faked copy, Miss Russell is held captive by gangsters and rescued by her husband. Together they face death in a faked car collision and three mysterious murders are committed. Montgomery solves the mysteries in one of the most unusual climaxes seen on the screen. Throughout, the hair-raising adventures of the youAg couple, Montgomery and Miss Russell are ably assisted by Reginald Owen, Ralph Morgan, Etienne Girardot, Alan Dinehart, Jo Ann Sayers and Joan Marsh. “Fast and Loose” is a different kind of picture for Montgomery and Miss Russell and one that establishes them as one of the leading comedy teams on the screen. The picture is expertly knitted together in the smooth direction of Edwin L. Marin and George Folsey’s photography is of the best.

STATE THEATRE-TO-DAY “SIXTY GLORIOUS YEARS” Following closely on the greatest British film ever made, “Victoria the Great,” R.K.O. Radio’s “Sixty Glorious Years” now reaches the screen as the greatest masterpiece ever to have emanated from a British studio. When Mr. Wilcox decided to make the new film, starring the same players, Anna Neagle and Anton Walbrook, he found the authorities ready to grant him even more generous facilities for making use of authentic material and locales. Wilcox was quick to seize this grand opportunity, for it was almost a necessity to bring out in the intimate life of Queen Victoria studies that were not included in “Victoria the Great.” The result was that “Sixty Glorious Years” became the story of a great reign, unfolded from the domestic side of a woman and her devoted husband—Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, her Consort. The film contains the crowded and stirring scenes of the Royal Crystal Palace Exhibition and episodes from the wars that darkened Victoria's reign; but predominant are the two figures who are the centre of ah these events. Their tiffs and their joy—especially over the birth of the Princess Royal—their amusing encounters while travelling in the Highlands, their private relations with the Ministers of State and their characteristic comments on the events of the day provide the brilliant story of “Sixty Glorious Years.” It is always intimate and often slyly humorous. “Sixty Glorious Years” is filmed entirely in technicolour, with the result that the film has added beauty to its already rich subject. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “THESE THREE” The unhappy observation that people are more eager to believe evil than good of their fellow man provided Lillian Hellman, brilliant Broadway playwright, with the theme of “These Three,” her new screen play for Samuel Goldwyn, which is showing at the Mayfair Theatre today, with Miriam Hopkins, Merle Oberon and Joel McCrea in the title roles. The powerful story, which offers picturegoers something entirely new in the way of gripping dramatic situations, shows how one scandalous lie, the invention of a spiteful 12-year-old schoolgirl, hurled ruin, like a bombshell, into the Jives of three innocent adults, who would otherwise have led a happy, peaceful existence. Thus does Miss Heilman, who is under a long-term contract to Goldwyn, establish her point: Had the child said only complimentary things, who would have paid any attention to her? “It Is one of the tragedies of civilisation,” observes Miss Heilman, “that the nice things we know or hear about our fellow men seem of little importance. We make no effort to pass them on. But just let us chance to hear or suspect something derogatory or detrimental and wo seem to become human systems of rapid communication.” The victims of the vicious lie that motivates the story are Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, two young college women who establish a small girls’ school In New England, and Dr. Joseph Cardin, the young local doctor-fiance of Karen, whom Martha secretly loves. The roles are played by Merle Oberon, Miriam Hapklns and Joel McCrea, respectively, while the part of Mary Tllford, the 12-year-old "heavy” of the piece, is played by Bonita Granville, who has been pronounced as a genuine “find” and is said to give a performance so brilliant that it raises her role almost to stellar Importance. Miss Heilman has shown a remarkable grasp of a child’s capacity for rationalisation by depicting the young villain as launching her utterly ruthless “whispering campaign” for no better reason than that she does not like to do her school work. Undoubtedly, neither this child nor any other 12-year-old has a sufficient acumen to realise the damage that can be wrought by a vicious lie, but, it is the author’s contention, even a child of these years seems to know instinctively that her elders will give her their wholehearted attention when the intelligence she has to offer is tinged with scandal. Others prominent in the cast of “These Three” are Catherine Doucet, Alma Kruger, Marcia Mae Jones, Carfnencita Johnson, Margaret Hamilton, Marie Louise Cooper and Walter Brennan. The film was directed by William Wyler and is released through United Artists. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY “MYSTERY HOUSE” “Mystery House,” the story of how a wealthy man was slain at his remote hunting lodge, and how clever Detective Lance O’Leary found the killer, which is now showing at the Kosy Theatre. Dick Purcell piays the sleutn is this Warner Bros.’ melodrama. Ann Sheridan plays a lovely nurse who suspects a crime has been committed and brings a detective, Dick Purcell, to the lodge to clear up the mystery. The story is by Mignon Eberhart, whose detective novels and pictures have had immense popularity during the past few years. The photoplay is said to have an especially thrilling climax as the killer and his means of operation are revealed. Other notables in the. cast are Anne Nagel and William Hopper, who carry along the romantic interest, Asthony Averill, Hugii O’Connell, Sheila Bromley, Dennie Moore and Elspeth Dudgeon. The screen play was adapted by Robertson White ana Sherman Lowe and directed by Noel Smith. “Crime Ring.” How illegal, unscrupulous “mystics” work on the emotions and sentiment of a credulous public, defrauding innocent people of millions annually, is vividly illustrated in “Crime Ring,” which features Allan Lane and Frances Mercer in the leading roles, is now showing at th. Kosy Theatre. This gripping story traces the efforts of a newspaper man, a pretty actress and the police department in tracking down one of the most unique rackets in the annals of police history. Working under the leadership of a mysterious racketeer boss, a group of fortunetellers and bucket-shop operators are swindling the citizens of a large city. The fortune-tellers advise their gullible clients to buy certain worthless stock, and split the profits with the bucket-shop men through whom the victims make their purchases. The boss collects his commission through a fake private detective agency, whose men terrorise complaining victims, and also discourage competition from outsiders. A highlight of the story reveals a wealthy old widow, played by Clara Blandick, being duped b. a so-called seer who, after learning of her son’s lamentable death some years previously, uses this Information to plan for defrauding her of her entire fortune. It is at this point that the reporter and his feminine assistant provide the police with the necessary evidence to expose the ruthless ring.

“Lone Ranger,” “Hi Yo Silver,” episode 6, “Red Man’s Courage.”