Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 161, 11 July 1939, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY “HEART OF THE NORTH" High adventure along one of the world’s last frontiers is thrillingly depicted in “Heart of the North," the Warner Bros, production in technieolour of a tale of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authentic in every detail, the picture “debunks" many a wide-spread misconception of the operations and daily existence of the Canadian “Mounties," but the actuality, as vividly portrayed in "Heart of the North," turns out to be even more thrilling and certainly more interesting than the popular delusions. The country in which the story is laid is that wild stretch which borders the Mackenzie River in the far north-west or Canada just below the Arctic Circle. And the impressive outdoor scenes of the production show this scarcely populated outpost of civilisation in technieolour for tlis first time. Based on a novel by William Byron Mowery, the plot revolves about the hold-up of the Arctic Queen, a little steamship loaded with trappers’ priceless furs and with miners’ gold. Heading the cast are Fatric Knowles, Gloria Dickson, Gale Page, Allen Jenkins, Dick Foran and Janet Chapman. There is a three-corner-ed romance with Foran torn between the charms of Gale Page, city girl visiting in the Great North-west, and Gloria Dickson, o true daughter of the North. Tho picture builds to an absorbing climax, packed with thrills. “A Star is Hatched,’’ technieolour cartoon; “Hold That Bull,” musical revue; a pictorial revue and news items form part of the same programme. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE PERFECT SPECIMEN" The film shows Errol Flynn as being reared by an eccentric and immensely rich grandmother, who wants him to bo pertect in every way—as perfect as scores of tutors can make him. Joan Blondell, curious to get a closeup look at this paragon of whom she has only heard, drives her car through a light fence on his estate, takes her look at him, then drives away. Ills curiosity aroused by this stunt, Flynn next day gets an old car, drives to where Joan lives in an adjoining village, and runs his machine through her fence. Then he persuades her to take a ride with him. A truca driver starts an altercation and Errol—who has been perfected in boxing as in other things—gives him a thorough lacing. Then, toid by the : pug that lie will lose 150 dollars by not appearing in the ring at a teamster’s j picnic, Flynn offers to substitute him— I and does so, knocking out a burly heavy (weight much bigger than himself. The grandmother, missing Errol by this time, sends out an alarm that he has been ! kidnapped. He abets this by keeping out iof sight, since he has come to love the (kina or life he finds outside the estate I where ho has been reared, especially since Joan sticks by him. Extraordinarily fine performances from Flynn and Blondel; make the picture outstanding among comedy of all time, ana the film has a supporting cast that reads like a roster of Hollywood great. May Robson, grand old lady of comedy, is perfect as the peppery old grandmother who things she can rule with money. Edward Everett Horton makes every gesture convey a world oi laughs, and Beverly Roberts and Dick Foran carry on a subsidiary romance to that of Flynn and Miss Blondell. Of Hugh Herbert it need only be said that he’s in the picture and that he plays a poet! METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “STRANDED IN PARIS" Jack Benny and his hungry song-and-dance act are stranded in Pai*is. Application to the American embassy aoesn’i help, and jack, clad in a cowboy outfit, walks the streets in search of an idea At a sidewalk cafe, Joari Bennett, fourin richest girl in the world, is surroundeu with difficulties. She has had an argument with her aunt. Mary Boland, wno is trying to force her into a marriage with G. I’. Huntley, jm\, of the embassy WhaL’s more, she has walked out of the hotel without her purse, and she owes five francs. At this point our hero, complete with chaps, strides by. Joan haits the obvious fellow-American and gets him to pay her check. Jack misunder-

stands, thinks Joan is in the business o. picking up men, and offers her a job with his troupe. Joan accepts. Meanwhile, her father, Charley Grapewin, formei cattle king and now an oil millionaire, arrives in Paris with a twofold purpose. He wants to meet Huntley, and he also is anxious to wind up a deal with a Dute.. syndicate which is planning to buy his oiJ land. Grapewin finds Joan, and, intrigued by her masquerade as a down-and-outer, agrees to let her have some fun. Jack—i he brags about his ability to read character —thinks Grapewin a dead beat and a crook, but one of the girls in the band takes a liking to the old man, so Jack allows him to join the troupe. “Risky Business’’

Frances Robinson sat before a still camera to begin her role in “Risky Business,” Universal’s action-filled radio drama with George Murphy and Dorothea Kent, now showing at the Meteor Theatre. The young actress is introduced in the story through a series of photographs. As the kidnapped daughter of a film financier, she is a key figure in the drama of a movie commentator’s onexnan war against a gangster mob. Miss Robinson does not actually appear until the latter part of the picture, although her photographs are seen throughout the story. Eduardo Ciannelli, Leon Ames, El Brendel, Grant Richards, Richard Tucker and others are in the cast. Arthur Lubin directed.

“The’Lambeth Walk"—Friday Next Seldom before has any British film had so ready-made a market as “The Lambeth Walk." Based on one of London's greatest musical successes, “Me and My Girl," and titled from the song which has become world-famous, “The Lambeth Walk" stars Lupino Lane, of the original stage presentation, at the head of a cost including Sally Gray, who with this film springs to instant stardom, and that fine old stage actor. Sir Seymour HiekS. The film was directed by Albert de Courville and the producer was Anthony HavelockAllan, noted for “This Man is News."

STATE THEATRE—TO-DAY “MADE FOR EACH OTHER" The tense and thrilling story of John and Jane Mason, an average, modern-day couple, deeply in love but hounded by opposing economic conditions, is unlolded in the new film drama, “Made for Each Other," a David O. Selznick production Co-starred for the first time, and as a romantic team, Carole Lombard and James Stewart play principal roles, while prominently leatured in an unusual supporting cast are the screen notables Charles Coburn, Lucile Watson, Ruth Weston, Donald Briggs, Eddie Quillan, Harry Davenport, Esther Dale, Alma Kruger and Tully Marshall. Among the other members of the cast is Julia Faye, one-time star of silent films, who played in the last silent picture ever made, “The Godless Girl,” and is now making a comeback on the screen. Also present Is Jack Mulhall, one of the few silent stars to continue successfully through the sound era. “Made for Each Other,"’ an original story by Jo Swerling, noted film author, draws its characters and plot from the wealth of material in life’s every day parade. Thousands have faced the problems entertainingly and dramatically presented in this film. While it is first and last an exciting story, it brings many questions into the open and discusses them frankly and honestly by means ol motion picture drama. Carole Lombard plays her first straight dramatic role in years, forsaking her chair-breaking, somewhat mad cycle of characterisations. Miss Lombard plays a contemporary young modern who marries for love and dedicates her life to helping her lawyer husband over the rough spots of their married life. Briefly, the story concerns the joys and sorrows, the comedies and tragedies of John and Jane Mason, who marry on slim economic ice, support a mother-in-law, have a baby, and cling desperately to their love and romance. When the child becomes 111 with a serious case of pneumonia the picture rises to a poignant climax. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA" Now showing at the Kosy Theatre is the story of Tod Mason, an unknown jockey with, a new technique in riding, who, although scorned by fellow Jockeys, rides an old crock for “Deacon Devlin” — and wins! Tod continues with his “monkey on the stick" style of riding, and wins every race in the United States—establishing an all-time record for jockeys. Devlin and Tod join forces with the CosUgan stables where a beautiful two-year-old “Lucky Linda" excites Tod's fancy. But another Linda also causes him sleepless nights, and this is Mrs. Costigan’s daughter. Leland Rogers, owner of a rival stable, attempts to bribe Tod to wear his colours, but meets with a refusal. The Epsom Cup arrives and the rival stables meet on the track. Mason, although riding another horse, cannot bear to see “Lucky Linda" whipped, and tries to snatch the stock from her jockey, with a result that both fall from their mounts. Tod Mason, barred from the tracks, returns to the United States—and how he stages a terrific come-back is told in a stirring, blood-tingling, pulse-racing drama! “London Melody. Tantalising tunes—unforgettable dancing—laughter and happiness In a sparkling story that transports you on the magic wing 3 of entertainment from Soho to Mayfair, with melody, gaiety and romance all the way. That’s “London Melody,’’ the sparkling screen romance, costarring Anna Neagle and Tullio Carmlnnti, now showing at the Kosy Theatre. In vividly colourful manner it presents London in all its varying aspects from the slums of Soho to the glittering wond that is Mayfair, and traces the adventures or Anna Neagie as the poverty-stricken daughter of an Italian immigrant, from her abandonment of her barrel-organ to the moment when she becomes the toast of London as a cabaret star. Tullio Carminati, playing opposite her, has one oi the finest roles of his career as a foreign diplomat who is attracted by the turbulent beauty of the little Soho "air. “London Melody" is a film to please ad the senses, for Herbert Wilcox, tho director, has not only an absorbing story to tell, but has introduced spectacular song and dance numbers, with the music written by Sigler, Lerner, Goodhart and Hoffman, and delightful dances arranged by Ralph Reader.