Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 258, 31 October 1940, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY “GUNNER GEORGE’* Never before has the world been in such dire need of laughter—the kind of , laughter which springs wholeheartedly from the antics of the character or char- ; acters presented on the screen. more than ever, people on both sides of the Atlantic and in Australasia look to the motion picture industry to take them , away from the grim realisation of the present conflict. During the last war pictures were to a great extent in their infancy. Tho theatre was still the strongest force of entertainment, and yet from the crude attempts of that time, a flint character became famous. The British soldier of that day speaks of Charlie Chaplin with a deep sense of gratitude. He not only provided a figure of fun at which disillusioned people could laugh; he- not only created a fantasy world in which tired minds could escape; he became the most important psychological factor in the morale of the army man. To-day, another Englishman, in George Forntby, has taken on the mantle of tho inimitable Chaplin. His popularity with the fighting men is undoubted, as was proved when lie recently undertook an entertainment itinerary of the military camps in England. And in ‘ Gunner Gedrge,” his latest naughtical mirthquake which shows at the Regent Theatre to-day, he is just as successful as a mirth-provoker as Chaplin was in “Shoulder Arms.” There has been abundant evidence of late that audiences ore definitely running away from films with a heavy and depressing background. Films with a patriotic motive are obviously a big vogue, but those dealing directly with actual fighting or intimate domestic detail are far from welcome. And it was with ithis in mind that Michael Balcon, production-chief of Associated Talking Pictures, provided George Formby—and his ukelele—with a topical background which enables the popular comedian to run riot as an accidental Secret Service agent, who finally succeeds in laying low the brutal activities of the U-boats singlehanded. The sure-fire hilarities of Formby are shrewdly interwoven into this story of the Secret Service and U-boat nastiness. The wfiple thing is genial non sense, of course, but put over with such vigour that it is the ideal stimulant for the times. While George sings a number of saucy songs to his own ukelele accompaniment, it is his knockabout exploits which really highlight the productionThus we have his preliminary pranks in a boat en route to Norway, where he contrives to get into the wrong cabin—to the dudgeon of an irate husband. Then we have his burglary of the band leader's room 10 obtain tne code, and his ensuing travails in a bakery, wuere he nearly ends up well and truly baked. Prominent, too, is his nonsense in the orchestra, not least in a- dream sequence in which he clouts the Fuenrer himself, while the climax is a lurtner instance of riotous comeuy in the burlesque manner. Take a tip, make a date with “Gunner George" and get a laugh out of life again. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE HURRICANE" * “Tho Hurricane," with its tender ro mance, its powerlul drama, its .picturesque setting and its amazing spectacle climax, is a story ready-cut to the screen s most heroic measure. On theJow w jj4 of Manukura, 600 miles from Tahiti, two native sweethearts, Terangi and Marama, are wed. Their brief happiness is shattered when Terangi, returning to Tahiti on the trading schooner of which he is first mate, is imprisoned for striking a white man who insults him. After five years of unsuccessful attempts, the boy escapes from Tahiti and makes his way to his native island. Because of the implacable sense of duty of the French Administrator, however, he is forced to hide on a neighbouring island. The search for him is at its height when a great hurricane Degins to blow up. unmindful of his own safety, the youth goes to Manukura to warn tne innaDicants, in the lury that tollows, ho plays a heroic part, and the hurricane scenes provide one of the most thrilling and powerful climaxes the screen has ever known. Known as the discoverer of more new stars than any other producer, Samuel Goldwyn entrusted the role of the native hero, Terangi, to a Holly wood newcomer, Jon Ilail. Handsome, possessed of a magnificent physique, Hah will undoubtedly be acclaimed by many as an important new star, Loveiy Dorothy Lamour appears opposite him as the native heroine Marama. It was Gold wyn's original intention to film the entire production in its actual South Sea Island locale. vVeather conditions in the Soutn Seas and tne necessity of using a vast amount of special equipment to create the climaxing hurricane proved clinching factors in altering that plan. The producer sent a photograpnic unit of 18 members to American Samoa to film scenic backwhile tne action involving the cast was shot in Hollywood on suitings unprecedented lor size and realism. Largest of the Hollywood settings is a complete island village, encircling an acre ana a-half lagoon. This set occupied two and a-half acres of the studio's “back lot.” It is there that tho hurricane, brewed by James Basevi, the technical genius who created the earthquake scenes tor “San Francisco," unleashes Us full destructive power.

STATE THEATRE—TO-MORROW “STAR DUST” Boasting what has been called the most, original entertainment idea in years, tne 20t.h Century-Fox film “Star Dust”. stars lovely Linda Darnell at the State Theatre to-morrow in a thrillirig story that well might be the story of her own exciting rise to fame. I.inda is cast as a plucky small-town girl in Hollywood scrapping for her place In the sun. In the great adventure that is the mecca of young screen hopefuls, she mets handsome John Payne, another young hopeful. Together they share heartbreak and happiness—and find out about love. With the odds a thousand

to one against them, they won't take no for an answer. They enlist the help of talent scout Ronald Young and dramatic coach Charlotte Greenwood. And when things look darkest they stage a stunt that stands Hollywood on its ear. Gay and charming, it has moments of strong drama and suspense. Previewers agree that Linda outdoes herself, while 20th Century-Fox Production Chief Darryl F. Zanuclc awarded John Payne a long term contract as a result of his work in the film. Others featured in tho star-studded cast are William Gargan. Mary Beth Hughes, Mary Healy and Donald Meek. Mary Healy sings “Star Dust," the lovely Hoagy Carmichael-Mitchell Parish ballad that inspired the film, while the popular Mack Gordon wrote two new hit tunes for the picture, “Secrets in the Moonlight” and “Don't Lot It Get You Down." Walter Lang directed “Star Dust" from a screen play by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan, based on a story by Jesse Malo, Kenneth Earl and Ivan Kahn. Kenneth Macgowan was associate producer.

METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “BROTHER RAT AND A BABY’* Now screening at the Meteor Theatre is “Brother Rat and a Baby,” and, though a completely self-contained picture, it can be recognised as an interesting sequel to that popular comedy of college life, “Brother Rat.” “Brother Rat and a Baby" tells of the further fortunes of the young men after they have left college and have to make their way in the world. As far as Billy Randolph (Wayne Morris) is concerned, the way is not too arduous at first, for he is tho fortunate possessor of a wealthy father. Billy has a good time spending his father's money till his allowance is stopped, and he discovers for the first time the inconvenience of being “hard up.” Complications pile , up when his old college friend Bing | (Eddie Albert), his wife and baby arrive on the scene. Billy had been trying to use his influence to obtain the position of university coach for Bing. Bing is in charge of 200 dollars of his wife’s uncle’s money, which is to be us-ed for his uncle’s express purposes, but when his baby swallows a diamond ring worth exactly that amount and the wife and child are put “in hock” till the diamond ring is returned, the money has to be used instead. A series of troubles then ensues. Billy finally solves these, however, in a manner absorbing and amusing to all concerned. Also in the east are Ronald Reagan, Jane Wyman and Priscilla Lane. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY “THRILL* OF A LIFETIME” To-day at the Kosy Theatre Is guest night and the conccasion prices are Is for circle and 9d for stalls. A really wonderful programme is being shown. The first is “Thrill of a Lifetime” which is packed with music, high comedy, a brilliant cast of comedians and featured players—action and romance. The Yacht Club Boys, Judy Canova, Ben Blue—they’re the funmakers—Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs, Betty Grable, Leif Erikson, Larry Crabbe and lovely Dorothy Lamour—they provide the romance. And then there are i the eye-tilling x<'anciionettes, a hundred highly trained beauties who supply some . of the finest dance routines you’ve ever ! seen! It was produced by Fanchon, Hollywood’s only woman producer. “Thrlli of a Lifetime” is a show that will delight you. The second feature is a thrilling story i °f gangdom’s last stand against law and order, m “Hunted Men” Lloyd Nolan is seen in tne top spot in the new picture , as a hunted gangster who takes refuge in a small suburban household to escape the police who are hot on his trail, and : stays there long enough to learn the wav tiie other halt of the world Jives. When ! f n unsuspecting girl confesses her Jove to him, lie reauses what a mistake he ha* 1 of his llfe * and than continue • f” 6 wa -v Jie has been going, determines to 1 *£ aco ~ e music" and give himself up to the police.