Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 271, 4 November 1940, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—-TO-DAY ERROL FLYNN IN “VIRGINIA CITY" “Virginia City,” which heads the new bill at the Regent Theatre, has a theme story centring round the rip-roaring nays ; of the sixties in America, and there is not a dull moment throughout the full length of the film. The action of this melodrama has been woven into a true story of the several conflicts between the rival factions 4n the Civil War when the North Fought the South in a stirring struggle ffor supremacy. At the time the length of a man’s life depended upon the quickness of his trigger-finger, and naturally enough the film embraces a great deal of action and quick-moving drama. The story ltseu concerns the endeavours of the South to transport five millions in gold nuggets from Virginia City to Nevada. The Confederates were desperately in need of finance, and the daring plan of freighting the substantial sum of gold was laid, the money being donated by Virginia sympathisers of the Southern cause.. The final climax, when the little band of men is forced to withstand a challenge from rebels, is truly exciting, but everything turns out well for all concerned when a final pact is signed between both the North and South factions. Errol Flynn, Miriam Hopkins, Frank McHugh, Alan Hale and Randolph Scott head a large east. There' is a strong supporting programme. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “SANDY IS A LADY" AND “HONEYMOON DEFERRED" In a drumfire of explosivo laughs, Universal Studios launches Baby Sandy into stardom in “Sandy Is a Lady," now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. Designed for laughing purposes, “Sandy Is a Lady" fulfills its mission thoroughly and vehemently, for the story is pure comedy and farce from the opening scene. It could hardly be anything else, for the major part of the cast embraces the best comedians in Hollywood. The principal action of the picture, aside from Baby Sandy, centres around Mischa Auer, Eugene Pallette, Billy Gilbert, Edgar Kennedy and Fritz Feld. Two others could easily be called comedians—eight-year-old Buddy and nine-year-old Butch, those astonish ing young musicians and mischief makers who appeared with Gloria Jean in “The Under-Pup." They are seen as Billy Gilbert's impish sons and their contribution to “Sandy Is a Lady" is as effective as it was in the earlier picture. Nan Grey and Tom Brown have the only “straight” roles in the offering as the mother and father of Baby Sandy. Sandy, herself, motivates the entire story and precipitates the situations. The story revolves around the baby star who wanders away from Butch and Buddy when she is left in their care. Sandy innocently gets into ail kinds of situations; she saves a restaurant from a bomb explosion; she blythly walks along the high steel girders of an unfinished building while ambulances and fire equipment scream to the rescue on the street below. It is Sandy who saves tne day for her father, gets Billy Gilbert a new job *nd finds a partner for Mischa Auer in financing some of his loony inventions. The subject was directed by Charles Lamont, past master of comedy. The photography is by Milton Krasner. Associate Feature. Mystery and Jaugns are combined in "Honeymoon Deferred," in which Edmund Lowe and Margaret Lindsay are starred. Heading a strong supporting cast Is that famous character comedian Chick Chandler. Episode 8 of “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" is also screening. METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES" That no Hollywood producer has ever placed Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The House of the Seven Gables" before the cameras until now is somewhat surprising. The picture is now at the Meteor Tneatre. When Universal discovered that the Hawthorne tal© had never before been filmed It quickly began preparations for its production. Jack Otterson, the studio’s art director, was sent to inspect, phoiograpn, and draw plans of "The House of the Seven Gables" of Hawthorne’s dramatic masterpiece. It was not until sets were ready ior the cameras that the studio announced that the picture would be made. The cast Includes ueorge banders, Margarei Lindsay, Vincent Price. Nan Grey and Dick Foran. Miss Linasay appears as Hebzibah; banders as oai'trey Byncheon; Brice as his brother Clifford; x\au..Grey as Phoebeand Dick Foran as Mattnew xviaule. Three of universal's stages were crowded with sets representing interiors of the filiated anu ioroidding mansion in which most of the action takes place and urawmga resulted m the creauon ot repneas oi tne main living rooms oi tne house, tne upper and lower nan ways,, ana the con-

struction oi a uupncaie m tne mansion on loc - . uniy ««« cnanges weie necessary m Haw monies story, m CilUoro ’ oroLaer and sister in nawinorne a original taie, win appear as uistant cousins m iove with each QLn«r Jaff rey, Clifford's uncle in the hook, will e m^. eeil 3,8 * lis cfuei and grasping brotner. . The associate programme is outstand- * hr reserves ring Millar ana Giorgi, pnone 5182, or tneatre, 'pnone 5752.

STATE THEATRE-TO-DAY “STAR DUST" Boasting what has been called the most original entertainment idea in years, tne 120th Century-Fox film “Star Uust* stars lovely Linda Darnell at the State Theatre to-day is a thrilling story that well might be the story of her own exciting rise to fame. Linda 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 or talent scout Ronald Young and dramatic Ooach 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. Zanuck awarded John Payne a long term contract as a result of his work in the film. Others featured in the star-studded cast are William Gargan, Mary Beth Hughes, Mary Healy and Donald Meek. Mary Healy sings "Star Dust," tho 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 Let 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 M&lo, Kenneth Earl and Ivan Kahn. Kenneth Macgowan was associate producer. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY "SHIPYARD SADLY” With a. highlight of the Aim showing the queen ol comedy oE the Continent singing and dancing to a number called Tvo Got the Jitterbugs!" Gracie Fields shows on the%creen at the Kosy Theatre to-day. Tho picture is her latest hilarity hit, "Shipyard Sally," and a hit it is! Tho inimitable, hoydehish Gracie sings a number of other tunes in the film, all old favourites such as “Annie Laurie,” "Danny Boy" and others, to rich delight. For when Gracie sings, she puts a song over like no one else can. Starred with her in the 20th Century-Fox release is Sydney Howard, while prominent in the cast is the engaging young Oliver Wakefield, British comedian who recently won . fame on the American radio with his | "double-talk," a verbal feat which soon was complimented by a host of local imitators. m “Shipyard Sally” Wanefield introduces a new conversational trick tnat promises to be as popular as his first and is even funnier, if such can be. You might call it “coniused speecn ' for want oi a better term, but its unforgettable. Directed by Monty Banks, the screen play by Kari Tunberg and Don JSttlinger is set in the great snipbuilding centre of Great Britain—Clydeoank. These are the yards where such great liners as the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth were constructed. In fact, the film opens with Quesn Dnzabetn christening and launching tne huge ship named for her. But soon, for reasons of economy, the Government puts a halt to the building and with idle yards distress visits the once prosperous town. Tne worxers send uracio nonuon with a petition and this emoarKs ner on a series of adventures teeming with hilarity. If you like comedy, you shouldn't miss this one! “Daughters Courageous" “Daughtv-o Courageous ' cast includes every pm. a of me 'Four Daughters’ cast, us -tor, Michael Curtiz, is the same, anu ...o screen play was written by the same scenarists, Julius Epstein, with his brother, Phillip. Mr. Robson hurried back from an interrupted vacation witn ner son and granason in i\ew iTork in order to resume ner film worn with the rest of the cast, .noia Lane broke off a profitable personal appearance swing arounu America. Jeurey j_,ynn concelleo ms trip to be the guest of honour at a sports carnival, Dick Foran pos L poneu one of his cowboy pictures ior another screen prouucer; Claude Rains wired his wjfe to come on irom Pnuadeipliia and visit him, instead of going to mat city himself as scheduled; and Frank McHugn unpacked the old biaca derby which he wears in his occasional roies as a steady going young business man. Rosemary ana Friscina Lane revelled in three weeks ot advance wardrobe fittings witn Designer Howard ttnoup; and Gaie Page hurriea back irom a vacation so that she, too, couid join them.