ENTERTAINMENTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3828, 2 November 1936, Page 8

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. FINAL SCREENING TO-NIGHT. “FOLLOW THE FLEET." “ i The world’s largest land battleship was placed in commission at the RKO Radio studios as a setting for scenes of "Follow the Fleet.” Authentic in every detail from gun turrets to hatch covers, the film dreadnought ’was built to exact dimensions of the L'.S.S. Pennsylvania, flagship of tlie battle fleet. The set represents the Pennsylvania’s quarter deck from the superstructure aft, including turrets Yne and two, except for one particular. Instead of the Pennsylvania's three fourteen inch gun turrets, the screen craft was given the two sixteen inch gun turrets of later model ships. Never before in film history has a battleship setting of such magnitude and authenticity been constructed, according to Captain H. A. Jones. V.S.N., who acted as technical advisor to Director Mark Sandrish. On this set, scenes for the opening musical number of the show were filmed. The number is “We Saw the Sea," one of seven Irving Berlin melodies in the score. It is sung by Fred Astaire on the deck of the ship. He is backed by a forty voice sailor chorus and accompanied by a ten piece band. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. “THE GARDEN MURDER CASE.” _ With the ink barely dry on the pages of the novel, “The Garden Murder Case,” newest of the S. S. Van Dine’s best selling stories, comes to the screen at the Regent Theatre, starting to-morrow, with Edmund Lowe as the famous scientific character, Philo Vance. It is the first time I.owe has created this character, although he has wanted to play it for -several years. Virginia Bruce has the principal feminine role as a smart society girl with whom Vance falls in love. “The Garden Murder Case,” called the greatest of Van Dine’s series was produced for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer by Lucien Hubbard and Ned Marin, and was directed by Edwin L. Martin from the screen play by Bertram Millhauser.

EMPIRE THEATRE. AGAIN TO-NIGHT. “INVITATION TO THE WALTZ.” There is no more charming creature on the talking screen to-day than the lovely Continental artiste, Lilian Harvey. Lilian, as everybody knows, first made her mark in the brilliant "Congress Dances,” since when she has been featured in several big Hollywood successes. In the opinion of the majority of the big film critics, “Invitation to the Waltz” affords the star her greatest opportunity since that first memorable success. Because ot the fact that she first blossomed forth in Continental productions, most film fans believe that she was born there. This is quite wrong, for she was actually born and bred in London. Now, of course, she can command attention anywhere in the world, the studios of the Continent, Hollywood and Elstree all bidding for her valuable services.