ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

COMING EVENTS. ,? 7 •' REGENT. Te-day,'Monday and Tuesday: “After ..the (Spencer • Tracy-Peggy ( ' Shannon-Irving Pichel). ' February 22 to. 24: “Local Boy Makes . Good” (Joe E. Brown-Dorothy Lee). s February 25 to 28: “Too Busy to Work” Will Rogers-Marian Nixon-Dick ’ . .. EVERYBODY’S. ’ > To-day, Monday, Tuesday and Wed- . nesday: “The Maid of the Mountains” (Harry Welchman-Nancy Brown-Gus McNaughton), British super musical production. February 23 and 24: On the stage, Lex ' MacDonald (New Zealand’s famous ■ - boy soprano). On the screen, “Strange Justice” (Reginald DennyMarian Marsh-Irving Pichel-Norman Foster). . ternary 25 to 28: “The Missing Rem- ' , '' brandt” (Arthur Wontner), British production. \ •? r NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE : ■ '-.i . " ■' . : To-day, Monday and Tuesday: “Love Me To-night” (Maurice Chevalier, Jeannette MacDonald, Charles Ruggles, Myrna Loy). ■ : Wednesday and Thursday: “Devil and the Deep” (Tallulah Bankhead, Charles ■ Laughton, Gary Cooper, Cary Grant). Friday, February 24: Sybil, Thorndyke. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, February 25, 27 and 28: “Guilty Hands ■ (Ttonei Kay Francis, Madge Evans, Polly Moran, C. ' Aubrey'Smith). . . Wednesday- Thursday and Friday, March L 2 and 3: “Unashamed” and Laurel and Hardy.. ' !• . ■ • * -• ?. “AFTER THE RAIN " ■ Spencer Tracy, has’:at last gone.romantic. The two-fisted he-toan actor whose screen characterisations have won him the admiration l of >a rapidly growing army of fans, turns in a . brand-new por- . trayal in “After-the Rail?,”'the: South romance commencing at The Regent .■ to-c|ay at 2 and 8 t As a rough-ana-ready vagrant of the seven seas who is turning his hand to pearl-living l With some success when he suddenly encounters love ’ for the' first-time, Tracy' has a role different from, anything he has previously 1 done. Adyance reports,. more:bv«r, say that his performance to it is pennattonaL- Peggy Shannon, who was rwytitly seen in the title role of “Society Girl” and who is co-featured to the picture, is also heralded as giving the outstanding portrayal of all her film e^£^ s - With the support of such players as ¥ll- - tiam. (Stage) Boyd, Irving Pichel, RaulRoulien and Laska Winter and with an and unexpected story,-this. Fox offering is scheduled to be unusually, popular during its showings here; John Blystone directed, with Guy Bolton and T*or> Gordon writing the screen version of A, C. Kennedy’s -play. < > ? *“MAID OF; THE MOUNTAINS.”

At last the much-heralded and loudlypraised “Maid of the Mountains,” British International : Pictures’; screen version of the famous musical-comedy, has New Plymouth. It will comntence a season of four matinees and four nighta at' Everybody’s to-day at 2 and 8 pan. Sparkling with comedy that does full justice to the brilliant. wit of ■ deride Lonsdale, the famous .playright, and brimful of melodies that linger in the -memory long after .the show is-over, . Comedy is. a strong point in the show, and on this score alone it would .be a great hit. ’As for the music—who does not know the lilting strains of “Love Will Find a Way,” “Paradise For >Tta<rhelr>r Gay,” and “Live for To-day, , and the humorous.’iDirty Work?” _ AH these are perfectly rendered in the show. No: film, silent or sound, has ever , been, produced in England which can boast of such spectacular splendour, delightful melodies, together with an all-star cast, ‘ as can “The Maid of the Mountains- • The scenes of the brigands’ stronghold on the mountain; side, and the ;. fieent ballroom ; in which over .two hundred dancers are held up by Baldasarre, and his men, *aie only matched in ■T-.lpnrtanr by, the banqueting hall where, entertained by a full symphony orches- ' tra, at a table 30 feet lon& toast the new Governor.- During , mis scene Nancy Brown, the brilliani dis•‘covery for the title ! sings .Fraser Simpson’s famous waltz Wm Find a Way.” Nancy Brown, aged 22, is. an Australian, who hafls front Sidney. She studied at. the Royal • Academy of, Dramatic Art, and secured her first stage engagement at the age ;of 1 16 .to understudy the late Rosaline Courtneidge in irtha Unfair Sex”.>Another spectacular scene is the setting for the arival at tiie palace, of Baldasarre, played by that .popular; stage Star,* Harry Welchman, mastrverading as the new Governor. ♦. ; ! j. 1 •* . * “STRANGE JUSTICE.”

“Strange Justice,” the new RKO production coming to Everybody’s on Thursday and Friday next offers, several unusual aspects of -American city life, and, in departing froth a somewhat conventional film subject of thedesigns of the rich as against the aspirations, of the poor, it provides excellent entertainment. Although the story does not become apparent until a good way through the production, it lacks no interest during the remainder of the performance, which is’ possessed of action and excitement ■ sufficient for an ordinary film. Produced by. J. C- Buchmann and directed by Victor' Scherteinger, the film, ■ while it deals with the .process of the law m a case of murder, significantly avoids the often drab court scenes which so often ’ characterise performances of such, a nature, and goes on swiftly to fresh incidents. The story depicts gay bv Reginald Denny, who is the president of a New York financial institution. While the audience warms to Mr. Denny s original and lively notions of behaviour, it is disconcerted to find that he- has embezzled an enormous sum to proceed • ‘ with his peculiar entertainments. There enters upon the scene a sister figure, Irving Pichel,' as Mr. Denny’s busmess associate. Mr. Pichel has. discovered . everything about the defalcations and deraands a-half shari for his silence. Mr. Denny ultimately agrees, in his desperation, to disappear from city life as a “murdered” man. The. two men. arrange, easily enough, a motor tragedy m which tite driver, supposedly Mr. Denny has been sent to his death by an enemy. Circumstantial - evidence is laid a S Norman Foster, who appears as Mr. Denny’s chauffeur. As intended Mr. Foster is brought to trial “Jj 16 er of Mr. Denny, whose defalcations are naturally obscured by the major charge and there is room for somte very fme acting by Richard Bennett, as the accused man’s lawyer. # # * * “LOCAL BOY MAKES GOOD.”

“Local Boy Makes Good,” the National comedy-drama in whicn «oe y. Brown, funniest' man of the screen, starring, comes: to.the Regent Theatre Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nex. This picture is unique for a number or yeayns, grgt gt which' is

it Joe E. gets his comedy effects without reSorting to slap-stick exaggerations, as in his former films. “Local Boy Makes Good” is an uproarious drama of college days, based on. a very human play by J. C. and Elliott Nugent The story is good and the people are real folks. Joe E. plays the part of a timid and nearsighted college student, who makes his meagre way by clerking in a bookstore. He has an inferiority complex and secretly writes love letters which he never mails, to a girl he has never seen. In these missives he praises his own prowess as an athlete— and the fun begins when sbmeorfe else mails one of the notes, and the ' girl comes to attend the intercollegiate track events— and to meet the (supposed) hero. Featured in support of Joe E. Brown are Dorothy Lee, Ruth Hall, Edward Woods, Wade Boteler, William Burress, Edward J. Nugent and John Harrington. The direction is by Mervyn Leßoy. • ' » * e “THE MISSING REMBRANDT.” Arthur Wontner, who captivated audiences by his clever portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in “The Sleeping Cardinal,” again plays the role’of the master detective in “The Missing Rembrandt,” a British production coming to Theatre next Saturday.' The amazing Sherlock further astonishes perpetually Dr. Watson by proving ; a socially prominent baron to be a first-class villain. ■ • • / ■■■ < #. * ■ ■ ’ “TOO BUSY TO WORK.” In his role as a homeless tramp, who is given temporary shelter at the home of the man who stole his wife and daughter, .Will Rogers, in “Too Busy to Work,” his most reoent Fox production coming next Saturday to The Regent Theatre, is always going to perform some kind of labour to., earn; his keep? but never quite gets to it. This quirk; in his character is said ,to provoke many ludicrous episodes.- One of. the funniest is' where Rogers learns to'.drive• an automobile. Another is his attempt 'to milk a cow. StiH another is the situation, that calls on him ,tb pluck a'chicken. His one-sided fight with a giant . Swede is also fertile ground for laughs..; Marian Nixon portrays the leading feminine role. Dick Powell, formerly of the New York stage, who made a widely acclaimed screen debut in “Blessed Event,” shares the romantic.interest- with her. Other favourites in the cast include Frederick Burton, Constantine Romanoff, Douglas Cosgrove, Louise Beavers and Jack.. O’Hara. The picture' was directed' by John' G. Blystone.. 1 ’ - ' "<■//'/>//• U- /•■ • * • * ' ~ • ’■ , “SUNSHINE SUSIE.” “Sunshine Susie,” the British musical romance which ,is shortly to be shown in New Plymouth, is regarded as a new type-of screen musical comedy in which the; songs are a.natural part-of the action of the play,' Renato Muller is a delightful heroine in a simple story and Jack Hulbert is a brilliant character comedian. Owen Nares and Morris Harvey are also in the strong ; cast An intimate pen picture of Renate Muller is given by an English correspondent . “With her slowmoving grace and slow half-smile,” he writes, "she has a charm of her own—a charm pot easily dismissed from the memory. Renate Muller’s father is a well-known journalist, and her mother is an artist Before her success on the screen,; Renate Muller played many leading roles‘on the stage, including Shakespearean roles,: and one of her biggest successes was in the leading role in “The Garden .'of Eden.”; “Sunshine Susie” is hey first British film, but she is now under contract! to make a series of films in Britain, Since the remarkable success of “Sunshine Susie? she has become a great favourite. ' ■ .... stage fright. ■'!; ; .. 7 • Maurice Chevalier, now seen at the Opera House, New Plymouth, in his latest musical . romance, : “Love Me. Tonight” still: suffers .from stage fright while waiting in the wings to go on, and even approaches, the microphone on the studio set with some'trepidation, he cpnFrom; the xiight he made his stage debut as a youngster of twelve, that nervousness has: persisted. “Years ago,” he says, “my knees ; actually knocked together. .Now I break out into a cold, perspiration. Once. I am on the stage, however, all this leaves m».** ♦.* & * / "DEVIL AND THE DEEP." \ Against a romantip background of a the neighbouring Sahara, Tallulah Bankseaport on the north African coast and head, Charles Laughton and Gary Cooper enact a dramatic story of love and jealousy in “Devil and; the Deep,” which comes to the Opera House’ next week. Miss Bankhead is seen as the wife of a British submarine commander, who, genial and likeable to his friends, is really obsessed to the point of Insanity with the conviction that his wife is unfaithful to him. His suspicions involve a young lieutenant, in his command, and the method of his revenge carries the film into a melodramatic, climax aboard a sinking submarine. ’• 1 . * ■ *•,«■■■*' 1 ■ STRONG CAST FOR “UNASHAMED.” "Unashamed,” a story of a girl who is pitted against-her own brother in a remarkable court-room drama, which is to be screened at the Opera House shortly, boasts a particularly fine cast of players. Helen Twelvetrees plays the heroine whose indiscretions force her to face the choice of sacrificing her honour or dooming her brother to death at the hands of the executioner. Robert Young plays tht brother, , while the balance of the casf includes Lewis Stone, Jean Hersholt. John. Miljan, Monroe Owsley, Robert Warwick and Gertrude Michael. The story was written by Bayard Veiller, author of “Mie Trial of Mary Dugan” and “Within the Law.” OPERA HOUSE, HAWERA. February 24: "The Mad Genius” (John 4 Barrymore); February 25 and 27: “Love Me To-night" (Maurice Chevalier). ; GRAND THEATRE, HAWERA. February 23: “The Mad Genius.” February 25 and . 27: “Corsair” (Chester Morris). * * * BARRYMORE’S NEW ROLE. When John Barrymore first read the script of “The Mad Genius,” which opens in Hawera next week, he said it offered the kind of role that comes but once in a lifetime. Tsarakov, the mad genius, is indeed such a part—artist voluptuary, master mind and driving force, he dominates men and women by sheer force of will—bends fate to meet his needs and conquers all' but the unconquerable human equation which eventually proves his undoing.. .The story, of “The Mad Genius” moves relentlessly to a tremendous’’climax built about the powerful personality of the one man, Tsarakov. Few moments in pictures have feen so awe-inspiring as the last few hundred feet of film of “The Mad Genius.” Marian Marsh heads the supporting cast in which others are Charles Butterworth, Donald Cook, Luis Alberni and Carmel Myers. » # * # * CHARLES BUTTERWORTH. • Charles Butterworth, who plays a humorous role in Maurice Chevalier’s latest picture, “Love Me .Jo-night,” which

shows in - Hawera next week, was born in South Bend, Indiana, the home of Notre Dame University.' He was graduated from the Notre Danie in* law. He became a reporter in the South Bend Times, but lost his job when he reported the death of a prominent citizen who happened to be very much alive. Deciding ’ that his experience in amateur theatricals fitted him for comedy roles -on the stage, he went to New York, where he played in the small theatres in minor parts. ’ Following appearances in several American stage productions, he had roles in “Life of the Party,” “The Mad Genius,” “Side Show” and “Manhattan Parade.” FIRST USE OF RADIO TELEPHONE. ;The first use of radio telephone in picture production occurred during the filming of “Corsair,” the Chester Morris story of society hi-jaqking which comes to Hawera next week. Made upon a massive scale, “Corsair” is enacted principally on an extensive rum fleet outside the 12mile limit, and in order- to keep in' touch with his fleet, Roland ■ West, United Art-: ists producer, did most of his direction over the radio telephone. He also kept in constant touch with his studios in Hollywood and with his production. base on Catalina Island, as well as with coastal authorities, in, San Pedro harbour. The proceedings resembled the handling of a war fleet. Complete talkie equipment was installed on the ships, so that dialogue sequences were filmed at sea instead of being recorded later on sham sets in the studios. Working in these sequences were Chester Morris, Fred. Kohler, Alison Lord, Gay Seabrook, Mayo Methot, ’ Emmett Corrigan, Ned Sparks and William Austin. • ■■■ ■ ■' ' /■<■’. ?