CINEMA PROGRAMMES

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 13 (Supplement)

CINEMA PROGRAMMES

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. A COMEDY CLASSIC. All the teeming thrills of the centenary air race have been captured by the magic of the sound camera and presented on the screen with added intensity in Beaumont Smith’s all-Australian romance of youth,. courage and adventure, “Splendid Fellows,” or “The Hayseeds at the Melbourne Centenary,” which commences at tile New Plymouth Opera House to-day at 2 and 8 p.m. Mr. Beaumont Smith has got away from the theme of Australia’s past and has given the public Australia’s present in a vivid and gripping picture of backblocks and city life. The star is Eric Colman, brother of the famous Ronald, and he has been surrounded by an outstanding cast of J. C. Williamson stage stars, including Frank Bradley as “Dad,” Peggy Ross as “Mum,” Isabelle Mahon, Frank Leighton, Leo Franklyn and the dazzling ballet from the Australian success “White Horse Inn.” Scenes typical of Australian life and humour are infused in the unfolding drama, giving a characteristic insight into the Australian way. The supporting programme includes Cinesound News, “Pickin’ a Winner (musical revue in technicolour) and “Call of the Surf” (sporting item). Intending patrons are advised to make early reservations at Collier’s Music House.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “BULLDOG DRUMMOND” AGAIN “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back,” starring Ronald Colman, will begin its eagerly-awaited season at Everybody’s to-day at 2 and 8 p.m. The story is a sequel to the delightful “Bulldog Drummond,” and brings Mr. Colman back in the characterisation most beloved of his admirers. The picture is brimful of genuine entertainment, and is described as one of the best ever released by the popular star. His new film is the gayest of melodramas combined with comedy and thrills that alternately give guffaws and shudders of horror. It is a story of that delightful amateur detective Hugh Drummond, told in a fresh technique—told well and with precise and accurate humour that could not be compared with any of the current mystery melodramas. The' author, H. C. McNeile, terms the book, from which the film is adapted, the most exciting adventure of the series. An apology for murder, a toast to danger, sweet wine of excitement to a bride-,, groom at large, a honeymoon disrupted, and three beautiful girls in a murky night to keep Drummond’s cup of adventure running over, give an inkling of the thrills when “Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back.” Loretta Young, Warner Oland, Una Merkel and Charles Butterworth have important roles in the picture. A varied supporting programme includes a Micky Mouse cartoon and “Yesterday,” one of the popular organlogue series.

REGENT THEATRE. . “DICK TURPIN” MATINEE. , Victor McLaglen portrays the title role 'in “Dick Turpin,” which begins at The Regent to-day at 2 and 8 p.m. Every episode in this picturesque drama grips the imagination. It is full of exciting action in which pistol play, fisticuffs, hard riding and adroit escapes follow thick and fast. The culminating scenes depict the historic ride to York on Black Bess, and the rescue of Eleanor Mowbray (Jane Carr) from the scoundrelly lord of Rookwood manor, after a particularly savage sword duel, in which the latter is disarmed and flung out of a window. The pack of Bow Street Runners burst into the room; but the redoubtable highwayman has gone; and if the spark of romance is warm and bright in your heart you will rejoice that laughing Dick Turpin has eluded the jackals of Newgate and will ride the highways once more. “Dick Turpin” is preceded by “The Cheyenne Kid,” a redblooded outdoor drama starring Tom Keene and Fox News. The final chapter of “The Perils of Pauline” will be screened at the matinee only.

PLAZA THEATRE. “STATE FAIR” TO-NIGHT. Combining the glamour of star personalities with a strong human interest Story of universal appeal, “State Fair,” which opens for a two-night season at the Plaza Theatre, Stratford, is an example of what intelligent story selection and perfect casting can accomplish. Such an array of stars as Janet Gaynor, Will Rogers, Lew Ayres, Sally Eilers, Norman Foster, Louise Dresser, Frank Craven and Victor Jory could scarcely fail to provide outstanding entertainment. In Janet Gaynor and Lew Ayres, and Sally Eilers and Norman Foster, “State Fair” introduces two new romantic combinations. The double romance involving these favourites is one of the salient appeals of the picture. The other is the inimitable comedy of Will Bogers, who without question has the finest role of his brilliant career. The story concerns the adventures of the Frake family, at a big State fair. Abel Frake, the farmer father, has entered Blue Boy, his best hog, for the grand championship. Melissa, his wife, is competing for mince-meat and pickle prizes. With nothing to do but see the sights and have a good time, the young Frakes, Margy and Wayne, find the fair a great place at which to learn about life and love.

KING’S THEATRE, STRATFORD. “CENTRAL AIRPORT” TO-DAY. Richard Barthehness’ newest picture, “Central Airport,” which comes to the King’s Theatre, Stratford, to-day, glorifies the flying heroes of peace, not war. The powerful story deals with the hazardous lives and the exciting loves of these hardy navigators of the stormy air lines. Richard Barthehness plays the part of a returned war hero who pilots trans-continental passenger ’planes. He crashes his ship, with a heavy toll of lives, and is “grounded.” Discredited in the game he loves and the only one he knows, he goes barn-storming with a travelling air circus, and falls in love with a parachute jumper (Sally Eilers). Their glamourous love affair and the many thrilling crashes build “Central Airport” into a mighty drama. Broken and filled with a savage recklessness when he learns that he has lost his girl forever, Barthehness ’urns to any flying job that offers enough danger, whether it is fighting in the Orient or leading a South American resurrection. He becomes famous as a pilot who laughs at death, and even goes out of his way to tempt it. The ending of this throbbing spectacle is one of the most spectacular and thrilling scenes ever filmed, as it presents a phase of peace-time aviators’ work. Barthelmess as the pilot rescues the passengers from a sinking'’plane in the storm-swept Caribbean Sea. A strong cast supports the stars, among them being Glenda Farrell, Harold

Huber, James Murray, Claire McDowell, Grant Mitchell, Willard Robertson, Arthur Vinton and Charles Sellon.

KAPONGA TALKIES TO-NIGHT. MISS WIECK IN “CRADLE SONG.” Paramount brought two new stars during the past year, Mae West and Bing Crosby. Now Paramount introduces another star, an actress destined to become one of the screen's most fascinating personalities—Dorothea Wieck. This country was not favoured, as was the rest of the world, to see her in “Maedchen In Uniform.” Now Dorothea Wieck takes her place among the screen’s great stars, in her first American picture, “Cradle Song.” The poignant drama of a woman renouncing the world. Her lips singing hymns, her heart a lullaby, satisfied by love for a waif. “Cradle Song” is the strangest, sweetest, most poignant love story, a glamourous romance every woman will treasure in her memory forever, starring Dorothea Wieck, a startlingly different personality unlike any other actress you’ve ever seen. Dorothea Wieck, the sensation of all Europe in her first American picture, “Cradle Song” with Evelyn Venable, will be shown at the Kaponga Talkies to-night.