CINEMA PROGRAMMES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 5

CINEMA PROGRAMMES

EVERYBODY’S TO-DAY. JAN KIEPURA’S GOLDEN VOICE. “My Song For You,” starring Jan Kiepura of the golden voice, naturally revives happy memories of that other notable Gaumont-British picture, “Tell Me To-night,” in which throughout New Zealand Kiepura’s singing, in conjunction with the sparkling story, won for the picture a record among musical screen productions. The new picture, which will begin at Everybody’s to-day at 2 and 8 p.m., is a joyous compote of song, comedy and romance, and once again the famous singer, Gatti, played by Kiepura, has, for his bright and energetic manager, Sonnie Hale. In “Tell Me To-night” Sonnie Hale did great work, but in the new picture he has a part after his own heart, invested with plenty of opportunities for racy comedy work. The story of-the film affords Jan Kiepura many opportunities. He is heard in the theme song—a lilting number that will win great popularity—as well as in many excerpts from opera; and, forwards the end of the picture, he sings. Gounod's “Ave Maria” with telling ,ef- : •feet. “My Song For You” will be welcomed everywhere as an outstanding contribution to first-class musical entertainment. The settings are sumptuous and' the outdoor locations, many of ■which were actually filmed in the Riviera, are fascinatingly picturesque. In support of Jan Kiepura, Sonnie Hale and Emlyn Williams—whose part is that of an ambitious pianist with more persistence than ability—are beautiful Aileen Marson, whose charms capture • the . impressionable Gatti, Gina • Malo, George Merritt, Muriel George and Reginald Smith. Truly an admirable cast for a picture in which every part carries weight. “My Song For You” will be preceded by an entertaining array of shorter films.

STATE THEATRE.

i JOHN BOLES-GLORIA SWANSON.

With a score contributed by the master of light 'music, Jerome Kern, and the brilliant lyricist, Oscar Hammerstein 11., the new Fox Film spectacle, “Music in the Air,” starring Gloria Swanson, John Boles, Douglass Montgomery and June Lang, will begin an engagement to-day at’the State Theatre. “Music inthe Air” ran for a year on Broadway. Now, as an. Erich Pommer production for Fox Films, it is rated by preview critics as one of the outstanding musical pictures of years. Its star-studded cast has rated . superlatives from everyone 3 who has viewed the film, for in addition to such stellar names as those of Gloria Swanson and John Boles, Montgomery and June Lang, the company includes, 'AI Shean, • Reginald Owen, Joseph Cawthom, Hobart Bosworth and Jed Prout. ’ Joe May, celebrated German director, was imported to Hollywood by Erich Pommer to handle the production. To judge from advance accounts, he has made of it a glamorous colourful narrative. The story, adapted from Oscar Hammerstein’s libretto, is consistent and convincing—witih tears as well as laughs woven into .its texture. From this story, a trio ’of screen writers has evolved a noteworthy i cla for the talents of both stars and directors. Blended with its episodes are such magnificently tuneful numbers of Kern’s as-“l’ve Told Every Little Star,” “The Song is You,” “One More Dance,” “There’s .a • Hill Beyond a Hill” and “We Belong Together.” The action of ; “Music in the Air” is laid in the .Bavarian Alps 'and in Munich. Jack Donohue, : brilliant; young dance director, has staged what are described as enchanting -dance routines for several scenes in the film; Outstanding in an excellent supporting programme is “Trail of Swordfish,’’ a very interesting short on deep-sea fishing. Box plans are at Collier’s and at theatre, phone 843.

THE REGENT.

’ DOUBLE-STAR PROGRAMME. Two well-balanced features will be presented on the new programme at the Regent to-day at 2 and! 8 p.m. Both are in direct contrast to one another, thus assuring patrons entertainment of a diverting nature. “Employees’ Entrance” presents the romances and tragedies in the lives of the employees of a modem department store, with picturesque realism and emotional force. An excellent, cast is headed by Warren William, Loretta Young, Wallace Ford, Allen Jenkins and Alice White.. In “The Narrow Comer,” Somerset Maugham, noted English author, has told one of his most engrossing tales of the earth’s far off and. little-known islands, while Warner Bros., have given the story a superlative production. A tale of the Malay Archipelago, it begins in Sydney, Australia, goes by ketch with Douglas Fairbanks, junr., and Arthur Hohl, and Dudley Digges by way of the colourful islands of this : out-of-the-way group to the Dutch East Indies. It is in this colourful setting. that a mad passion springs up . between an island maiden and an Australian ; youth who is fleeing from the world because he accidentally killed the husband of a woman. Douglas Fairbanks, junr., as Fred Blake, is said to the best role of his career. Patricia Ellis, as .Louise, the young girl on the island, and Dudley Digges, as Dr. Saunders, ah outcast from his own land, ere splendid. Old Swan is played by William V. Mong, while Reginald Owen is . Frith, Ralph Bellamy is Eric, and Arthur Hohl the captain of a tramp ship. The second episode of “The Vanishing Shadow” will be screened at the matinee only/

NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. “GREAT EXPECTATIONS.” .In. its presentation of “Great Expectations,” Charles Dickens’ immortal story, which commences a season at the 'New Plymouth Opera House to-day at 2 and 8 pan., the Universal Company has undoubtedly scored a major triumph. The picture is a wonderfully faithful portrayal of life in the Victorian era and Dickens’ characters come to life in a most convincing manner. Throughout, the : dialogue of the original story has been retained and the deep emotional appeal of the book loses little in the film presentation. Above all, the exciting episodes of the story are perhaps made more vivid on the screen. One of those outstanding pictures that come only oc- , casionally, “Great Expectations” will undoubtedly be regarded as one of the finest films of the year. The story should be weir enough known not to need repetition. The role of Magwitch, the coarse but kind-hearted convict, gives Henry Hull every scope for his long experience in playing emotional parts on the stage. Jane Wyatt plays the part of Estella, .the adopted daughter of the morbid and eccentric Miss Havisham, deserted on her wedding day and living for the opportunity to have her revenge. It is Jane Wyatt’s second screen appearance and she gives every promise of great things in the future. Florence Reed skilfully portrays the idiosyncracies of Miss Havisham, while the part of Pip in his later years is a triumph for Phillips'Holmes. The supporting programme includes Universal News Reel and “Jolly Little Elves” (coloured cartoon).

PLAZA THEATRE, STRATFORD. “RED WAGGON” TO-DAY. . Presented at London before H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who attended the world premiere, “Red Wagon,” British International Pictures’ screen adaptation of Lady Eleanor Smith’s great romance of circus life, comes to the Plaza Theatre to-day. “Red Wagon” is a most, unusual film in many ways, and is probably one of the most realistic pictures ever offered for public entertainment. The cast, which includes 25 featured players, is exceptionally strong; the plot is vivid and gripping from start to finish, and the whole show is produced on a most lavish scale. A film or a story of circus life is always bound- to get a. good reception, for there is a compelling lure about life, around the sawdust ring.: It is the behind-the-scenes life, that is fraught with sorrows and heartaches, with loves and jealousies, and sometimes with tragedies. It is such a story that is unfolded in “Red'Wagon,” which tells of the ambitions and loves of a circus owner, whose whole life is almost wrecked by the faithlessness of those whom he loves. Prominent in the cast are Greta ed. Prominent in the cast are Greta Nissen, the tiger woman, Charles Bickford, the 'circus owner, Raquel. Torres, the gipsy girl, Don Alvarado, Anthony Bushell, Amy Veness, and a young boy, Jimmy Hanley.

KING’S THEATRE, STRATFORD.

“CASE OF THE HOWLING . DOG.”

A good mystery film is always assured of an enthusiastic reception, and “The Case of the Howling Dog,” the Warner Brothers’ production, coming to the King’s to-day, should enjoy a season of exceptional popularity. An original note is struck in that instead of the familiar detective taking the central part of the plot, the outstanding character is a criminal lawyer, Perry Mason. Not only does he contrive to be on the spot when a murder is discovered, and to collect some important evidence which the police, in their impetuosity, overlook, but he also has the admirable faculty of playing his

cards at an • opportune moment, to the embarrassment of a cock-sure prosecutor. The-.mystery which surrounds -the howling of an Alsatian police-dog, and the subsequent disappearance of a man and his wife is admirably sustained,, and when Mason discloses in court that not one, but three murders have been committed, the audience in the theatre is almost as dumbfounded as that in the court room ,on the screen.' There are more surprises to follow, and the final unravelling of. the case is of intense interest. Warren William is admirably cast as the criminal lawyer who never lost a case, and the leading feminine roles are well taken by Mary Astor and Helen Trenholme. Tom Keene in “The Cheyenne Kid,” a full ■ feature length western drama, will precede the main attraction.