CINEMA PROGRAMMES

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 3

CINEMA PROGRAMMES

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE. “OIL FOR THE LAMPS OF CHINA.” Out of Alice Tesdale Hobart’s novel “Oil for the Lamps of China” an amazingly virile screen drama has been wrought—a drama that incorporates something of the great struggle for business that is taking place in an awakening China, and brings the teeming Orient vividly before one in all its fecundity, its squalor, its filth and its mystery. The film is now showing twice daily at Everybody’s Theatre. It' is the life story of Stephen Chase, who goes to China as an employee of one of America’s great oil companies, filled with the idea that replacing peanut oil with U.S. kerosene is advancing the cause of civilisation, when it really only means profits and more profits. Through doing his duty with courage and intelligence, Chase loses his first born, his patent lamp / (out of which the company makes thousands), and his best friend. Finally, during an affair with Chinese Communists he risks his life, to save the company’s money. A very charming love romance is intertwined in the story, giving it a human touch and incidentally, showing that white women have to contend with in China’s big backyard. Pat O’Brien gives a stern, manly performance as Chase, and Josephine Hutchinson is very sweet and untheatrical as his wife, Hester. The supporting programme includes Paramount Britisn News, “Kang -- the Turf” (sports reel) and “Dave Appolan’s Or-/ chestra” (novelty). NEW PLYMOUTH OPERA HOUSE. “NAUGHTY MARIETTA.” Theatregoers of New Plymouth will ba pleased to learn that “Naughty Marietta,” the screen’s greatest musical operetta, will commence a return season at tha New Plymouth Opera House on Saturdaynext at 2 and 8 p.m. Jeanette MacDonald, the leading feminine player, provides admirable singing. Both she and Nelson Eddy, the new screen singer, give very fine performances. Their songs all \ occur as part of the logically made story, ■ which concerns the adventures of a runaway princess. Jeanette MacDonald has this part, and she fills it with distinction. Compelled to flee from France to avoid marrying her chosen husband, she meets adventure and romance in the American colonies. As brave and handsome Captain Warrington, Nelson Eddy forms, the central figure of both the excitement and the romance of the film. REGENT THEATRE. , , MYSTERY AND AERIAL THRILLS. The mystery melodrama, "I Am x Thief,” which commenced at The Regent last night, held the large audience spellbound. The story is set in the colourful background of Paris and the Continent, where impoverished nobles, beautiful adventuresses, and men of diabolical cleverness, plot to steal the famous Karenina diamonds, almost priceless jewels, which have been auctioned. off as a bait to catch the thieves. Crime after crime is committed, including two cold-blooded murders, a third killing and the injury of several others. Thrill follows on thrill in the battles between rival robber bands which wind up with a daring gem bandit holding up a car full of people on a trans-continental express and stealing the Kareninas from the head of the secret service. Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor and Dudley Digges are the featured players. “Central Airport,” the associate feature, is unusual in that it glories in the commercial fliers of peace, rather than the birdmen of war, and it is said that it tops anything every filmed in a picture of this nature in breathtaking flying scenes,, romantie love and unusual story content. Richard Barthelmess and Sally Eilers are co-starred. A matinee will be held to-morrow at 2 p.m. NEW PLYMOUTH STATE THEATRE. \■ ' ' SINGING OF GRACE MOORE. Grace Moore continues to entrance audiences at the State Theatre with' her delightful singing in the leading role of Columbia Films’ latest production “Love Me Forever.” Acclaimed by motion'pie- / ture exhibitors and critics all over the world as an even greater production than the sensational “One Night of Love,” Miss Moore’s new film is outstanding for the remarkable talent contained in the supporting cast. The brilliant Leo Car- ■; rillo, as Steve Corelli, ace of Broadway gangsters, gives an artistic portrayal, even dwarfing his memorable triumph in “Viva Villa.” Robert Allen and Michael Bartlett, the famous Metropolitan Opera House tenor, both prove distinct finds. The musical numbers that enrich “Love Me Forever” are: Il Bacio, Love Me Forever (composed especially for Miss Moore by Victor Schertinger), Funiculi, Funicula, Whoa (a sparkling foxtrot), Rigoletto, La Boheme and also the first act from La Boheme with Michael Bartlett as Rodolfo and Miss Moore as Mimi. “LET’S LIVE TO-NIGHT. MUSICAL ROMANCE AT PLAZA. // The charm and beauty of the Mediterranean setting in “Let’s Live To-night,” .-J which will open to-day at the Plaza The- - atre, provides an entrancing background for the captivating love story the film unfolds. Co-starring Lilian Harvey, who has never appeared more beautiful, and the suave, continental Tulio Carminati, fresh from his recent triumph in “One Night of Love,” “Let’s Live- To-night” is a delightful entertainment, handsomely mounted and lavishly produced. Victq.r Schertzinger, the great director of “One Night of Love,” deserves much praise for the highly diverting, spontaneous and exhilarating tempo which he infused into the romantic goings-on. It is he, top, who also wrote the lovely score for “Let's Live To-night.” “Love Passes By,/the hit tune, is sung by Tullio Carminati/ with great effect and remarkable voice. The story concerns a young American girl, Kay Routledge, vacationing on the Riviera, who falls in love with the handsome Nick Kerry (Tullio Carminati).; Hugh Williams is splendid as the roman'tic, idealistic young Brian Kerry, his brother’s rival. Tala Birell is a glamorous ’brunette and a skilled actress. She does extremely well in a different role. Janet Beecher, as Kay’s mother,./ and/ Luis Alberni, as Carminati’s faithful and funny butler, are well cast.