AMUSEMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 234, 2 October 1929, Page 15

AMUSEMENTS

THE MAJESTIC “THE CIRCUS KID” Theatre-goers throughout the world are going to marvel at the uncanny accuracy in ‘'The Circus Kid.” It is hard to believe that these surging scenes from the lives of people of the circus world are only appearing on the screen. For the wild glamour of old-time circus days is the keynote of the drama. The story tells of a lion tamer, once tie leader of his kind, now a helpless nerve-shattered wreck. The love of a boy coupled to his mud in fatuation with the star of the whole circus gives him the opportunity to prove that King Kruger is still the greatest of them all, Helene Costello is the star of the circus, and Frankie Darro, the boy who manages to make life worth living for the broken-down trainer. The whole cast is excellent, but the acting of Joe E. Brown as “King” Kruger is as great as any ever preesnted on the silver sheet. Brown has graduated from musical comedies to a front rank m the character field of the screen and there is no one who is more capable in a human interest role than this newcomer. 1 The drama is now appearing at the! Majestic Theatre, where it is playing I to crowded houses. Sam Nelson is the juvenile playing opposite Miss Costel-I lo and bids fair to win screen honours as one of the leading juveniles. An imposing array of short subjects (all talking) has been chosen and the complete programme promises to be one of the highest order. DUCHESS THEATRE Korda directed “The Yellow Lily,” I Billie Dove’s starring vehicle which conies to-night to the Duchess Theatre for First International. This illustrates his point admirably. The story has that universal quality of appeal required as the basis of a film production that will offer colourful, exotic romance and life-like realism for the theatre patron in Hungary, land of its locale. Korda, assisted by technical experts from Hungary, contributes a realism in observance of custom, manner and technical detail as great as though it were a Hungarian made picture. The plot, action and characterisations arc far enough removed from oun ideas of such things, to be romantic to us. Clive Brook plays opposite Miss Dove in “The Yellow Lily,” and prominent In tho supporting cast are Gustav Von Seyffertitz, Nicholas Soussanin, Jane Winton, Bodil Rosing, Marc Mac Dermot and Charles Puffy. MANAWATU SPRING SHOW The annual Spring Show of the Manawatu A .and P. Association is nearly here again, and the event this year promises to eclipse all previous records. Entries are already rolling in, the closing date for the schools section being Saturday, October 5. Features this year will be steer riding, military tattoo, and a display of gymnastics. Of these and other attractions, not the least interesting and exciting will be the steer riding, which has been such a great success wherever it has been held. Following the precedent set at the last Spring Show, tho grounds will be open to the public, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and a very comprehensive programme has boon arranged for the public amusement. Entries in the home industries, needlework and photography close on Saturday, October 12, and the following Saturday, October 19, will be the last day for receiving entries in the stock section. Steer riding entries will close on October 26, while late fees will also be accepted on that day for live stock and ring competitions, but each late entry must be accompanied by a fee of 2s 6d extra. Schedules may bo had free on application to the secretary, P.O. Box 85, Palmerston North. The annual exhibition of the Manawatu Kennel Club will be held in conjunction with the Spring Show, a separate schedule for which may be obtained from the secretary of the Kennel Club, Mr F. Faincs, c/o Millar and Giorgi, The Square, Palmerston North. Exhibitors will please note that the Kennel Club section is entirely under separate management from the A. and P. Association. The secretary of the latter body is Mr W. T. Penny, Box 85, Palmerston North.

THE REGENT CLARA BOW IN “THE WILD PARTY.” In her first talking picture, 4 ‘The Wild Party” which commences its Wanganui season at the Regent Theatre at a matinee to-day, Clara Bow adds farther to her reputation. Hitherto the “It” girl has ’had numbers of roles which have given her opportunities to prove her worth as an actress, of the merry and gay variety. In “The Wild Party” she has an opportunity to demonstrate her prowess as a speaking star and she makes the most of her chances. Every word she speaks is clear and it comes as an agreeable surprise that she will hold her own in the speaking picture as well as she has done in the past in the silent play. The story of “The Wild Party” was written by Warner Fabian, of ‘‘Flaming Youth” fame and it is essentially a story o f the youth of to-day, revelling in madcap escapades. The scene is laid at &n exclusive girl’s school. A new professor arrives, young, handsome, and full of the importance of his job, and naturally the girls “fall” for him. Some time later a feminine counterpart of a “stag” party is held and Stella Ames (Clara Bow) and her gang of wild girls are barred from entering because of the brevity of their eositumes. The girls leave and go to a roadhouse where they get mixed up in a rough-and-tumble. Stella is abducted by three men but the professor has heard of her predicament and rushes to the rescue. He is successful in getting Stella away from the men and takes +-he opportunity not only «•£ delivering a stern lecture un the follies of youth but also tp confess his love for her. The next day Stella finds that love does not exclude her from doing her college work. An essay of her’s is the cause of the trouble, and her professor tells her a few home truths in front of the class. With her gang she goes away for a party and there are. wild and merry doings. While she is away the professor is wounded by tho gang of abductors for revenge. On her return she goes to the professor’s study and ig caught by the sneak of the school. Events move fast from then on. There are misunderstandings ’and mix-ups which are only partly solved when the story ends, Stella having taken the blame for a friend’s folly. However the final scene finds her happy. Mis s Bow has a role which suits her admirably. As the leader of the college gang she is full of life and her dialogue is vivid. The thousands of picture lovers who have come to look forward to her characterisations will find plenty to satisfy them in her first talking picture. The supporting programme , i s also reported to be excellent. WILLIAM HAINES IN “A MAN’ll MAN” AT THE GRAND William Haines —in a serious role, a far different William Haines from the usually debonnair youngster who “kids,” uses slang and disports himself in festive attitudes —is chaining crowds at the Grand Theatre, where he is now appearing in “A Man'S Man,” a Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer production. It’s a charming little satire, rich in human interest and with a beautiful little love story. The star in just the opposite Of his usual role, Instead of being a “smart aleck,” hie’s an earnest young man, so earnest in fact that others with “smart” ideas can tell him anything and get away with it. He “falls” for the chatter of an assistant film director and even gives up his money for oil stock that dotesn’t exist. He buys every book and correspondence school course that foxy book agents can sell him. But he enacts a very appealing character and does what is perhaps one ot the greatest characterisations in his whole career. The result is intensely entertaining and interesting. Josephine Dunn, who played opposite Haines in “Excess Baggage,” makes a most appealing little bridge as the stage-struck flapper who marries the soda fountain worker, and Sam Hardy gives thf screen something new in the way of polished villainy as the assistant di- 1 rector. Mae Busch’s character work as the hard-boiled film actnfess is superb.

connection the Society wishes to acknowledge cheques from Messrs Wright Stev'enson and Co., Levin and Co., Mrs T. C. Taylor, Mra Dr. Reid, the Waverley Plunket Society and the Sanson Plunket Society. The Society is grate ful to all those who helped with their votes, with assistance to the committees and in various other ways to make the carnival the success it was.

The Durie Hill cake was won by Mrs Taiboys of Grey Street. Mr Trevor Lewison won the Durie Hill ham and Baby Darling (No. 55) was the winner of Mrs Crawford’s second cake. With the £BO4 raised by the m'eans of the Baby Carnival, it means a very substantial amount inland to be donated towards the extensions to be made to the Home in front of the Mother* craft Home. The scheme .is estimated to cost £l2OO ani will meet an urgent need for moro accommodation for the nursing staff. At present the nurses have to sleep, in some cases, three in a room. Some of the rooms are badly lit. In view of the important part

played by the Hunket system in the interest of baby welfare, it is imperative that the staff which performs such admirable national service should be properly housed. With the additional accommodation of some eight rooms, which the Society has in mind, the Stewart Karitane Home will be an institution of which Wanganui may well be proud. Foresight is shown in the .fact that the additional structure will be a permanent one and the foundations will be laid to provide for additional storeys as the year s go by so that the Home will he able to adequately fulfill its useful purpose with the growth of the city.