PLAZA THEATRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 301, 21 December 1933, Page 12

PLAZA THEATRE

& “THE LITTLE GIANT” The programme now showing at the Plaza Theatre only has comedy as its keynote, and those who fail to succumb to the hilarious fare that is offered must obviously have something very wrong with their risible faculties. The main item on the programme is a new First National picture entitled ‘‘The Little Giant/’ In this comedy appears Edward G. Robinson, who has achieved such popularit* in a number of recent successes. In 44 The Little Giant” he excels previous efforts at mirth-making by appearing /s an ex-beer baron of Chicago, whose sole desire apparently is to penetrate into exclusive social circles. There is any amount of fun to be derived from ths hilarious situations which constantly arise. The entire paraphernalia of a gangster’s arsenal figures in the picture, and the whole underworld seems to be marshalled on the scene, and yet, although there are many exciting and thrilling incidents, not a shot is fired and no violence of any kind is attempted. How the crude racketeer succeeds in his attempt to move in exclusive circles must be seen to be appreciated fully. Mary Astor has a leading feminine role in this picture, and support is accorded by many <»ther well-known screen artists. “The Working Man’’ That “grand old man” of the screen, George Arliss, has to be credited with another sterling success in “The Working Man,” to be screened at the Plaza Theatre to-morrow. As usual, Mr Arliss takes good care that the picture in which he is the central figure is one of appealing human interest and logical reasoning, even in its sentimental trimmings. John Reeves is one of the biggc-K. shoe manufacturers in the United States; Hartland is another. They beth loved the same girl, and Hartland won her. In business they are friendly enemies—until Hartland dies. It robs Reeves of some of the zest, end he, deer loveable man, becomes actually perturbed w’hen he sees r he Hartland business beginning to fail. The Reeves business flourishes the more on that account, for which old Reeven’ nephew, Benjamin Burnett, takes all the credit, being well stuffed with the arrogance and vanity of youth. Reeves is so annoyed to hear Ben refer to him as a back number that he takes a holiday fishing in Maine, and there he happens to meet Hartland’s son and daughter on their own yacht—going the pace. There is an accident on board, and the young people insist on taking Reeves back to New York for treatment. There Reeves (posing as one Walton) gets to know the reason nf the Hartland failure, and with fine chivalry and a real love for the young people, he sets about getting the Hartland business back on the rails, even though it is against Reeves’ interest to do so. The effort at last shows that Reeves is still a go-getter, •and young Burnert is not the Napoleon of trade that he fancies himself. The happy end comes with the merging of the two firms, and the marriage of Jenny Hartland (Bette Davis) to Burnett (Hardie Al (bright). The quizzical humour, and amusing sententiousness of Reeves is very beautifully expressed by Mr. Arliss. whose performance is one not to be lightly missed. Box plans are at Dobbs Bros.’