ENTERTAINMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19565, 2 May 1935, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

CURRENT PROGRAMMES. CIVIC THEATRE. “Paoe In the Sky” is a delightful production. Whlmisical, always charming, this tale of a travelling signboard artist’s romance with a wistful little country girl offers a brand-new forpi of entertainment to picture patrons, and one that will be widely . appreciated. Spencer Tracy reveals a hitherto unsuspected flair for delicate' and sincere love-making; and add to this his boisterous teaming with Stuart Erwin in the comedy scenes. 'Marian Nixon is compelling in her .part, and Sarah Padden and Sam Hardy furnish good support. In “Strangers of the Evening,” Zasu Pitts in her never failing mournful comedy, Lucicn Littlefield, as the happy gentleman who has lost his memory, 'Harold Waldridge as the frightened undertaker’s assistant, and ’ Eugene iPallette and Francis Sayles, the two bewildered detectives, furnish a riot of comedy that - lifts this murder story from any chance of becoming morbid.

STATE THEATRE. ’George O’Brien, most popular of Western film stars, Increased his local prestige yesterday by his splendid acting In “When A Man’s A Man." This picture phased on the wellknown Harold IBell Wright story. A fine portrayal*' of the hero, who changes from an Eastern “softie” to a rugged Western man of action, is given by George O’Brien, supported by a splendid cast made up of Dorothy Wilson, Paul Kelly, Harry Woods, Jimmy Butler and others. Thrillseekers should not miss this film of tense action. An appealing romance is aoted out amid settings of superb loveliness. The .film affords, a .vivid picture of the Western country, the magnifloent distances of Utah, miles of purple and green sage with dry lakes of alkali and sparkling white granite, tufted .here and there with' rabbit grass. It is the story of a ■wealthy olty clubman who, through recklessness, loses his inheritance and for the first time in ihls life is oalled on to earn a living. He goes out West. The struggles that he surmounts to ’strengthen his character make up the plot.of this story. A Western girl of spirit, in difficulties, provides him with the-motive to prove bis mettle., 'He is called to ohoose j between love of this girl and the] man who befriended him.

♦DIRTY WORK.” The combination of Ralph Lynn with two comedians almost equally great, Gordon Harker and Robertson Hare, in the Vfaroe “Dirty Work,” to be screened on Saturday, leads to a great deal of rollioking fun and action. The ludiorous situations typioal of a Ben Travers faroe are well handled »nd the film provides exoellent entertainment. „ ,\

RE Qft NT THEATRE. “The Old Curiosity Shop,” as much as any of tCharles 'Dickens' novels, shows his unerring human touch and his genius in creating figures of comedy and tragedy. The triumph of the film is t3cored hy Hay Petrie, who makes Quilp the snarling, loathsome ogre that tradition demands. Little Nell and her pathetic old grandfather wander through the film, two perfeot character types. Ben Webster is ideal as'the grandfather, and little Elaine Benson acts with delightful placidity, 'Gibb McLaughlin gives an excellent study as Brass, the scheming lawyer. ; other figures known to countless readers —Kit, Dick Swiveller, the Marchioness, Mrs Jarley and Codlin ahd Short—flit across the soreen jin momentary glimpses of oharaotef, ;and the whole film shows that the dl|reotor, Thomas Bentley, has all the live of Dickens necessary for the making of suoli a film. Ho has captured the background perfectly—the days when coaches swept into town—and he has also provided some glorious glimpses of English countryside.

"THE MERRY WIDOW.” ■Maurice Chevalier steps into the spirit of "The Mery Widow,” to be screened to-morrow, as if he had been moulded for the part of Count Danilo,, of Marasovia.. The picture is an entirely new conception of the possibilities of the glamorous old musical comedy. Its atmosphere is one of gaiety and abandon. Chevalier plays his part, to perfection, and scores a double triumph as the lover of the boulevard and of the ballroom. The foil for tills free-lover is the 1 beautiful Jeanette MacDonald, gifted with a perfect voice.

ROXY THEATRE. Tropical nights, stranded beauties, bandit-lighting marines turned into chaperones, budding love in the jungles. all intermingled with laughs and action, make "Come On Marines!” exceptional entertainment.. The story, which deals with a Marino sergeant’s redemption through his heroic rescue of a group of girls shipwrecked in the tropics, offers an excellent vehicle for a large cast of players who give splendid portrayals. Richard Arien appears ns the sergeant and Ida Lupino plays the role of a headstrong, spoiled dor-, ling of Hie rich.

theatre royal. A thrilling drama of ilic air "Mur,er in the Clouds,'” in which |,ylc rnl'bot and Ann Dvorak are the principals, will commence a season at, the Theatre Royal to-morrow. Seldom lias a plot in which the suspense is so well maintained, been portrayed on the screen. The picture is particularly notable for Ilic spectacular living manoeuvres and combined With a story of compelling Interest it. makes flrstoloss entertainment.