ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 214, 10 August 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “GOD’S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN.” Another technioolour film of the outdoors, “God’s Country and the Woman, will screen at the Regent 'iheatre tonight. It is fully up to the standard set by “The Trail of the Lonesome l’me and its natural colour is seen to full advantage in some magnificent scenes of the mountainous country of the American backwoods. The story opens with Steve Russett, played by George Brent, being recalled from Paris by his elder brother (Robert Barrat), who is manager of the Russett Lumber Company. Steve escapes from bis brother’s camp in an aeroplane but is forced down near tho rival camp of Jo Barton, who proves to be an attractive girl, plavcd by Beverly Roberts. In a desperate feud for transportation rights Steve takes the girl’s part, first against his brother’s gang and then against the rebelling Barton lumberjacks. Events reach a thrilling climax when hundreds of logs jam in the river and Stove is torced to dynamite them in tho face of rifle fire from tho rival camp. The picture closes with a happy reconciliation between the two companies. In tho leading role George Brent plays a part that requires both tho sophistication of a “playboy” and the virile strength cf a woodsman, and his interpretation is an excellent one. Bcvndy Roberts gives a pleasing portrayal. .Tho supporting cast includes Barton Maclane, Alan .Halo, Roscoo Ates and El Brendcl.

STATE THEATRE. “NANCY STEELE IS MISSING.” Unforgettably portrayed by the star of “The Informer,” and an inspired cast, “Nancy Steele is Missing,” the Twentieth Century-Fox production screening to-night at the State Theatre, presents a powerful drama of vengeful hate balked by its own fury and punished by man’s greatest love. The performances of Victor McLaglen, winner of tho Motion Picture Academy award for the best performance of 1935; Walter Connolly, outstanding actor of stage and screen ; and Peter Lorre, Europe’s one-man chamber of horrors, make “Nancy Steele is Missing” a tremendous document of emotionlashing power, filled with tense thrills and strong passions. June Lang and Robert Kent, rising young players, arc featured in the film. The 20-vear span covered by the picture begins in the troubled days of 1917. when America was gripped by war hysteria. The daughter of Walter Connolly, a munitions magnate, sensationally disappears. Shortly afterwards, Victor McLaglen, a hulking giant whoso knowledge of the horrors of war lias embittered him against all those who help to make it, becomes involved in a brawl with police, and because be is accused of being “pro-alien,” gets an unnecessarily severe gaol sentence. Taunted as. a ‘‘spy by fellow prisoners, McLaglen is made the goat for an attempted prison break, and is sentenced to life. Only a shrewd cell-mate, the calculating Peter Lorre, suspects that the huge prisoner is concealing his true character. “BORDER CAFE.”

A colourful romantic triangle between a headstrong young New Engander, his former fiancee, and a Mexican girl whom he meets in a frontier “cantina, form the love interest of “Border Cafe, RKU Radio’s new film drama, . with Harry Carey and John Beal sharing tho top roles, and Armida, the alluring Mexican dancer, in the femiline lead. This attraction also screens to-mghl at the State Theatre on a double-bill of exceptional merit. Woven into this romance arc .young Beal’s regeneration at the hands of Carey and Armida, and a spirited war against cattle rustlers who adopt modern. methods of stealing their beef and of intimidating the ranchers. The story opens in a New England town where Beal, son of a Senator, quarrels with his parents, then shit s to tho cattle country along the Rio Grande. Imbued with , the atmosphere of tho Mexican border and tilled .with thrilling situations and dramatic climaxes, the picture makes a strong appeal to filmgoers of all ages.