ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 40, 15 January 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “BREAKFAST FOR TWO.” Brought together for the first time as co-stars in the romantic comedy, “Breakfast For Two,” are Barbara Stanwyck and Herbert Marshall, screening to-day at the State Theatre. They arc supported by a quartette of fun-makers, including Etic Bloro Glenda Farrell, Etienne Giradot and Donald Aleck. “Breakfast For Two” is based on David Garth’s novel of the same name, which was published in Red Book. The screen play was written by Charles Kaufman Paul Yawitz and Viola Brothers Shore. This sparkling coincdy-tomancc. directed by A 1 Santell, deals in sprightly fashion with a rich girl’s efforts to 'bake a man out of a charming idler. Herbert Marshall, as the last of the ship-owning Blairs and president of the Blair Steamship Lines, takes no interest in the affairs of the company and prefers night life in a big way, while the Lines arc rapidly going into bankruptcy. Barbara Stanwyck is an heiress from Texas, who meets Alar-' shall during a hectic tour of the New York night clubs and escorts him home, only to discover lie is practically engaged to Glenda Farrell, as a gold-digging actress whoso career he is financing. Undaunted, .Miss Stanwyck decides to make a mail of Marshall whether he likes it or not, and proceeds to buy control of the Lines from under his nose. Enraged-by what lie considers her trickery, Marshall prepares to fight back, but, practically penniless, is in no position to do so. Aliss Stanwyck makes him vice-president of the company to build up his morale —and learns he intends to marry Aliss Farrell. How the heiress and Marshall’s faithful valet, Eric Bloro, team together to prevent this and to stimulate Marshall into putting up a fight for his firm and his name, leads to the exciting and hilarious series of climaxes. Produced by Edward Kaufman and directed by Alfred Santell, “Breakfast For Two” is an 11KO Radio release. BOBBY BREEN CONTEST. In connection with the forthcoming. season of Bobby Breen in “Make a Wish, to commence at the Slate Theatre on January 21, entrants arc invited to discover Palmerston North’s Bobby Breen. Boys to 14 years of age arc eligible. Selected entrants are to sing from the stage of the State Theatre at each 8 p.rn. session. The winner will be selected by the audience. The first prize is £5 ss, the second £2 2s, and there are numerous consolation prizes. KOSY THEATRE. “THE LAST TRAIN FROM MADRID.” Now showing at the Kosy Theatre “The Last. Train from Madrid,” Paramount s thrilling war picture of war-torn Spain. With the recapture of a salient through which tile Aladrid-Valencia railroad line {lasses, the Madrid Government announces that a train will he permitted to leave the beleaguered capital for Valencia and safety. Only those who have important reasons to leave are to be given passes The issuing of the passes is detailed to Captain Alvarez. lie makes out a pass for his sweetheart, Carmelita, a patrician beauty. Then, learning that his best friend, Eduardo De Soto, is to be released from prison, where he is held as a political prisoner, ho arranges for him to oseapo from Aladrid. • As soon as he is free Do Soto goes to the girl he loves Carmelita 1 Alvarez soon learns of the love between Carmelita and De Soto, but decides to wait until all three are on the train to ask her to name the man of her choice. Returning to his office he is arrested for having permitted De Soto to escape. Aladrid, meanwhile, is in turmoil. Air raids and bombardments threaten. In the melee of souls seeking escape is young Juan Sanchez, a deserter sick of the horror around him. lie meets Helena ,a girl of the streets, and they fall in love. Dexter, an American newspaperman, meets Marie Ferrar, a member of the Women’s Battalion. They, too, fall in love. Do Soto chances to meet an old flame, a baroness, who has arrange to flee to Paris from Madrid with a gigolo, Balk. She urges De Soto to flee to Paris with her, promising him Balk’s pass. De Soto accepts. Balk is murdered by the baroness. Alvarez manages to escape, locates De Soto and, gives him a pass. lie asks his friend to take Carmelita .to the train and that he will join them later. Train time arrives. There is confusion and panic at the station. Suddenly the soldiery arrives to arrest Alvarez for treason, the baroness for murder, and De Soto for desertion. Determined to sacrifice himself so that the girl ho loves can find happiness with another, Alvarez forces his way into the office of the military commander of the town. “SOIPIIIE LANG GOES WEST.” When an international jewel thief goes on to take in wealthy Hollywood, plenty can happen, and plenty does 1 Gertrude Alichael comes back as the notorious Sophie Lang in Paramount’s new adven-ture-romance, “Sophie Lang Goes West,” now at tile Kosv Theatre. It is a faststepping story fail of surprises and thrills, with a cast including other than the principals, Sandra Storine, Larry Crabbe und Bariowe Borland. MAYFAIR THEATRE. “LOOK UP AND LAUGH.”

Those who have wondered what it must be like lo hear a new song hit for the first time will be interested in (he story of a film writer who visited the Associated Talking Pictures’ Studio at Ealing during the early production days of “Look Up and Laugh,” Graeie Fcilds’s latest merry musical comedy, which, is screening at the Mayfair Theatre to-day. When ho reached the studios, Gracic was icsting after finishing a scone while Director Basil Dean was preparing the next. The newspaper man was about to approach the popular Lancashire star for a personal interview when a young fellow, ease in handj dashed on to the set, and reaching Graeie before him piloted her through the various properties over a corner of the studio where stood a piano. Inquiry revealed the fact that Grade’s companion was Parr Davis, the song composer. Always on the look-out for something new, the “news round” moved over to a seat near the piano to watch the very interesting operation of Grade going through one of her songs for the first time. Parr Davis (who, by the way, is Welsh) opened up his case and taking out a piece of music in manuscript began to play. After lie Had played it through once he started again and this time Graeie joined in. It was particularly catchy and Grade quickly got hold of the tunc. But she wasn’t satisfied by any means and she went over the song again and again until the melody began to impress itself on the memory of everyone on the set. Eventually Grade rendered the song to her satisfaction and with the practice concluded, she sat down to await the shooting of the next scene. And now as the technicians and other studio hands Worked they whistled —and the tune was “Look Up and Laugh,” Hie song which had just been played and sung for the first time. Thus does a good tune make'itself known. Grade’s pictures always abound in catchy music and “Look Up and Laugh” is no exception to the rule. In addition to this thcmc-song there arc several other excellent numbers in the film, all of which arc destined to become real hits, notable among them being one called “Love is Everywhere,” and still another riotous comedy number. “I’m Annie from Anna Capriza.” The other essential ingredient of a Graeie film is laughter and this attribute is here in happy abundance. There’s no doubt about it, “Lock Up and Laugh” is brillaint musical comedy entertainment that’s sheer delight. “THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS.”

James Fenimoro Cooper’s immortal classic, “The Last of the Mohicans,” is the second attraction. Randolph Scott heads the imposing east as Hawkeye. the handsome and during Colonial scout -hero of the story, while appearing in important roles are Binnio Barnes, Henry Wilenxon, Bruce Cabot, Heather Angel, Phillip Reed, Robert Barrat, Hugh Buckler and Willard Robertson. Thrilling high-lights of the picture include the defence of Fort William Henry against the onslaught of the French legions; Cora’s death leap from the heights of Lovers’- Cliff; the eleventh hour rescue of Hawkeye from the lorture-

6take, of the savage Hurons; the barbaric war dance of (he Indian tribes preparing for battle and the hand-to-hand tomahawk battle to the death between the renegade half-breed and “The Last of' the Mohicans.”