ENTERTAINIENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 22 January 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINIENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “THE GAY DESPERADO.” A rare treat is in store for music-lovers when Pickford-Lasky’s “The Gay Desperado” brings Nino Martini, famous singing star of opera, radio and films, to the screen at'*the Mayfair Theatre io-night. “The Gay Desperado” completely discards the conventional plot formula for films starring famous singers and tells a fastmoving romantic story of a gay and glamorous Mexican bandido who sings his way out of a succession of difficulties, saving his life and winning the girl by the magic of his voice. Among tho numbers sung by Martini In the film are “The World Is Mine To-night,” written by Holt Marvel and George Posford, and already popular on tho air, and “Adios Mi Ticrra,” another original number written by the singer’s accompanist, Miguel Sandoval. The Verdi aria, “Celeste Aida,” is the highlight of the oporatio music, and three famous Mexican songs, “Clelita Lindo,” “Lamcnto Gitano” and “Estrcllita,” complete the star’s diversified repertory in the film. “DEVIL’S SQUADRON.” The test pilots, unsung heroes of aviation, are held up for well-deserving pats on tho back and recognition of their valorous deeds in a film that is scheduled to screen to-night at tho Mayfair Theatre. It is Columbia’s roaring drama, “Devil’s Squadron,” and it stars the square-jawed Richard Dix. Dick Grace, one of tho world’s foromost aviators, who has corno into the limelight for his hazardous stunting and crashing of ! planes for the movies, wrote tho story. Grace, a test pilot himself, is in an ideal position to appreciate the men who are the first to fly new pianos, who try them out so that if they have any structural defects the flying dare-devils will be the first to come crashing to earth in them. Test pilots do not take ’planes up for a gentle, level ride and then land easily. It is necessary for them to put the ’planes through the most difficult death-defying stunts —tail spins, rolls, power dives, etc. —so that every part of the ’plane is tested to the utmost. Featured with Dix in “Devil’s Squadron” are Karen Morlcy. Lloyd Nolan, Billy Burrud, Shirley Ross, Henry Mollison, Gene Morgan and Gordon Jones. Most of the . players are either licensed or student pilots in real life. According to tho story, Dix and Nolan, two lest pilots, fall in love with Miss Morlcy. Dix because of an unjust stigma attached to his name and because he refuses to hurt Nolan, superintendent of the airport, who gave Dix his chance to make good again, is unable to tell Miss Morley ho loves her. But close association with death amid flaming ’planes and strained nerves, changes much, and tho story goes on from its premise to a dramatic climax.

REGENT THEATRE. “THE EMPEROR’S CANDLESTICKS.” In a film that affords amazing contrast with their former vehicles, William Powell and Luise Rainer achieve new credit in “The Emperor’s Candlesticks,” from the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. The star, who has become famous ns “The Thin Man,” now is a dashing secret agent in Europe, and Miss Rainer, recently hailed for her superb artistry as the Chinese slave-bride in “The Good Earth,” is an exotic woman of international intrigue. The story, from the novel by Baroness Orczy, moves from Vienna to Warsaw, into Russia and back into Paris and ■ London, with suspenseful action at every step. The spies suspect each other, and rightfully. Death is close on their heels many times, but they outwit it and eventually romance brings them together. A powerful supporting cast includes Robert Young, Maureen O’Sullivan, Frank Morgan, Henry Stephenson, Bernadene Hayes, Donald Kirk, Douglas Dumbrille, Barnett Parker, Bert Roach, Charles Waldron, Emma Dunn, len Wulf, Frank Reicher, Paul Poreasi, and E. E. Clive. George Fitzmaurice was director and the picture was produced by John Considine, jnr. “The Emperor’s Candlesticks” will serve as convincing proof, if any should be needed, that William Powell and Luise Rainer are versatile masters of their craft, capable of portraying human emotions in every phase. MANY NEW ACTS. - WIRTH BROS.’ CIRCUS. ’The advance manager (Mr R. C. Mannington) was in the city this .week, making arrangements for the coming visit of this famous circus to Palmerston North on Friday and Saturday, January 28 and 29. We are to expect the circus to come back bigger than ever and in. addition it is bringing a super menagerie of weird, wild animals. Since last visiting New Zealand Wirth’s overseas agents have been scouring the four corners of the .world for now acts and novelties, and with the inclusion recently of eight new. imported European acts, the company will prosent almost an entirely now circus. Performing animals feature ’largely in this year’s circus, and representatives of eleven different nations appear in the ring. Chief among the acts listed on tho programme which runs for nearly three hours arc the Four Kobes, novelty entertainers, with foot juggling, hand balancing and tumbling, the climax of this thrilling act being the “Slide of Death” backwards down a wire from a height of 90 feet; the 10 Zigamos, phenomenal senors and senoritas, introducing revelations in whirlwind displays of Spanish acrobats; the Three Houstons, in marvellous feats of balancing high in midair bn the top of high polos, direct- from Europe; the Four Dare-Devil Onotos, daring aerial motor-cyclists, who mako backwards and forwards somersaults high in mid-air, with the cycle travelling at a terrific speed; M. Henri Martel, from the Opera House, Paris, with his performing dogs; Fresco and Camillo, comedy aerobats; and the Great jVlarkoni, 1 ■world s champion lcaper, who clears an automobile and 10 men from a standing jump. Coming with the circus is Wirth Bros, super menagerie, claimed to be # really a world’s wonderland for children, including a herd of nine elephants, 18 cages of lions, tigers, jaguars, baboons, monkeys, orang-outangs, panthers, bears,_ and a complete stud of beautiful and marvellously trained horses, not forgetting “Harold,” the amazing orang-outang in comic antics, always a favourite with the children There will bo a special matinee on Saturday for the children at 2.30. The box plan is at Collinson and Cunninghame’s, Ltd. Tho location is near the Empire Hall, Main Street.