ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 48, 25 January 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

KOSY THEATRE. “LAUGHING IRISH EYES.” Singing is not only Phil Regan’s artistic vocation, but his hobby as well. lie began it when lie was a child. He was the leading tenor of his high school Glee Club. When hardly out of his ’teens his public singing in Now York City launched him on a national broadcasting career, which made his voice known and loved by millions. “Laughing Irish Eyes,” starring ILigan with a new hit Irish comedian, Walter C. Kelly, \audeville veteran, and Evelyn Knapp, will present golden-voiced Phil in the first of Ills enlarged singing screen roles now screening finally at tlie Kosy. In the idylic setting of Ireland’s green lulls and lovely country Junes, Regan is presented as an athletic young blacksmith who vocalises as lie pounds his anvil Kelly, American prizelight promoter, and his daughter, pick Regan for their choice—but both for different reasons. “THAT’S MY STORY.” . The romantic comedy drama, Universal’s “That’s May Story,” also screening finally at the Kosy, describes the adventures of a reporter who prides himself on his nose for news until he sticks his beak into a hornet's nest of trouble. The narrative brings to the screen tlio fierce rivalries'of n»ws reporters, as well as the humorous situations into which some of their assignments thrust them. ’The picture details the efforts of newspapermen to interview a beautiful torch singer, accused of killing a millionaire playboy. The sheriff, hating all newspapers and reporters; keeps them away from tho bird in tho gilded calaboose. Then an ambitious young cub reporter, William Lundigun, gets himself arrested. Once inside the gaol, ho mistakes another woman for the fatal warbler. Instead, she is a girl reportor, after the same story. The lady scribe, Claudia Morgan, tells him a faked story, which lu* sends his newspaper. The editor fires him and lets him stew in gaol. Then Bernadono Hayes, tho torch singer, whose ideas are wilder than her music, but whose trigger finger is terribly accurate, compels tho reporters to go with her when she escapes. Tho sheriff is hot on their trail. To keep his goose from being cooked, or desiring some sauce for (he gander, . and a story for his paper, Lundigun disarms the lady with a fatal aim. 'J hen comes the climax-, which results in a startling “Stop Bless” nows heat.

METEOR THEATRE. “THE STUDENT’S ROMANCE.” There is delightful entertainment in store for picturegoeis who attend tho Meteor Theatre where the attraction offered is tho beautiful 8.1.8. musical romance, “1 lie Student’s Romance,” which brings to tho English-speaking screen a beautiful adn talented artiste from the Continent in Crete Natzlor. The beautiful Helene was romantic, but sho was also a Princess, and, being of royal blood, all kinds of dull things were expected of her, including a marriage to the Prince Ferdinand, whom she' had not oven niet. But Princess Ilclenu was a girl of spirit; she was also young, and so, when she met Max Brandt, handsome but penniless young student, she conveniently forgot her royal blood and its accompanying obligations, and fell in love with him as completely and as headlong as if sho had been a mere commoner with bourgeoise emotions. ’The affair was entirely mutual, and Max lost his heart immediately, little knowing what diploalic complications might be caused , by this touch of nature. lie asks Ilelcno, qußo humbly, if sho will try and be present at the students’ celebration, to bo held that evening at tho Black Whale Inn. Ilelcnc smiles, and says “Perhaps,” so Max must needs possess his soul in patience until tho moment when he hopes his lady will appear. ’ Hi hopes are rewarded, for Helene appears at the inn in tho evning. They meet and talk, and Heleno promises to meet him tho following evening. She is prevented from doing eo, however, by a conversation her father has with her concerning tho marriage which is to ho arranged between her and Prince Ferdinand. Misunderstanding and difficulties have to be encountered and dispelled before Helene renounces her rights as a Princess and marries tho man of her choice; but happiness conics to them at last. “GIRLS WILL BE BOYS.” Imagine the situations that would arise, when a young and vivacious girl masquerades as a boy in a castle of women-haters. Sho is commanded to box and row and swim just as if _ she were really the hoy she is representing. She is laughed at for a coward when she refuses a cold shower with her boxing instructor, sho is looked down upon by her grandfather’s friends when she can’t keep up tho traditions of hoi' hard drinking, hard smoking, hard swearing forebears. Those are sonic of the embarrassing positions in which the heroine of “Girls Will Be Boys” finds herself, STATE THEATRE. “MAKE A WISH.” The screen lias not presented during the current season a more complete entertaining- motion picture than “Make a Wish,” the new Bobby. Breen starring vehicle filmed by Principal Productions for KKO Radio, which screens to-night at tho State Theatre. In no department of production has anything been neglected to make the picture a thoroughly enjoyable one, and it easily qualifies as the best m which tho young singing star lias ever appeared—a pleasing mixture of comedy, romance, tuneful songs and beautiful backgrounds. Bobby combines real ability as an actor with a magnificent singing voice which seems oven, to have increased in volume and sweetness. He is heard in several haunting melodies written by tho noted Viennese composer, Oscar Straus, the outstanding one of the group being tho theme song - hearing the title of the picture itself. Basil Rathbone, no longer the suave villain, plays a truly romantic role for the first time in his screen career, and contributes a performance which stamps him as a versatile actor of unusual attainments. The leading feminine role is portrayed by Marion Claire, famous radio singer, who gives every promise of future screen stardom. The explosive Italian, Henry Arrnctta, is vastly humorous in a characterisation that is literally a comedy gem. Others in the big cast who do especially commendable work are Ralph Forbes, Leon Errol, Donald Meek, Leonid ICinskey and Herbert Rawlinson. Much of the action of “Make a Wish,” adapted from an original story by Gertrude Berg, takes place at a boys’ summer camp in Maine, whore Bobby forms a close friendship with Basil Rathbone, a composer. Rathbone becomes interested in tho hoy s lovely young mother, Marion Claire, and a romance develops between the two, despite her fiance, Ralph Forbes. I his tangled situation reaches a tensely dramatic climax in her New York home, and at th« rehearsal of an operetta. Director at a lively pace. “Make a Wish” is a picture which is heartily recommended. On tho same programme there will he screened the first of 1938 Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse coloured silly symphonies entitled “Pluto’s Quinpuplets.” all in techmcolour. At the 8 o’clock session the two competitors in the Bobby Breen personality contest .will 6ing on the stage. Tho audience will judge the winners each evening.