ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 51, 28 January 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “HERE COMES TIIE NAVY.” What we want to-day is plenty, of laughter, something to make us forget our worldly caro9 and worries, and the Meteor cinema has the recipe in the programme now screening. “Here Comes the Navy,” with Pat O’Brien, James Cagney, Frank McHugh and Gloria Stuart, is the film. Not for one moment does the quick-fire dialogue let up, and the many amusing situations and complications will fairly “split your sides.” A little diversion is supplied by a line supporting feature, “Barred Windows.” A most unusual murder mystery drama, the scenes of which take place ’ almost entirely within tlto bleak walls of a great* penitentiary, is scheduled as tho second attraction now showing at the Meteor Theatre, under tlio title ot “Barred Windows.” In this strange drama two men are slain, one in his cell and another in the prison library, with warder and guards and trusties in speaking distance. An'd while there are attempted murders for revenge, in the first, killing the motive is to steal the v t ast fortune of a racketeer, who has cached his money before his conviction. Tho second is committed to cover up the crime. Craig Reynolds has the leading role, that of a star reporter for a city daily, who eventually solves tho murders and reveals the motives. June Travis has the role of secretary to Joseph King, who plays the part of the ex-racketeer, who had ben trying to go straight, but had beet. threatened with death by another crook because lie would, not join him in a dope running scheme. Purposely committing a minor offence to escape tho vengoancc of the crook by a prison sentence, lie eventually is shot down like a rat in his cell. Richard Purcell has the role of the vindictive and vengeful crook, with Goorge E. Stone as his chief aide. Both are suspected of tho crimes, but so also are two of tho prison guards, parts played by Addison Richards and Charles Middleton. Barton Mac Lane is the blustering detective; and Joseph Crohan is the prison warder. Eddie Acuff and Mary Trcen have the rolos of comedy reporters on the case, it is Reynolds who finally solves the crimes and wins June Travis. Nick Grindo directed the production from the _ screen play by Robert Andrews and Jsoeph Holtman*

REGENT THEATRE. “SOULS AT SEA.” "Souls at Sea” screening at the Regent Theatre to-morrow is the motion picture treatment of the famous trial of “Nuggin” Taylor, sea captain of the .’4o’s_,_ who assumed command of the .brig William Brown when that ship caught fire in midAtlantic shortly after her master died. Taylor is played by Gary Cooper, who hardly performed as well in any of liis long 1 string of credible adventure stories —possibly because he was re-enacting a story from history’s pages for the first time. The William Brown was equipped with only two lifeboats and Taylor realised that ho could never bring the entire ship’s company to safety in file frail craft. He ordered a trial to determine who should be permitted to go aboard the lifeboats and who should he ordered—at pistol point—to remain aboard and go to the botom with the ill-fated vessel. Ho included himself among the survivors not because he w'anted to save his life, he later told an Admiralty Court, but because he knew lie was the only man who could bring the lifeboats safely through to land. There followed a trial which is now epic among sea trials. Taylor was accused of manslaughter on the high 6eas not only by the survivors, but what hurt most., by his sweetheart, played by boautiful Frances Dec. This powerful Paramount picture lists in its cast George Raft, who as superb as t\ie hard-boiled mate of the vessel who would steal a kernel of corn from a lien but would follow his captain to the grave; Henry Wileoxon, Harry Carey, Olyrnpo Bradna, Robert Cummings, Porter Hall and a roster of supporting players culled from Hollywood s most noted feature players. KOSY THEATRE. “THE SECRET OF STAMBOUL.”

There is no lack of action in Associated Distributors’ latest release. “The Secret of Stamboul,” now showing finally at the Kosy co-starring Valerie Hobson and Frank Vosper, which is the story of Larry, a young army officer who, at a club ban, knocks down a Turkish diplomat who is forcing unwelcome attentions on the Colonel’s daughter. To avoid a military scandal, Larry resigns, and accepts a ioli to'investigate the afTairs of a tobacco company in Turkey. He soon learns that a political intrigue is concerned with the conipanv, and a secret organisation is at work to upset the Government. He also

meets a beautiful girl in “Tama,” a Russian refugee, now in the power of the scoundrels, and she tries to save him from their clutches. However, one o£ the revolutionary leaders, known as the Eunuch of Stamboul, captures Larry and has him thrown into the sea, but Tania, knowing of the plans, is able to rescue him, and in the nick of time they prevent the uprising. Playing tho role ot the sinister Oriental revolutionary leader is I'rank Vosper. who reveals with amazing subtlety the reasoning of the Oriental mind, whilo Valerie Hobson as the Russian girl “Tania.” also gives a pleasing performance. A newcomer is one James Mason, who pi avs the role of the hero, Captain Larry Dcsteem, with distinction. There is something reminiscent of Ronald f-oUnan about Mason, and the fact that since his performance in “The Secret of Stamboul” he has been allotted several important featured rotes right on top of each other, speaks volumes for his ever-increas-ing popularity. “SILENT VALLEY.”

“Silent Valley” is the associate featuru starring Tom- Tyler, the new cowboy ot the range, riding across tho plains to wipe out a gang of outlaws—to rescue a girl and save a pal.