FILMS AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 119, 18 April 1940, Page 10

FILMS AND STAGE

“Hunchback” Role. Probably, the' , most ' difficult role essayed by a film player is that of Quasimodo, the frightful hero of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” depicted by Charles Laughton in the moving, spectacular version of the. Victor Hugo classic, which comes to the State Theatre to-morrow. Laughton receives his, greatest opportunity. u» reveal new facets iof his artistry. Although his versatility has been established in such outstanding screen achievements as “'rhe Private’Life of Henry VHI.,” “Tlic Barretts of Wimpole Street, ” “Buggies of Red Gap,” and “Mutiny

on the Bounty,” bis current interpretation is hailed as bis finest work. As Quasimodo, the heroic bell ringer, of Notre Dame, Laughton breathes lilo and pathos into the extremely difficult part, evoking heart-tugging sympathy for the pitiable outcast. Despite the actor’s shocking make-up, bis superb artistry makes the immortal Quasimodo human and deeply appealing. Nineteen-year-old Maureen O’Hara, a brilliant newcomer uncovered by Laughton, is seen as Esmeralda, the fiery gipsy girl whose persecution by

the King's High Justice causes the hunchback to defend her at the risk of liis own life. Unusual Theme. “They -Made Me a Criminal,” which comes to the Meteor Theatre on Saturday week, with John Garfield and the ■“Dead End Kids” in the top roles, introduces a novel locale. A desert date ranch in California is the scene of most of the exciting dramatic action. In “They Made Me a Grim-,

inal” May Robson and Gloria Dickson arc the proprietors of the ranch, and John Garfield and the “Dead End Ivids” are their chief helpers. Garfield is hiding out there to escape punishment for a murder of which ho was falsely accused, and the “Dead End Kids” have been sent out to the ranch to be regenerated. Other members of the cast include Claude Rains, Ann Sheridan, Robert Gleokler, John Ridgeley, Barbara Pepper and many others.

Epic of Steamships. Epic screen entertainment, crystallised in a great story of the sea, the story of the triumph of steam over sail, will he offered to-morrow at the Regent Theatre, when “Rulers of the Sea” is presented to local audiences for the . first time. Boasting a distinguished east,' headed by Douglas Fairbanks, junr., Margaret Lockwood, and the noted Scottish actor Will Eyffe, “Rulers of tlic Sea” finds a courageous inventor undertaking to prove the steam engine which he has perfected can drive a ship across the Atlantic. He is helped to the ultimate realisation of his dream by a young seaman who lias had enough of the brutal treatment metecl out by the skippers of sailing packets, and by a

bravo daughter—a girl in love with the young mariner-—who wisely guides her father and the man she loves to success. Distinguished by magnificent shots of great ships being buffeted by the Atlantic, by fine performances on tlic part of the stars and a large supporting east, the picture looms as the greatest triumph of the production and directorial genius of the producer. Counterfeiting Exposed. “Code of the Secret Service,” the second in the series of pictures depict-

! ing the exploits of the United States : Secret Service, opens to-morrow at tilt Mayfair Theatre, with Ronald Reagan again in the starring role, as in the i first film of the series “Secret Service . of the Air. ’’ Reagan lias been assigned ; the dangerous job of breaking up a t hand of counterfeiters operating across the Mexican border. In the course oi : this assignment lie narrowly escapes : execution by Mexican authorities for , the supposed murder of one of his own

pals, and twice escapes death by a hair’s breadth when lie falls into the hands of the gang. He finally succeeds in luring the hand’s leader to the United States side of the border, arresting him and confiscating , his plates. Other members who were in the cast of the first episode now appearing in “Code of the Secret Service” are Eddie Eoy, junr., and Bosella Towne.

Romantic Film. Tile thrilling, tender story of youthful dreams • triumphant against a mighty city’s heartbreak. The sensitive story of a boy’s tragic conflict .and a girl’s joyous love! The mighty story of romance in the life of a musician who became. a prize-ring killer. It is “Golden Boy,” the internationally famous stage success by Clifford Odets, brought to the Meteor 'Theatre screen on Saturday. Starring Barbara Stamvyek, Adolpnc Menjon and 'William Holden, the stirring new drama is one of the most gripping stories of raging conflict and warm romance ever captured by the camera. Holden, in the title role, was chosen for the part after a year-long search in which more than 3000 candidates were interviewed- and screen-tested. Others in the stellar cast are Joseph Calleia. Sam Levene, Leo Cobb. Edward Bropliv. William Strauss, Frank Jenks. Beatrice Blinn, Don Bcddoe and Harry Tyler. Colour Fantasy. Walt Disney, the famous creator.of animated cartoons, has given an interesting account of how he came to make “Pinocchio,” the full length colour fantasy, which is shortly snowing iu New Zealand. We put “Einocchio” into production because it seemed to be just the kind of a follow-up of “Snow White, and the Seven Dwarfs” that the public would like, he said. Out of all tile fairy tale types of stories, X believe ‘‘Puioccluo” won out because of its popularity within the studio, which to me is half the battle. If the boys like it they will be happy working oil it/Therefore, the fimslLed picture stands a chance of being as good as we would like to see it. We were surprised to iea.ru that “Pinocchio” had been translated into more than two hundred languages and dialects, including one version of Afrikaans, which is the language of the Boers. Our “Pinocchio” lia6 been adopted from the Collodi version of a legend that existed long before the author, whose real name is Lorenzini. He wrote the book in 1870. The puppet show of the same name toured Europe for centuries before it was written in book form. The circulation of the Collodi version, which has been printed iu almost every language of flic world, has reached staggering figures running into millions. It lias been reprinted so many times that some of the public libraries carry 33 versions illustrated by different artists and printed without illustrations as well. Jn the United States alone, ‘‘Einocchio” lias been dramatised six different times. It seemed natural to use, because it is one of those stories which the present generation of adults read as children and still remember, just like “Snow White.” Furthermore, every character in the story was ideal for adaptation to the medium of animation. Wo have tried to instill all the entertainment values—humour, pathos, excitement and beauty, into the story, but even more important, we have sincerely tried to keep faith with the legions of people all over the world . who have read tlie story and who love it, Mickey Rooney will play a high school band leader in “Strike Up the Band,” and lie and Judy Garland will Jo an impersonation of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers ill the same picture.

Dramatic Story. Co-fitarring Victor McLaglen and Jackie Cooper in one of the most dramatic stories to come out of Hollywood in recent nionthsj “The Big Guy” opens to-morrow; at the Maytan Theatre. McLaglen, whose rugged performances have won him the screen’s highest acting honour, the Academy Award, portrays a prison warden who is trapped by the same motives he

condemns in the convicts under liis carp. Cooper.has a new and different type screen role- as the youth entangled in a Feb of circumstantial evidence which loads him into disaster. Heading th'e supporting cast is Ona Munson, who played Belle Watling in “Gone With tlie Wind,” Peggy Moran, youthful screen-beauty in the romantic lead opposite Cooper.

Robert Montgomery is getting * chance to play the roles lie has been wanting to ever since his success as the psychopathic killer in “Night Must Fall.” Among the pictures scheduled for him is “White Cliapel, a horror picture based on the exploits of Jack the Ripper. Montgomery’s latest picture, “The Earl of GTiicago,” has just been released. It is unu'sual and very good ill spots, al-

though lie seems to work ton hard at the role of the gangster who becomes an English Lord. Edward Arnold and Edmund Gween steal the honours. It is planned to co-star two leading character actors, Paul Muni and Edward G. Robinson, in Clarence Budington Ivelland s story, “The Jealous House.”