FILMS AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 125, 26 April 1940, Page 10

FILMS AND STAGE

Garfield in Strong Role. Promoted to stardom in his second motion picture, John Garfield, "who made his triumphant debut in “Four Daughters,” comes to the screen of the Meteor Theatre to-morrow- as the star of the dramatic and exciting picture entitled “They Made Me a Criminal,” with the “Dead End” kids as his co-stars. The extent of the quick rise of this young newcomer from the

New York stage can be easily gauged by the fact that lie is given the starring position in a notable cast assembled for this production. In his support arc such players as Claude Rains. Gloria Dickson, Ann Sheridan. May Robson and Barbara Pepper. In the picture Garfield is a professional boxer, and not many years ago he himself was rather a good boxer, even though he never deserted the amateur ranks. In the picture he tramps his wav across the country and works as a fruit picker in California. ,and that is precisely what Garfield himself did one summer about eight years ago. Attractive Double Feature.

With the glorious tradition of the Blue Grass Country as its background and a love that is all lire and pride as its theme, “Kentucky,” a technicolour production, opens to-day at the Kosy 'theatre. Much of “Kentucky” ivas filmed on location in the heart of the Blue Grass State, and the Kentucky Derby itself furnishes a spectacular climax. Loretta loung and Richard Greene are seen in the leading roles, and it is iheir love which brings peace to two great families who have hated each other bitterly since the Civil War. Loretta Young is seen as Sally Goodwin, ami Greene plays the role of Jack Dillon. The Goodwins and the Dillons are the families that have been lending. Ihe cast also features Walter Brennan, Academy Award winner, in tile role of Peter Goodwin. Sally’s uncle, and the greatest expert on horseflesh in Kentucky. Others included in the film are Douglas Dumbrille, Karen Morley and Moroni Olsen. The second full-length picture is “Breaking the lee,” starring the popular young boy singer Bobby Breen. i A Star's Biography—No. 55. Rita Johnson, who played Kitty in “They All Come Out,” which was shown recently in this city, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. After graduation from the New England Con- 1

servatory of Music she played stock in Worcester with Rosalind Itussell and 1 also with Florence Reed and Conrad Nagel in Milwaukee. After additional : training with Louis Galloway’s com- • pany and with'Dennis O’Keefe and Eve Le Galliene in Brookfield, Mass., she appeared in the Theatre Guild’s . “Fulton of Oak Falls” and “If This , Bo Treason,” both on Broadway. In the latter she played with Tom Neal, , her leading man in “They All Come Out.” She also did radio work, appearing on “The March of Time” be. fore coming to Hollywood. On tin screen she has been seen in “London by Night,” “My Dear Miss Aldrich,” “Man-Proof,” “Rich Man, Poor Girl,” “Letter of Introduction,” “Honolulu,” “The Girl Downstairs,”. “Broadway Serenade,” “Within the Law” and “6000 Enemies.”

Musical Jamboree. •‘Babes in Arms,” which has its first local screening at the Regent Theatro to-day, brings Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland together as a costarring team for the first time. It is their first picture together since tho sensationally successful “Love Finds Andy llarcly.” “Babes in Arms,” has abundant opportunity for music, song and dancing, logically fitted into a plot that is filled with pathos, comedy and, at times, real drama. Set in the period that marked tlve passing of vaudeville, it

tells of the brave attempt of a group of former headliners to rescue their fleeting fame and fortune with a comeback tour, and the coming to their rescue of their, talented children, boys and girls born to the stage. Familiar with the modern trend, they stage a show of their own when they are not faced with being committed to the state farm because they are not being eared ior properly. Their show attracts

the attention .of a producer and they land in a big Broadway revue. Andrea Leeds, who makes her first appearance on loan .in “Swannec River.” lias been signed to co-star •with Warner Baxter in “Earthbound.” Miss Leeds is also scheduled to play a leading role in the technicolotir film “Maryland.”

Ida Lupino; following her portrayal of Maisie in “The Light That Failed,” was chosen lor the top feminine character in Joseph Conrad’s “Victory.” John Howard is tentatively slated for the male lead. The Phyllis Bottome novel, “Mortal Storm,” has been taken off the shelf and. will co-star Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Frank Morgan and Robert Young. The story deals

with the effect on the liv€6 of the German people when Hiller took over Germany. Britain’s Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, makes his Hollywood dehut—at least vocally—in “Vigil in the Night,” and in the process steals a scene from under the noses of noted scene stealers, Carole Lombard and Brian Alierne. The script calls for dramatic London hospital sequence between Carole Lombard and Alierne to be interrupted by Mr Chamberlain's broadcast declaring the existence of a state of war with Germany.

Exciting Mystery-Drama. English films of high quality are seldom seen these days, but occasionally local audiences are fortunate to see a picture that combines a high degree of skill in production and direction with the pleasing qualities of soft English voices and homely backgrounds. Such is “A 'Window in London 1 ,” in which the leading actor is Michael Redgrave, who sprang into prominence through his excellent performance in “Tho Lady Vanishes.” The film, which screens at tile State Theatre to-day, ia about everyday jieopfe, but they seem to pack into the few days depicted excitement, adventure, laughter and tragedy. The film is finely played, Redgrave being assisted by Paul Lukas and Sally Gray in the other leading roles. The fine “shorts” to be shown on this programme include a film of 600 feet taken at tho funeral of the late Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) and the latest of the popular

“March of Time” series,. Weird Karloff Drama. Heralded as the most weird of the horror epics, “The Man They Could Not Hang,” starring Boris Karloff, opens to-day at the Mayfair Theatre, llie newest film to star the titan of terror is one of the most compelling and fascinating tales of the phantom half world between death and lile ever to be screened. Supported by a cast which includes such players as Roger Pryor, Lorna Gray and Robert M ilcox, the film endows Karloff with the greatest opportunity he has ever had to chill tlie veins of his admirers. Karloff is seen as a great scientist who discovers a means ol restoring the dead to life. Almost ready to announce his achievement to the world, he is arrested and convicted of murder. His own invention is used to restore himself to life after his execution, and he emerges from tho grave alive and well. However, a terrible change lias taken place within the soul of the great hearted scientist. From a humanitarian he has changed into a horrifying creature, of sheer intellectual cruelty, without heart or mercy. Life of Our Lord. Greeted by tributes from the London Press a.nd clergy, “From Manger to Grose,” coming to the lietftor Theatre

next Wednesday, is a beautifully produced. dignified and reverent sound film version of the life of Christ which created a sensation some years ago as a silent film. The story starts with the Bible opening at Genesis, and the pages turn over to the New Testament and deal in detail with the life of Jesus, showing the enthralling series of miracles that marked His work. Lastly, there are the gripping scenes of His trial, the brutality of His fellow men, the CrucifixiMi, burial and Ascension. The splendid associate programme screening in conjunction with this picture is “Our Royal Heritage.” being the story of our lives showing why our heritage—Great Britain — stands supreme—the Navy in action—the Air Force of to-day and Great Britain's gigantic industries. Gulliver as a Cartoon. “Gulliver’s Travels,” the long-await-ed full-length animated cartoon film produced on the same lavish scale as “Snow White and tho Seven Dwarfs,” lias been completed after two years in the making. The first prints of this production, with its myriad technicolonr hues and its fascinating characters, are expected in New Zealand soon, and will be released immediately to the leading theatres, the Regent Theatre, Palmerston North, being one. to receive a copy. As everybody knows, the plot of the original story is that Gulliver is shipwrecked on the coast of Lilliput whore the inhabitants arc so tiny that Gulliver is a giant in comparison. Gulliver is found by Gubby, the town crier, who gives the alarm, and then follows the tying-up of Gulliver while the Lilliputians debate what to do with him. Coinciding with tho arrival of Gulliver is the approaching marriage of Princess Glory of Lilliput and Prince David of Blefeseu, but tho marriage seems doomed never to take place because the respective fathers of bride and bridegroom quar-

rel about which national anthem shall be played at the ceremony. Gulliver settles dhis quarrel by advising that tho two tunes shall be merged into one. The young singer Gloria Jean will be appearing with Bing Crosby in her latest picture, “If I Had My Way.” Barbara Stanwyck has been given tho lead opposite Don Amechc in “Tho Night of January 16.” Claudette Colbert, originally announced for the lead, goes over to another studio instead, for one of the leads with Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and Hedy Lamarr in “Boom Town.”