ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 127, 29 April 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “WINDOW IN LONDON.” Anna Ncagle rose from the chorus and basks in the sunshine of fame; and now another little girl is well on the way to that successful zenith —her name is Sally Gray. Captain Richard Norton acclaims her as the biggest star discovery since Anna Ncagle and is quite confident that her talent will bring her to the fore. In “Window in London,” screening at the State Theatre to-day, Sally Gray plays her first dramatic part. It doesn’t worry her a bit that her role is not a sympathetic one. She plays the wife of an out-of-work music hall illusionist who is much older than her and insanely jealous. The music hall illusionist is played by Paul Lukas. Sally says, “we live in cheap rooms in a dingy, squalid London street. I’m afraid I treat my film husband rather shamelesslyWc are always fighting. In the end I drive him too far and he kills me.” Producer Norton claims that this little girl blonde has a great future in pictures. From a pittance in the chorus she is now earning £4OO a week. In her first film she played opposite Billy Milton and then was partnered hv I Stanley Lupino, Geoffrey Toone in “Sword jof Honour,” and George Sanders in “The I Saint in London. “Sally Gray is not a j striking beauty but her sweet fascination i is naturalness. She is just herself, unaffected, sincere and charming. REGENT THEATRE. “BABES IN ARMS.” A good, old-time minstrel show, with all the trimmings, is one of the musical highlights of “Babes in Arms,” filmisatiou of the Broadway stage hit, with Mickey Rooncv and Judv Garland co-starred As the action of this absorbing musical progresses, Alickey as a showman, and Judy as his secret love, put on a complete show of their own and as a special feature introduce the minstrel show, complete with all historic features. They have a parade. They have a male singing chorus and an interlocutor who starts fun with the historic command, “Gentlemen, he seated.” Eddie Leonard, onc_of the greatest minstrel men and vaudeville headliners that over lived, is impersonated by Mickey Rooney during (ho entertainment. Alickey sings Leonard’s famous hit of 25 years ago, “Ida,” and was coached for his performance by a group of old-time performers who appear in the picture, including George McKay, Irene Franklin, Harry Fox and by Charles Winningcr, who plays Mickey’s father. In addition to tho stars. Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, the east includes Guy Kihbee, June Preisser, Grace Hayes, Betty Jaynes. Douglas AlcPhail, Rand Brooks. Lcni Lynn and some famous vaudeville troupers who play themselves. The picture was directed by Bushy Berkeley and was produced by Arthur F reed. METEOR THEATRE. “THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL." “They Aladc Me a Criminal.” which screens at ilie Meteor Theatre to-night, is a tense and exciting Warner Bros, drama with a prize-ring background that ro-stars John Garfield anti the “Dead End kids in a east that also includes Claude Rains, Gloria Diek.son, May Robson and Ann Sheridan. Aside from iis merits as entertainment, “They Alatlo Me a Criminal” is noteworthy because it is the fol-low-up of Garfield, young newcomer from the New York stage, to his sensational screen debut in “Four Daughters.” It is the answer of the Warner studio to the insistent public demand that the brilliant young actor he raised to stardom immediately. It presents Garfield as a lefthanded (this is important) prize lighter who, the day after lie litis won the lightweight championship of. I lie world, learns by big stories in the newspapers that he is supposed to have murdered a newspaper reporter and then been to death in an automobile accident while fleeing from the city. He drops out of sight. and finds his' way across the country. Eventually he gets a job on an isolated California date orchard and falls in love with the niece of the woman who owns the ranch. Socking to got some money for the two women, he gets into the ring with a barnstorming heavyweight who offers £IOO a round to anyone who can last against him. ' This puts a suspicious detective on his trail, and leads to the thrilling and emotional dramatic finish, ’tho picture, which was an adapatation by Sig Ilerzig of a novel by Bertram Alillhauscr and Beulah ATarie Dix, was designed to exhibit the full range of voting Garfield’s talents as well as to give the popular “Dead End” kids an opportunity to cinch their hold on tho public's fancy with their very distinctive type of entertainment. The' production was directed by Bushy Berkeley. Hazel Ascot, the sensational new British juvenile star, is introduced in “Talking Feet,” a sparkling story with a superb east, which opens shortly at Urn Aloteor Theatre for an extended season. Twentysix named players appear and include swell well-known personalities as Davy Burnaby, John Stewart, Jack Burly, Enid Stanip-Tavlor and Jennie Grcgson. In addition to these stars, however, the world-famous pianist Mark Uambouyg, performs to. the delight of every musician in the audience. The cver-popular Scotch baritone, William Hcttghan .presents a fine spectacle in “The Aleeting of the Clans” in which he is supported hv the Scaforth Highlander Band together with the Dagenham Girl Pipers, a great novelty in which the recording of the bagpipes is sound perfect for the first time in talking pictures. The stor.v is a bright and happy one. brought to a grand spectacular und thrilling climax by the Band of the Royal Aiurines. WILL MAHONEY BACK AGAIN. Recognising the present public demand for light entertainment- in contrast to serious fare, the Tivoli Circuit arc presenting to New Zealand theatre-goers a carnival of vaudeville. The company will appear at the Opera House, Palmerston North, lottwo nights only on Thursday and Friday, May 2 and 3, when two completely different shows will he presented. Will AJahoney’s exceptional versatility as a comedian and entertainer is of world-wide repute. He has the instinctive ability to impart this exhilarating feeling to his audiences. Ho is a vital personality. 11 is associates on this visit have been specially selected to keep up the Centennial spirit, and there is never a moment's slackening in the progress of the programme. Attractive l-Jvie Hayes, who is a success everywhere, brings new and lilting songs. With Air Mahoney she will co-operate in a series' of hilarious sketches, presented in original and colourful lines. Other talented members of the company are Boh Oeraghty, who achieved much success on his former trip: tho talented Alelodians, who aptly get their description; and the soprano, Margaret Kelly: anil a newcomer from New Yolk is Johnny Hyman, whose “Topicalities” cause uproarious merriment; the Australian, John Dobbic, is always welcome on a vaudeville programme; the Four Floreys have won acclaim in theatres abroad for their original springboard act; (lie Lantpinis have a thrilling feature turn, which has given them the descriptive term of “escapologists”; and Captain Cusko presents his trained dogs and parrots. In addition there arc eccentric step dancers, singers and a ballet of lovely girls in a succession of alluring ensembles that add glamour to the show. The box plans opened at Coltinson and Cunninghamc's (his morning.