ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 128, 30 April 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

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,” fllinisation of the Broadway 6tage hit, with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland co-starred As the action of this absorbing musical progresses, Mickey 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, be seated." Eddie Leonard, one of the greatest minstrel men and vaudeville headliners that ever lived, is impersonated by Mickey Rooney during the entertainment. Mickey 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 Winninger, who plays Mickey’s father. In addition to tile stars, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, the cast includes Guy Kibbce, June Prcisscr, Grace ] Hayes, Betty Jaynes, Douglas McPhail, ; Rand Brooks. Lcni Lynn and some famous vaudeville troupers who play themselves. The picture was directed by Busby , Berkeley and was produced by Arthur Freed. METEOR THEATRE. “THEY MADE ME A CRIMINAL.” “They Made Me a Criminal,” which screens at the Meteor Theatre to-night, is a tense and exciting Warner Bros.’ drama with a prize-ring background that co-stars John Garfield and the “Dead End” kids in a cast that also includes Claude Rains, Gloria Dickson, May Jlobson and Ann Sheridan. Aside from its merits as entertainment, “They Made 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 be raised to stardom immediately. It presents Garfield as a loft - banded (this is important) prize lighter who. the day after no has won the lightweight championship of the world, learns by big stories in the newspapers that he •is' supposed to have murdered a newspaper reporter and then been burned, to death in alii automobile accident while fleeing from the city. He drops out of sight, and finds Ids way across the country. Eventually ho gets a job on an isolated California date orchard and falls in love with the nieeo of the woman who owns the ranch. Seeking, to get some, money for the two women, be gets into the ring with a barnstorming heavyweight who offers £IOO a round to anyone who can last against him. ’I his puts a suspicious detective on his trail, and leads, to the thrilling and emotional dramatic finish. Hazel Ascot, the sensational new British juvenile star, is introduced in “Talking Feet,” a sparkling story with a superb cast, which opens shortly at the Meteor Theatre for an extended season. ’1 wenlysix named players appear and include such well-known personalities as Davy Burnaby, John Stewart, Jack Barty, Enid Stamp-Tavlor and Jennie Grcgson. In addition to'these stars, however, the world-famous pianist Mark Uambourg, performs to the delight of every musician in the audience. The ever-popular Scotch baritone. William llcugha.il .presents a fine spectacle in “The Meeting of the Clans in which he is supported bv the Scaforlh 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. I’he story is a bright and happy one. brought to a grand spectacular and thrilling climax by the Band of the Royal Marines.