ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 128, 30 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 hit that her role is not a sympathetic one. She plays the wife of an out-of-worlc 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 shamelesslyWe are always lighting. In tho end 1 drive him too far and lie kills me.” Producer Norton claims that this little girl blonde has a great future in pictures. From a pittance in the chorus 6ho is now earning £4OO a week. In her first film she played opposite Billy Milton and then was partnered by j Stanley Lupino, Geoffrey Toohe in “Sword jof Honour,'’ and George Sanders in “The i Saint in London. “Sally Gray is not a | striking beauty but her sweet fascination i is naturalness. She is just herself, unaffected, sincere and charming. KOSY THEATRE. “THE ROSE OF TRALEE.” A breath of Irish sentiment and the heat of Irish hearts is the keynote of this entertaining story. Paddy, a singer, makes good on the American radio while his wife, Mary, is struggling to keep their four-year-old daughter m 1,/Ondon. Throwing up everything in America to come to England and find his wife, with whom lie lias apparently lost touch, he is followed by an American girl who loves him and who. learning he has a child, puts him wise to the fact that ids agent lias been deliberately hiding from him information of his family's whereabouts. Danny Malone, the world famous tenor, sings a number of Irish songs which no one is ever tired of hearing. Among those arc “Mountains o’ Mournc.” “Down on Finnigan’s Farm,” “Gome Back to Erin.” “Believe Me if all Those Endearing Young Charms, ’ “Did Your Mother Come from Ireland,” “Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow,” “Rose of Tralee.” Current conditions in the Far East set the atmosphere for tho Twentieth CenturyFox set where the filming of “Thank You, Mr Moto,” second ill the thrilling series starring Peter Lorre and currently at the Kosv Theatre, was recently '-omploted. The' setting for the newest screen adaptation of J. P. Marquand's Saturday Evening Pest stories is Peiping, China, and vivid excitement prevails throughout the entire action. MAYFAIR THEATRE. “NIGHT MUST FALL.” Something decidedly new comes to the screen of the Mayfair Theatre to-day in Metro-Goldwyii-.Ylayer’s "Night Musi Fall’’ with Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. Skilfully directed by Richard Thorpe, this daring story presents an entirely new technique for crime fiction on llie screen. Without the clement of mystery. the story, introduces a pathological killer whose mission is known to the audience before he starts to act. Montgomery chose deliberately to step from heroic rolcu to this peculiarly difficult charactcri-,-alion. He aw tile London wtage play and urged AI-G-.U to buy it so that he might play the killer role. The supporting' cast includes some members ot the original London cast who appeared during the run of 55 consecutive weeks. Dame May Whittv. Merle Tottenham, Matthew Boulton ami Kathleen Harrison acquit themselves brilliantly in their original stage roles. Also deserving of plaudits are Alan Marshall and E. E. Clive. .Mysterious crimes, an amazing feat of i detective work, and brooding bewilderment mingle with hilarious comedy in a unique blend in “Murder in the Fleet,” .Metro-Coldwyn-.Maycr’s new story of crime on a cruiser, now playing at the Maylair Theatre. Thrills blend into laughs and vice-versa, as a naval lieutenant follows a criminal amid a crowd of civilian visitor* and a ehip’is crew, impounded on a sns-picion-laden ship. A sensational fight with a murderer and an astounding climax in which tho criminal is disclosed after which practically every soul on board has been under suspicion, mark high spots in excitement in the last-moving play. WILL MAHONEY AND VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. With the visit of the famous comedian of stage a rut screen, IVill Mahoney, Palmerston North theatre-goers can look forward to gay relaxation when the company appears at the Opera House, for two nights only on Thursday and Friday, May 2 and 3. Mr Mahoney came to Aim; tralia under engagement to tho Tivoli Circuit for twelve weeks, and stayed eighteen' months, a tribute to It is powers of entertaining. which are already well known in the city. He has. tdso, the assistance of a number of specially selected international artists who will meet with the appreciation of New Zealand and city audiences. Evie Hayes, American comedienne, sings witli charm and piquancy. The'Four l’lorays,-from London music balls, perform feats on the springboard, and create a sensation with their fastmoving exhibition. Thrills arc afforded by the I,am pin is. Johnny Hyman is a New York headliner with ar. individual brand of humour. Another outstanding feature is the musical interlude by the Melodians, who display their skill on various instruments with . artistry and novel effects. John Dobbic is another cheery comedian. Margaret Kcllv is a talented soprano, and with Bob Geraghty is a gifted pianist, accompanist and singer. Lcs and Mavis Ritchie present a new dancing act, and the ballet is another outstanding attraction. Cusko’s Animal Circus provides an entertainment in itself, anil to make the show complete there is a beautiful ballet of girls. The box plans are now open at ColFinson and Cunninghamc’s and are filling rapidly.