ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 129, 1 May 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “FROM MANGER TO CROSS.” Almost thirty years ago a film was made which gripped the imagination of all those who cared for the finer things of life. It was a sincere and singularly successful endeavour to bring to the scicen the main events' in the life of the world’s greatest teacher and healer. Filmed on the actual sites of the Holy Land, the photoplay preserves authentic scenes since lost under the levelling hand of time. Thero are no artificial sets, for each scene was'taken on the traditional sites of Palestine. There arc no stars, for (he players have remainI ed anonymous in deference to their saeied theme. .There is no glamour; there'are no brilliant 'effects; showmanship here plays ho part. You will understand why this photoplay has been revived for the third time. “From Manger to Cross” is an all- ! time masterpiece, bringing to-day, in the ! medium of the twentieth century, the ap--1 peal of the Christ to the deepest and i noblest instincts of humanity. When, first ! shown'in the Royal Albert Hall, London, the film packed the great a'uditorium daily lor. three months; the world aeknowI lodged its rayo beauty and poignant force, i Ex-soldiers may recall seeing it in an old '["iron hut behind the lines in Flanders, j where the present Bishop of Oxford screened it hundreds of times before hut, I projector and film were blown up by. artillery. Re-discovered in America twenty years later a copy was subjected to special treatment and re-emerged with its, timeless message. In 1938 Her Majesty, Queen Mary, commanded a special screening in the Palace of the Bishop of London. But there are no gorgeous robes; no magnificent spectacles; no gilded trappings; no seraphic bursts of song, Even as the Bible itself relates in simplo language the living of this simple life, so docs the film portray it against the actual background where it was lived out in the long ago. Wo pay tribute to those early pioneers, whose inspiration caught for us, ere it was too late, the authentic scenes of the story that will live forever. KOSY THEATRE. “THE ROSE OF TRALEE.” A breath of Irish sentiment and the beat of Irish hearts is the keynote of this entertaining story. Paddy, a singer, makes good oil tiic American radio while his wife, Alary, is struggling to keep their four-year-old daughter in London. Throwing up everything in America to conic to England and find his wife, with whom he has apparently lost touch, lie is followed by an American girl who loves him and who. learning lie has a child, puts him wise to the fact that his 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 these arc “Mountains, Mourne,” “Down on Finnigan's Farm,”' “Come Back to Erin,” “Believe file 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 scl the atmosphere for the Twentieth CenturyFox .set where the filming of “Thank You, filr Moto,” second in the thrilling series starring' Peter Lorre and currently at the Ivosy Theatre, was recently completed. The- setting for the newest screen adaptation of J. P. Marquand's Saturday Everting Post stories is Peiping, China, and vivid excitement .prevails.! throughout the entire action. 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,” filmisation of the Broadway stage hit, 4 with Mickey Roonev and Judv. Garland co-starred As the fiction of this absorbing musical progresses, . filickey 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 paraiie. 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 filickey 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 t.o the stars, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, the cast includes Guy Kibbee, June Preisser, Grace Hayes. Betty Jaynes, Douglas McPhail, Rand Brooks, Leni Lynn and some famous vaudeville troupers who play theinselves. The picture was directed by Busby Berkeley arid was produced by Arthur Freed. WILL MAHONEY AND VARIETY REVUE COMPANY. Preliminary inquiries at ■ the booking office indicate the exceptional interesttaken in the forthcoming attraction at the Opera House, Will Mahoney, the noted comedian, and a company of international vaudeville favourites, filr Mahoney was in New Zealand about eighteen months ago, when ho made a most favourable impress siou with his, versatile talents as a come- • clian and his wide ability as a popular on t'ertainer. Since that time he has been fulfilling engagements at the Tivoli Theatres in Australia, whore he has estab lished himself as a prime favourite and has held undisputed sway with enthusiastic crowds. The fun is fast and furious when Will Mahoney holds the stage, for he has a style of hi/mour that is particularly pleasing. Vaudeville at its best •marks the whole entertainment, and patrons will thoroughly enjoy the wide variety of items, all of which are provided by artists who .have gained renown in the metropolitan centres abroad. There is something in the programme to appeal to all tastes —singing and harmony, thrills and novelty, which, of course, is the secret of popular vaudeville. Among the performers are Evie Ilaycs Johnny llyman, J3ob Geraghty. the filelodians, the Four Florays, the Lampinis, John Dobbie, the llitch'iee, Margaret Kelly, the'ballet, and Captain Cusko’s Animal Circus. The company will play two nights at Palmerston North, to-morrow and Friday, May 2 and 3, and tho box plans are at Collinson and Cunninghainc’s.