ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “BABES IN ARMS.” A goorl, old-time niinstrol show, with all the trimmings, is one of the musical highlights of “Babes in Arms,” filrnisntion of Hie Broadway stago hit, with Mickey Rooney and Judv 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 owr. and as a special feature introduce the minstrel show,. complete with all historic, features. 'They have a parade. They have n mule, singing chorus and an interlocutor who starts fun with tho historic command, "Gentlemen, be seated,” Eddie Leonard, one of the greatest minstrel men and vaudeville headliners that, ever lived, is impersonated by Mjekcy Rooney during tho entertainment. Mickey sings Leonard’s famous hit of 25 vears ago, “Ida,” and was coached for his performance by a group of old-time performers who appear in tho picture, including George McKay, Irene Franklin, Harry Fox and by Charles Winninger, who plays Mickey’s father. In addition to the stars, Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, tho cast includes Guy Kibbce, June Preisser, Grace Hayes, Jietty Jaynes, Douglas McPliail, Rand Brooks, Lord Lynn and some fumous vaudeville troupers who play themselves. Tho picture was directed by Busby Berkeley and was produced by Arthur Freed.

METEOR THEATRE. “FROM MANGER TO CROSS.” Almost thirty years ago a film was made which .gripped the imagination of all those who cared for tho finer things of life. It was a sincere and singularly successful endeavour to bring to the screen the main events in the life of the world’s greatest teacher and healer. Filmed on ll,e actual sites of the Holy Land, the photoplay preserves authentic scones since lost under Ihc levelling hand of time. There are no artificial sols, for cadi scene was taken on the traditional sites of Palestine. There are.no stars, for tho players liavo remained anonymous in deference to their sacred theme. There is no glamour; there are no brilliant effects; showmanship here plays no part. You will understand why this photoplay Ims Izoon revived for the .third time. “From Manger to Cross” is an alltime masterpiece, bringing to-day, in the medium of the twentieth century, tho appeal of Hie Christ to the deepest and noblest instincts of humanity. When first shown in the Royal Albert Hall, London, the film packed tho great auditorium daily lor three months; the world acknowledged its rare beauty and poignant force. Ex-soldicrs may recall seeing it in an old iron hut behind the lines in Flanders, where tho present Bishop of Oxford screened it hundreds of times before .hut, projector; and film wore 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 1958 Her Majesty, Queen • Mary, commanded a special screening in tho 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 simple language the living of this simple life, so does 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 stor.y -thill will live forever.

MAYFAIR THEATRE. •“NIGHT MUST FALL.” Something decidedly new comes to the screen of lho Mayfair Theatre to-day in Metro-Goldwyn-Muycr’s “Night Must Fall” with Robert Montgomery and Rosa : find Hut-sell. Skilfully directed by Richard Thorpe,, this daring story presents an entirely, new technique, for crime fiction on 1 the screen. Without the element, of mystery, lhe story introduces a pathological killer whose mission is known , to the audience before lie slarls lo act. Montgomery chose deliberately lo slop from heroic rolets lo this peculiarly difficult ehariieteriHatioii. Ho saw the London tslago play and urged M-G-.M lo buy it so that he might play the killer role. 'The supporting east, includes some members of the original Loudon east who appeared during the run of 55 consecutive .. weeks. Dame May Whittv, Merle Tottenham, Matthew Boulton uinl Kathleen Harrison acquit themselves brilliantly in their original stage roles. Also deserving of plaudits arc Alan Marshall and E. E. Clive.

Mysterious crimes, mi amazing feat of detective work, and brooding bewilderment mingle with hilarious comedy in a unique blend in “Murder in the I•'I oct,” .Metro-; (Joldwyn-Maycr's new story of crime on a cruiser, now playing at the Mayfair Theatre. Thrills blend into laughs and vice-versa, as a naval lieutenant follows a criminal amid a crowd of civilian visitors and: a ship's crew, impounded on a sus-picion-laden ship. A sensational fight with a murderer and an astounding climax .in which iho criminal is disclosed after which practically every soul on heard has been under suspicion, mark high spots in excitement in the fast-moving play.

WILL MAHONEY. AT OPERA HOUSE TO-NIGHT.. Vaudeville has over been popular, and it is no great surprise, therefore, that; the latest offering to bo presented > to New Zealand theatre-goers by the Tivoli Theatre Circuit of Auslr alia, should he of this description. Will Mahoney, the American comedian of screen and siage, who has played for three consecutive seasons in the Tivoli Theatre, and has been greeted with applause and uproarious laughter at every one of his appearances, will be the star performer. Will Mahoney’s friendly and nutiifal air attracts attention from the start, and he becomes more and more liked us lie proceeds to draw generously from his fund of droll jokes and musical speciallies. Among those in association with “The Imp Eternal" will ho the. smart and bewitching Eric Hayes, charming exponent of' descriptive show songs, and an accomplished abettor of Mahoney in many bright episodes,; the Melodians, who. aptly meet their descriptions; the hour liloruys, whose springboard specialty is the last tiling in daring feats; the Lampinis, who , have achieved fame over the . Gontinlcnt and elsewhere with their baffling “escapologist” act; Johnny Hyman, topical humorist; .John. Uobbic, popular." musical comedy comedianp liCu and .Mavis Ritchie,. a leant of dance demonstrators; Roll Geraghty, who ItiiiH the seal of Broadway on his musical work; Margaret Kelly, a success ul singer; and the girls of the. ballet, who dance in spectacular settings. '1 o give full measure to the festival, there ift ( uskos Animal Circus, trained dogs and parrots. The company will appear for two nights, commencing to-night at 8 p.m. .the box plans are at Gollinson and Cunntngliame s.