ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 134, 7 May 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. . “TALKING FEET.” The sparkling musical extravaganza “Talking Feet,” is now showing .at (lie popular Meteor Theatre. This beautiful story of a. little girl and her friends raising money I to save their local hospital from closing down will introduce a number of new and old favourites, including Hazel . Ascot, known the world over as the “Little Sunbeam.” In this picture this nine-year-old wonder star, who is also England’s champion dancer, takes the leading role and will warm the hearts of all who see her. The story, which is a .light one. will make a marked contrast to many of. the more serious films shown recently. With humour, Cockney- comedy and laughs galore and the following celebrities: Mark 11ambourg, the world-famous pianist, well known by his New Zealand recitals, together with 14 of his specially selected pupils, play 14 pianos simultaneously and introduce a number of popular themes, in addition, William Ilucgnan,' ' the Scottish baritone, who has appeared in Palmerston North on more than one occasion, sings a number of popular melodies. Associated with him is the band of the 2nd Battalion Seaforlh Highlanders and Dagenham Girl Pipers, who portray “The Gathering of the. Clans,” which will live long in the memory of these fortunate enough to sec this film.

KOSY THEATRE. “UNDER COVER OF NIGHT.” Grim mystery among, a group of . scientists at a university, and solution of' a baflling crime by the tiny clue of a pet dog’s rubber hall are the exciting ole : merits in ‘‘Under Cover of -Night,” detective story in which the audience plays detective alongside the detective on tlie screen. In the now Aletro-Goldwyn-Alayer picture, showing at the Kcsy Theatre today, Edmund Lowe creates the newest detective character of the’.screen as Christopher Cross, sleuth. Murders in a college provide a bizarre background lor tlie action-packed play. I.owc’s role is a:i entirely new departure from the conventional screen detective. Florence Rice, actress-daughter of sports writer Grantland Rico, plays the heroine. Ilai Roach, the producer, who teamed the international favourite, Laurel and Hardy comedy duo, may well believe he has discovered a feminine team that will assumo as great importance, if the laughter’that will be provoked by Patsy Kelly and Lyda Rohorti in “Nobody’s Baby.” the Hal Roneh-M.G.M. feature comedy which shows to-day at the Kosy Theatre is any indication. Patsy Kelly Is the outstanding comedienne of the screen with her infectious, blunt arid hilarious „humour. Lyda Itoberti, on the other hand, comes out in an entirely new ■ role with an unusual comedy streak. They, tlie colleen and cosmopolite, form a perfect foil for each other in their hazardous trek front a broadcasting station, through the experience us student nurses, entanglement. in a night club mystery to the culmination of their romances with Robert Armstrong and Lynne Overman, reporter and detective respectively.

STATE THEATRE. “ESCAPE TO PARADISE.” In “Escape to Paradise” 'Bobby Breen demonstrates again .that his is one of the finest voices, the screen iias to offer. But in this particular case, the.hoy, now a husky young fellow cf 12, also proves that he has learned a great deal about acting in his four-year career and his portrayal of a light-hearted, mischievous South American ' lad provides an ingratiating piece of entertainment. Bobby breaks completely .with all his former types of characterisations and as “Roberto,” a bov who can’t i help exaggerating every time lie opens his mouth, motivates a swift moving -and merry story that features to rnance, adventure anti hilarity. It i>* Bobby’s inability to stick to the truth, that makes Kent Taylor, an American playboy visiting the S’outh American town of Rosarito, overnight become a hero of the community, and which starts his romance with Maroa Shelton. Once a. deceit, started by -Bobby, has been established it takes a ,ll Taylor’s quick wit to maintain it and eventually even that carmot. prevent an expose. Interwoven into this activity is a colourful presentation of South American big business. Bobby’s exaggerations finally undo the damage they have caused in the Hist place and Taylor, vindicated, i> ives up his career 1 as a playboy and settles down to marriage and a life ot trade. Taylor gives an excellent y paced performance. He and Miss Shelton, the latter playing a Latin-American eenorita, are ideally east as a romanetic loan T Joyce Compton, as a dizzy blonde who is after Taylor herself; Robert 0. Dims as a European business man, and X echo Do Cordoba as a plantation owner, give splendid portrayals.