ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 139, 13 May 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. “TOWER OF LON DON.” In making “Tower of London,” which screens to-day at the Meteor Theatre, the New Universal Studios have reinterpreted English history. As any student of Shakespeare or history knows, Richard’s malevolent career really did involve a good deal of calculated blood-letting. So “Tower of London” - has murders and tortures a-plenty. John Wyatt is hung up by the thumbs; branded with a red-hot iron; and stretched in the rack. The little princes plead pitifully for mercy; but are despatched. Lord de-Vcrc is beheaded. 'J’hc Duke of Clarence is thrown into the niahnsey-biitt. Henry VI is stabbed at his prayers. In addition, a horde of miscellaneous and anonymous enemies of the Crown squirms groaninglv under various sorts of physical violence. Who better than Boris Karloff to preside over such a carnival of sadism ? Mord is the name, the royal executioner the trade. Mr Karloff trails a clubfoot and thirsts for gore, and he is ceaselessly on the move. So is Basil Rathbonc’s portrayal of the coldly scheming Richard. This is a deliciously' cynical character, a veritable Tartuft'c of the British monarchy. Passages which do enkindle fugitive bits of drama arc the drinking contest between Richard and the Duke of Clarence, who is represented by Vincent Price, and- the hypocritical ex- ; changes of good-fellowship between Richard and Edward IV. Others in the cast include Barbara O’Neil (Elizabeth), Nan Grey (Lady Alice Barton), John Sutton (John Wvatt), Leo G. Carroll (Hastings), Rose Hobart (Anne Neville), Miles Mandor (Henry VI) and Ralph Forbes (the future King Henry- YII)REGENT THEATRE. “TIIE WOMEN.” The ono-hundred-per-cent feminine cast of “The Women,” starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawfod and Rosalind Russell, is' no. joke. The film, opening at the Regent Theatre to-morrow, not only boasts of' a human east of 135 females, but a feminine animal cast as well. All saddle horses, dogs and cats appearing before the camera had to be of the “gentler” sex, and some 25 blue-bloods of this variety wore required. Every animal in the picture is of the feminine sex. These include three monkeys, Stupid, Dizzy and Feathorb 'ain, which appear in the fashion, show dressed in costumes duplicating those of the stars. Even photographs aim art objecls are all feminine. Books used in the library are all by women writers and no title is used which refers to a man. Based oil the Broadway hit play by Clare Booth, the new picture has Norma. Shearer in her first sophisticated modern role since "Riptide,” Joan Crawford in her first "heavy” role, and Rosalind Russell in a striking characterisation as a vicious gossip. George Cukor directed. MAYFAIR THEATRE. “DEVIL ON WHEELS.” With Pat O’Brien, Ann Sheridan, Gale Page, John Payne and comical Frank McHugh in the leading roles, “Devil on Wheels,” a drama of automobile racing produced by Warner Bros. Studio, is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. Hailed as one of the most exciting and romantic films over brought to the screen, “Devil on Wheels” forcefully depicts all the lure of the great American sport of car racing on world-famed tracks, fihe story concerns the efforts of Pat O’Brien, champion race driver, to make John Payne, his younger brother, continue with college and not follow in his own footsteps. But John is bitten by thp racing bug and his added romantic interest in Ann Sheridan, whom Pat dislikes, causes a feud between the brothers, which comes to a climax in a race in which Pat s best friend Frank McHugh i 9 killed in a spectacular . crash. The accident breaks Pat. lie gives ..up racing and vanishes. Gale Page, Pat ! s loyal girl friend, knowing if she is ever to locate Pat it would bo at the annual Memorial Day speed classic at Indianapolis, goes there. She, finds him at the track, a seedy, broken figure. / “Wolf of New York,” an exciting and thrilling mystery drama, with Euimitl.a Lowe, Rose Hobart and James Stepheneson at the head of a large cast, will be the associate film. The terrifying spectacle of a giant mechanical robot on the rampage and the fall of a burning building into the _ sea, provide dramatic action in “Trapped in the Flames,” the eighth. episode of “The Phantom Creeps,” Universal’s 12-chap-ter serial which will be shown to-day at the Mayfair Theatre.