ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 141, 15 May 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

- REGENT THEATRE. “THE' WOMEN.’” The one-hundred-per-cent' feminine cast of “The -Women,’’ starring Nonna Shearer. Joan Crawfod and Rosalind Russell", ,s no joke. The film, ■ opening at the Regent Theatre to-moiwow, not only boasts of a human cast of 135 females, but a feminine animal cast as well. All saddle horses, dogs and cats apjiearing before the camera Had'to he of the "gentler” sex, and some 25 blue : bloods of this variety were required. ' Every animal in the picture is of the feminine tex. These include three monkeys, Stupid, Dizzy and Featherb -ain, which appear in the fashion .show dressed in costumes duplicating those of the stars. Even photographs and art objects are all feminine. Books used in the library are all by- women writers, and no title is used which refers to a man. Based on the Broadway hit play by Clare Booth, -the ne'w picture has Norma Shearerin her first. - sophisticated modern. role since “Riptide,” Joan Crawford in her first “hoavy” role, and Rosalind Russell in a striking characterisation as a vicious gossip. George Cukor directed. METEOR THEATRE. “LAW OF THE PAMPAS.”. ; The romantic Argentine background of the new “ITopalong Cassidy” outdoor drama. “Law of the Pampas,” is enhanced by four new songs with a strong Latin flavour, which will be heard- lor the first time, when the Paramount film shows at the Meteor Theatre to-day. The numbers, which were written especially for the Clarence E. Mulford range story, are: “Habanera,” “Rosita,” “Los Gauchos” .and “La Jornada.” In addition, “Fantasia Argentina,” probably the most popular of all native tangos, will be used in a special dance sequence featuring Steffi. Duna,: William. Boyd’s new leading lady. Besides Boyd and -Miss Duna. the cast of Paramount’s “Law of the Pampas” includes Russel. Hayden, Sidney Toler, Sidney Blackmer and the King's Mon.- popular radio quartet. The story concerns the adventures of the “Bar 20”' foreman when he goes to Argentina to deliver a herd of prize cattle and runs into a scries of mysterious robberies and killings. “SEVENTEEN.” • When a young man’s fancy turns to romance, lie has apparently, as the old adage suggests, reached the age of seventeen. Such a young man is portrayed bv 'Jackie Cooper in Paraniount’s, “Seventeen,” Booth Tarkington’s famous, classic- adapted for the screen, which shows at the Meteor Theatre to-day. As a small tcy.vn lad who is acutely conscious of approaching manhood, Jackie finds himself in the throes of a desperate love when a bca’uteous and highly sophisticetrrl' romig f. lady from the big'city- arrives in town. MAYFAIR, THEATRE. “FAST COMPANY.” Movie-goers wbo like their adventure spiced with comedy, thrills and romance will be drawn to “Fast Company,’.’ new romantic mystery, which is screening at the - Mayfair Theatre. The plot concerns tho efforts of an ultra-modern married couple, played by Melvyn Douglas and Florence Rice, to break up the activities' of an international stolen rare hook gang. They combine married love and a business career by tracking down the suspects to a murder. When the couple are captured by racketeers it is their ability to joke and laugh with their captors that finally enables them to escape and reach the police. This laugh and thrill a minute picture also features such entertaining perforators as Claire Dodd, Sheppard Strud wick, Louis Calhcrn. Nat Pendleton and Douglas Durnbrille. ; .

Lew Ayres’ sonsational return ■ to j the screen 'spotlight- continues. With Lionel Barrymore, he is featured in “Young Dr Kildare,” which is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. Lynne Carver has the feminine lead. Barrymore plays the grizzled diagnostician, Dr Gillespie, who is at' once the nemesis' and mentor of the amazing young Kildare. “Young Dr Kildare” is the story of a young medical student who sacrifices love and a- place of comparative security beside - bis country doctor father to achieve something great for humanity. As an interne in the general hospital cf a big city, his independent thinking gets him fired from, the staff, but wins him the admiration of Gillespie, the great diagnostician. Kildare returns home To find that, through Gillespie, love a-nd a career are not incompatible.