ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 4 June 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “CITY IN DARKNESS.” All tho thrills and suspense of a Paris blackout await you on tho State Theatre screen in “Charlie Chan in City In s Darkness,” the exciting now 20th Century-Fox melodrama. Caught, like so many others, in the tense city during those unforgettable days of crisis when the onee-gay capital lived in dread of air raids and inaugurated the protective blackout, Chan,. in tho person of Sidney Toler, is commandeered in the great human emergency. For, although Paris is plunged into darkness, the authorities quickly learn that thero is no blackout for crime, and the greatest detective is set to work fighting the dangers that lurk under cover of tho inky blackness. Lynn Bari, Richard Clarke, Harold Ilubor, Pedro do Corodoba, Dorothy Tree, C. Henry Gordon, Douglas Dumbrille and Noel Madison arcfeatured in Toler’s support in “Charlie Ciian in City in Darkmfss.” Despair about “what is our youth coming to?” is a recognised -conversation piece of the older generation of every era and it is even more true of our own. Whether of the maturer folk or a youth yourself, you’ve heard of youngsters like these, and on the screen of the State Theatre there is unfolded a drama that will tell you more about them. It’s “Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence,” 20th Century-Fox film featuring Jean Rogers, Raymond Waiburn, Marjorie Rambeau and Glenn Ford and Nicholas Conte in their film debut. - MAYFAIR THEATRE. “MAYTIME.” “Maytime,” based-on the unforgettable Broadway plav by Rida Johnson Young, now showing at the Mayfair Theatre, is enhanced tenfold by the vaster resources of Hollywood and, the artistry of Metro-Gold-w.vn-Mayer workmen. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy arc tho stars and John Barrymore appears in his first role since “Romeo and Juliet.” Lynne Carver. a screen newcomer, has the juvenile feminine romantic part with Tom Brown. Hollywood’s “Maytime” is a lavish Ithing. beautiful to see and lovely to hear. Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy add to the iaurels they won in “Naughty Marietta” and “Rose Marie.” Their song together. ‘‘Will You Remember?” from the stage play, is 'unforgettable. Miss MacDonald also sings two complete operatic arias and parts of others. Eddy sings three excellent novelty songs, “Students’ Drinking Song.” “Vive ’L’Opcra” and “Virginia Ilam and Eggs.” Together, they give' a beautiful rendition of the folksong, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.” METEOR THEATRE. “THE STAR MAKER.” The world's foremost exponent of popular song, the incomparable Bing Crosby, is reluming to the screen in a new comedy-drama, “The Star Maker,” no.v showing at the Meteor Theatre. Based on the career of the famed showman Gus Edwards, the picture casts Bing- as a penniless song writer who is convinced that lie lias a real future in the show business. It takes Bing through all the high lights- of Eduards’ career. shows him succeeding with kiddie shows, rebuffed by the Gerry Society for having children perform after 10 o’clock, and finally trying to win success on the radio. A great supporting cast includes Louise Campbell. Ned Sparks, Laura Hope Crews, Walter Darnrosch, dean of symphonic conductors, and Linda Ware, the sensational 14-ycar-old singing discovery. The picture is replete with song, with Bing Crosby singing such Gus Edwards’ favourites as “In My Mcrrv Oldsmobile,” “.School Days,”

“Jinimv Valentine,” and many others. Bing also sings four new hits, including “An Apple for the Teacher” and “A Man and-His Dreams:” Linda Ware sings many songs, old and new. Bing Crosby is no believer in ‘ sticking to the same leading lady in picture after picture, and consequently a new one is featured in “The Star Maker,” Louise Campbell, .who is cast as a girl who-helps the matron of an orphanage, and finally consents to marry Bing. Sho helps him succeed in His ambition. to get to Ihc top in show business by making stars out of talented children.