FILMS AND STAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 10

FILMS AND STAGE

Wartime Sabotage. Newest ill . the' Meteor Theatre's hit parade,' which'opens on Saturday, is “Espionage Agent,” a timely story of the adventures . of those unknown guardians of America’s peace, the foreign service. Joel MeCrea and Brenda Marshall (hailed by critics as the most exciting star discovery of. the year) are starred, with Jeffrey Lynn and George Bancroft heading the supporting east. There is an unusual love story involving MeCrea as a young “career man” in the Diplomatic'Service, and Miss Marshall as a homeless, orphaned girl who has become the tool of a foreign spy ring. Shortly after their marriage the young diplomat is forced to resign from the service when his wife’s connection with the spy ring becomes known. To redeem themselves the couple set out on a hazardous venture, that of breaking up the spy ring with, which the wife was once involved. Unanimous Acclaim. Louella Parsons, famous Hollywood correspondent, writing in connection

with “Goodbye, Mr Chips,” opening to-morrow at the Regent Theatre, says that it is one of those rare pictures that tug at your heart-strings, bring tears to your eyes, and make you feel the better for having seen it. But for all its beauty and sadness, the story of “Mr Chips” offers entertain.meut and-interest. “I was not a whit ashamed of my emotions either, for there was not a dry eye Lu the theatre nor a person who did not feel uplifted by the whimsical schoolmaster who lives his days so beautifully. I was one of those persons who was never completely sold on Robert Donat. But I am a changed woman now. He so captivated me that I. am singing .Ills praises. If I were the other feminine stars on the lot I would regard Greer Garson ns a definite menace,: she is so beautiful and such a finished actress. Do not .let anything _ interfere with your seeing this fine picture!’.’ Patriotic Film.

When the Awarun alighted on AA’aitemata Harbour recently she brought one particularly interesting piece of freight—a brown , paper parcel containing the first full-length film ever, flown direct from England to New Zealand. The,film is ..“ForFreedom,’.’ soon to be screened at the State Theatre, and, as if the fact that if left England as late as May 1 did not invest it with sufficient interest, it possesses further popular appeal in its presentation of naval themes ranging from the Battle of the River Plate to the rescue by JT.M.S. Cossack' o r the British merchant crews imprisoned in the “hell .ship” Altmark. “For Freedom” is on the lines of “The Lion Has AVincs” as a tonic to patriotic spirits. AY hat the latter film did in illustrating the valour of the Rovai Air Force, this one does in showing the courage and seamanship of the Royal Navy, on which, more than ever, as the Articles of AA T ar put it. “the wealth, safety, and strength of the Kingdom chiefly depend.”

Formby’s New Picture. Although England is at war, the motion picture industry is trying to provide the type of entertainment which will take the people’s minds away from the horrible realism of the present conflict. Under production is the latest George Formby comedy, topically entitled, “Gunner. George.” Since the film started production, 40. men have left their jobs at the studio to take up Navy, Army and Air Force positions for which they had been earmarked. These included Major. Reginald Baker, the director of ihe associated companies; Lieutenant Gordon Rayner, and , Captain Shan Bill-, con. The author and director of the Formby comedies, Lieutenant-Comman-der Kimmins has rejoined the Royal Navy, and the associate producer in charge of the Lancashire comedian’s comedies, is Private Jack Kitchin, formerly of the Territorials, and now of the Royal Army. The locale of the. story is Bergen (Norway), where by mischance Formby finds himself, instead of at Blackpool. Together with his ukulele, lie gets a job in a broadcasting dance band, the leader of which turns out to be an enemy secret service agent, who has devised. , a code whereby the notes of music played by his band reveal information of: departing vessels to U-boats. Forjnby cleans up the situation in typical Formby fashion.

Fred Mae Murray and Madeleine •Carroll will be starred in “There’s Always Juliet,” an adaptation of John Van Druten’s London and New York stage hit of a few seasons ago. The featured cast of “One Was Beautiful” has been completed with Jean Muir, and Robert Cummings, loaned, in leads, and Larainc Day and Billie Burke in toplines.

Attractive Double Feature. A humorous film on a story about a henpecked spouse, who always did the wrong thing right, and a new- Gene Autry picture make up the new double-feature programme which is to begin at the Mayfair Theatre to-mor-row. Gene Autry’s new picture is called .“Yodelin’x Kid from Pine Ridge,” and as usual the •' amiable Smiley Burnette is the hero’s companion in new and exciting adventures. The .story tells of an estrangement between Autry and liis father because they elect to take different sides in a cattle war. Autry leaves Pine, Ridge and his sweetheart to seek adventure. Two years later lie returns. His father and his sweetheart's father are mysteriously killed. The crime is pinned on Autry and the angry crowd plans to lynch him. The cowboy. stages a spectacular escape from gaol, and proves in a thrilling manner who are the real murderers.' Betty Bronson plays opposite the star. The mirth-maker, Sandy Powell (‘lCan you hear me, mother?”) eclipses all his radio successes in, ljis newest film, “Home From Homo,” which is the second full-length picture, to-morrow.

Heads the Film Navy. Frank McHugh has played in five different navy pictures —more than any other actor in Hollywood. McHugh’s roles were in “Son of a Sailor,” “Here Conies the Navy,” “Devil Dogs of the Air,” “Submarine D-17 and “AVings of the Navy,” the last of which comes to the Kosy Theatre tomorrow. After McHugh returned from

filming scenes for “AVings ■of the Navy” at "Sail Diego, he received an unofficial appointment, ; signed by several .score of the enlisted personnel of the big naval station there; ap pointing him “commodore , for liio,” of tlio United States, film navy.

AVith the inimitable George AA'alJace in the starring role. “Gone, to the .Dogs” is the second full-length picture

on this programme.' Also prominently cast arc John Dobbie (who was recently' seen at the Opera House in Will Mahoney’s show), Lois Green and Alec Kellaway. Bob Hope hires 11 gag men, Edgar Bergen six, Jack Benny two, and Fred Allen one- —himself. Alan Marshal has been borrowed for one of the principal roles in “Tree of' Liberty,” with Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine, and Richard Carlson.

Century-old Classic. “Swiss Family Robinson,” which opens to-morrow at the State Theatre, is a dramatic adventure story of a family who are wrecked on a tropic island where they set to work to build a home and start life afresh. How the marooned sextette pit themselves successfully against the forces of Nature and how the hoys become self-reliant, j upstanding young men, along with aj brilliant series of adventures and ex- ■ pcrionecs make up this absorbing drama. The film boasts a splendid east J with Thomas Mitchell and Edna Best as the parents and Tim Holt, Freddie Bartholomew, Terry Kilburn and Baby Bobbie Quillan as the sons. The film is an adaptation of the story of the same name by David Wyss and is suited for both adults ahd children. A feature of the enjoyable associate programme will be an amusing Walt Disney coloured cartoon, “Dog Laundry.” A Star’s Biography.—No. 60. The role of “John Geste” in the new screen version of “Beau Geste,” story of adventure in the French Foreign Legion, which was shown recently in this city, was right Tip Ray Milland’s street, as the phrase goes, for Milland is an expert at both shooting and riding. The British-born actor was chosen for the British Household Cavalry, the King’s personal bodyguard, because' of his excellent marksmanship. He left the Army when his aunt left him a legacy of £4OOO. He spent it in one wild fling on the Continent in less than a year. He spent

his last £lO on nil actress who introduced him to a director. The lat-i ter offered Midland a job in filmsi as a “lark.” Milland, however, needed the money, and showed up for work. He earned £1 a day for three week's. By that time, he was really stage struck, and began touring the agencies for stage or screen work. He did off-stage shooting in a picture with Lya Jle Putti, shattering a mirror from her hand at a hundred paces. Next thing he knew lie had the lead in,a British picture. Nine years ago,, he made his first trip to America. He went live times across the ocean before deciding to stay there, become an American citizen, and work in Hollywood productions.

“Showboat” is to be re-made, with Jeanette MacDonald • and Nelson Eddy as the singing sweethearts and .Frank Morgan as Captain Andy. Hollywood is hoping that the studio will be able to induce Paul Robeson' to' play the role lie,played in the first re-make of this great musical. “Showboat”' lias been filmed twice before, the first time witli John Boles and Laura La Plante, and, the second with Irene Dunne and Alan Jones. In spite of war and adverse world conditions, Hollywood has decided to speed up production schedules in the coming year, and many studios have decided to snend more money on their big films than was at first planned. Pictures planned for early production include: Brigham Young, the story of the great Mormon leader; “End of the Trail,” a composite of the old two-gun Western heroes along the lines of ‘‘Hollywood Cavalcade”.; ’ “Mark of Zorro,” a re-make of the colourful vain made by Douglas Fairbanks, with Tyrone Power starring; “Marching As To War,” which will tell the story of the Salvation Army; “Lillian Russell,” the life story of that great actress and beauty, with Alice Faye in the leading role ; ‘ “Hudson’s Bay Company,” and “Steinmetz the Great,” the. story of the dwarfish little genius of electricity.