ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 246, 16 September 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT THEATRE. “THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT.” A collector . interested in American vehicles of the turri-of-the-ccnlury vintage would have uncovered a “gold-mine had he strayed on to the Paramount lot during- the iihning ot “The Great Victor Herbert,” the musical romance showing at the Regent Theatre. The expert would have found all manner of vehicles. There were 'Allan Jones and Alary Martin riding bicycles. 'J here were handsome cabs and carriages, open and closed horse-drawn vehicles, victorias, three-whocled hikes and a 1905 motor-car. The studio property department, ul course, w-as charged with the tusk of finding all of these various types of vehicles That’s what property departments are for. Like most studios, Paramount lias a stock of carriages at a near-by ranch. They are brought into the studio whenever needed. Old-faeliioned bicycles are hard to find, particularly the three-wheel-ed type. This has a main wheel, in hack, and two small ones in front," between which nestles a huge box used for deliveries. The motor-car, of course, is a museum piece. Put numerous enterprising local motor-car dealers have old-type cars cn hand, which arc available to studios at neat rentals. Horses to draw tho carriages arc rented from an agency which makes a specialty of just that. There are mulched blacks, roans, greys, and all the rest. Tbeie are sway-hacks, spavined relics and misfits of all kinds. They’ro good for laughs, yes, but they lead an easy life, with plenty of oats, between pictures.

METEOR THEATRE. “THE AMAZING MR WILLIAMS.” In one of tho maddest, merriest comedies of this or any other season. Mclvyn Douglas and Joan Blondell return to the Meteor Theatre screen 10-day to prove themselves Hollywood’s finest, funniest romantic team. The astonishing funsters of “Theie’s Always a Woman” and “Good Girls Go to Paris” are currently starred :iri‘ “The Amazing Air Williams,” a laughprovoking combination of sparkling dialogue,. hilarious situations, unusual characterisations and swift-paced suspenseful action. Air Douglas is “Tho Amazing Mr Williams,” a blithe supcr-sleutli who responds to the haunting call of a police siren with unabashed eagerness. Engaged to . the lovoly Alaxine Carroll, the mayor’s secretary, lie is much too busy solving mysterious crimes to .bother about' marriage.. And Alaxiiie, that dumb-as-a-fox young woman portrayed by Alies 81011dell, is equally talented in the matter of murder, hut she does not 'quite know howto get her man ! And so “'J lie Amazing Air Williams” dodges marriage, even while lie tries to get married, and solves mysterious murders, while he glumly watches a convict attempt to “steal” his own girl I And the lovciy Alaxiiie spends her time to equally grand advantage, so far as Meteor Theatre audiences arc concerned. 'She helps “The Amazing Air Williams.” She persuades him to disguise himself as a woman in- order to capture a midnight masher, and succeeds in herself winding up on a hospital bed ; sho tries to got her hoy friend thrown off the force—and succeeds, only to fight as desperately for his reinstatement!

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “DANGER ON WHEELS.” “Danger on Wheels,” a drama of tho speedways co-starring Richard Arlen and Andy Devine, is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. Newest of the popular ArienDeviuo serio.s. “Danger on Wheels” is 6aid to be one of the stars’ best vehicles to date, with spectacular thrills and roaring action of the race track providing tho background of tho story. Arlen is seen first as a daredevil test driver, who goes through death-defying stunts testing new motor-cars. Later lie becomes a race driver smashing through to victory in the Indianapolis Speed. Classic in the. climax. Andy Devine appears as Arlen’s faithful hut slow-witted mechanic. Peggy Aloran, young screen player who is rapidly rising to film fame, is Arlen’s romantic interest. Hazel Ascot, who stars in “Stepping Feet,” the new, sparkling 8.1.E.D. musical which is now showing at the Alayfair Theatre with a talented supporting cast headed by Enid Stamp Taylor, Jack Baity. Wilson Coleman and Ivan Samson, has received very' tempting offers to go to Hollywood and star in pictures under a long-term contract. Sho scored an outstanding success in her picture, “Talking Feet,” which made the critics rave about the “most promising juvenile find for some time.” "One of the greatest discoveries in the history of British films” was but one of tho eulogistic paeaiis credited to her. Ilazel lias won. the All-England juvenile championships and City championship, and all these without losing a single mark. Also screening is chapter one of the thrilling- new serial “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe,”’ starring Larry (‘‘Buster’’} Crabbc as Flash Gordon.