ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 258, 28 September 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

METEOR THEATRE. "THE GREAT WALTZ.” Magic melodies of Vienna amid a dramatic, romantic story of the musician who was the .voice of the gayest city in the world,- brings Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravet and Miiiza .Korjus; Viennese opera star, to the screen in "The Great Waltz,” drama of the life of Johann Strauss, now playing at the Meteor Theatre. Not only tho physical Vienna of the period hut its spirit arc caught in the romantic story of the Waltz King’s life and l§ves. Strauss’ waltzes and operetta airs are presented in spectacular sequences in tho Imperial Opera, tho Doinmaycr Casino, grand hall sequences and the court of Emperor Franz Josef.. Thrills are provided by the Revolution in tho days of Mctternieh. Romance abounds. The stcry deals with the composer from the time ho lost his position as a bank clerk and turned io music to his final honours in the Einperor’s court. His marriage to the sweetheart of his youth and his subsequent infatuation for a brilliant opera star who .sends ' him back to liia faithful wife, form the plot against which dazzling spectacle, ballets and other glamorous incidents bedeck tho .best-loved music in the world. Gravet, French star, plays Strauss, appearing throughout the story as a young, man until the final scenes where he appears during old age, the Strauss best known to tho world. Luise Rainer is appealing and powerfully dra-' matic as Poldi, tho wife. Mmc. Korjus, credited with one of the greatest voices in the world, has a fine flair for comedy, is beautiful, and makes Carla Conner, the singer, a glamorous figure.

REGENT THEATRE. “THE OLD MAID.’* “The Old Maid,” co-starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, shows. at the Regent Theatre to-night. Filmed by Warner Bros., it has been hailed by pre-view audiences as the outstanding dramatic event of the year—a rare combination of brilliant talents in the fields of acting, writing and directing. One feminine star —especially if she bo that double Academy winner, Bette Davis—might be considered sufficient for a photoplay, no matter how great. But in “The Old Maid” there are two. Besides Bette Davis there is the lovely and highly capable Miriam Hopkins, who has starred in many a top-notch production on her own. Ihe girls have equally important parts. This is the first time, since they reached stardom, that either has over shared acting honours with another player of her own sex. “The Old Maid” was written first as a novel by Edith Wharton, often called the “aristocrat of American writers.” She will be remembered as the author of “Ethan Froinc” and “The Ago of Innocence," among many other books. Then four years ago, Zoe Akins, the brilliant’ dramatist, transformed the book into a stage play which not only had a long run in New York but won the Pulitzer Prize for that year, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a dramatic production. With Miss Davis and Miss Hopkins in tho picturisation of “The Old Maid” are sucl) players as George Brent. Jane Bryan, Donald Crisp, Louise Fazenda, James Stephenson, Jerome Cowan, William Lundigan, Cecilia Loftus, Janet Snow, De Wolf Hopper and Rand Brook. ;

MAYFAIR THEATRE

‘GOLDEN GLOVES.”

Authenticity is the keynote of Paramount’s “Golden Gloves,” tile new picture showing at the Mayfair Theatre to-mor-row. Picturcgoers aro in for a feast of thrills. The fight sequences leave nothing to be desired in this direction, and have been acclaimed by experts as being the best of their kind ever filmed. "Golden Gloves” features three comparative newcomers to the screen—Richard Donning, playing his first leading role after several minor ones; Jean Cagney, sister of the famous Jimmy • and making : her screen debut; and Robert Paige, who although he has previously played leading roles, gets his most important assignment to date in this picture. Others featured are J. Carrol. Naish, who needs no introduction to film fans, William Frawley, Ed. Brophy and George Ernest. “Golden Gloves” tells of a crooked boxing racket, run by Naish, which Paige, as a crusading newspaper reporter, is determined to smash..

The trend to simple, homespun, do”b to-earlh drama, winch has been forging to the lead in public favour, is deunueij reflected in “Our Neighbours—the Carters,” Paramount’s story of life in a small Ohio town, which shows to-morrow at the Mayfa.it Theatre with Frank Craven, Fay Bainter, Edmund Lowe and Genevieve Tobin in the top featured roles. Not just another “family” picture, it tells the story of “Doc” and Ellen Carter, played by Craven and Miss Bainter, and their five children.

Also screening is chapter 3 of ‘Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe,” this week’s title being “Walking Bombs.”