ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 259, 30 September 1940, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

REGENT.THEATRE

“THE OLD MAID.”

“Th« Old Maid,” co-starring Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins, shows at tha Regent Theatre to-night. Filmed by Warner Bros., it has been hailed by pre-view audiences as the outstanding dramatio event of the year—a rare combination of brilliant talents in the fields of acting, writing and directing. One feminine star •—especially if she be 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. The girls have equally important parts. This is the first time, since they reached stardom, that either has ever shared acting honours with another player of her own sex. “The Old Maid” was written lirst as a novel by Edith Wharton, often called the “aristocrat of American writers.” She will be remembered as the author of “Ethan Fromo” 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 the picturisation of “The Old Maid” are such 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.

STATE THEATRE

“THE GRAPES OF WRATH.”

A deep, stirring human appeal draws audiences to the very heights of lilm entertainment in Darryl F v Zanuek’s production of “The Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck’s fearless novel. The 20th Century:Fox lilm, which at its world premiere achieved the biggest optiing attendance iri the entire history of New York’s 22-year-old Rivoli Theatre, shows at the State Theatre to-night. Under John Ford’s honest direction the Joads come to life with all the warmth, vitality and lugged humour that characterised widely acclaimed novel. Both the spirit and the letter of the book have been followed with extraordinary. exactness by Associate Producer Nunnally Johnson who wrote the screen play. ’The . many IhoLisands who eagerly awaited this picture will find every iota of drive and power of the original story has been retained in the screen version. Tom Joad, who is played by Henry Fonda, remains the courageous figure Steinbeck created. To follow his adventures on the screen is an experience no movie-goer can afford to miss. Jane Darwell’s performance, as Mr Joad, makes it impossible to believe that Steinbeck did not have her in mind when ho created this indomitable Oklahoma mother. Jane carries her audience in the palm of her hand while she laughs and cries, scolds her brood and defies the forces which would tear her family aplirt. What is by all odds one of . the’ most difficult roles in the' picture, that of Casy, the garrulous, crusading preacher, is-'carried off with great distinction by John Carradine.

MAYFAIR THEATRE

“GOLDEN GLOVES.”

Authenticity is the keynote of Paramount’s “Golden Gloves.” the new picture showing at the Mayfair Theatre tonight. Picturesgoers are in for a feast of thrills. The tight sequences leav.e nothing to be i 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 t-o date in this picture. Others featured aro J. Carrol Naish, who needs no introduction to film funs. William Frawley, Ed. Brophy and George Ernest. “Golden Gloves” tolls of a crooked boxing racket, run by Naish, which Paige, as a crusading newspaper reporter, is determined to smash. The trend to simn'.e, homespun, down-to-earth drama, winch has been forging to the lead in public favour, is definitely reflected in “Our Neighbours—the Carters.” Paramount’s story of life in a small Ohio town, which shows to-night at the Mayfair 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 chapicr 3 of ‘Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe,” this week’s title being “Walking Boffibs.”