Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 8

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE TO-DAY. “CAIN AND AIABEL.” “Cain and Alabel,’’ a spectacular Cosmopolitan musical production released by Warner Bros., stars two of the screen’s most brilliant celebrities, Alarion Davies and Clark Gable. The picture is said to be filled with catchy musical airs and gigantic specialty numbers in which one hundred and sixty beautiful cnorus girls take part, in addition to its hilarious comedy, its glowing romance and many thrills. The most pretentious of the production numbers, called “Thousand Love Songs,” is heralded as one unsurpassed in magnitude and grandeur. There are three catchy new songs in these new numbers written by the famous song team of Harry Warren and Al Dubin, and variously sung by David Carlyle. Aliss Davies, Sammy White and chorus. Other popular songs will also be heard in “Thousand Love Songs” number. Aliss Davies leads the chorus in intricate dance routines, having as her partners in the various numbers, the noted stage and screendancers, Charles Teske, Sammy White and Don Ackerman. The picture depicts the romance between a musical comedy star almost overnight, and a heroic young battler of the prize ring. Aliss Davies and Gable are co-starred in these roles. They are supported by a talented cast, which includes Allen Jenkins, lloscoe Karns, Walter Catlett, David Carlyle, Hobart Cavanaugh, Ruth Donnelly and William Colliex*, senr. MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “ENLIGHTEN THY DAUGHTER.” Commencing to-day, the muchdiscussed film, “Enlighten Thy Daughter will be the attraction. Here is a gigantic photoplay upheaval to awaken the world to the danger that lurks in our unforgettable ignorance. Parents should take tneir children to see “Enlighten Thy Daughter.’’ It is the picture which every man, woman and child should see. It is a beautiful inoral, and it shows in very vivid manner the necessity for parents to instruct their children and enlighten them in sex problems. The story is far superior to the everyday talking picture, and the treatment so subtle, It could offend no one. One leaves the theatre with a sensitive appreciation of a human situation that has caused a tragedy, and a feeling that one is grateful to the producers for presenting a truth in such a way as to save a high ideal of family life. A special session for women will be held next Thursday morning at 11).30 a.m. KOSY THEATRE TO-DAY. UNIQUE PRODUCTION IN “A STAR FELL FROAI HEAVEN” The success of Joseph Schmidt’s “My Song Goes Round the World’’ made in-j evitable a further exposition of the ‘pocket tenor’s' talents. Schmidt has a voice of extraordinary power for so small a frame, and certainly uses it to popular point in the perennial “I Hear You Calling Me,” and two or three charming modern numbers. His vocal appeal, too, is emphasised by his physical characteristics, for these make their own unconscious bid for your sympathy, and are punched home by a story in which he is a forlorn lover with ever the hand of Fate against him. Yet the entertainment is by no means a purely vocal affair. On the contrary, it is particularly strong in comedy, thanks to a genial burlesque of film production traditions and excellent all-round characterisations, while delightful romance and an occasional hint of drama agreeably round off a picture rich in popular appeal. Nor is the spectacle neglected, for In the “film within a film’’ sequence, in which Schmidt doubles for a juvenile who has lost his voice, we have an ornate Hawaiian interlude In which song and dance combine to achieve both aural and ocular interest. The star is seen as Josef, a singer in a beer-garden whom a pretty Aline essays to help. Calling at the offices of the Aliracle Film Corporation, she mistakes the leading man for tho producer when she asks for a job for Josef, and not unnaturally falls in love with him. to Josef’s evident regret. Josef has his compensations, however, for after various vicissitudes, he lands the job of doubling for the leading man when the latter loses his voice, and is eventually given a handsome contract. We have stressed the picture’s vocal bid, and we have only to add that George Graves is immense In a caricature of an uneducated film magnate, and that Steve Geray is delightful in naive, ingenious comedy as the leading man’s dressex*, who is also in love with Anne. Other well-cast players include Billy Milton as the leading man, who uses Josef’s voice, but makes generous amends;

STATE THEATRE “WHITE FANG'*The lawlessness North-country, vibrant with romance and drenched with drama, once again flashes across ■ the screen in “White Fang,’’ Jack London’s thrill-laden sequel to his “Call of the Wild,” which opens to-day. Featuring an exceptional cast, headeu by Aiichael Wlia.en and Jean Aiuir, and including Slim isuinmerville, Charles Vv'inninger, the original “Cap’ll Henry” of radio lame, John Carradine, jane Darweli and Thomas Beck, "White bang” is a stirring story of adventure, ranking with the screen's greatest outdoor dramas. Whalen, fresh from triumphant roles in “Proiessional Soldier” and "The bitious part and gives promise of becoming one of the outstanding young men of the screen, jean .Aiuir, lovelier tnan ever in a setting as picturesque as her own beauty, contributes a noteworthy performance, while the remainder of the cast is unuormly good. Slim snmmervill© and c.ruries \vj.iunnge», especially, deserve mention for their hilarious comic characterisations. David Butler directed "White rang, ' a Darryl x-. xanuca production, adapted to the screen by Gene Fowler, Hal Long and S. G. Duncan. Bogart Rogers was associate producer. “King of the Royal Mounted’’ Witii action Highlighted against a background of scenic grandeur and exciting romance alternating with breatn-taking thrills, Zan© Grey's “King of the Royal Alounted” opens at the State Theatre to-day. on what will undoubtedly be acclaimed as one of the’ best doublefeature programmes that has ever come to Fanners ton North. Robert Kent is starred and Rosalind Keith and Alan Dineheart head tho supporting cast. As the title indicates, Zan© Grey s new hero is a member of the Royal Canadian Alounted Police and the locale is the primitive rugged country of Northwest Canada. Into this wild section, presided over by Robert Kent as Sergeant King, com© Rosalind Keith and Alan Dineheart. Kent finds out they are travelling under assumed names, his suspicions are aroused, aim ae uecicies to inane a further investigation. Kent discovers that the girl is auernpling to gain a half-interest in a valuable mine, operated by Prank McGlynn, Senr., Rosalind's father, until killed in a supposed accident, was AlcGlynn’s partner. AitJiynn also discovers Rosalind’s true identity and decides to present her with her rightful interest in the mine. Before he can do so, he is murdered—with suspicion pointing at both Aliss Keith and Dinehart. Dinehart takes the girl and attempts to escape, with Kent torn between love of the girl and his sense of duty, following on the trail. In the majestic vastness of the Canadian Rockies where the jagged Rockies stand sentinel over the wilderness, the picture comes to.a climax, exciting, breath-taking, thrill-packed. Florine AlcKinney as the pretty and vivacious Anne; and W. H. Berry as a publicity mail with' a keen' eye on his rakeoff. “A Star Fell from Heaven” now showing a-t the Kosy Theatre. Reached for a Star —and Got a Double. Laid in the glamorous background of Broadway, Universal’s screenplay, “Manhattan Aloon,” featuring Ricardo Cortez as a romantic “main stem” figure, and Dorothy Page, beautiful radio singer known to millibns via the ether waves, is now at the Kosy Theatre. The story feattures the romance between Cortez and Aliss Page, who plays a dual role —that of the opera singer and her “double” who keeps appointments for her when she doesn’t want to do so. Lively music, including three songs sung by the beautiful Aliss Page, form an interesting musical background. Some of these catchy tunes have already been played on the radio. Those who follow the radio will be thrilled to see Aliss Page, who, on the screen, is quite as beautiful as is her voice on the air, according to advance notices. The scieenpiay opens with Cortez, as Dan uut, iicVing p.enty of money but no sons Reggie Van Dorset, who has given him a worthless cheque, that he must meet the right people—and that it's Reggie’s job to see that he does. As a starter, Reggie and Dan go to the opera. Dan sees and hears Yvonne, the opera singer, and forgets about everything and everybody else. But there are complications—Miss Yvon- • lie's temperamental press agent—Yvonne’s “doubles” taxi-cab sweetheart—the fact J that nobody is quite sure whether Dan Is going out with Yvo.nne or her double. All I the fun and excitement comes to a rous--1 ing climax under the direction of Stuart Walker, noted director of stage and screen plays. In the cast with Cortez. Miss Page and Mollison are such favourites as Hugh O'Connell. Luis Alberni, Henry Armetta apd Regis Tomey,