Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 24, 29 January 1937, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY “THE GENERAL, DIED AT DAWN” J “The General Died at Dawn.” In thisvery sentence there is a sort of suppress- . ed drama, an earnest of exciting inci- ( dents to happen. It is the title of the , picture which will start to-day at the , Regent Theatre. The film is the best of j its kind since “Shanghai Express.” It is * the story of tho light of a Chinese war lord to steal a jarge sum of money, the j property of those trying to free the province which groaned under his tyranny, ' and to buy arms with it. The money is entrusted 10 an American, O'Hara (Gary j Cooper), to take to certain people in ( Shanghai. The plot centres round his . eventiul journey to that city. It tells how ho fell to tho charms of another American,' this Lime a beautiful girl, Judy Ferric . (.Madeleine Carroll), who was a party, ‘ however unwittingly, to delivering him to the war lord, Uene.ai Yang (.Akim Tann- • roff). O’Hara, Judy, Mr. Wu, the agent ! in Shanghai who was working for an op- ] pressed people (.Dudley Digges), Yang and others lind themselves on lung's junk, where the story works up to a powerful : climax. Eventually O’Hara finds that Judy has been true to him all the time and the picture ends on that note. The strength of tho picture is in the intense drama which begins the moment the film | begins and does not ease in tension until j the final blackout. This drama throbs) against a background which powerfully . portrays the mystery of the East. On the , one hand you have a train hold-up, where) O’Hara is captured. Then you are taken*, to Shanghai, the superimposition of the West on the unchanging Hast, to a European hotel, where men -t’e murdered and extraordinary incidents nappen. You have the mysterious junk in tne harbour, mys- . terious in shape, sinister in intention, ; mysterious in its approach up a harbour : itself one of the most sinister in the world. It is the scene on that junk, ; where the “general died at dawn,” where , the actors give the best of their talent, in fact, have most scope to do so. It is a moving and fascinating picture in which ; the acting is l'ar above the average. : Cooper is at his best, white the audience . will want to see more of the beautiful Madeleine Carroll. Tamiroff does wonderful work as Yang. ; MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY [ “ENLIGHTEN THY DAUGHTER.” The much-discussed film, “Enlighten Tiiy Daughter,” will be the attraction at ; the May fail Theatre. Here is a gigantic photoplay upheaval to awaken the world to the danger that lurks in our unforget- . table ignorance. Parents should take their children to see “Enlighten Thy Daughter.” It is the picture which every man, woman and child should see. It is a beautiful moral, and it shows in very vivid < manner tho necessity for parents to in-J struct, their children and enlighten them in sex problems. The story is far super- I ior to tho everyday talking picture, and the treatment so subtle, ft could offend no k 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 this ; morning at 10. JO o’clock. “Lonely Road”—To-morrow. A fascinating love story, dashing adven- ; Lure, thrilling gun-running, music, song and catchy humour makes “Lonely Road” 1 a picture at once exciting and highly entertaining. Commencing on Saturday and co-starring Clive Brook and Victoria Hopper, the action ,of “Lonely Road” shifts from London to a Leeds Falais-de-Danse, Scotland Yard Headquarters, and sea coast locales, thus providing ample variety of settings. Clive Brook,. popular hero of a hundred films, in the role of an ex-commander of a submarine, now turned Secret Service, is refreshingly different from his customary Hollywood characterisations. He has starred opposite many famous sirens of the screen; Tullulah ■ Bankhead, Marlene Dietrich. Liana Wynyard, Ruth Chatterton and Madeleine Carroll, but it has remained for this, his latest English production to present the real Brook, in the type of role he was born to play. The management announce a special engagement of Trevor and Dawn, famous Continental adagio dancers, on Saturday. i KOSY THEATRE TO-DAY. UNIQUE PRODUCTION IN “A STAR FELL FROM HEAVEN” The success of Joseph Schmidt’s “My Song Goes Hound the World” made inevitable 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 “1 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 a, eeably 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

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 shows to-day. Featuring an exceptional cast, headed by Michael Whalen and Jean Muir, and including Slim Summerville, Charles Winninger, the original “Cap’n Henry” of radio lame, John Carradine, Jane Darwell and Thomas Beck, “White Lang” is a stirring stoi'y of adventux'e, ranking with the screen’s greatest outdoor dramas. Whalen, fresh from triumphant roles in “Froxessional Soldier” and “The i country Doctor,’ xiere n.js ins most ambitious part and gives promise of becoming one of tho outstanding young men of the screen, jean Muir, lovelier than ever in a, setting as picturesque as her own beauty, contributes a noteworthy performuniformly good. Slim Shmmerville and cxaiies \\ xnnniger, especially, deserve mention for their hilarious comic characterisations. David Butler directed “White rang,” a Darryx F. zanuca production, adapted to tlie screen by Gene Fowler, Hal Long and S. G. Duncan. Bogart Rogj exs Was associate producer. “King of the Royal Mounted” I With spectacular action highlighted against a background of scenic grandeur and exciting romance alternating with I breath-taking thrills, Zane Grey's “King of the Royal Mounted” shows at the State xiieatie to-day on what will undoubtedly be acclaimed as one of the best doublefeature programmes that has ever come to Palmerston North. Robert Kent is starred and Rosalind Keith and Alan Dineheart head the supporting cast. As the title indicates, Zane Grey's new hero Is a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and tho locale is the primitive rugged country of Northwest Canada. Into this wild section, presided over by Robert Kent as Sergeant King, come Rosalind Keith and Alan Dineneart. Kent finds out they are travelling under assumed names, his suspicions are aroused, anu ue ueciues to ltiaae a mrLiter investigation. Kent discovers that the girl is attempting to gain a hall-interest in a valuable mine, operated by Frank McGlynn, Senr., Rosalind’s father, until killed in a supposed accident, was McGlynn’s partner, mtuiynn also discovers Rosalind’s true identity and decides to present her with her rightful interest in the mine. Before lie can do so, he is murdered—with suspicion pointing at both Miss Keith and Dinehart. Dinekart takes the girl and attempts to escape, with Kent torn between love of the girl and Ins sense of duty, following on me trail, xn tho majestic vastness of the Canadian Rockies where the jagged Rockies stand sentinel over the wilderness, the picture conies to a climax, exciting, breath-taking, thrill-packed. I =

combine to achieve both aural and ocular interest. The star is seen as Josef, a singer in a beer-garden whom a pretty Anne essays to help. Calling at the offices of the Miracle Film Corporation, she mistakes the leading man for the producer when she asks for a job for Josef, and not unnaturally falls in love with him. to Joset’s evident regret. Josef has his compensations, however, for after various vicif*utudes, lie lands the job of doubling for Jim leading man when the latter loses his voice, and is eventually given a handsome contract. We have stressed the picture’s vocal bid, and \.’e 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 dresser, 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; Florine McKinney as the pretty and vivacious Anne; and W. H. Berry as a publicity man with a keen eye on his rakeoff. “A Star Fell from Heaven” now showing at the Kosy Theatre. Reached for a Star—and Got a Double. Laid in the glamorous background of Broadway, Universal’s screenplay, "Manhattan Moon,” featuring Ricardo Cortez Dorothy Page, beautiful radio singer known to millions via the ether waves, is now at the Kosy Theatre. The story feattures the romance between Cortez and j Miss Page, who plays a dual role—that of i 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 Miss 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 Miss Page, who, on the screen, is quite as beautiful as is her voice on the air, according to advance notices. The o,.ens with. Cortez, as Dan . , o. money but no soas 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 Yvonne’s temperamental press agent—Yvonne’s “doubles” taxi-cab sweetheart—the fact that nobody is quite sure whether Dan is j going out with Yvonne or her double. All I k p fun and excitement comes to a rousing 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 sis Hugh O’Connell. Luis Alberni, Henry Armetta and Regis Tomey,