Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY "THE GENERAL DIED AT DAWN" "The Genera] Died at Dawn." In this very sentence there is a sort of suppressed drama, an earnest of exciting incidents to happen, it is the title of the picture wine it will show to-day at the Regent Theatre. The film is tiie best of its kind since "Shanghai Express." it is the story of the fight of a Chinese war lord to steal a largo sum of money, the property of those trying to free the province which groaned under his tyranny, and to buy arms with it. The money is entrusted to an American, O'Hara fUary Cooper.), to take to certain people in Shanghai. The plot centres round his eventiul journey to that city. It telis how he fell to the charms of another American, this time a beautitul girl, Judy Berne tMadeleine Carronj, Mio was a party, nowever unwittingly, to delivering nun to the war lord, General l r ang fivkini Tamiroii). O'Hara, juilj, Mr. Wu, the agent in bnangnai who was working for an oppressed people (.Dudley Diggesj, fang ami others find themselves on lung’s junk, where the story works up to a powerful climax. Eventually O'Hara finds that Judy lias been true to him all the time and the picture ends on that note. The strength of the picture is in the intense drama which begins the moment the film begins and does not ease in tension until the final blackout. This drama throbs against a background which powerfully portrays the mystery of the East. On the one hand you nave a train hoid-up, where O’Hara is captured. Then you are taken to Shanghai, the super imposition of the West on the unchanging East, to a European hotel, where men t-e murdered and extraordinary incidents nap,pen. I'ou have the mysterious junk in liic harbour, mysterious in shape, sinister in intention, mysterious in its approach up a harbour itself one of llie 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 far above the average. Cooper is at his best, wlnie tne audience will want to see more of the beautiful Madeleine Carroll. Tamiroff does wonderful work as Yang. MAYFAIR THEATRE "LONELY ROAD"—TO-DAY A fascinating love story, dashing adventure, thrilling gun-running, music, song and catchy humour makes "Lonely Koaa " a picture at once exciting and highly entertaining. Commencing on Saturday and co-starring Clive Brouk and Victoria Hopper, tne action ot "Lonely Road" shiits from London to a Leeds Ealais-de-Danse, yard Headquarters, and sea coast locales, tnus providing ample variety ot settings. Clive lirook, popular hero of a hundred films, in tne roJe ot an ex-commander ot a suomarine, now turned Secret service, is reircsningiy different from fiis customary Hollywood characterisations. lie lias starred opposite many famous sirens of tne screen; Tuiiuian Eanknead, Marlene Dietrich. Liana Wynyard, Ruin Cfiatlerton and Madeleine Carroll, but it has remained lor this, fiis 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. KOSY THEATRE JACK LONDON’S MAGIC Jack London was the master fiction writer of the last generation, llis magic still lives to-day. One of his outstanding tales, "The Abysmal Brute,” has been adapted for (lie screen under the title of, "Conflict.” This picture, starring John Wayne, is now at the Rosy Theatre. The dramatic narrative sets forth the struggle of two men for mastery. One of them is; a treacherous prize-lighter who gains his money by cheating the simple folk of

small towns in the California of 1890. The other is a clean-limbed giant who defeats the bruiser in exciting fashion. "Conflict" is a simple tale presented in the manner that Jack London wrote it. John Wayne, who gives valiant battle to the prizefighter, is the tall, handsome fellow who recently starred in "The Sea Spoilers.” Playing opposite him is Jean Rogers, the lovely actress who scored in "Stormy," ‘Flash Gordon," “Ace and Tuilspin Tommy.” Laughs and Thrills A murder mystery drama, doubly blessed by fine performances by an outstandng cast and a generous allotment of general hilarity, provides the splendid screen entertainment now at the Kosy Theatre In "Panic on the Air." Lew Ayres, cofeatured with Florence Rice, is seen as a radio newsman, who comes into possession of a five-dollar bill bearing a strange cryptic message. He investigates the history of the bill and discovers that the various owners have met with death or violence. When ho receives a mysterious message instructing him to deliver the bill to an attractive woman, his interest is further aroused. From this point the drama grows thrilling, for Ayres finds himself neck-deep in a murder mystery and in love at the same time. Also showing on tho same programme, Buck Jones in "The Phantom Rider, ’ episode seven, "Stark Terror."

STATE THEATRE “LADIES IN LOVE” Great screen stars, unlike heroes, are born—not made. The careers of Janet Gaynor, Loretta Y'oung, Constance Bennett and Simone Simon would appear to make the above statement an incontrovertible fact. This famous quartette of feminine personalities, all of whom appear in "Ladies in Love," Twentieth Century-Fox triumph screening to-day at the State Theatre, seemingly were destined for theatrical fame from early childhood, an interview during production or the film revealed. Janet Gaynor, for instance, even as a young girl was termed by the neighbours a "born actress." When Janet was a little girl and her parents took her to a theatre, the youngster would coine home and imitate everyone in the cast to perfection. Although this remarkable talent would have led most girls to dream fondly of a career in the theatre, wtth Janei it worked out just in reverse. She did not want to be an actress, and although her mother urged her to attend a dramatic school, Janet preferred a secretarial career. When Janet and her family moved to Los Angeles, however, the glamour of the studios overcame her business instinct, and Janet began making the rounds of tho studios, looking for work. An astute director picked her out of a crowd one day, gave her a small "bit"—and a career that was destined to lead Janet to the top of the stellar Hollywood ranks was launched. Loretta Young’s family moved to Hollywood when she was only four years old but even at that age Ivoretta broke into the movies. Producers were eager l to have the winsome child in pictures, but Loretta’s parents said "No, first she must be educated." Her schooling completed, Loretta experienced no difficulties in obtaining roles and her rise was meteoric. In the case of Constance Bennett, there was really nothing for her to do but go on the stage. Her father, Richard Bennett, is one of the world’s great actors and her sisters are all famous in theatrical circles. .Simone Simon's career is a perfect example of the fact that an actress, even though she is unaware of her talent, cannot escape the hand of destiny. Simone wanted to be an artist But. one day, while sitting in a Parisian sidewalk cafe, a motion picture director noticed her piquant face and exotic beauty She was just the type the director was looking for, and out ,of a clear blue sky Simone started on a career that made her the reigning favourite of Europe and then brought, her to America, where she is being hailed as the most important discovery in years. Don Ameche, Paul L.ukas, Tyrone Power, junr., and Alan Mowbray are featured in the cast of "Ladies in Love."