Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE—TO-DAY | "TIIE RETURN OF SOPI-lIE LANG" I Gertrude Michael, lovely blonde Southern film star, underwent a double reincarnation when she acted her title rolo in tho Paramount picture "The Return of Sophie Lang,” showing to-day at the Regent Theatre The first was in her reappearance as "Sophie Lang,” Lady Raffles of her first starring picture more than two years ago, "The Notorious Sophie Lang.” The second was more personal; sho became again, for the first time, the same Gertrude Michael that) she was when she arrived in Hollywood. She explains: “When I first came to Hollywood from Broadway my hair was its natural shade, dark gold; I parted It in the middle and my eyebrows were definitely arched. The studio, however, immediately began to make mo over. My hair was lightened ‘for photographic purposes’; it was cut in a long bob with curled ends and parted on tho side. The arch of my eyebrows was made more level. Tho shading I had used on tho stage was entirely changed. I retained that make-up for three years. Then came ‘The Return of Sophie Lang.’ Paramount decided to give me a new make-up. They brought my hair back to its natural shade, parted it In the middle, waved it away from the part, arched my eyebrows, and changed the shading of my face back to tho way I used to shado it on the stage. Thus they completely restored my original appearance!” MAYFAIR THEATRE “NEW MOON 1 * Two of tho world's greaLest voices and two of the screen's most vivid personali- . ties arc seen m “New Moon,” Metro- ; Goldwyn-Mayer’a transcription of tho stage hit, co-starring Lawrence Tibbett and Grace Moore, and now playing at l the Mayfair Theatre. “New Moon” in its' picture form is far different, from the original stage version although preserving all its salient parts and its most popular songs. The locale, changed to Turkestan, permits a sweeping colourful narrative of love and intrigue, romance and adventure in which tenso drama vies with a delicate sLory of the young lieutenant and his princess sweetheart. The songs do not detract from the action of tho plol, having been cleverly woven in as an Integral part of the drama Itself. The story deals with a Russian princess who plays with fire in the. person of an impassioned lieutenant. only to find that she has burned herself in the intrigue and dangerous circumstances which follow upon her fiance’s discovery of the “affair.” The charming music or the stage success, including the never-to-be-forgotten “Lover Come Back to Me,” “Wanting You,’’ “One Kiss” and Stouthearted Men,” is augmented with two outstanding songs, ‘‘What Is Your Price Madame?” and “The Farmer’s Daughter,” for which Herbert Stothart and Clifford Grey may be complimented. Both Tibbett and Miss Moore give flawless performances exclusive of their brilliant singing. Adolpho Menjou is excellent as the suave but sinister superior officer; Roland Young is amusing as tho whimsical count; Gus Shy tho faithful Sergeant Botkin gives a characterisation in which comedy and pathos are blended; and Emily Fitzroy. as the countess gives- her usual finished portrayal. .lack Conway has directed this picture with good taste and an unusula eye for isteresting details. Effective camera work is constantly made apparent, particularly In the picturesque opening shots aboard tho Russian steamer, and again later at the. climax in which the long line of cavalry troops form to attack tho mountain fortress. KOSY THEATRE-TO-DAY "THE AFFAIR OF SUSAN" Cast as a young woman who installs tails on candy dogs and a young man who puts tail-iights on automobiles, who are very, very lonesome, Zasu Pitts and Hugh O’Connell furnish the hilarious comedy, the tender pathos for Universal’s tale of a Coney Island romance, “The Affair of Susan” is now showing at tho lvosy Theatre. The story finds Zasu grieving because all the other tail installers in the candy factory have young men, but she has never had a love affair. At tho same time the shy O'Connel!, who has not had i a date for years, pretends to liis da-**"" 1

STATE THEATRE TO-DAY MYSTERY COMTCDY AN D ROMANCE IN EXCITING NEW FILM Gay humour vus with thrilling- mystery aiul sparkling dialogue with exciting romance in "Half Angel,” tho Darryl i<\ Zunuelc twentieth Century production that shows at tho State Theatre to-duv Y Frances Dee, Brian Donlevy and droll Charles Butterworth featured at the head of an imposing cast that also includes Helen Westley, Henry Stephenson l l . rul ir S ? rah Baden. ‘‘Half Angel” raises itself beyond the ordinary in the opening scenes, with Miss Deo on trial for the poison murder of her father. Everyone‘is convinced of her guilt—with the exception of Brian Donlevy, a dashing reporter, and' comical Charles Butterworth. his 'stooge ’ Donlevy’s paper is paying Miss Dee's expenses during the trial, hoping to secure her life story. Unexpectedly, the jury return a verdict of “not guilty” and Donlevy rushes to her side. Miss Dee is wh.sked away, however, by Helen Westley, whose hobby is helping tiiose in trouble. Miss Westley’s house contains a weird assortment of ex-criminals. Her husband, Henry Stephenson, strongly resents her work but is unable to dissuode her from it. To add to the complications, three maniacs escape from a nearby asylum, among them being Stephenson's halfbrother. Donlevy. still on the trail of Miss Dee’s story, follows her to the house. Jle enters her room through a secondstory window and she, panic-stricken unites to meet him at the front gate. She returns to the house to find Helen Westey and Stephenson apparently dying—both ol poison! Tho police immediately arrest her and with her past record thero appears to be little chance for Miss l»ee B , cr Donluvey still believes in her, however, and lie continues Investigating Uio crime. Jlc unearths a series or strange clues and, convinced of a suspects guilt, traps him with a thrilJm « ulld exciting ruse. It is almost Impossible to describe tho hilarious comedy .that, is interwoven with tho mystery, roinin.? 6 U “ d BUs h tnse - Don levy is refreshiugl3 gay as the irrepressible reporter, while Charles Butterworth has never been funnier than in his role of Donlevy’s mud-dle-headed, butter-fingered “stooge.” companions that he Is in tlio throes of a i omnneo witu an lieiress. Jtugn goes to Coney Island to forget ins lonesome lceimg, and Zasu does me same tiling. They finally meet. Love burgeons on a roller coaster, goes into lull bloom on the sliout-the-chutes, and then, without knowing cacn others names, they are separated by an accident, linarious and yet touching incidents occur as they try to locate each other once more—and finally do so unuer amazing circumstances, Tae production, taken Lorn an original story uv Mann Page and treated lor me screen by w’., L !! Ur Cuet5 l uv » Armre 'V Dennison, H. m. Walker and Clarence Marks four oi Hollywood's most noted tun-makers, was directed by lvun Neumann, in me talent«a supportlllß cast arc Inez Courtney. William Pavviey, Tommy Dugan and many other noted players. “Parole!" 11 ro X /° I°w , L uvovy persons in the United Mates has a criminal record, aceoidmg to a statement recently mauo uy national statistics. What happens to eaen of these “one out of H ’ when he is paroled irom prison? Where does lie go? What does lie do? A sensationsl and entertaining answer is given to this question in “Parole!” the Universal picture now showing at Hie Rosy Theatre. Revealing tho inner workings of mo modern parole systems, the subject to-day of countrywide controversy. the picture shows how paroles aro oomined and what happens to convicts thus freed, once they go forth to begin life outside again. “Parole!” depicts the injustice, heartbreak and temptation encountered by a young man bearing the stigma of an exeonvict. It notes, too, some of the red tape of the parole system and tho skullduggeries worked by confirmed criminals ana grafting politicians. The picture also presents tlio •romance between the two leading characters played by Ann Preston and Henry Hunter, recruits irom radio who for tho past four years have been heard together on national radio chains in scores of dramatic plays. Ollier important party in tlio picture ure portrayed by Alan Dinehart, Alan Baxter, Alan Halo, Grant Mitchell, Berton Jhurchill and Noah Beery, junr. The dilator is Louis Friediander