Palmerston Picture Programmes

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 12

Palmerston Picture Programmes

REGENT THEATRE—TO-MORROW “ANTHONY ADVERSE” The long-awaited Warner Bros.’ production of “Anthony Adverse” filmed from Hervey Allen's cyelopean novel, which boasts of 3,000,000 readers, comes to the Regent Theatre to-morrow with Frederic March in the stellar role and Olivia de Jlaviliand playing opposite him, the feminine lead. In its panoramic story sweeping through five countries and three continents, the magnitude of its 131 sets, the picturesqueness of its backgrounds, the gigantic scale on which it was produced and the vast number of talented piayers in the cast, “Anthony Adverse" surpasses any picture filmed by Warner Bros., and is said by those who have seen the preview to be the most pretentious piece of entertainment ever attempted in Hollywood. The novel, wlilch tooK Hervey Allen four years to write, was finally whipped into its present screen form after two years of arduous labour on the part of nearly 3000 technicians, in addition to more than 2500 players who portray the many characters seen in the film. In dynamic action, intense drama, glamorous romance and thrilling adventure, probably no story was ever better fitted for screen material. And Warner Bros, are said to have caught all the vividness, the lire and colour of the original and to have transmitted it to the film. The cast is a tremendous one In size and remarkable lor the number of talented players, there being I*B speaking parts, with 2550 bit players and extras appearing. Besides March and Miss de Havilland, some of the most important players include Edmund Gwenn, Claudo Rains, Anita Louis, Louis Hayward, Gale Sondergaard, Steffi D—na, Billy Mauch, Donald Woods. Akim Tamaroff, Ralph Morgan, Henry O’Neill and Louis Alberni. KOSY THEATRE —TO-DAY “THE AFFAIR OF SUSAN” Cast a 3 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 Fitts 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 the Kosy 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 the same Lime the shy O’Conneli, who has not had a date for years, pretends to his dating companions that he is in the throes of a romance with an heiress. Hugh goes to Cor.ey Island to forget his lonesome feeling, and Zasu does the same thing. They finally meet. Love burgeons on a rollercoaster, goes into full bloom on the shool-the-chutes, and then, without knowing eacn others' names, they are separated by an accident. Hilarious and yet touching incidents occur as they try to locate each other once more—and finally do so unuer amazing circumstances. The production, taken from an original story by Mann Page and treated for the screen by Arthur Caesar, Andrew Bennison, H. M. Walker and Clarence Marks, four of Hollywood's most noted tun-malters, was directed by Kurt Neumann. In the talented supporting cast are Inez Courtney. William l’awley. Tommy Dugan and many other not6d players. “Parole!’' One out of every 45 persons in the United States has a criminal record, according to a statement recently made by national statistics. What happens to eacn of these "one out of 45” when he is paroled from prison? Where does he go? What does he do? A sensational and entertaining answer is given to this question in “Parole!” the Universal picture now showing at the Kosy Theatffe. Revealing the inner workings of Lhe modern parole systems, the subject to-day of countrywide controversy, the picture shows how paroles are obtained and what happens to convicts thus freed, once they go forth to begin life outside again. “Parole!” depicis the injustice, heartbreak and temptation encountered by a young man bearing the stigma of an exconvict. It notes, too, some of the red tape of the parole system and the skullduggeries worked by confirmed criminals and grafting politicians. The picture also

STATE THEATRE MYSTERY, COMEDY AND ROMANCE IN EXCITING NEW FILM Gay lunnour vies with thrilling mystery and sparkling dialogue witli exciting romance in “Half Angel,” the Darryl F. Zanuck Twentieth Century production that screens finally to-day at the State ’“CHAMPAGNE WALTZ” In honour of Mr. Adolph Zukor, the founder of Pax-amount 25 years ago, that company planned one of the greatest feats ot distribution known in pictures today. One of the finest musical productions yet made, “Champagne Waltz, ' which stars Gladys Swarthout and Fred Mac Murray, was chosen as the picture to mark the annivei-sary. They planned to release it in no less than 300 principal cities thi-oughout the world on January 22, 1937. In Australia and New Zealand this picture made its debut, along with the other world centres. Instead of the customary premiere in one or perhaps two theatres in the Commonwealth, no Jess than 1G in Australia and four in New Zealand, on tlio one day. Hashed the musical masterpiece of “Champagne Waltz" on their screens. The Palmerston North season opens at the State Theatre at the special pi-emiere to-night at 10.30 o’clock and to-inon-ow at 2 and 8 p.m. and a very successful season is assr«*ed. “Champagne Waltz” brings together for the first time Gladys Swarthout, glorious voiced star, and Fred Mac-Murray, one of the most popular stars of to-day. In the cast are Jack Oalcie, Veloz and Yolanda, a new dance team, and Herman Bing. The whole production has been directed by A. Edward Sutherland. Musical direction by Boris Moitos and soon, literally, the whole counti-y will bo humming the gay, lilting melodies of “When Is a Kiss Not a Kiss?”., “Paradise in Waltz Time,” "Merry-Go-Round,” and “Could 1 Be in Love?” The picture definitely establishes Gladys Swarthout in a light romantic role singing popular music; it adds further to the laurels of Macllurray and Oakie; it brings to the screen Veloz and Yolanda, recognised us the greatest ballroom combination in the world to-day; and plus these it has Herman Bing, Vivienne Osborne and Benny Baker in prominent roles. MAYFAIR Teeming with esh-and-blood characters from all walks of life, swept up from the city streets into a cauldron of dramatic circumstances —this is “Sworn Enemy,” at the Mayfair Theatre to-morrow, a story of metropolitan crime operations. Headlining the cast is Robert Young as a son of the city slums endeavouring to go straight in a law career until the gang with whom he was raised kills his brother. Florence Rise, as a surgeon’s daughter who proves the best detective on the special force. Joseph Calleia as the sinister Joe Emerald, crippled overlord of the rackets, sports lover and perverse philanthropist, a killer unknown even to his own lieutenants. Lewis Stone as Dr. Gattle, distinguished surgeon who spends twelve years in the penitentiary on a charge “framed” by Emerald. "Sworn Enemy” is based on a story by Richard Wormser. director of such recent hits as “Speed,” “Moonlight Murder” and “The Garden Murder Cass.” The plot depicts the struggle of a poor boy trying to go straight until his brother and employer are killed by the men with whom he was raised; then follows his demonical lust for revenge. The pace is swift from the opening scene when, having landed his first job, he struggles with gang representatives who demand part of his salary for “protection,” to the final climax in the luxurious .penthouse of the gang over-

presents the romance between the two leading characters played by Ann Preston and Henry Hunter, recruits irom radio who for the past four years have been heard together on national radio chains in scores of dramatic plays. Other important parts in the picture are portrayed by Alan Dineharf, Alan Baxter. I Alan Hale. Grant Mitchell, Berton Churchill and Noah Beery, junr. The director is Louis Friedlander.