Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE TO-DAY “WIZARD OF OZ" “The Wizard of Oz” is exactly what you would expect and, on the other hand, it is far more than you expect. If you hope i that L. Frank Baum’s story, which children and grown-ups have been devouring greedily for almost forty years, has not been turned into something unrecognisable you have no need for fears. Everything is there, everything that made it a fascinating fantasy. No wonder millions love Oz—with its sparkling dialogue and lyrics, delightful events, the thrilling action of the story. “The Wizard of Oz" has the greatest colour camera magic ever dreamed of. The cast is diamond-studded. Judy Garland as Dorothy proves she is, tho greatest child actress of her age ou the screen and it isn’t only her lovely songs which do it. Frank Morgan’s star rises even higher with his performance of tho delightful humbug, the Wizard. In songs and dances, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as Che Tin Woodman and Bert Lahr as tne Cowardly Lion again proved why they have been Broadway musical comedy and radio stars so long. Billie Burke is eye-filling as Glinda the Good and proves she can do more than play feather-brained mothers. Margaret Hamilton is perfect as the Wicked Witch. Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe and Clara Blandick score in familiar roles. The musical score, in which the lyrics form part of the dialogue Is as lilting as. it Is novel, and you’ll soon bo humming “Over the Rainbow,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” “If I Were King of the Forest” and “The Merry Band of Oz.” And if all this isn’t enough, there are hundreds of the most intriguing little Munchkins you’d ever imagine, thousands of other delightful characters and even trees which move. KOSY THEATRE—TO-DAY “LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE” The eleven-year-old girl who plays the title role In Paramount’s new comedydrama, “Little Orphan Annie," the attraction now at the Kosy Theatre, is blueeyed, red-haired, freckle-faced Ann Gillis. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Ann lived in Santiago, Chile, for a short time, but returned to the United States to settle in New Rochelle, New York, after the death of her father, a plantation operator. She attracted the attention of New York critics when she played in several “little theatre” productions, and then appeared on the Rudy Vallee as a guest artist. Advised to take the talented child to Holly wood, her mother did so Immediately, picture record to date includes appearances in ’’The Great Zlegfeld” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” In the latter of which she had the role of “Becky Thatcher.” “i-and of Fighting Men." Tne actor who looks like a Greek god In “Land of Fighting Men,” the second attraction, is none ocher than Herman Brix, world famous athlete and 1932 Olympic shot put champion. Brix plays Jack Randall’s pal in the picture, and handles his role which definitely requires acting ability, in expert fashion. Brix was a college champion at almost every form of sport. He upheld the honour of his alma mater in swimming, football, tennis and pole vaulting. In 1932, he was sent to the Los Ongeles Olympics to represent his country in track events. He held the world's record in shot-putting, and won the Olympics for the United States in this event. His next visit to Los Angeles was in 1935, when he was chosen over thousands of athletes to play the part of Tarzan in a series of pictures featuring the jungle lord. He made several of these, ana then graduated to westerns. Brix likes outdoor pictures because of the healthy atmosere / or ' although he has had many oners to appear in drawing room dramas, he dislikes being cooped up in sound eta.ges. "Land of Fighting Men” in the thrilling story of racketeering in the west and of the vigilantes who took the law into their own hands to rid the plains of their despoilers. Jack ilandall is starred. Hihhm o Ca “r in ? ludes tho famous Colorado Hillbillies, .Louise Stanley, wheeler Oamban, John Merton, Lane chandler and itex Lease. .Chapter 2 of your favourite thrill serial. The Lone Ranger Rides Again,” completes a first-class programme.

STATE THEATRE TO-DAY “SHIPYARD SALLY" Hearty comedy, glorious singing of old favourites and new hits by the one-and-only Gracie Fields, and a strong story combine to make it incomparably the best Gracie Fields vehicle to date. Clydeside, where the story opens is seen as a period of prosperity closes and poverty and tie-. spair settle over the workers. Gracie Fields appears as Sally, a music-hall artist ; who finds that to keep her errant father, the “Major,” in. order is becoming almost ; a full-time job. The “Major” is played by Grade’s co-star, Sydney Howard. He buys ' a Clydeside “pub” with Grade’s savings and looks thirstily forward to drinking -1 the profits. There are no profits, however, i I for the men can no longer afford to pay ' for their beer. Gracie proves a friend to • the workers, dispensing beer and encour- ■ agement without hope of reward beyond i their profound gratitude and friendship. > A commission is appointed In London to • report on the situation at Clydebank, and > Sally is sent to London to plead for a re- • sumption of work. The “Major” decides • to accompany her! Lord Randall (Morton . Selton), head of the commission, is both i busy and elusive. When orthodox methods . fail to bring Sally an Interview she uses her voice and her ingenuity. She poses as . an American blues singer and becomes the i hit of a party at Randall’s house; she imi personates a young man of Mayfair and ; passes through the portals of Lord Ran--1 dall’s very conservative—and all male—club; she continues her impersonation of i the singer at a country house-party and at . last her efforts are rewarded with success. ; Seldom has anything so funny as the male | impersonation sequence been seen, and the finale, when Gracie Sings “Land of Hope and Glory,” Is patriotically stirring and deeply moving. Four sessions: 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 7.45 p.m., and 10.20 p.m. METEOR THEATRE—TO-MORROW , “BROADWAY SERENADE" Packed with musical, romantic and eye- • filling thrills, “Broadway Serenade," i starring Jeanette MacDonald, opens toi morrow at the Meteor Theatre. Deflnlte- ■ ly one of the “must see” list, “Broadway i Serenade” has not missed a trick In ini eluding all of the elements of top flight ’ entertainment. Unlike most films in the musical category, this one contains a s story which holds interest from tho first l scene until the fadeout. In brief, It is the tale of a young married couple, she a • singer, he a composer-pianist. As a team . they play most of New York’s cheap night clubs until a lucky break starts the girl : climbing high on the ladder of musical- • comedy success. The boy is left behind to battle for recognition as a composer and to master the jealousy which eventually breaks up the marriage. The story i moves in two extremes of locale, the glit- - terlng show-world of which the girl be- ’ ? 0m ? 8 a part and the garret-room where : her husband Is struggling to bring himself a success of which she mav be proud. 3 Seldom has Jeanette MacDonald had a - better opportunity for both her dramatic ; and vocal abilities. For the first time . since “San Francisco" she carries the ■ y°cal honours singly. Her songs have } been wisely selected to please diversified j audiences. There are favourites of the - Lay Nineties, grand opera selections, and i a dash of the day’s hit tunes. In each . case the songs are set against colourful . backgrounds. Lew Ayres, as Miss Mac- , Donald s composer-pianist husband, gets ( his best role to date. He is ideally suited t> lor the part and turns In an outstanding 5 performance. lan Hunter forms an lnterl osting third point to the romantic trir angles and comedy is spilt three ways be- . tween the always hilarious Frank Morgan, r as a Broadway theatrical producer, and . “ 1S two chorus girl shadows, Virginia 1 £ lta J ohns °n. who battle to the 3 death for his affections.