Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE TO-DAY “WIZARD OP 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 that L. Prank 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 I fascinating fantasy. No wonder millions Hove Oz—with its sparkling dialogue and lyrics, delightful events, the thrillingaction of the story. “The Wizard of Oz" lias the greatest colour camera magic ever dreamed of. The cast is diamond-studded. Judy Garland as Dorothy proves she is the greatest child actress of her age on the screen and it isn’t only her lovely songs which do it. Prank Morgan's star rises even higher with his performance of the delightful humbug, the Wizard. In songs and dances, Ray Bolger as_ the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Tin Woodman and Bert La hr 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 Blandiek score in familiar roles. The i musical score, in which the lyrics form part of the dialogue is as lilting as it is novel, and you'll soon be humming “Over the Rainbow,” “If 1 Only Had a Brain," "If 1 Were King of the PoresL’’ and “The Merry Land 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. METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “WINGS OP THE NAVY" Produced with the unstinted co-opera-tion of the United States Navy, “Wings of the Navy," a Warner Bros.-Cosmopoli-tan picture which effectively dramatises the thrilling story of naval aviation, shows 10-day at the Meteor Theatre with a east beaded by George Brent, Oliva de Havillaud, John Payne, and Frank McHugh. The background of the new picture lends itself naturally to the depiction of impressive and thrilling scenes, and the studio, with the navy’s aid, has taken full advantage of the opportunities presented. About 600 planes, including every type used by the navy, are shown at various times in the course of the story, and there are several shots in which scores of planes take off or land in succession or are seen aloft simultaneously in breathtaking vistas of mass flying. There are ulso many exciting shots of dazzling manoeuvres by individual pilots and several bits of action—including three crashes —which are bound to electrify the beholder. The spirit and tradition of the aerial wing of the naval service are effectively presented in a story that covers the life of the average navy flier from the beginning of his training to the time when, as a veteran pilot, he can take part in mass flights in huge seaplanes over thousands of miles of open ocean. Aside from tlie thrilling and engrossing flying background, the picture is marked by a human and moving story of brotherly affection and a charming romantic motif which for a time, however, threatens to shatter the bonds between the two brothers, played by Brent and Payne, for they both love the same girl, played by' Olivia de Havilland.

STATE THEATRE TO-DAY. •■THE JONES FAMILY IN HOLLYWOOD." We don’t know why the Jones Family can’t take a quiet trip like other people. Take their Hollywood trip for example—- " The Jones Family in Hollywood,’’ coming to the State Theatre to-morrow —no other family in the world could get into as many predicaments and funny situations as they do in four short days in Movieland! Maybe that’s why we love them so. Jed Prouly (Dad Jones) is selected by the Maryland Post of the American Legion to ■ represent that group at the Convention !-in Los Angeles. That is all the Joneses need to start the fun going. Dad’s secret plans for a one-man holiday are brushed aside with schemes for hiring a trailer and , taking the whole menage on the tour. Except lor Shirley Deane and Russell : Gleason, the new mama and papa who | have to stay homo to mind the baby, I tfteyre all in tne film; Spring Bylngton, Ken Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson, I Florence Roberts and Billy Mahan. The I moment tho Jones entourage enters the | film capital their trailer, labelled “Holly - I wood or Bust," is busted into by a speedy roadster driven by a young movie star, j Young Lucy Jones, whose feet are already in the clouds, is swept off them at once—'and the tun begins. Jack gets tangled up with romance, Roger tries to lick the whole movie colony, Luck takes a screen i test, and Dad lakes an aspirin! The ■ screen play by Harold Tarsliis is good .hilarious l'un an the best Jones manner. Directed by Maieom St. Clair, it is an original story by Joseph Hoffman and ! Buster Keaton, based on the characters created by Katharine Kavanaugh, John Stone served as associaie producer, and the cast also features William Tracy, June Gale and Marvin Stephens. “ CHICKEN WAGON FAMILY.” Hi, folks! That famous “ Chickeai Wagon Family” is rolling into town with .jane \Y uners and Leo Carrillo in the driver's seat! Tho -Oth Century-Fox screen version of the lovable story by Barry Benefield that stirs the wanderlust in us all opens to-morrow at the State Theatre and promises to bring us all 'plenty of adventure and excitement and laughter and romance! Partners again, this time June and Carrillo are daugnter ana Daddy in .a carefree family who hear i the call of the open road, toss their cares (into a red bandanna and travel around the (country bartering any and everything for chickens—and selling tlie clilckens when i they hit the big city! And if you know Jane and Carrillo, we needn't tell you that ,they run into plenty of trouble and excitement and fun en route! Jane’s mama, .Spring Byington (the famous Jones Family mother) and Jane's big sister, Marjorie Weaver, yearn to settle down in a real home in the big city. But Papa Carrillo can’t.keep a dollar in his jeans and when they get to town the best they can do i (with the aid of a handsome cop in the i person of Kane Richmond who falls in I love with Marjorie at first sight) is to > (settle down in a deserted fire house thac is up lor public sale. After a series of amazing -and amusing adventures, in the ' typical Withers tradition, ail ends happily. Herbert I. Leeds, directed “Chicken Wagon Family’' from a screen play by Viola Brothers Shore. KOSY THEATRE—TUESDAY WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY “STREET SINGER'S RETURN" ! “Street Singer’s Serenade” is rightly termed the “Happiness Picture of laa*).” A glorious modern anusical romance, punctuated with many delightful song hits, including that great favourite, “Tne Whiating Waltz,’’ is “Street ainger’s Serenade.” in his new screen story, “The Street Singer’s Return,” tlie feature now showing at the Kosy Theatre, Arthur r Tracy is supported by a big cast, including Arthur Riscoe, clown prince of comedians, Jo\ eiy Margaret Lockwood, Hugh Wakefieid, Rawicz and Landauer, celebrated piano duettists, who have had the honour of giving several performances before Royalty; Ellen Pollock, and Lew Stone and his merry music-makers. Arthur Tracy , appears as a lamous singer, who quarrels , with his leading lady and “walks out” on the show'in his “Street Singer’’ clothes. Mistaken for what he looks, ne is befriended by a beautiful girl (Margaret Lockwood), who tukes him to her tenement home, which she shares with her uncle (Arthur Riscoe) and with Tracy entering into the spirit of the adventure, the three become a trio of street entertainers. Meanwhile, the stage producers are searching high and low for Tracy, but Arthur has iailn in love with his little benefaetoress, and refuses to be “found." Interwoven throughout the story are six song hits, including “Halfway to Heaven," "Street Serenade" and “Haroun El Raschid, ’ that promise to rival In popularity even the merry numbers or “Street Singer’s Serenade.” ° The Secret of Stamboul.” “The Secret of Stamboul,” the second attraction, co-starring Valerie Hobson and trank Vosper, is tlie story of Larry a young army officer, who, ut a club ball knocks down a Turkish diplomat who is forcing unwelcome attentions on the Colonel s daughter. To avoid a military scandal, Lariy resigns, and accepts a job to investigate the allairs of a tobacco company in lurkey. He soon learns that a political intrigue is concerned with the wnr^ 13 '’ ana , organisation is at woik to upset the Government. He also reluLee n™ ln a “SaSS miY Se ' i 11 the power of the scounclutciie^ d l ° Save Jllni from their clutches However, one of the revolutionary leaders, known as the Eunuch of btamboul, captures Larry and him thrown into the sea, but Tania, knowing of the plans, is able to rescue him, and in ins th ? y prevcn t the uprisen?'.! ? 1 “ r ? le ot the sinister oriJl revolutionary leader is Prank Vosper t\ho teveals with amazing subtlety the VnZT?, V the Oriental ralnd, tvhTle Valerie Hobson as the Russian girl Tania also gives a pleasing performance.