AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 398, 3 April 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre. “Small Town Girl.” Lovely Janet Gaynor and handsome. Robert Taylor are co-starred in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Small Town Girl," which shows at the Plaza tonight. A leading New .York reviewer writes: “The audience sat enthralled by Janet Gayor and Robert Taylor in the excitingly dramatic ‘Small Town Girl.’ It was a Gaynor the audience had always loved, and yet she added a new flavour to her characterisation as the bad, good little girl who married a brilliant and handsome young doctor to get away from the boredom of her sleepy little town. She was the Gaynor of the ginghams -ind yet she showed a world of smart style and sophistication in the latter sequences which took place in Boston, among 'higb society.’ All in all, it is one of the deepest dramatic roles that she has portrayed during her successful career on the screen. Taylor, as her leading man, portraying the doctorhusband. married to her while intoxicated, showed that he is more than ever the fastest-rising actor on the screen to-day. “The honeymoon scenes on the yacht, when Taylor explains that the trip is being taken to save a scandal, Were particularly outstanding for the actor, while Miss Gaynor tugged at the heartstrings of the theatregoers during the scene in which she begged the doctor's jilted fiancee to allow her to talk to her husband to save a boy’s life at the clinic.” Supporting the stars is a finished east, including the lovely English actress, Binnie Barnes, in the role of Taylor's fiancee: Lewis Stone as the aristocratic father: Andry Devine, Elizabeth Patterson, Frank Craven and James Stewart, who recently scored as Jean Harlow’s patient admirer in “Wife Versus Secretary.” Also standing .out in the large cast are Douglas Fowley, Isabel Jewell, and Charley Grapewin. The direction of William Wellman is worthy of high praise, as are the production values instilled by Hunt Stromberg in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. John Lee Mahin and Edith Fitzgerald wrote the screen play from Ben Ames Williams’ famous hove!, “Small Town Girl,” and did an excellent job of the adaption.

King’s Theatre.

“The Man Who Lived Twice.” “The Man Who Lived Twice,” a blood-chilling drama of a killer resurrected and transformed into a reputable, eminent surgeon, will be showing at ' the King's Theatre tonight together with “RidingWild.” Ralph Bellamy appears in the title role with Miriam Marsh, Isabel Jewell and Thurston Hall in the other principal parts. This sensational motion picture steps one step ahead ot science, to dramatise the power of surgery to change completely a person’s characteristics, appearance and personality. The significance ot such a transformation poses an interesting question. Is the man so transformed the same as the man who first submitted to the operation? “The Man Who Lived Twice” attempts an answer in the tense and dramatic story of Slick Rawley, a dangerous killer. The leading part—the title role—is taken by that splendid actor, Ralph Bellamy. Charming Miriam Marsh, featured opposite Bellamy, has the sympathetic feminine leading role. Isabel Jewell, though portraying the “heavy” character of a vindictive “moll,” has a very emotional part and portrays it beautifully. Strikingly produced by Columbia and tellingly directed by Harry Lachman, the story provides the season's most startling screen entertainment.

Ralph Bellamy ,has a dual role. At the opening, he’s a dangerous killer—a menace to society. He’s operated on by a famous surgeon who, although knowing him to be a crok and a fugitive from justice, feels justified in actually remaking a man. After the operation, with memory of his former existence obliterated, Bellamy becomes Dr. James Blake, a completely honourable member of society. Possibly the most striking situation in the film is that in which “Peggy Russell” (Isabel Jewell) recognises in “Dr. James Blake” (Bellamy), who is attempting to help her, the farmer gangster and hunted murderer who had been her sweetheart.

Do you save up your dotties? A writer'in a London weekly (a medical man) condemns this practice as “Very unwise,” and says the scrapings of a pipe-bowl, “the dregs ui a fill,” as he puts it, are quite unfit to be smoked over again, adding: “The smoker’s slogan should be ‘safety first’.” It should, but very often it isn’t. Dottlesmoking is doubtless “very unwise." but is the smoking of tobacco containing a large percentage of nicotine any wiser? Yet such brands are as common as house-flies in summer, and may wreck the nerves of a smoker or attack his heart or throat. The really safe way is to smoke “toasted”; toasting rids this beautiful tobacco of most of its nicotine and leaves it pure, sweet and wholesome. It has a fascinating flavour and is the most fragrant and comforting of all tobaccos. The only genuine toasted brands are Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish, Riverhead Gold, and Desert Gold. But there are several worthless imitations about. Beware!

Few Words Suffice.

—Shakespeare. Although vo’umes could be written on the marvellous relief given to thousands by Baxter’s Lung Preserver, it is sufhekmt to say that “Baxter’s” has been first in favour for 70 years. There is nothing like “Baxter's” for coughs, colds, sore throats and all bronchial troubles in adults and children. Unique for its pleasant flavour and soothing effect, as well as for its tonic properties. Be sure you get “Baxter’s." Sold by all chemists and stores. 4/6, 2/6 and 1/6.