AMUSEMENTS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 431, 12 May 1937, Page 8

AMUSEMENTS.

Plaza Theatre.

Jane Withers In “This Is The Life” Not so long ago, nine-year-old Jane Withers, featured in “This Is The Life,” which screens at the Plaza Theatre for the last time to-night, in a singing, dancing and dramatic role, was in grave danger of becoming typed as the “bad girl” of the screen. Assigned to such a part in the Shirley Temple picture, "Bright Eyes,” little Jane astounded critics with her understanding portrayal of the obnoxious, snobbish child who found such great delight in torturing the great child star. Despite the excellence of her performance in this role, studio officials recognised the latent ability of this child as an all-around actress and decided to cast her in an entirely different type of part. The picture “Ginger,” vindicated the judgment Of the the studio officials. Here her flair for comedy and her sense of dramatic values were given full sway and critics proclaimed Jane an actress of major ability. In “This Is the Life,” Jane Withers comes into her own, not only as a dramatic actress of mature and seasoned talent, but also as singer and dancer. This picture finds Jane singing, dancing and clowning as the performing child star who desires only to be a normal child. But, she is made the virtual slave of her unscrupulous guardians who are making a "meal ticket” of her. “This Is The Life” is John McGuire, Featured with Jane Withers in who scored a hit in the juvenile role in Will Rogers’ "Steamboat Round the Ben.” Included in the cast are Sidney Toler. Francis Ford and Sally Blane. Marshall Neilan directed.

“Dancing Pirate” With screai incffW-ions introduced in elaborate profusion “Dancing Pirate," the first feature-length musL cal comedy-drama ever filmed in the new Techntcolour process, corrie: for its local debut at the Plaza Theatre on Thursday and Friday. The result is a production calculated to arouse world-wide Interest, bo'h as an entertainment and as a technical achievement. It is the en. W-’tlainineitt aspectsi of the Picture , which bids.’ for its greatest popular, ity, providing as it does a lavish diverting show. However, the pictorial advances revealed mark a new milestone in cinema art. Among the innovations in this Pioneer Pictures film is an ideia termed "imaginative colouring,” designed by Robert Edmund Jones, long re. garded as the foremost authority in America on stage settings, colour and lighting effects. It represents Hollywood’s initial attempt ’to use colour as it has been employed for centuries by the greatest of painters and 1 is said to have resulted in clearer images, more reality and in complete removal of the dazzling gaudiness which characterised earlier colour pictures. Beyond these and other important artistic features, the production boasts a fine featured dast including the screen's new dancing star, Charles Collins, from th 6 New York and London stage; Frank Morgan in. the type Of comedy he handles best; Steffi Duna, dynamic ingenue; Victor VaF. coni, Jack Laßue) and the Royal

Clansinos., formerly command entertainers to the King and Queen of Spain and impressive dancing ensembles. King’s Theatre. “The Mighty Treve” "The Mighty Treve,” the Universal picture featuring Noah Beery, junr., and Barbara Read, opens at the King’s on Thursday and Friday. The story, taken from the novel “Treve,” by the noted author Albert Payson Terhune, relates the adventure, romance and pitfalls encountered by a young fellow when he set out to make his way in the world. The movie gains its dramatic force from the simple direct way in which it is presented, according to advance reports. After Noah meets Barbara he discovers that her uncle, a. sheep owner, is an eccentric person with a cowering fear of dogs. Noah and his dog Treve are ordered off the ranch. Then Barbara gets in some fancy diplomacy and Noah remains with his canine pal, who later saves Uncle’s lite. Treve wins a number of prizes at a dog show. The climax of the story is reached when owners of surrounding sheep ranches accuse Treve of being a sheep killer. They are about to execute him when an unexpected development saves the animal.

George Robey’s famous eyebrows have gone into action again for his latest production, “Southern Roses,” a fragrant musical comedy romance that sparkles with joyous entertainment, which also screens at the King’s on Thursday and Friday. The well-known comedian has Gina Malo, vivacious dancing and singing star, and Neil Hamilton as his confederates in this merry production which was made by Grafton films. Opening in the picturesque settings of Barcelona, “Southern Roses” is the story of a young naval officer, who meets and falls in love with a charming cabaret artiste, Mary Roland, not knowing that she is really an English society girl on an escapade.

“Girl Overboard” Thrilling, heart pulsing- drama comes to the King’s on Saturday and Monday, with the screening of Universal’s fast moving story of fire at sea, “Girl Overboard!” With Gloria Stuart and Walter Pidgeon in the leading roles, “Girl Overboard!” tells the gripping story of a hunted woman who stakes everything—even lite itself —for the man she loves. "Girl Overboard!” will thrill you with its sweeping action, haunting drama and tender love story. Beautiful blonde Miss Stuart plays the role of a girl who flees from a too persistent suitor—later to be enmeshed in the net of the law and accused of the man’s murder. Walter Pidgeon plays the District Attorney who is expected to prosecute the woman he loves. Highlighting this unusual screen offering are some of the most amazing and realistic ship fire scenes ever filmed. In the inferno of this burning ship Gloria sees destroyed the only proof of her innocence of murder. Flames reach out and consume the written confession of the real killer leaving Gloria a fugitive from justice. Besides Miss Stuart and Pidgeon, the cast includes such favourites as Billy Burrud, Hobart Cavanaugh, Gerald Oliver Smith, Jack Smart, David Oliver and Charlotte Wynters. If you like realism, drama, swift action—then don’t miss "Girl Overboard!”