ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 252, 23 September 1929, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

ROSY THEATRE. “FIGHTING DEMON” AND “BEHIND THE SCENES.” These two first-class features were screened before a packed house at the ICosy on Saturday night. Dick Talmadge, the greatest of all stunt artists, heads the programme in an exciting story of the prize ring entitled “The Fighting Demon.” This feature is destined to be the most popular of the leaping, jumping, smashing, whirligig melodramas in which this active stunt star has ever engaged. The sccno of Richard Talmadge’s feverish activity and amazing comedy is largely on ship-board and in South America, and the story provides him with plenty of action in both locales; notably a powerful and dramatic fight scene; the first in which he has been featured. As a pugilist, Mr Talmadge is literary and figuratively a “knockout.” His bout with the South American champion is one to be long remembered. In addition a new English beauty in Francos Guylor will bo seen in a story of stage life entitled “A Peep Behind the Scenes.” As an added attraction Tarzan the Mighty will also bo shown. This programme will be screened again to-night.

THEATRE DE LUXE. LAUGHABLE COMEDY—“CRAZY MAZIE.” Restaurants, cabaret and music hall scenes are all excellently portrayed in “Crazy Mazie,” a Cinema Art Films re lease and the current attraction at the Theatre do Luxe. One sequence where the henpecked husband, having blackened his face in order to avoid his wife, is forced on to the stage in a comic nigger quartette turn is comical in the extreme. It is seldom that one has the pleasux-e of seeing a new star who seems so certain of world-wide success as Lilian I-larvey, the featured player in this production. This young dancer is remarkably attractive, has personality, brains and fine acting ability as will be seen in "Crazy Mazie.” She has. already created a furore on the Continent. Spontaneous humour is the keynote of this picture; from beginning to end the spectator is kept in a continual state of amusement. There is not a dull moment, and even the most blase picturegoer could not help but bo thrilled by the appealing personality ' and radiating “joie de vivro” of the captivating star. In addition to the principal feature, very entertaining short items are also screened. Reserved seats are obtainable at the Central Booking Office, Broadway, ’phone 7178, up to 5 p.m. and thereafter at the theatre, ’phone 5050.

THE PALACE TALKIES. “SHOW BOAT” A GREAT SUCCESS. “Now he is out of the wav, I hope you aro ready to go home.” “I’ll never go home. ' I’ll wait for Gay. I’ll wait all my life for him.” This was the daughter’s challenge to her mother. She would wait for the husband who had dragged her to poverty, because she loved him and the comforts of her childhood home wore as nothing to that love for the father of her child. Away back in the ’fifties, thero plied up and down the turgid waters of that “Ole Man River,” the Mississippi, a show boat. Its interior comprised a spacious theatre and its advent at the various landing places and towns was hailed with delight by the riverside inhabitants, white and black alike. In those halcyon days, tho coming of the show boat was an event in the life of the community and tho first vibrant notes of its doleful siren were tho signal for a general rush to greet tho company as it marched ashore headed by the show band. Those days have Tong since passed but their picturcsqucness has been preserved in book and film and now the talkies have added a more realistic touch so that the people of to-day may secure a complete understanding of tho manners, customs and general mode of living in thoso far off times. The “Show Boat” was screened at tho Palaco Theatre for tho first time in Palmerston North' on Saturday, and itprovided raro entertainment for the capacity houso. It weaves an enthralling love story into the woof of that nomadic company of entertainers. The acting by all the principals is such that one could not conceive of bettor interpretations, while full license has been taken with the camera to bring before the eyes of to-day the quaipt dresses and customs of yesterday. Beautiful settings arc manifest throughout. No expense has been spared in presenting realistic scenes, one in point being tho show boat overtaken by storm and flood. There are many touching episodes with flashes of comedy between, while throughout run the haunting tunes of “The Show Beat” and “Ole Man River.” “Show Boat” is not a ICO per cent, talkie but that fact rather adds to its appeal than detracts by giving variety to the film. The singing is well reproduced as also are the voices in speech. Tho film came to Palmerston North with a big reputation and Saturday’s audiences agreed that all the claims mode of it have been substantiated.