ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 50, 29 January 1932, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

PALACE THEATRE.

MARIE DRESSLER IN “POLITICS.”

In “Politics,” playing at . the Palmerston Thcatro for four days commencing to-morrow at a matinee, JJario Dressier, aided. and abetted by Polly Moran, romps through screamingly comical ..situations, and into the' bargain givos the audience, a taste' of tho character, work that sho - displayed in “Anna Christie” and “Min' and Bill.” Tho new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picturo is an hilarious story of Mario os a feminine candidate, for mayor, with tho agilo Polly as her campaign managor. Sho harangues tho women’s vote, conducts torchlight processions, handles political. rallies, and evon calls out tho women;of tho town on a strfiko against thoir husbands for the sako of civic purity. Underlying tho laughs, however,' is a tense little drama of a woman battling tho crooked politics of tho underworld'to savo her daughtor and othor women’s daughters from the. perils of political conditions. She dofics the gangsters and tho crookod mayor, stages• raids, and generally raises a rumpus with tho political machinery of her rival.

AT the ; REGENT. FINAL SESSION OF “BACHELOR APARTMENT.” Tho final' screening of “Bacholor Apartment,” featuring Lowell Sherman,- takes placo at tho Regent Theatre this evening. Tho star, has tho rolo of a most plausiblo and polished philanderer, whose suave tonguo and urbane manner got him clear of - many a ticklish situation. Supporting ‘Lowell Sherman, who registers, his greatest personal success, is Ircno Dunne as an attractively sympathetic heroine, and Mao Murray as an avid vamp. Tho settings, too, are very effective in their restrained suggestion of bachelor opulence. The story shows how Wayno Carter has this and that narrow escapo from designing women until tho appearance of tho humble Agatha Carraway alters his entire feminino outlook. Knowing tho predoomed failuro of other methods, ho engages Agatha as his .secretary and eventually, via a path further bestrewn with , feminino' ambitions to vamp, him, ho comes to-know her. pure gold and finally marries her. Tho supports includo "Second Hand Kisses,” “Humanetto” • and “Good Timo Kenneth,” and assist materially to complete a splendid programme. Undoubtedly, Lowolf Sherman has his most amusing role and is at his best in “Bachelor Apartment.” , MAURICE CHEVALIER IN “THE SMILING LIEUTENANT.”

.There will be something of the air of a first'day musical show at tho Regent Theatre to-mornow, when a capacity audience is expected to attend tho matineo at 2 o’clock and the evening performance at 8 of (Maurice Chevalier in his latest triumph, the Viennese operetta—“ Tho Smiling Lieutenant,” a Paramount production which places ;tho popular Parisian star still further ahead .of any of his contemporaries. Many years ago other audiences watchod the first night of tho same show—only , in those days the show was called “Tho Waltz Dream.”. The piece was a great success when played, but it is doubtful whether tho first night audience than was more enthusiastic than it will bo in this case. ‘The Smiling Liutenant” is unquestionably tho most breezy and tuneful show of the year. Tho music (ail through it run thoso melodies which Oscar Strauss made so popular) 13 entrancing and the dialoguo and acting superb. Chevalier completely eolipses evert his never-to-be-forgotten perlormanco in “Tho Innocents of-Paris'.” In this show ho has two leading women—Claudette Colbert, more attractive than .ever, and Miriam Hopkins, who gives a . remarkable performance as a dowdy royal princess who turns into a beautiful woman. In addition to tho original music of tho show, the composer has written other numbers especially for the star. They alone are worth going to hear. Charles Riigglcs, the joyous inebriate of a score of film hits, gives of his laugh-making talents to this new picture. Into this humorous, yet sincere' love story, Chevalier has woven his inimitable personality, emphasising his joy in the romance in song. The-6ongs, three of- them, . were written especially for the French favourite by Vienna’s own; waltz king, and by lyricist Clifford Grey. Tho music .is lovely, lilting; the lyrics witty; Chovalier’s singing, n 3 always, delightful. The box plan is now open.

KOSY THEATRE, “MAN TO MAN” SCENES LAID IN :. DIXIE. The atmosphere of old Dixie i * Teh pervades the Southern background of “Man to Man,” tho Warner Bros, and Vitaphone production which screens finally .to-night at the Kosy Theatre with “B : g Business Girl,” wus not a novelty to Lucille Powers during the filming and recording of the picture. Miss Powers, who has the feminine lead and provides the romantic interest with Phillips Holmes spent several years of her girlhood in South ‘ Carolina where she attended school in Spartanburg. It waa there she naturally acquired the charming southern drawl used by Emily in “Man to Man.” Grant Mitchell, former stage star, portrays "Barber John” in this powerful story of a father and son’s sacrifice, suffering and devotion by Ben Ames Williams. The youthful Holmes enacts the boy. The cast includes George Marion, Ruesoll Simpson, Dwight Fryo, Barbara Weeks Otis Harlan, Bill Banker, and others. Allan Dwan directed "Man to Man.” “DANGER LIGHTS” TO-MORROW. /‘Purely accidental,” says Louis Wolheim. “Inevitable, it couldn’t have been otherwise," said motion picture producers. They referred to the beginning of the career of Louis Wolheim who appears in his most impressive role in Radio Pictures’ spectacular all-tulking railroad drama, “Danger Lights," at the Kosy Theatre tomorrow. The actor, whose countenance is best known for its “hardboiled,” yet sympathetic appearance and its crookod nose, was born in New York. His early education was obtained in city, schools. Ho studied mechanical engineering at the City College of New York, Columbia and Cornell Universities. After leaving college With an engineering degree, he returned to a graduate school for a Th.D., paying his expenses by- instructing in mathematics. After appearing in many silent 'pictures, Wolheim turned to the stage for further laurels and' -appeared with groat success in the leading roles of "Tho Hairy Ape, “What Prieo Glory,” and others. On the screen he was notable in “All Quiet on the Western Front" before appearing in "Danger Lights.” • . - '