ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

MAYFAIR THEATRE. "THE DOMINANT SEX.” Ono of the most compelling of presentday problems is presented in entertaining fashion in “The Dominant Sex,” delightful screen version of Michael Egan’s re-cord-breaking play, which screens at the Mayfair Theatre to-night. Women all over the world will sympathise with Angela Shale, the young wife who starts her married life intending to keep the independence of her singlo days and who finds herself in perpetual conflict with her husband as the result. Men will understand the problem of the young husband, Dick, who hankered after an old-fashioned wife, a real home, and a baby. Whether a wife should work after marriage—whether the husband has a right to mako decisions which will affect the wife’s future without consulting her, and whether a wife is entitled to sundry male friends, are some of the questions frankly discussed in this deliciously daring story of the early married life of an ordinary young couple. No more suitable actres sthan Diana Churchill, golden-haired star, who played in the stage version for over 700 performances, could have been chosen for the rolo of lovely, laughing _ Angela Shale, who found that her married life, though happy, brought her disillusionment. Phillips Holmes, the Hollywood star, is ideal as the young husband who finds it difficult to understand the quicksilver moods and ideas of his wife. A widely different married couple is represented by Carol Ooodner and Romney Brent, who play the roles of a selfish, pleasure-seeking wife, and kindly, unselfish husband. The wife’s flirtations and habits break up this marriage, sending the husband to another girl, who looks on him as more than a universal provider Other members ■of the strong cast are Billy Milton as a former flame of Angela’s, who brings about an amusing series of complications when he becomes involved with Dick in business Kathleen Kelly, who brings delightful freshness to the role of the young girl with whom Romney Brent finds eventual happiness, and Hugh Miller as a philandering man-about-town. Herbert Brcnon, famous director of numerous Hollywood euocesses, directed “The Dominant Sex. Don’t miss it! It’s the story of your married life —my married life —and that of the nioe young couple next door.

KOSY THEATRE. “BLACK LEGION.” The films write a page of current history in “Black Legion.” a thrilling melodrama produced by Warner Bros., winch will screen at the Rosy Theatre to-night Recently, in Michigan, a band of masked and hooded men took the law in their own hands and killed their chosen enemies without semblance of justice or mercy. Nevvspaper accounts of its activities shocked the law-abiding elements of the entire country. Outraged opinion demanded swift justice and got it. Confessional testimony of the chief suspect brought out incredible ruth* los3ness on the part of the night raiders. On the more rumour that a man had beaten bis wife, the man was killed. That the rumour was without the least foundation made this lawless execution the more horrible. In another case, some of the members —according to the confession of tlio suspect —deliberately shot a coloured citizen because they wanted “to see how it felt to kill a negro.” Investigation clearly showed that the Black Legion was founded on the prejudice, race-hatred, and bigotry of half-baked mentalities, herded together by glib organisers, who were making fortunes out.of the sale of hooded gowns and firearms. The story of the organisation as it is filmed is the moredra-

matic for being based on fact. The havoc wrought in the families of the victims, as well as in the families of its members is stark melodrama. The main character in the screen play is a yonug working man deluded into the belief that it is a duty to take the law into his own bands. Because the job which he thought he deserved was given to a foreigner, lie. feels that he has been cheated of his rights as an American citizen. By so doing, he spoils a beautiful romance, utterly destroys the happiness of his neighbours, mid iq the end kills his own best friend. The part is played by Humphrey Bogart, who was the outstanding bandit in “Petrified Forest.’ As a picturo of an actual phase of America’s complicated social struggle, “Black Legion” is said to be unusually interesting and possessed .of greater dramatic force that anv previous movie “from the head lines.” Dick Foran, Erin O’Bricri-Moorc, Helen Flint, Ann Sheridan, Joseph Sawyer and other well-known players art among the principals. Archie Mayo directed the picturo from a screen play by Abcm Finkel and William Wistcr Plaines. ASSOCIATE FEATURE. “Sunset Range,” with Hoot Gibsonblazing action and romance ol the West, where a straight punch and a quicker draw are the first laws of life. Plus “Jungle Jim,” chapter 4, “Tho Killer’s Trail.”