ENTERTAINMENTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 3

ENTERTAINMENTS

STATE THEATRE. “MAKE A WISH.” The screen lias not presented during flic current season a more complete entertaining motion picture than “Make a Wish,” the new Bobby Breen starring vehicle * filmed by Principal Productions for RKO Radio, which screens to-night at the State Theatre. In no department of production has anything been neglected to make the picture a thoroughly enjoyable one, and it easily qualifies as the best in which the young singing star has ever appeared—a pleasing mixture of comedy, romance, tuneful songs and beautiful backgrounds. Bobby combines real ability as an actor with a magnificent singing voice which seems even to have increased in volume and sweetness. Ho is heard in several haunting melodies written by the noted Viennese composer, Oscar Straus, the outstanding one of the group being the theme song bearing tho title of the picture itself. Basil llathbone, no longer the suave villain, plays a truly romantic role for the first time in his screen ca.recr, and contributes a performance which stamps him as a versatile actor of unusual attainments. Tho leading feminine role is portrayed by Marion Claire, famous radio singer, who gives every promise of future screen stardom. The explosive Italian, Henry Armetta, is' vastly humorous in a characterisation that is literally a comedy gem. Others in the big cast who do especially commendable work are Ralph Forbes, Leon Errol, Donald Meek, Leonid Kinskcy and Herbert Kawlinson. Much of the action of “Make a Wish,” adapted from an original story by Gertrude Berg, takes place at a. boys’ summer camp in Maine, whore Bobby forms a close friendship with Basil llathbone, a composer. Rathbono becomes interested in the boy’s lovely young mother, Marion Claire, and a romance develops between the two, despite her fiance, Ralph Forbes. This tangled situation reaches a tensely dramatic climax in her Now York home, and at the rehearsal of an operetta. Director at a lively pace. “Make a Wish” is a picture which is heartily recommended. On tho same programme thero will bo screened the first of 1938 Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse coloured silly symphonies entitled “Pluto’s Quinpuplcts,” all in teclmicolour.

At the 8 o’clock session the two competitors in the Bobby Breen personality contest will sing on the stage. The audience will judge the winners each evening.

MAYFAIR THEATRE. “BIG BROWN EYES.” Sonic like romance—sonic like tin-ills — some like comedy—and "Paramount’s “Big Brown Eyes” screening at the Mayfair Theatre to-night, with Joan Bennett and Gary Grant sharing too leading roles, will please them all, because it has everything! Joan breaks up with Grant, when slio thinks, wrongly, that lie has fallen for another woman, and quits her manicuring job to go to t work for a newspaper columnist. She gets a hunch tliut a mysterious jewel robbery, which is turning the town upside-down, and the killing of a little baby in tho park, are tied-up. and goes io work to run the story down. Joan puts her finger on the criminals, and forces them to stand trial, but through political pull, they get oft'. Joan gels another hunch, and, with Grnnt. works out the details of a trap. This time, it works, and the final fado-oul. shows the lovers reunited, the guilty gangsters getting what they deserve, and everyone happy—wlijeh is, after all, tho proper way for a film to wind up! “RUGGLES OF RED GAP.”

On her first trip to Paris, Effie Floud of Red Gnp, U.S.A., wills a stud-poker game, as a result of which she acquires the services of Ruggics, the meet perfect gentleman's gentloinan in Europe and valet to the Earl of Burnstcad. Bewildered, Rugglos is transferred from the placid, well-regulated Burnstcad atmosphere to the raw and riotous Floud service. Eflic immediately commissions tho valet to outfit Egbert from bead to too and then to escort his unwilling now master to the art galleries whore, she hopes, Egbert will drink in a little culture. Rugglcs’s elegant manners have a convincing effect and lie is immediately taken up by tho Reel Gap Blucbloods. He longs to return to his ser-vant-class station. Escaping from the society functions lie seeks out the companionship of the common people of. the town — and meets Mrs Judson. Their mutual love of good cooking brings them closer together, and the story proceeds in satisfying fashion to a hilarious conclusion.

v REGENT THEATRE. “THE EMPEROR’S CANDLESTICKS.” In a film that aftords amazing contrast with their former vehicles, William Powell and Luisc Rainer achieve new credit in “The Emperor’s Candlesticks,” from the Metro-Goldwyn-Maycr studios. The star, who bus becomo famous as “The Thin Man,” now is a dashing secret agent in Europe, and Miss Rainer, recently hailed for her superb artistry as the Chinese slave-bride in “The Good Earth,” is an exotio woman of international intrigue. Tho story, from tho novel by Baroness Orczy, moves from Vienna lo Warsaw, into Russia and back into Paris and London, with susponseful action at every step. Tho spies suspect ouch other, and rightfully. Death is close On their heels many times, but they outwit it and eventually romance brings them together. A powerful supporting cast includes Robert Young, Maureen O’Sullivan. Frank Morgan, Henry Stephenson, Bernadono Ilnyes, Donald Kirk, Douglas Dumbrillo, Barnett Parker, Bert Roach, Charles Waldron, Emina Dunn, lon Wulf, Frank Reicher, Paul Porcasi, and E. E. Clive. George litzmaurice was director and the picture was produced by John Considine, jnr. “The Emperor's Candlesticks” will serve as convincing proof, if anv should be needed, that William Powell .and Luise Rainer are versatile masters of their craft, capable of portraying human emotions in every phase.

THE BIG TENT. SEASON OF WHITE'S CIRCUS. Bigger, better, brighter than ever is a claim usually made for visiting shows. It has been made for the 1937-38 Wirth’s Circus, and the patrons who have filled the big tent .night after night both in the South and North Islands, since its arrival in November last, have voiced the opinion that it ie far from an idle boast. Even in Dunedin, where many travelling shows experience lean business, Wirth’s was pucked out for a souson of six nights, and many hundreds of intending patrons were refused admission, thus constituting a record for that city. The show comprises two hours and a half of fast-moving turns, varied, sensational and amusing, and Mr Philip Wirlh, always an impressive ringmaster, keeps the audience right up to a high pitch. Animals have their own appeal, particularly when they are monsters of tho jungle doing their tricks, and this season’s performance leads from climax to climax. There is no need to enumerate the attractions. Acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, performing animals all play their full share, and, of course, there aro tho clowns, always an essential feature of a circus. Mr Philp Wirth has a company that surpasses oven tho high standards set in New Zealand by a family famous in this department of entertainment, and night after night tho audience is showing appreciation of an atrnction of unusual merit. Coming with tho crcus is a vast super menagerie, containing 18 cages of wild animals, including a herd of nine olephants, lions, tigers, jaguars, baboons, monkeys, orang outangs, panthers, bears, and a complete Btud of beautiful and mar■vellously trained horses, not forgetting “Harold,” the amazing orang outang, in condo antics, always a' favourite with the children. The circus will play at Palmorston North on Friday and Saturday next, the evening performance commencing at 8 p.m. and a special matinee will be given for tho children on Saturday at 2.30. Seats may bo reserved at Collinaon and Cunninghame’s. The location will be near the Empire Hotel in Main Street,