PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7079, 11 February 1933, Page 3

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

REGENT THEATRE

“'ON OUR SELECTION’’—STEELE RUDD’S FAMOUS STORY

With Bert Bailey in the role of “Dad,” “On Our Selection,” the film version of Steele Rudd’s novel, is now proving remarkably popular with patrons at the Regent theatre. Most of us are familiar with this descriptive yarn of tho hardships and humour of family life in the Australian backblocks. There is an abundance of natural comedy, with a touch of pathos here and there, and the love story uj a young couple who win through to happiness. The central figure of the story is “Dad,” the lmrdy old settler who has been ruined by drought time and again, only to come up smiling, until at last fortune smiles on him. Bert Bailey is in the principal role, and he makes it sparkle from start to finish. ■ The “chips of the old block,” with the exception of a charming daughter, arc nothing to write home about as an intellectual family, and tho manner in which these artists play the simple country yokels is really clever, for they provide much of the humour—after old “Dad,” of course. The specially selected supporting programme includes an extremely beautiful subject, “Symphony in Steel,” which shows some wonderful views of Sydney bridge, the harbour, city and suburbs, with an interesting description by Frank Hurley. There is also a new and delightfully laughable cartoon, entitled “Mickey Steps Out.”

KOSY THEATRE SHIRLEY GREY IN “THE RIDING TORNADO ’ ’ With the encouragement and backing of the church, contrary as it seems, Shirley Grey got her start on the stage. Born into an itinerant minister’s family travelling the New England circuit of churches, she was encouraged by her father to follow a stagß career. Her first Thespian endeavour blossomed when she played leading roles in many school plays. Professionally, she first trod tho boards at a very early age. New England repertoire companies gave her further opportunity to develop the talents that make her one of the most promising screen actresses to-day. One year and a half ago, Miss Grey was signed to a long-term contract and sinco has had scarcely a moment’s rest, what with “The Public Defender” and “Secret Service” with Richard Dix; “Oho Man Law,” with Buck Jones, and most recently the leading role opposite Tim McCoy in “The Riding Tornado,” the attraction at the Kosy theatre. Every kind of animal that infests the length and breadth of Africa is shown in “Jungle Mystery,” the seventh episode of which is now playing at the Kosy treatre. Lions, tigers, elephants, leopards, boa constrictors, hyenas, rlunoceri, water buffalo, giraffes, harto beasts, gorillas and apes.

PALACE THEATRE “THE MASK OF FU MANCHU ” Boris Karloff appears in what is probably his strangest role as Dr. Fu Manchu in . Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ’s iilmisation of the Sax Rohmer mystery, “The Mask of Fu Manchu,’’ which forms the featured subject of the new programme to be introduced at the Palace theatre this afternoon. In weird make-up as the Chinese superman, he toys with artificial lighting volts in his fantastic laboratory, inflicts uncanny tortures and heads an amazing intrigue whose purpose is to establish dominion over the entire world. Karloff proves himself a past master in the art of creating terror and mystery in a characterisation. . His remarkable make-up not only depicts him a 3 a sinister and cunning Oriental but also gives him the unique appearance of being almost seven feet in height. Lewis Stone offers a skilful portrayal of the Scotland Yard detective who is trapped by the clever Fu Manchu, is made the victim of horrible tortures but comes out the winner in the end. Karen Morley and Charles Starrett win sympathy in the romantic leads and the Oriental looking Myrna Loy is effective as the Eurasian daughter of the wily Fu Manchu. Other roles are well played by Jean Hersholt, Lawrence Grant and David Torrence. Those who are looking for super-thrills will find plenty to excite them in this weird story, particularly hair-raising being the spike and bell torture machines, the uncanny laboratory with its death-ray and the operation of the mechanical robot. The supporting programme is composed an an hilarious comedy in which Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd arc in their very clement; another item of Pete Smith’s angling series, entitled “Trout Fishing,’’ and two Mctrotouc News reels.