PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7279, 5 October 1933, Page 3

PALMERSTON PICTURE PROGRAMMES

PALACE THEATRE WINIFRED SHOTTER IN "THE DOVE CONTRACT" Winifred Shelter plays an altogether new role in "The Love Contract,” now screening at the Palace theatre. As Antoinette, she has gambled on the Stock Exchange and lost all her money. Forced to sell her home, she accepts the offer of Neville Carrington (Owen Nares), the mail responsible for her financial downfall. Carrington is milch interested in a Mrs. Savage (Sunday Wilshin) and when Antoinette is offered the position of chauffeur to the rich limn, accepts as much to spite Mrs. Savage as lo earn a livelihood. Antoinette is an efficient chauffeur, much more so than Hodge (Gibb McLaughlin), who is a poor specimen. The capable, ready-witted girl uses Hodge effectively in her schemes to part Carrington and the woman, always bearing in mind the conditions of the contract drawn up between herself and Carrington. The fun lies in the observance of a business contract, while the two are inevitably falling in love. One particularly amusing part of the story is concerned with a night motor trip to Cornwall. Antoinette is determined that the two shall not spend the night together in the car, and uses Hodge as part of her plan to keep them apart. The main attraction is preceded by very interesting short subjects, among which arc "A Few Coppers”; the latst edition of the popular Ideal Magazine; "The Land of Our Fathers," a really outstanding item, and a fine nature study entitled "Moorland Birds.” REGENT THEATRE LIONEL BARRYMORE IN ".SWEEPINGS” There is intense drama hidden in the sweepings that the janitors of a great department store brush together each night after a. busy day’s operations. RKO-Radio Pictures has protruded its camera's eye into such debris of life, and offers its research in "Sweepings,” which will conclude this evening at the Regent theatre. Lionel Barrymore is the star, with a supporting cast including Ninetta Sutherland, Gloria Stuart, Alan Dineliart, William Gargan and Gregory Ratoq. A comedy entitled "Thrown Out Of Joint"; an Aesop fable cartoon, "The Stone-age Error,” and a Newsreel are included in a well diversified supporting programme. A New George Arliss Success.

"The King's Vacation” will begin Its local season to-morrow evening at the Regent theatre, when George Arliss will give an outstanding performance. His sympathetic and delightfully huiiioi*ou3 rendering of the part of a king, who, while desiring to be treated as an ordinary human being-, is forever treated as king, is consummate, and is Arliss at bis best. The story tells of Philip, a kingseated on a throne which is tottering. He realises that the country is on the brink of revolution, and signs a Bill the harshness of which he feels will bind the country together and bring about a bloodless revolution. His plan succeeds, and iie is forced lo abdicate. His queen, Margaret, played by Florence Arliss with fine understanding, sends him back to his former wife and daughter to seek the peace and happiness he has so long desired. His return to the cottage of his youth and dreams is not all that he thought it would be, but Fate, by a dexterous turn, succeeds in showing how he may regain his former happiness, and the picture closes on this note. The supporting programme will be in keeping with the quality of the main attraction arid will include an orchestral item entitled ".Music To My Ears’ 5 ; No. 2_of the interesting “Sports Thrills” series; a travelogue "From Bethlehem to Jerusalem''; a. Graham McNarnec Newsreel, and other subjects. KOSY THEATRE DARING ACTION .IN "SMOKE LIGHTNING” It hardly seems possible that anyone, let alone a. nine-year-old girl, could approach George O'Brien as a daring rider; yet. the noted western star meets_ with stiff equestrian competition in “Smoke Lightning.” his now Fox vehicle, an exceptionally dramatic and scenically beautiful picture by the way which opened yesterday at the Kosy theatre. Little Betsy King Ross, who weighs about 60 pounds and resembles a, slender boy an her Dutch bob, proves a real surprise to screen fans in her film debut as O’Brien’s ward. Her exhibitions of horsemanship are little short of startling and her acting ability is of a fine order. Her efforts appear to have put the star on his mettle and the result Is a, picture that contains some of the most exciting riding and action in recent months. The story, taken from Zane Grey’s "Canyon Walls, . revolves about the adventures O’Brien meets with when he appoints himself the unofficial guardian of a wealthy little orphan girl and sets about defending her and her ranch from the manoeuvres of a gang of crooks. “After Dark” is the main supporting Hern, the programme also including a cartoon "Oceantics, and two Newsreels. An interesting highlight in the. last named is a. wrestling maten between Rondos and Oki Shikiana, the Japanese ju-jitsu expert.