Entertainments

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 217, 13 September 1940, Page 9

Entertainments

REGENT THEATRE—TO-MORROW “THE GREAT VICTOR HERBERT” A collector interested in American vehicles of the turn-of-the-century vintage would have uncovered a ‘ gold-mine had he strayed on to the Paramount lot during the filming of “The Great Victor Herbert,” the musical romance showing tomorrow at the Regent Theatre. The expert would have found all manner of vehicles. There were Allan Jones and Mary Martin riding bicycles. There were hansom cabs and carriages, open and closed horse-drawn vehicles, victorias, three-wheeled bikes and a 1905 motor-car. The studio property department, of course, was charged with tho task of finding all of these various types of vehicles. That’s what property departments are for. Like most studios, Paramount has a stock of carriages at a near-by ranch. They are brought into the studio whenever needed. Old-fashioned bicycles are hard to find, particularly tho three-wheel-ed type. This has a main wheel in back, and two small ones in front, between which nestles a huge box used for deliveries. The motor-car, of course, is a museum piece. But numerous enterprising local motor-car dealers have old-type cars on hand, which are available to studios at neat rentals. Horses to draw the carriages are rented front an agency which makes a specialty of just that. There are matched blacks, roans, greys, and all the rest. There are sway-backs, spavined relics and misfits of all kinds. They’re good for laughs, yes, but they lead an easy life, witli plenty of oats, between pictures. “The Great Victor Her. bert” also features Walter Connolly. Lee Bowman, Susanna Foster and Judith' Barrett. METEOR THEATRE—TO-DAY “REWI’S LAST STAND” “Rewi’s Last Stand,” which is now showing at the Aletecr Theatre, was pri vately screened in Wellington to an audi-| ence which included Air. John Grierson,’ the Canadian Government film commissioner, who lias produced many successful films. Addressing the audience after I the screening, Air. Grierson said that it was more important that New Zealanders should have produced that film than Uiat they should see a hundred films from Hollywood. Not that good films were not made in Hollywood, for they were, but be-

cause in tho film they had just seen the nation had expressed itself. It was a good film, and he was surprised how near io producing a Cecil li. de Mille spectacle Air. Hayward had come with the resources at his disposal. The speaker said he realised the difficulties of creating a number of the scenes in “Rewl’s Last Htand.” The film jm based on the Battle of Orakau, made famous by the reply of the Maori chief to tho soldiers’ offer of a truce that the Maoris would fight on for ever. A story of love between a halfcaste girl and a pakeha has been woven into tlie authentic historic narrative to give the film a wider appeal than it would otherwise have. The battle is the film’s climax.

STATE THEATRE—TO-MORROW “LITTLE OLD NEW YORK” The boisterous town of the good old days, when cows roamed Fifth Avenue and a barmaid —or a lady—could win a man like Robert Fulton, are brought vividlv to life on the screen in “Little Old New York,” the 20th Century-Fox film, which shows at the State Theatre to-mor-row, with Alice Faye, Fred J.lacMurray, Richard Greene and Brenda Joyce heading a splendid cast. This robust, romantic, drama casts Alice Faye in her most colourful role as the fiery hello of the waterfront who fell headlong in love with handsome Robert Fulton —and went after him. while the whole brawling waterfront cheered her on. Mac Murray is seen as the burly shipbuilder engaged to build the Clermont, after Fulton’s model, for the first steamboat; Greene is seen as the dashing inventor himself; and blonde Brenda Joyce has tho role of the lovely girl who loved him, helped him to attain his dream in the face of ridicule, and who later became his wife. Others prominentlv featured in the cast are Andy Devlpe, Henry Stephenson and Fritz Feld. Directed by Henry King, “Little OJd New York” offers the most spectacular production of the producer-director combination which gave to the screen such unforgettable films as “In Old Chicago,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Stanley and Livingstone” and -Jesse James.” Before the actual filming of “Little Old New, York” began, tho director, his assistant, and a camera crew spent a few weeks in the east photographing old New York backgrounds and scenes along the Hudson for the production. They also did a vast amount of research on the history of the town and the career of Robert MAYFAIR THEATRE—TO-DAY “DANGER ON WHEELS” “Danger on Wheels,” a drama of the speedways co-starring Richard Arlen and Andy Devine, is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre. Newest of the popular Arlen-Devine series, “Danger on Wheels” is said to be one of the stars’ best vehicles to date, with spectacular thrills and roaring action of tho race track pro viding the background of the story. Arlen Is seen first as a daredevil test driver, who goes through death-defying stunts testing new motor-cars. Latex he becomes a race driver smashing through to victory in the Indianapolis Speed Classic in the climax. Andy Devine appears as Alien’s faithful but slow-witted mechanic, l’eggy Moran, young screen player who is rapidly rising to film fame, is Arlen’s romantic Interest. Other sup porting roles are carried by Herbert Corthel!, Harry'Bradley, Sandra King and Landers Stevens. “Stepping Feet." Hazel Ascot, who stars In “Stepping Feet,” the new, sparkling 8.1.E.D. musical which is now showing at the Mayfair Theatre with a talented supporting cast headed by Enid Stamp Taylor, Jack Barty, Wilson Coleman and Ivan Samson, has received very tempting offers to go to Hollywood and star in pictures under a long-term contract. She scored an outstanding success in her picture,

“Talking Feet,” which made the critics rave about tho “most promising juvenile find for some time.” “One of the greatest discoveries in the history of British films” was but one of the eulogistic paeans credited to her. I-lazel has won the AlLEngland juvenile championships and City championship, and all these without losing a single mark! Now, her performance in the 8.1.E.D. picture, “Stepping Toes,” In which she hag been heralded as “Better than Shirley Temple,” will, it is felt, establish her as a firm favourite, not only in England, but abroad as well.

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe.

Also screening is chapter one of the thrilling new serial “Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe,” starring Larry ("Buster”) Crabbe as Flash Gordon. KOSY THEATRE— TO-DAY “THE SUN NEVER SETS” Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Basil Rathbone virtually symbolise an empire in Universal’s “The Hun Never Sets,” which shows to-day at the Rosy Theatre. This ia a picture dealing wRh the British Colonial Civil Service, which protects 500,000,000 people over an area of 13,000,000 square miles. But the whole story Is told through two brothers, portrayed by, Fairbanks and Rathbone. And they reveal a powerful drama. Both are ranked among Hollywood’s foremost actors. Seldom have they turned in performances equal to those in this film. The picture opens with an extremely interesting series of scenes showing the British Empire from the time of Queen Elizabeth to the present. Then follows the story of the two brothers. Both are members of an old family whose sons have been in “the service” for more than 300 years. Rathbone, the elder, had followed family tradition and given his life in service, Fairbanks rebels at being so harnessed by tradition. But he finally goes Into the service. He costs Rathbone his job because of a deliberate blunder, but straightens everything out in the end. “Okay for Sound.” The most brilliant comedy with the largest cast of stage aim screen revue personalities will be shown here to-day. The film is “Okay for Hound,” a G.B.D. attraction starring the unsurpassable comic team—the Crazy Gang. The Crazv Gang is composed of three of London’s most celebrated humour duos—Nervo and Knox, Flanagan and Allen, and Naughton and Gold, all of whom have entertained you per medium of radio and recordings, in Okay for Hound” they run through the most hilarious set of situations in which they are supported b.v an all star cast of top-notch musical and comic artists including Enid Stamp Taylor, Fred Duprez, the Sherman Fisher girls, Fatrea Bowman, Louis Levy's Orchestra, * eLer Dawson and Luclenne and Ashour.