CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 10

CITY THEATRES

PLAZA

"MOONLIGHT SONATA"

Paderewski, the famous pianist, comes to the screen in "Moonlight Sonata," which begins to-day at the Plaza. Another interesting figure in this picture is the veteran 'stage actress, Marie Tempest, who, at the age of 72 years, makes her debut in a talking film. In the role of a hospitable Swedish baroness, her personality, with its provocative combination of dignity and mischief, makes a most vivid impression. Marie Tempest's performance in "Moonlight Sonata" is a clear proof that really first-rate acting can be transferred from theatre to screen without any major operations. It is to be hoped Ihat her success will reconcile her to the cinema, for, since she can put it over so well, her personality is the kind that is an asset to any (Urn. The supporting feature will be "The Street Singer's Return," a sparkling musical comedy romance, which brings together two famous stars of the entertainment world. They are Arthur Tracy and Arthur Riscoe. In "The Street Singer's Return," Artnur Riscoe is seen as a street corner conjurer, with crooked tendencies, and round him revolve most of the j rilm's laughs. He wears a badly bati cered bowler, a high celluloid collar, with a ridiculous little bow-tie. and an ill-fitting check suit. This is a cnange from Riscoe's usual make-up. for he is generally regarded as one •it the best-dressed comedians on the stage or screen. AVON "THE PERFECT SPECIMEN" "The Perfect Specimen," which is now beginning its third week at the Avon Theatre is one of the most entertaining film? seen in Christchurcn for some time. The story has enough novelty ito take it out of the rut, and it has been handled throughout with a light and agreeable touch. With Errol Flynn and Joan Blondell at the head of the cast, supported by May Robson, Edward Everett Horton, Hugh Herbert, and 'Allen Jenkins, there is a brilI liance in the acting to satisfy discriml inating theatregoers. It is to the credit of those who made this picture that the casting of the characters is thoroughly sound. [ Joan Blondell is the girl who tempts I Gerald from his seclusion and leads him into a series of amusing adventures; Hugh Herbert is the eccentric poet at whose house the "perfect specimen" and his new-found friend stay; May Robson is the grandmother, and Edward Everett Horton is her secretary. All of them make great play with the material that is given them in this picture.

Mixed up with this are the exploits of the "perfect specimen" during the moments he is not concerned about eluding the police. He becomes embroiled in a roadside fight, then deputises for his opponent in his fight in a boxing contest, and in the end comes to a complete realisation, that the dominance of his grandmother must be broken. In all these stages 9t his education there is very bright comedy indeed. CRYSTAL PALACE "SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING*' AND "BORDER BRIGANDS"

"She's Got Everything," a romantic comedy with Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond, begins at the Crystal Palace to-day. The plot deals with the plan of her creditors to finance a society girl in a campaign to marry a rich South American, which they feel will enable them to get their money back. However, the girl rejects the scheme, deciding to get a job instead, and she becomes secretary to a young millionaire coffee importer. However, the creditors continue their campaign, and the results involve the girl and the millionaire in a series of hilarious complications. With both stars given plenty of opportunities for the swift comedy that has won them high popularity in their previous films, and with the aid of a distinguished supporting cast. "She's Got Everything" promises excellent entertainment. In "Border Brigands," the second feature, excitement, romance, and brilliant horsemanship combine to provide a universal appeal. The popular Buck Jones is starred. The absorbing story deals with the activities of the Royal North-west Mounted Police in that part of Canada lying against the Arctic Circle, and pictures a bitter feud , between the "Mounties" and a band of outlaws which maintains its headquarters in a lawless town on the American side of the international border. MAYFAIR "BLOCKADE" The Spanish background of the love story told in "Blockade," Walter Wanger's romantic drama, starring Madeleine Carroll and Henry Fonda, vhich is coming to the Mayfair to-day, is given added interest by presenting some aspects of the present Spanish civil war. This is the romance of a man ahd a girl drawn into the conflict almost against their will—lovers who ! were at the same time bitter enemies. "Blockade," though it employs the war only as a background and favours neither side in the conflict, furnishes a highly interesting and remarkably 'accurate picture of Spain's civil strife. Produced on a lavish scale, its many elaborate settings are outstanding examples of' Hollywood's skill in achieveing realism in locale and atmosphere.

CHRISTCHURCH CINEMAS, LIMITED "That Certain Woman." with Betje Davis and Henry Fonda in the lead, begins at the Regent to-day. Georga Formby, the popular comedian, is at his best in "I See Ice," which will be shown at the Majestic for another week. Cyril Ritchard is also featured. . " "Romance for Three," starring Robert Young and Florence Rice, begins at the Tivoli to-day.- „ At the Liberty. "Smash and Grab, starf-ing Jack Buchanan and Elsie Randolph, and "Nurse from Brooklyn," starring Sally Eilers, begin to-day. "Private Number," starring Basil Rathbone, and "Half Angel," starring Frances Dee. begin to-day at the Grand

CIVIC "STAND IN" Every now and again Hollywood makes a film that laughs at some aspect of American life, which is usually taken so seriously on the films, and in "Stand In," which begins to-day at the Civic, it laughs at itself. Its stars are Leslie Howard and Joan Blondell. "Stand In" tells the story of Mr Atterbury Dodd, a shy young banker who went to Hollywood —took over a 10,000.000 dollar studio—and tried to run it according to the science of mathematics. Joan Blondell.has her finest role as the "Stand-In" of the title. Humphrey Bogart. who plays Quintan, the genius producer who is struggling against the handicap of Koslofski, a fabulous foreign director, and Thelma Cheri, the glamour star, who are conspiring with Nassau, a rival producer, to wreck the company. Alan Mowbray ha" his maddest and funniest role as Koslofski, Maria Sllelton, the new Wanger discovery, plays Cheri, C. Henry Gordon is his usual villainous self as Nassau, and Jack Carson, an unknown "bit" player, won overnight fame in the role of Potts, the press agent. I Gene Towne and Graham Baker wrote the screen play for "Stand-In," which was produced by Tay Garnett. Alexander Toluboff designed the nightmarishly extravagant backgrounds. The production is released through United Artists. More than a thousand extras were personally scanned by Garnett before 500 were found that met the director's requirements. For a great many of these the Wanger studio was forced to supply special clothing, since the extras' idea of workaday clothes and a workman's actual outfit were eons apart.