ENTERTAINMENTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 5

ENTERTAINMENTS

St.

James Theatre

James Cagney' and George Baft are a spiended combination in their latest picture at the St. James Theatre, “Each Dawn I Die.”

Frank Ross (Cagney) is a newspaper reporter, a first-rate crusader whose stories carry his own name, and, because of that, their own punishment when he treads too heavily on crooked toes. Complementary to the reporter, is Stacey (Raft), brought up in a similar slum backyard, who has turned to crime itself as his only way out. Ross's newspaper exposures of graft and racketeering in high places bring him into disfavour with the crooked District Attorney. The young newspaperman is “beaten up.” his clothes and person sprayed with liquor, and then dumped into an empty car which, driverless, crashes iuto another and kills the occupants. Ross is sent to jail for manslaughter. and goes in company with Stacey. Aluch happens before his innocence is proved. . ' “The Star Maker.”

“The Star Maker,” in .which Bing Crosby. Linda Ware, and Louise Campbell take the leading parts-, will be the next attraction at the St. James Theatre. The film is a bright comedy, and contains 2G song hits. Regent Theatre Paramount’s new colour cartoon, “Gulliver's Travels,” is delighting everybody at the Regent Theatre. The ‘human” characters, Lemuel Gulliver, Princess Glory and Prince David, are admirable and pleasant enough, but it is comic pieces, real creations of the film artist, such as Gabby, the Town Crier, who give the greatest share of entertainment. The story is concerned with Lemuel Gulliver’s brief sojourn in the land of Lilliput, where the two local kings have just—almost—patched up a quarrel and sealed a treaty with the betrothal of their two children. King Bombo, the somewhat apoplectic visiting king, breaks up the party in a fit of pique and declares war on Lilliput. In the meantime, Gulliver is wrecked and washed ashore. What follows is pure delight. "Gulliver's Travels'” is a very _ diverting show, some parts of which will stick in the memories of children and of adults for many a long day. The colour is specially attractive, and is very easy on the eyes. Plaza Theatre The Ritz Brothers answer the call tio -arms and create havoc in military circles in the rollicking farce, “Pack Up Your Troubles,” the new' picture at the Plaza Theatre. The Ritz Brothers ' are caught short when America enters the last war in 1917 with a “German act,” which becomes just so much old stock overnight. Lured by promises of 30 dollars a month and free board in the army, the trio enlists, joining the cavalry, because “horses is out-of-date,” and in consequence will not be sent, overseas. This, as it happens, is true of real horses, but not of the mules which are left to the nojie-too-ten-der care of the rookies. Over in France, a tough sergeant makes life more unbearable, for the trio than ever, quite unbearable, in fact, if it were not for the kindheartedness of little Collette (Jane Withers). They have many adventures before their troubles are over. State Theatre Two films of widely different type, but equal appeal are showing at-the State Theatre. Fresh material for lovers of mystery films will be found in “Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday, the main feature. As in others of the Inspector Hornleigh series Gordon Harker again (flays the inspector, and Alastair Sim tlie Inspector's grumbling but ungrudging assistant, Sergeant Bingham. The supporting cast is headed by lovely Linden Travers, one of England’s more attractive players, who provides a romantic interest to the thrilling story. As if the presence of the Jones Family itself were not sufficient clue to the uproarious hilarity packed into 20th Cen-tury-Fox’s “Too Busy To Work” the other feature. Joan Davis is found in a top role. Mayor Jones’s neglect of his family and business is the inspiration for much of the story of “Too Busy to Work. “I Was a Spy.” Conrad Veidt. Madeleine Carroll, and Herbert Marshall are the leading players in “I Was a Spy,” which will begin a season at the State Theatre on Wednesday. “I Was a Spy” is a reissue of the drama which gained such ijopulanty some time ago. Paramount Theatre Gloria Jean, the eleven-year-old child star of “The Under-Pup,” at the Paramount Theatre, has a voice of exceptional range and clarity, and her acting ability is far beyond that which one would expect from one of her age. She plays Pip-Emma, member of New York's “great unwashed. Winning an easy essay which entitles her to attend a summer camp with many of the daughters of New York’s exclusive families, Pip-Emma leaves home gai.y; but the girls—all except one —do not take tier immediately to their hearts. However, as a result of her character and ot advice she receives from her grandfather, she eventually breaks down the opposition. Pip-Emma and her grandfather are also successful in tlie prevention of a divorce between the parents of one of the girls at tlie camp. Others in the cast of “The Under-Pup’ are Virginia Weidler, Nan Gray, Robert Cummings. Beulah Bondi. Margaret Lindsay, the Katzen jammer Kids, C. Aubrey Smith, Billy Gilbert, Ann Gillis, Raymond AValburn, Paul Cavanagh and Samuel S. Hinds.

TJie associate full-length film at the night sessions, “Inside Information.” features June Dang, Dick Foran, Harry Carey, and Mary Carlisle. De Luxe Theatre Jackie Cooper and Betty Field are admirably cast in the screen, version of Booth ‘Tarkington’s- “Seventeen.” at the De Luxe Theatre. It tells of the adventures of a lovelorn lad and a sophisticated damsel. Credit must be given to young Cooper that his engaging manner, crackling voice, and determined, face recall the ’exuberance and depression—felt at seventeen over such momentous events as one’s first shave, first dress suit, first love—and first heartbreak. Good support is given to the principals by Ann Shoemaker, and the.polished Otto Kruger, as the lads kindly, vet impatient, father. The associate full-length item features the popular William Boyd, as “Hopnlong Cassidy, in “Law of the Pampas,” based on a story by Clarence E. Mulford. Boyd is supported by Steffi Dunn, Russell (“Lucky”) Hayden, and Sidney Toler. “Hopnlong” is this time opposing cattle rustlers and, after many exciting , sequences. brings just order out of criminal chaos. “Angels Wash Their Faces.” On Friday, “Angels Mash Their Faces” will begin a season at the De Luxe Theatre. Tudor Theatre David Niven and Olivia De Havilland have the principal roles in “Rallies, tlie main picture nt the Tudor Hieatre. Known ns • the Amateur Cracksman, Baffles has keen baffling Scotland J arc! with his darinir and spectacular robberies for monUis fund then, just a* he is about to withdraw from his dangerous career, he furnishes the Yard with its first and only clue. The speedy action that follows carries tlie story to the beautiful country estate of Lady Melrose, where n famous emerald necklace is stolen—a little carelessly—and a chase to Loudon begins.. Set in Paris, while Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) is there attending a small reunion of the World War's Intelligence officers, "Charlie Chan In City In DnrkI ness” is the associate attraction. The

reunion is interrupted by an air-raid siren, and the blackout that, follows is the signal that plunges Chan into a tense mystery of deadly intrigue. New Opera House How a little Kansas' farm girl gets caught in a cyclone and believes she is carried to Oz, where she meets a Scarecrow who wants brains, a Tin M oodman who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who seeks courage, is described in L. Frank Baum’s fantasy, “The MTzard of Oz,” which began a further return M ellington season at the New Opera House on Thursday. All these characters go to the IVizard to ask him to grant their wishes. The farm girl wishes to go home again. After many adventures they finally get what they seek, because the M’izard shows them that it was in their power all the time to have and to do these things. . Six catchv songs—“ Over the Rainbow,” "If I Only had a Brain, the Nerve, a Heart,” “We’re Off to See the M’izard.” “The Merry Ohl Land of Oz, “Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead, and “If I Were King of the!Forest” —written by that svmphonious team, E. Y. Harburg and' Harold Arlen, embellish the story. Majestic Theatre Crowded audiences were delighted with the sparkling wit and infectious gaiety of Metro-Goldwyn-Mnyer's "Another Thin Man,” when the picture began its M’ellington season at the Majestic Theatre. M’llliam Powell makes a welcome return to .the screen as Nick Charles, the debonair detective, who is fortunate in possessing a “perfect wife.” Myrna Loy again plays the latter part with charm and naturalness. Asta. the amazingly shrewd terrier. is a leading figure in many amusing incidents, a piquant touch is lent by the advent of Nick Charles, junior. King’s Theatre A picture right off the beaten track of screen entertainment is “Of Mice and Men,” now showing at the King's Theatre. The story tells of Lennie (Leu Chaney, jun.l, the smiple-tninded giant with a childish love for the pretty furry things that lie so often destroys with his clumsy hands; and George (Burgess Meredith), who through a childhood attachment, has become Lennie’s only friend, the person who gets the great innocent out of his many dangerous scrapes, the one man on earth who can make Lennie do as he wishes. These two makes the main thread of the story, with their queer attachment for each other, Lennie's blind faith in George, and Lennie.'s patient, though sometimes exasperated enre for Lennie's welfare. There it not a flaw in the acting of the large cast, and not a jarring note in the quiet tempo of the story. •‘U-Boat 29.”

A timely and authentic drama of submarine warfare and espionage, “U-Boat 29,” will be shown soon at the King’s Theatre.