PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 22461, 5 October 1936, Page 11

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND A beautiful girl is madly in love with a man about whom the tentacles of suspicion squeeze tighter and tighter, until he is almost convinced himself that he committed a brutal murder. That is the situation in which Margot Grahame and Walter Abel find themselves in a RKO Radio’s nerve-tingling mystery drama, ‘ Two in the Dark,’ which has commenced a season at the Grand. Margot, in the role of a destitute show girl, is drawn, first by sympathy_ and then by love, to an amnesia victim (played by Abel), and she fights to extract him from the ominous web of ugly circumstances* The baffling mystery, based on the original story by the distinguished author, Gelett Burgess, abounds with thrills. Miss Grahame and Walter Abel are joined together as a romantic team for the first time, although they played the two most prominent roles in ‘ The Three Musketeers.’ The nil-star cast includes Wallace Ford, Gail Patrick. Alan Hale, Leslie Fenton, Eric Blore, Erin O’Brien-Mooro, and Erik Rhodes. The associate picture is ‘Here Comes, Trouble. ’ featuring Arline Judge, Paul Kelly, and Sammy Cohen. TWO OUTSTANDING FILMS. Urttertainmeut of a type that has not been provided for many years past will be revived in ‘ Kentucky Minstrels of 1935,’ which will be screened at the Grand on Wednesday. Lying behind the broad title of the film is a good story, superb _ acting, and good music and fine casting. The picture is the result of the British Broadcasting Company’s policy in the broadcast of minstrel shows. So popular were the shows that they became a regular feature of the programme. Now they have been transferred to the screen, but their value has been enhanced in the transformation.. The principals on the screen are Harry Scott. Eddie Wlialey. Nina Mae M'Kiuney, and Dcbroy Somers and his band. Debroy Somers and bis band are the only players known here, but in England and America the three coloured stars are very popular. 'To Beat The Band’ is a now version of American humour with some songs that will surely prove

the most popular of the season. Helen Broderick and Hugh Herbert arc featured. REGENT Adapted from tho powerful book, 1 The Shape of Things to Come,’ by H. G. Wells, ‘ Things to Come,’ which is the current film at the Regent this week, offers something more than ordinary entertainment, in the earlier part of tho film the action that takes place before the turn of the century seems, at the present day, only too iikety, and the suggested conditions of 2036 are not impossible. Great credit is duo to the technical staff for tho amazing effects. The panio in the streets of Everytown as bombs suddenly fall, anti-aircraft guns rattle, and sirens scream; the stream-lined tanks; tho sky made dark by a great air fleet, Everytown in ruins during the pestilence; the gigantic planes of the Mediterranean airmen; the huge machines remaking the cities; and tho loading and firing of the space-gun and all stirring scenes, made impressive by their technical perfection. Raymond Massey is tho outstanding personality. Every moment lie is on the screen he dominates the other characters. Another impressive portrayal is that of *' The Chief ” by Ralph Richardson. Sir Cedric Hardwieko’s appearance is brief, yet he makes it important and moving. Margaretta Scott and Pearl Argyle, in the main feminine roles, both give fine performances. It is a film that will not easily be forgotten. STRAND In .the field of radio, motion picture producers have found a wonderful source of talent, and this is strikingly borne out in ‘ Stars Over Broadway,’ which is being shown at the Strand. In this film there arc artists whose names are well known, but who would not be brought before the outside world if it were not for the medium of the talking screen. ‘ Stars Over Broadway ’ presents such artists at James Melton and Jane Eroman. The story centres round Pat O’Brien, who,’ as a theatrical agent with very little to do, suddenly “ discovers ” a voice with wonderful possibilities. Its possessor is James Melton, a porter at tho Hotel where O’Brien is staying. This artist is making his first appearance in films, and if his initial performance is anv criterion, it should not be his last. '* The Mine With tho Iron Door,’ in support, is taken from the story by Harold 801 l Wright, and it loses nothing in the translation to the screen. So well has the production been carried out that tho talking picture on this occasion is even more graphic than tho printed page. The tale is an entrancing one of quest for buried treasure, and of human passions and jealousies, which engender the most gripping situations. The cast is headed hv Richard Arlen. Cecilia Parker, and Henry B. Walthall. ST. JAMES The cosmopolitan comedy. ‘ Page Miss Glory,’ with .Marion Davies in the stellar role and a supporting cast composed of more than a score of Hollvwood stars and featured players will be presented by Warner Brothers at the St. James to-day. Based cm tho sensational Broadway stage bit hv Joseph Schrauk - ami Philip Dunning

with tho screen version written by Delmer Daves and Robert Lord, ‘ Page Miss Glory ’ was assigned to Warner Brothers’ “ aco ” director, Mervyn Leßoy, who selected such stars as Dick Powell, Pat O’Brien, Diary Astor, Frank M'Hugh, Lyle Talbot, Patsy Kelly, Barton Mac Lane, Alien Jenkins, and Hobart Cavanaugh for tho leading roles. Miss Davies anti Dick Powell sing a duet specially written for the production by Hollywood’s leading song hit producers, Warren and Dubin. ‘ Page Miss Glory ’ is said to be the finest of Miss Davies’s stellar vehicles, and tho charming star herself is declared to have risen to even greater heights in her portrayal of the naive country hotel chambermaid who became “ Dawn Glory,” America’s outstanding beauty. The plot is hilariously funny, but a charming romance runs through the humour. Miss Davies introduces many new style creations designed for her by Orry-Kelly. Tho production moves_ from hotel to air scenes and to a radio studio. Settings, sound, and photography are all of more than average merit. Tho supporting programme, which includes a Universal newsreel, a cartoon, and a short musical, is highly entertaining. •THE GARDEN MURDER CASE.’ Throe mysterious deaths form tho dramatic plot of Philo Vance’s latest film, ‘ The Garden Murder Case,’ starring Virginia Bruco and Edmund Lowe, vdiich opens at the St. James on Friday. Never before, it is said, has the character of Philo Vance been more engagingly portrayed, and never has he undergone more thrilling adventures than iu this new story. Three deaths occur to puzzle him, and more than once ho skirts the c'lge of doom as he moves through a mazo of conflicting evidence seeking the killer With the principal players is a notable cast, including Bonita Hume, Douglas Walton, Nat Pendleton. Gene Lockhart, and Grant Mitchell. EMPIRE ‘ The Bohemian Girl,’ the Laurel and Hardy .successor to ‘ Bonnie Scotland ’ and ‘ Fra Diavolo.’ is being screened at tho Empire tins week. 'This is a most unusual production, for the reason that the inevitable comedy of the famous pair is superimposed on tho story and music of Balfe’s delightful opera. 'The story is burlesqued to a certain extent, but iu outline it is the plot of the opera. Antonio Moreno, Jacqueline Wells, Mao Busch, James Fiulayson. ’William P. Carleton. and, lastly, but far from least, four-year-old Darla Hood who essays the role of Princess Arline as a child, interpret their respective roles in a convincing and entertaining manner. Stan am! “ Ollio ” are bnppy-go-lneky members of a gipsy hand. The latter’s wife. Mae Busch* is enamoured of Antonio Moreno, a dashing and romantic nomad. But so is tho Gipsy Queen, and right hero is where the complications start. To prove her love for “ Devilshnof,” Mae. as Mrs Hardy, kidnaps the baby daughter of Count Arnheim. when he flogs Moreno for skulking about the gnwmls of hi* palace. Leaving the baby with her lion-peeked husband, she induces “ Devilshnof” to elope with her. There i> an mils!anding associate programme with Ihe 1 Bohemian Girl.’ including ‘The Ilil-aml-Ruii Driver.’

MAYFAIR Loretta Young is not, perhaps, the type of actress ono would expect to see in tho part of a woman devoting her life to good works for others; it says much for her that sho carries otf the leading part in ‘ The White Parade,’ which is the current attraction at the Mayfair, so that the audience feels that it is the most fitting thing for her to be—a nurse. Loretta Young is pretty, vivacious, and clever, and in this role she earns all the praise sho has been given wherever this film has been shown. The picture tells the story of girls in a nurses’ training school in America, where the trainees are taught to be careful and honest and devoted to their work. The crises of the story are very well done; the troubles of the nurses’ training period are not overdrawn, and the whole production has worthily portrayed a noble profession. The cast also includes John Boles, Dorothy Wilson, Jane Darwell, and Frank Conroy. Tho associate picture is a delightfully breezy musical comedy entitled ‘ Tho Charm School,’ in which such well-known players as Jack Oakie, Joe Penner, Ned Sparks, and June Langford are featured. The song numbers and tho dance ensembles are of an unusually high standard, OCTAGON Attractively diversified faro is provided for picture theatre patrons in the double feature programme which has commenced a season at the Octagon. Tho principal picture, ‘ Star of Midnight,’ gives William Powell every opportunity to provide the suave, sophisticated acting which has gained him an outstanding reputation. Ho makes an admirable amateur detective, solving a baffling murder mystery with the same nonchalance that he used in ‘ The Thin Man/ Ginger Rogers is excellently cast in the opposite role, and maintains her prestige as one of America’s most accomplished comediennes. The story is a brilliant satire on the extravaganza of modern life in an American city; the dialogue is crisp and witty, and the characters are skilfully sketched, without any unnecessary elaboration, while spice is added by a series of exciting episodes in which the principal players escape with their lives by the narrowest margins. The second picture is ‘ Hooray for Love,’ featuring Gene Raymond and Ann Sothern, in which an excellent mixture of good singing and dancing, delightful humour, and an attractive story results in a highly entertaining production. The two principals are heard to advantage in several catchy songs, and in addition one of the highlights of the, finm is provided in a ballot scene by Maria Gambarelli, whose toe dancing is a gem of poetic beauty. STATE It may be said that ‘ Follow the Fleet.’ the film having an extended season at the State this week, with that splendid combination of stars, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, rises to the top standard in screen musical comedy. The story illustrates the old saying, “ The course of true love never runs smooth,” but innumerable complexities arise from tho fact that both tho men whose love stories arc followed (Fred. Astaire and Randolph Scott) are sailors; Full opportunity is therefore taken for witty repartee, for which Astaire is famous, and several dances are introduced in appropriate places. The opposite leads are played by Ginger lingers and Harriet Hilliard as sisters. Particularly witty lyrics are sung by Astaire to music of the usual high standard of Irving Berlin, tho best of which are ‘ We Saw tho Sea,’ ‘ Let Yourself Go,’ ‘ Let’s Face the Music and Dance. There arc no half-measures about tin musical. It uses not ono, but four, bands to present the Irving Berlin tunes composed especially for the nautical adventures and land romancing of those masters of song and dance. A wing-footed music-mad sailor in the RKO Radio film, Astaire himself conducts ono 10-piece band and presents the first of Berlin’s seven compositions with it aboard a battleship in San Francisco Harbour. The piece is ‘We Saw the Sea.’ For ibis and other sequences on the deck of a United States battleship a navy band provides traditional marine music.